Recruiter not responding? What to do, and when
A recruiter has gone quiet after a call or an application. Here is when to chase, what to send and when to move your energy elsewhere.
You had a good call. The recruiter said they would come back to you by Friday. It is now Wednesday and there is nothing. Or you sent your CV for a role a fortnight ago and have not even had an acknowledgement.
It is one of the most common frustrations in any job search, and it is rarely personal. Most recruiters are working dozens of roles at once, and many depend on a client who has gone quiet too. Silence usually means nothing has moved yet. What you control is how you follow up.
When to chase
Two to three working days after the date they gave you. If no date was agreed, give it five working days after a call and seven after sending a CV. Earlier than that reads as impatient. Much later and the conversation has gone cold.
What to send
One short message. Keep it easy to answer:
"Hi [name], just checking in on the [role] at [company]. Is there any update from the client, or anything else you need from me? Happy to talk if it is easier."
That is it. No pressure, no list of everything you have done since, and a reason for them to reply.
If there is still nothing
Send one more message a week later, on a different channel if you can: a call if you emailed, an email if you called. After that, log it, set a reminder for a month and put your energy into the roles that are moving. Some will come back. Most of the time, a recruiter who reappears weeks later does so because the role has moved again.
Keep the record
The hardest part is remembering who you spoke to, what they said and when you last chased. Write down after every call: the client and the role, the salary and timeline, and what was agreed and by when. Then set the follow-up date before you hang up.
How NextStep Manager helps
Log every call, email and message against the recruiter, and set the follow-up date when you agree the next step. The priority follow-ups view shows who is due and who is overdue, on every plan. On Basic and Pro you can forward or BCC recruiter emails so they log against the right contact automatically.
Questions
How long should I wait for a recruiter to respond?
Two to three working days after the date they gave you, or five working days after a call if no date was agreed.
Is it rude to chase a recruiter?
No. One short, polite follow-up is expected. Several messages a week is too many.
Why do recruiters stop responding?
Usually because the client has not given them feedback yet, the role is on hold, or they are working many other roles. It is rarely about you.
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