I recently applied for a remote design role at a small company with about 8-10 employees. After submitting my application through LinkedIn, I was thrilled to learn that I had moved to the assessment stage out of 55 applicants. I completed the aptitude test and personality profile on July 10, but it's now been 11 days without any updates regarding the case study instructions they mentioned would come 'shortly.' I'm feeling a bit anxious as this is my first job hunting experience, and I really want to land this position. However, I'm unsure about following up since their email was a no-reply address, and the only other way to contact them is through a customer inquiry form on their retail website. I worry that reaching out might come off as pushy, but I'm also concerned that the silence could mean a soft rejection. Is it common for small startups to take this long for follow-ups? Should I just wait a bit longer or send a polite note through their contact page? I'm really eager to hear back and would appreciate any advice.