Following Up on German Job Applications: Rules & Timing

Q: Is it acceptable to call a German recruiter to check on my application?

Calling is acceptable mainly at smaller Mittelstand companies or trade businesses where the recruiter's phone number was explicitly listed in the job posting. For corporate, tech, and finance roles, an email is strongly preferred because it lets the recruiter respond at their own pace without feeling pressured. A cold call to a large company's HR department is generally seen as disruptive.

Q: What does *stillschweigende Absage* mean and how do I know if I've been rejected?

Stillschweigende Absage means a silent rejection — the company simply stops responding rather than sending a formal rejection letter. If you have sent two polite follow-up emails over a period of four to six weeks and received no reply, you can reasonably assume the position has been filled. German companies are not legally required to notify every applicant, especially after an early screening stage, so silence after this window is a practical signal to move on.

2026-09-21

Short answer: Wait at least 10 to 14 business days before following up on a German job application — or until after the official application deadline has passed. Send a short, formal email rather than calling, keep your tone factual and polite, and follow up a maximum of twice before moving on.

You spent hours tailoring your CV, sorted your certificates, and submitted your application to a company in Berlin, Munich, or a smaller town in the Black Forest. Days pass. Then two weeks. Your inbox stays empty and you start wondering: Did they even receive my files? Should I call, write an email, or simply wait?

That feeling is real, and it is very common among international applicants. German hiring culture follows structured internal processes, strict data protection rules, and formal decision paths. Reaching out too early signals impatience. Staying silent forever is not great either. Here is exactly how to handle it.

How long does a German company take to respond to an application?

German employers rarely make quick decisions, and response time depends heavily on company type.

Large corporations (Konzerne): Big companies involve multiple departments — the HR team (Personalabteilung), the specialist team lead (Fachabteilung), and often the works council (Betriebsrat). Expect 3 to 6 weeks before you hear about a first interview.
Small and medium-sized businesses (Mittelstand): In regional engineering firms or family-owned companies, one HR generalist often handles recruitment alongside payroll and labor law. Response times typically run 2 to 4 weeks.
Startups and tech scale-ups: Fast-moving digital firms in Berlin or Hamburg often respond within 1 to 2 weeks, but even they need to coordinate with busy engineering managers.

Company Type | First Response Window | Who Reviews?

Startups / tech | 1–2 weeks | Talent acquisition / lead

Mittelstand (SME) | 2–4 weeks | HR generalist / team head

Konzern (corporate) | 3–6 weeks | HR + specialist + Betriebsrat

The general rule: do not follow up before 10 to 14 business days have passed. If the job ad listed a clear application deadline (Bewerbungsfrist), the clock starts only after that date, not after you submitted.

What is the right etiquette for Nachfassen (following up in Germany)?

Nachfassen — the German word for checking in on an application — is perfectly normal when done right. It shows genuine interest (Engagement) and structured communication. Done poorly, it looks pushy (aufdringlich).

Email is almost always preferred. It gives the recruiter time to check your status without interrupting their workday. Phone calls make sense mainly in smaller Mittelstand companies or trade businesses where the job posting explicitly listed a direct phone number for the hiring manager. In tech, finance, and corporate roles, cold-calling recruiters is generally seen as disruptive.

German business culture values directness, modesty, and factual communication (Sachlichkeit). Avoid emotional language — do not write that you are worried or anxious for news. Instead, confirm your interest, name the role, and ask if any additional documents are needed. Keep it under eight sentences.

What should a follow-up email to a German recruiter look like?

Use a clear subject line with the exact job title and the reference number (Referenznummer) from the original posting. Two standard versions follow — choose based on the language of the original job ad. If you are unsure whether to write in English or German at all, the article on whether to apply in English or translate your German job CV covers that decision in detail.

Option A — English (for international teams or English job postings)

Subject: Status of Application: [Job Title] (Ref: [Job ID]) – [Your Full Name] Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name], Two weeks ago, on [Date], I submitted my application for the position of [Job Title] (Reference: [Number]). I would like to kindly inquire about the current status of the selection process. I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute my background in [your core skill, e.g., cloud infrastructure] to your team. Please let me know if you require any additional documents or references. Kind regards, [Full Name] | [Phone] | [LinkedIn]

Option B — German (for Mittelstand and German-language postings)

Betreff: Status meiner Bewerbung als [Job Title] – [Your Full Name] Sehr geehrte(r) Frau/Herr [Last Name], am [Date] habe ich mich auf die Stelle als [Job Title] (Referenznummer: [Number]) beworben. Da ich weiterhin großes Interesse an dieser Position habe, möchte ich mich kurz nach dem aktuellen Stand des Auswahlverfahrens erkundigen. Gerne stehe ich Ihnen zur Verfügung, sollten Sie noch weitere Unterlagen benötigen. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, [Full Name] | [Phone]

How many times should you follow up, and when do you stop?

A clear schedule keeps you professional without crossing into spam territory.

Day 14 — First follow-up: A short, friendly status check by email.
Day 28 — Second follow-up: If no reply after another two weeks, one final polite message is acceptable.
After 5–6 weeks of silence — move on: Treat the application as inactive and redirect your energy elsewhere.

German companies rarely ghost intentionally, but sick leave (Krankenstand), internal restructuring, or automated filter issues can cause what feels like a silent rejection (stillschweigende Absage). Internal decision loops also genuinely take longer because labor law and worker participation rules require multiple internal approvals before any contract can be issued. This is common practice, not a fixed legal timeline for candidate replies — but it explains why processes run slower than in the US or UK.

Quick checklist before you send that follow-up

☐ Has it been at least 10 full working days (or past the official Bewerbungsfrist)?
☐ Did you check your spam or junk folder for automated confirmations?
☐ Are you addressing the specific contact (Ansprechpartner) named in the job posting?
☐ Is your tone factual, polite, and free of any pressure?
☐ Does your email include the exact job title and reference code?
☐ Is the language (German or English) consistent with the original job ad?

Understanding what German HR actually looks at in your documents can also sharpen your overall approach — the guide on what German employers expect from foreign reference letters is worth reading before you offer to send additional materials.

Last checked: September 2026

Need help? If you want honest feedback on your application strategy and where your profile stands for the German market, take a look at German Job Fit.

FAQ

How long should I wait before following up on a job application in Germany?

Wait at least 10 to 14 business days from your submission date, or until after the official application deadline stated in the job ad. Large corporations may take up to six weeks to respond due to internal approval processes involving multiple departments and the works council (Betriebsrat). Following up before that window has passed is likely to create a negative impression.

Is it acceptable to call a German recruiter to check on my application?

Calling is acceptable mainly at smaller Mittelstand companies or trade businesses where the recruiter's phone number was explicitly listed in the job posting. For corporate, tech, and finance roles, an email is strongly preferred because it lets the recruiter respond at their own pace without feeling pressured. A cold call to a large company's HR department is generally seen as disruptive.

What does stillschweigende Absage mean and how do I know if I've been rejected?

Stillschweigende Absage means a silent rejection — the company simply stops responding rather than sending a formal rejection letter. If you have sent two polite follow-up emails over a period of four to six weeks and received no reply, you can reasonably assume the position has been filled. German companies are not legally required to notify every applicant, especially after an early screening stage, so silence after this window is a practical signal to move on.

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