"Application received" is the earliest status in most ATS systems — it confirms the employer's system has your materials, but no one has looked at them yet. It's the digital equivalent of "your package has been delivered." The next step is on the employer's side: screening, review, or an automated filter. All you can do is verify your submission and keep moving.
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Quick Answers
What does 'application received' mean?
It means the ATS has your application — resume, cover letter, questionnaire answers, and any other materials. It confirms delivery, not evaluation. No one has reviewed your candidacy at this point.
Is 'application received' a good sign?
It's a neutral sign — it just means your submission went through successfully. It's better than a failed upload or an error message, but it doesn't indicate anything about your chances.
What comes after 'application received'?
Typically: automated screening (knock-out questions, minimum requirements), then recruiter review. The next status you'll see is usually 'in progress,' 'under review,' or 'under consideration' — or, in the worst case, 'not selected.'
You hit "Submit," got a confirmation screen, and the portal now says "Application Received." That's it — no fanfare, no details, just two words confirming your resume made it into the system. It's the starting line, not a finish line, and there's exactly one useful thing you can do right now: make sure nothing broke during submission.
- Application Received (status)
An ATS status confirming that a candidate's application was successfully submitted and stored in the employer's system. It is the earliest stage of the application lifecycle and does not indicate any evaluation has begun.
This status appears across all major ATS platforms — Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Jobvite, SmartRecruiters — though some call it "Submitted," "Application Submitted," or just show a confirmation message without a formal status label.
What it tells you:
- Your application exists in the employer's database
- The system received your resume, cover letter, and any other materials you attached
- You completed the required fields and questionnaire (if applicable)
What it doesn't tell you:
- Whether your resume parsed correctly (ATS parsing errors are common)
- Whether you'll pass automated screening filters
- When a human will look at your application
- How many other people applied
The progression is roughly: Received → In Progress → Under Review — but many companies skip the "received" stage entirely and start at "in progress," or use "under review" from the moment of submission. The labels depend on the employer's ATS configuration.
For a detailed breakdown of later stages: Application Under Review Meaning.
"Application received" is step zero. The useful statuses come later — and direct emails are always more reliable than portal labels.
Here's the typical sequence after your application enters the system:
Automated screening (minutes to hours)
Most ATS platforms run automated filters on new applications: knock-out questions (location, work authorization, salary expectations), keyword matching, and minimum qualification checks. If you don't pass, your status may change to "not selected" without any human involvement.
Queue for recruiter review (hours to days)
Applications that pass automated screening enter a review queue. Depending on the role's popularity, there could be dozens or hundreds of applications ahead of yours.
Recruiter review (days to weeks)
A recruiter scans your resume — typically spending 5-15 seconds on the initial pass. If you match what they're looking for, you move to the next stage (phone screen, assessment, or interview). If not, your status changes to "not selected" or stays unchanged indefinitely.
Next step or silence
If the recruiter likes what they see, you'll get an email — assessment, scheduling link, or a direct message. If you don't hear anything, the most common outcome is silence (no status change, no email, just an application sitting in the system).
For high-volume roles, the majority of applications receive no response at all. If your status stays "received" or "in progress" for weeks with no email, the role may have moved forward with other candidates without formally closing out your application.
On most platforms, the status changes within 24-72 hours — either to "in progress," "under review," or it stays on "received" for the duration. Some companies don't update intermediate statuses at all.
The one productive thing you can do at the "application received" stage is make sure nothing went wrong with your submission.
- Check for a confirmation email (from the company or the ATS platform).
- Log into the portal and verify your resume uploaded correctly (not corrupted or empty).
- Check that attachments (cover letter, portfolio, etc.) are visible in your profile.
- Verify your contact information is correct — especially email and phone number.
- If you completed a questionnaire, confirm all answers saved (some portals lose data on refresh).
- Save the application confirmation and job posting for your records (postings can disappear).
Job postings get taken down all the time — sometimes before you even hear back. Save a screenshot or PDF of the posting so you can reference the requirements when preparing for a screen or interview.
'Application received': the practical takeaway
- 1'Application received' confirms delivery — not evaluation. Nobody has looked at your resume yet.
- 2It's the earliest status in the pipeline, equivalent to 'package delivered.'
- 3The next stages are typically automated screening → recruiter review → contact (or silence).
- 4Your one action item: verify the submission went through correctly (resume, attachments, contact info).
- 5Don't wait on one application — keep your pipeline active while this one processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'application received' mean?
It means the employer's ATS has your application materials. No one has reviewed your candidacy — it's a delivery confirmation, not an evaluation status.
Is 'application received' a good sign?
It's a neutral sign — it confirms your submission went through. It doesn't indicate anything about your chances. Every applicant who submits successfully sees this status.
What's the difference between 'application received' and 'in progress'?
'Application received' is the earliest status — it confirms delivery. 'In progress' typically means the application has entered the active pipeline and may be in a review queue. Some companies skip 'received' and start at 'in progress.'
How long does 'application received' last?
Usually 24-72 hours before changing to another status, though some companies leave it on 'received' for the entire process. The timing depends on the employer's ATS configuration.
What should I do after seeing 'application received'?
Verify your submission: check for a confirmation email, make sure your resume and attachments uploaded correctly, and confirm your contact info is right. Then focus on your pipeline — don't refresh the portal waiting for a change.
Should I follow up when my status says 'application received'?
It's too early. Wait until 7-10 business days have passed. Following up the day after applying signals impatience, not interest.
Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for careerists since December 2020