There’s nothing wrong with asking for an update in an email. Though, it would help if you go about it in the politest way possible.
Luckily, we’re here to help. This article will show you how to ask for a status update politely in different situations.
Should You Ask for an Update?
You should ask for an update when you’re keen to learn the outcome of something. For instance, you might want to hear more about how well your interview went. So, you can ask the interviewer for an update when sufficient days have passed.
Interviewers need to take a few days to weigh up all the candidates. But asking for an update will show you’re keen to work for them. We recommend giving them a few days before sending an email.
Pros
- You should ask for an update to show you’re keen.
- It shows you’re eager to keep up to date with a process.
Cons
- It can appear desperate.
- Some people might assume you’re impatient.
There are plenty of great ways to go about asking for an update. So, keep reading to learn how to ask for an update in an email professionally.
How to Ask for an Update in an Email
- I would like an update on the status of
- Do you have any updates?
- By way of update
- I would like to check the status of
- Can i ask for an update?
- Do you have any news about
- Have you got an update for me?
- Is there an update on the status of
- Any updates about
1. I Would Like an Update on the Status Of
One of the simplest ways to ask for an update is “I would like an update on the status of.” It’s clear and direct, making it an excellent choice for nearly every type of professional follow-up email.
You don’t need to request an update in complicated ways. Simple phrases work best when addressing an employer to find out the status of something. After all, you’re going to want to learn whether you’ve moved to the next stage after your job application has gone through.
You can also refer to this email example if you’re not sure:
Dear Harry,
I would like an update on the status of my application. Have you got anything new to share with me?
Kind regards,
Maxwell Crystal
2. Do You Have Any Updates?
We recommend using “do you have any updates?” when you want to write an email about a request. It’s a great question because it is clear and shows you’d like to learn about the status of something.
Most employers will happily answer you if you politely word your email in this way. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a status update, after all.
You may use it when asking for an update on a job application or even as a follow-up email on a project you’ve been working on. There is no limit to how useful this question is.
This email sample should help you:
Dear Amy,
Do you have any updates for me? I would like to know what the status of the application is.
All the best,
Bella Auto
3. By Way of Update
If you want to know how to write a follow-up email, one formal alternative is “by way of update.” It works best to follow up with your boss. After all, it’s a really formal phrase that shows you’d like to find out more about something.
We only recommend using this if you don’t know your boss very well. It’s not the most personal or friendly choice, so it won’t work well in situations where you have a good working relationship with them.
Here’s a useful example email to help you with it:
Dear Marcus,
By way of update, would you like to share any new information with me? I’m keen to learn more.
Thank you so much,
Benjamin Francais
4. I Would Like to Check the Status Of
“I would like” should always be at the forefront of your mind when trying to remain formal and polite. The full phrase “I would like to check the status of” works really well to show you how to ask for an update in an email.
You should use this as a polite way to ask for an update when you need to know the status of something. For example, you might be emailing a business to ask for the status of an order you placed with them.
It’s a clear alternative that gets information quickly and easily.
You can also refer to this example:
Dear Bethany,
I would like to check the status of my order. Has anything changed since I last messaged you about this?
All the best,
Duncan Firth
5. Can I Ask for an Update?
If you’re not all that familiar with the process of asking for an update, you might use a slightly more conversational question. “Can I ask for an update?” works well when you’re unsure whether you can have an update. However, it’s always worth asking.
Generally, something like this works best when emailing employers. It shows you might not understand the conventions around asking for updates, but you’re still keen to learn whether there are more steps to learn about.
Here’s a great example to show you how it works:
Dear Tommy,
Can I ask for an update? I’m eager to find out what I need to do to continue to the next stage.
Kind regards,
Sam Bradley
6. Do You Have Any News About
In more casual situations, you can ask “do you have any news about.” It’s a great question that works when emailing coworkers who might have some more information to share with you about something work-related.
We certainly recommend it when talking to people you trust.
For instance, perhaps you have a coworker who is closer to your boss than you are. Maybe they can get some information for you if you’ve just applied for a new role or promotion, as they could talk to your boss to see if you’ve got the job.
You may check out this email sample if you’re still not sure:
Dear Johnson,
Do you have any news about my application yet? I would like to know more about it before I make any decisions.
Yours,
Paul Woodley
7. Have You Got an Update for Me?
Your question doesn’t have to be wordy or formal when asking for an update. Keep the basics if you’re still trying to find something useful. Why not start with “have you got an update for me?”
It does the trick, and that’s all you can ask for!
Use it to email an employer when you have a good relationship with them. If your boss doesn’t mind slightly more informal language, then there’s no reason you can’t use a phrase like this one.
Why not refer to this example to see how to use it:
Dear Ms. Taylor,
Have you got an update for me? My team is keen to start work on the newest projects.
Yours,
Michael Tyre
8. Is There an Update on the Status Of
Something like “is there an update on the status of” works really well in a business email. You can use it for all sorts of situations, making it quite a versatile choice if you need to ask for a reply about a work update.
You may use it when emailing a colleague who might have more information than you. It’s the best way to ask for an update in an email when you know someone well and can trust the source of the information.
Here’s an email example to show you how it works:
Dear Hannah-May,
Is there an update on the status of the project? I’d like to know if you’re close to completion.
Kind regards,
Juliet Smith
9. Any Updates About
A good example of how to politely ask for an update is “any updates about.” Sure, it’s not the most formal choice, but it works well in most conversational emails between colleagues.
You may not want to use it when talking to a new recruiter or employer after an interview. Though, you can use it to ask colleagues you get along well with if they might know more about the interview process.
Of course, it only works if the colleagues you email have a connection with the recruiter. Perhaps they can use their position to find out more for you.
Check out the following example to help you:
Dear Britney,
Any updates about the process? I haven’t heard much from you since we last spoke about this.
All the best,
George Washboard