Second- or third-touch follow-up that earns the reply by adding new information — a launch, a milestone, a concrete detail — instead of just nudging.
Hi {{Candidate name}},
I reached out {{Time since last email — e.g., last week}} about the {{Role title}} role at {{Company name}}. Rather than a plain nudge, here's something new since then: {{New information — e.g., a funding round, a product launch, a team update, or a detail about the role you didn't share before}}.
I mention it because {{One sentence connecting the news to why this candidate specifically would care}}.
The ask stays small: a 15-minute call, whenever suits you. And if this isn't for you, reply with a quick not now or not interested — I'll close the loop and won't follow up again.
Thanks either way for reading.
{{Your name}} {{Your title}}, {{Company name}}
Not legal advice
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws differ by jurisdiction and change over time — have a qualified professional review any document before you rely on it.
Acknowledges a candidate's application with honest timeline expectations, what happens next, and a commitment to respond either way.
Tells a candidate their background screening is starting: the provider, what it covers, the consent step, expected duration, and who to ask about anything sensitive.
Asks for structured feedback on the hiring process after a decision, whatever the outcome: how long it takes, how to access it, how answers are handled, and why it matters.
Recruiter presents a vetted candidate to a client: three evidence-backed highlights, compensation expectations and availability, and a single next step to book the interview.
Honest mid-process update for when timelines slip: the real reason for the delay, a new date, confirmation the candidate is still in the running, and a promise to write again either way.
Acknowledges a candidate withdrawing from the process without friction: thanks them for the heads-up, asks one optional learning question, and leaves the relationship genuinely warm.