You can follow up on a job application during the holidays, but timing matters more than usual. If you applied in late November or early December, send one short follow-up in the first or second week of December, before offices wind down. If you missed that window, wait until the first full working week of January. Avoid the days between Christmas and New Year, when most messages land in an out-of-office queue and get buried. Keep the email brief, friendly and specific to the role.
Below you will find a simple timing guide, the parts every holiday follow-up needs, and five templates you can adapt for different situations, including a recruiter you already know and an application that has been silent since November.
Why holiday follow-ups need different timing
At most times of year, a follow-up about a week or two after applying is reasonable. The holidays break that pattern for three reasons.
- Decision-makers take leave. A recruiter may be at work, but the hiring manager who has to approve a shortlist may be away for two weeks.
- Inboxes overflow on return. Messages sent on December 27 compete with every other email that piled up over the break. Messages sent on January 6 often get read faster.
- Some employers shut down entirely. Certain organisations close non-essential operations between Christmas and New Year, so nothing moves no matter how good your email is.
The goal of a holiday follow-up is not to force a decision. It is to make sure your application is remembered when the process starts moving again.
A simple timing guide
| When you applied | When to follow up | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Early to mid November | First week of December | Recruiters are still active; a reply before the break is possible |
| Late November | Around December 8 to 12 | One chance before the slowdown; if no reply, try again in January |
| Early December | First full working week of January | Gives the employer time to return and catch up |
| Mid to late December | Second week of January | Your application may not have been reviewed yet |
If a job listing or recruiter gave you a specific date (“we’ll be in touch by the 15th”), follow that instead. Wait a couple of working days past it before sending your note.
What every holiday follow-up email should include
A good follow-up is short enough to read on a phone in fifteen seconds. It needs only five things:
- A clear subject line. Include the job title and, if there is one, the reference number. For example: “Application for Customer Success Lead (Ref 4471).”
- The facts. The role and the date you applied.
- One line of relevance. A single reason you are a good fit, ideally something not obvious from your CV.
- A simple question. Ask about the timeline rather than asking for a decision.
- A light seasonal touch, if it suits the employer. “I hope you have a restful break” is enough. Avoid anything that assumes which holiday the reader celebrates.
Leave out apologies for “bothering” them, long restatements of your CV, and anything that sounds like pressure, such as “I need to know by Friday.”
Five holiday follow-up email templates
1. Early December follow-up after an online application
Subject: Application for [Job Title] – [Your Name]
Hello [Name],
I applied for the [Job Title] role on [date] and wanted to confirm my application reached you before the holiday period. My recent work [one specific, relevant achievement] lines up closely with the [key requirement] in the listing.
Could you let me know whether interviews are likely before the break or in the new year? Thank you for your time, and I hope the end of the year goes smoothly for you.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Profile link]
2. January follow-up after a quiet holiday
Subject: Following up: [Job Title] application
Hello [Name],
Happy New Year. I applied for the [Job Title] position on [date] and am still very interested in the role. I’d be glad to share [a work sample / more detail on a relevant project] if that would help.
Is there an updated timeline for the next stage? Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
[Your Name]
3. Follow-up when you know the recruiter
Subject: Quick check-in on [Job Title]
Hi [Name],
Thanks again for talking me through the [Job Title] role last month. I know things get busy before the break, so I just wanted to say I’m still keen and happy to work around your schedule in January.
Enjoy the holidays,
[Your Name]
If you have a warm, informal relationship with a recruiter or a former colleague who referred you, a brief New Year message can keep the connection alive without mentioning the application at all. If you want wording that stays warm but professional, Lovely SMS has a set of New Year messages suited to colleagues and managers you can adapt.
4. Follow-up after a referral
Subject: [Referrer’s Name] suggested I apply – [Job Title]
Hello [Name],
[Referrer’s Name] recommended I apply for the [Job Title] role, which I did on [date]. I’d welcome the chance to talk about how my experience in [area] could help the team in the new year.
Please let me know if there’s anything else you need from me. Wishing you a good break.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
5. Final follow-up when there has been no reply at all
Subject: [Job Title] – final follow-up
Hello [Name],
I wanted to check in one last time about the [Job Title] role I applied for on [date]. If the position has been filled or put on hold, I completely understand. I’d still be interested in hearing about similar roles at [Company] in the future.
Thank you for your time.
[Your Name]
Send this final note only once, and only after one earlier follow-up has gone unanswered. After that, move your energy to other applications.
Who to send it to
Follow up with the person most connected to the role. In order of preference:
- The recruiter or hiring manager named in the listing or your confirmation email.
- A recruiter you have already spoken with.
- A general careers or talent email address, using the job reference in the subject line.
Avoid emailing several people at the same company with the same message. It tends to look like pressure, and they may compare notes.
Applications versus interviews
This guide focuses on following up after you have applied but before you have been interviewed. If you have already had an interview, the rules are slightly different: a thank-you note goes out within a day, and the follow-up timing depends on what the interviewer told you about next steps. Our guide on writing a follow-up email after a job interview covers that situation in detail.
What to do while you wait
A follow-up is one email. The rest of your search should keep moving.
- Keep applying to well-matched roles, especially early in December.
- Log each follow-up date so you do not accidentally chase the same employer twice.
- Prepare for interviews that may be scheduled quickly in January.
- If an application stays silent for weeks, look at the reasons that are in your control. Our guide to applications that never get a reply walks through the usual causes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Following up on December 24 or 31. Even if someone reads it, they are unlikely to act on it.
- Using the holiday as a hook for pressure. “I’d love an answer before Christmas” reads as a demand.
- Sending a generic greeting card email with no context. If you mention the season, still include the role and date.
- Calling instead of emailing. Unless the listing invites calls, email is easier for busy people to handle at the end of the year.
- Following up more than twice. Two polite attempts are enough for a single application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to follow up on a job application in December?
No. A short, polite follow-up in early December is normal and often welcome, because it reminds the recruiter of your application before the break. Avoid the week between Christmas and New Year.
How long should I wait to follow up after applying over the holidays?
If you applied in December, wait until the first full working week of January. That gives the employer time to return from leave and work through their inbox.
Should I mention the holidays in my follow-up email?
A light, inclusive line such as “I hope you have a restful break” or “Happy New Year” is fine. Keep the focus on the role, and avoid assuming which holiday the reader celebrates.
What if the recruiter has an out-of-office reply?
Note the return date and wait a few working days after it before following up again. Do not resend the same email immediately.
How many times should I follow up on one application?
Twice at most: one initial follow-up and, if there is no reply, one final note a couple of weeks later. After that, focus on other opportunities.