You’ve sent out dozens of applications, and now you’re waiting anxiously for a response from potential employers. How long should you wait before giving up hope?

Applying for jobs has never been easier. There are hundreds of job boards where companies post their open positions, and millions of applicants apply each year.

The problem is that some employers don’t even bother reading through the piles of resumes they receive.

Job seekers often spend hours applying for jobs only to get no reply at all or a rejection letter.

In this guide, I will explain how long it normally takes for a job applicant to receive feedback and what you can do in the meantime. Read on!

How many days should you wait for a response?

It usually takes about one week for most companies to respond to applicants. But there are some exceptions in the hiring process. For example, according to Glassdoor, it took Amazon three days to give an applicant a video or phone interview.

Depending on the position, it takes longer for some companies to respond to applicants who are on a job hunt. Some positions require a lot of research and background checks.

Other jobs don’t need much effort beyond reviewing the resume and ensuring everything looks good.

Ultimately, it’s up to your employer if he will prolong the process of your application or not. They probably won’t if they say they’ll call you within 24 hours. They might wait a few days or even a week or two.

Remember that employers will receive many applications after posting a job opening. So it’s reasonable to give them a little extra time to review those resumes.

Why expect to hear back quickly

Most job seekers don’t realize that many companies actively search for qualified applicants before applying online. This practice is known as pre-screening, and it’s happening across industries.

In fact, according to LinkedIn, 65% of employers use social media to conduct pre-employment screening before proceeding to a job interview. And while this seems like common sense, we’ve found that many job hunters don’t know about it.

Here’s why: Most people assume that once they submit a resume, cover letter, and references, they’re done. But the truth is that recruiters and hiring managers often look for potential hires long after applications are submitted.

This is especially true for jobs that require specialized skills or experience. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineer role, you’ll receive a phone call or email from the recruiter asking questions about your education and professional history.

In addition to helping you stand apart from the competition, pre-screening gives recruiters and hiring managers a chance to see how well you communicate with others.

They want to make sure that you’re able to collaborate effectively and follow directions, among other qualities.

So if you’re wondering whether you should expect to hear back quickly, the answer is yes.

Why extend your patience to wait for a feedback

Sometimes, you will not hear anything about a position in the span of your plotted time frame. And even though you’ve been applying for work since Day One, there’s no guarantee you’ll hear back from a company.

Sometimes, finding someone else to fill the role takes a while—and that person might be working elsewhere already.

Other times, things can go sideways internally within the company. In either case, it’s hard to know how much time you’re supposed to give a company before moving forward with another candidate.

However, if you do get a response, it’s likely to come very soon. According to Glassdoor, most companies take less than a one-day waiting period to respond to an application.

But again, this depends on the position. Some companies may need more time to decide who they want to hire. Others may not have any openings right now.

What are the best things to do while waiting for feedback?

Waiting for someone to respond to your resume or cover letter is stressful enough without even more anxiety.

You’re probably wondering what else you can do besides sit around twiddling your thumbs.

The good news is that you can actually do plenty of things to make the process go faster.

Here are some tips to help you keep calm and carry on during the job search.

1. Ask an organization’s employee

If you want to ensure you don’t miss out on the job opportunity you’ve been waiting for, reach out to someone who works inside the organization.

This person knows what’s happening behind the scenes and could provide essential insights into how things work there.

Asking someone who works inside the same office as you can be helpful because you’ll likely have a better chance of getting noticed over email. You never know – maybe they’ll even introduce you to the hiring manager.

You can find people like this by searching LinkedIn for anyone working at the organization where you’d like to apply. Then send them a quick note letting them know you’re interested in applying for the position and asking if they know anything about the hiring process.

While you’re in contact with them, see if they can give you some advice on networking. Most companies offer employee referral programs, which allow employees to recommend each other for jobs within the company.

These are great opportunities to meet potential future co-workers and build relationships with those who already work there.

2. Email the hiring manager

Don’t freak out if employers are not responding to you. It’s possible that they haven’t seen your email yet.

Maybe it got buried in their inbox, or they’ve been swamped with work and haven’t had a chance to check their email. Send them a follow-up email and gently remind them that you’re waiting for a response.

But what about those times when you don’t have access to the contact info of the recruiter or HR representative?

What if you’re trying to make a connection with someone in the industry but aren’t sure how to go about reaching them? Or what if you want to say “hi” and let them know you’re interested in working for them?

Here’s a simple follow-back email template to connect with recruiters and hiring managers without having their contact information handy.

Use this template to introduce yourself, tell them why you’d like to work for them and ask if you can help them find the best candidate for the position.

Subject Line: Job Inquiry—

Dear,

My name is, and I’m a. I saw your posting for on and thought I might be able to contribute something valuable.

I recently graduated and have been looking for my next career move. I believe I possess some skills and experience that match well with the responsibilities listed in your job posting.

As I mentioned earlier, I’d love to discuss the opportunity further. Would you mind sharing a little more detail about the position? What type of experience does the ideal candidate have? And finally, where can I submit my application?

Best regards,

3. Don’t hesitate to call the employer with proper greetings

After sending a follow-up email to an employer, scheduling a phone call within 24 hours is essential. This way, you can make sure you speak with someone at the company rather than just sending a generic email.

If you don’t hear anything back, try calling again within another day. You can always resend your original follow-up email later, too.

When you reach out via email, start with a greeting like “Hi, I wanted to follow up on our meeting yesterday.” Then ask what happened since the initial contact and why there hasn’t been a response. You want to show interest in the company and that you care enough to keep in touch.

If the person doesn’t answer the phone, you might want to consider making a follow-up phone call. But remember, you must do this during business hours to increase your chances of talking to a human being.

Once you’ve reached out, wait 24 hours before contacting the employer again. This gives them time to respond and allows you to resend your original follow-up email without sounding repetitive.

4. Interview someone who just applied for the same role

The job market is challenging, especially in industries where the demand for qualified professionals grows.

As a result, many companies struggle to fill open positions. So how do you ensure that you’re making the best choice when choosing a job opportunity? You ask someone who recently applied for the same role.

Often, recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to discuss why they didn’t hire someone. They want to move forward with the interview process without giving away too much information.

But if you ask someone who recently applied, you’ll likely get a candid response. And even if they don’t tell you why they passed on the candidate, you can still learn much about the hiring process.

For example, if someone tells you that they interviewed several candidates but ultimately hired someone else, you now know that they must have been impressed with one candidate over another.

This gives you a better idea of whether or not you’d be a fit for the role.

5. Start marking your calendar for a follow-up after two weeks

If you’ve applied for a job online, you’ve been waiting for the employer to respond. But what happens next? How long does it take for employers to reply? And how often should you follow up?

The answer depends on whether you’re applying for a full-time or part-time job and whether you’re looking for a temporary or permanent position.

In general, you’ll probably receive a response within about two weeks. However, some employers may take longer.

In addition to following up, there are several ways to ensure you remain visible to potential employers. For example, you could update your LinkedIn profile, apply for additional positions, or attend career fairs.

You might even consider sending thank-you notes to recruiters or hiring managers.

6. Continue your job search

As you wait to hear about a specific job opportunity, continue your job search. This helps you keep up with what others are doing and gives you something else to focus on while waiting. If you receive a response, it might be too late to switch gears.

You will most likely find other possible opportunities if you don’t get an interview request.

Also, applying for several positions can help alleviate some of your anxiety because you aren’t limited to one outcome. Plus, there’s no harm in applying for a position that doesn’t seem like a good fit.

7. Manage your stress: Don’t be discouraged!

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Job searching can be a stressful process. It can also be a roller coaster of emotions. One second, you may feel excited and ready to apply.

But then, for several days or weeks, you may feel discouraged because you haven’t heard back from any employers. Those feelings are understandable. It’s okay to be disappointed if you don’t get hired.

And remember, don’t beat yourself up too much. Take a step back and focus on taking good care of yourself.

During those times when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, take a break and do something fun.

Spend time with loved ones and enjoy life! Losing sight of what matters most can be easy when applying for jobs. Make sure to put yourself first and prioritize your own needs. After all, you deserve to relax and enjoy life!

Can you dictate the response time of the employers?

If you’ve ever applied for a job online, you probably know what I’m talking about. After submitting your resume, you wait days or weeks for a response — if one even arrives. And if you apply for multiple positions, you’ll likely receive many emails and calls from recruiters asking you to fill out additional forms.

But while waiting around for a reply isn’t ideal, there are ways you can shorten the time it takes to hear back.

The first step is narrowing down your list of potential employers. If you’re looking for work in a specific industry, try searching for companies within that field. This way, you won’t waste time sending resumes to places you don’t want to work.

Another tip is to send your resume to just one employer per day. Sending too many applications in one sitting could look desperate. Instead, focus on getting one email address each morning.

Once you find the perfect candidate, you must submit the appropriate paperwork. Most companies require applicants to complete a form called a “job application.” These documents usually include education, employment, skills, references, hobbies, etc.

While most of us think we’re thorough in filling out our job applications, we often forget to mention something important. Hiring managers love candidates who take the initiative. So, if you notice anything missing from your application, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Be aware of when to move on and pursue other opportunities

You’ve been working hard on your application, and it looks like the prospect is interested. You’re excited about the opportunity and want to ensure you nail this. So you send out a few emails and wait patiently for a response.

After several days go by without a reply, you start to worry. Maybe you didn’t say enough, or possibly other things are keeping them busy. Or perhaps they aren’t interested.

If you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to work, it might be time to consider moving on to another opportunity.

Your persistence could make you look desperate; if you don’t let up, you’ll never find what you’re looking for. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep trying but know when to give up.

Conclusion

If you’ve been waiting to hear back from a potential employer, you may wonder how long it typically takes.

Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question since the time it takes to hear back can vary depending on the company and position.

However, we’ve put together some general guidelines to help give you an idea of what to expect.

If you want some coaching on improving your job application or interviewing skills, Lancerbee is happy to help. Contact us today for more information!