"Under review" means your application is still open and hasn't been rejected—but it doesn't mean a human has looked at it yet. The label is broad, vague by design, and used differently across every ATS. Treat it as "still alive," set a follow-up date, and keep applying elsewhere.
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Quick Answers
What does 'under review' mean on a job application?
It means your application is still active in the employer's system and hasn't been closed out. It doesn't confirm that a recruiter has personally read your resume — it may just mean you passed automated filters and entered a review queue.
Is 'under review' a good sign?
It's neutral-to-positive. You haven't been rejected, which is better than 'not selected' or 'closed.' But it doesn't predict interview odds — it's a holding status, not a ranking.
Can 'under review' mean rejected?
Not directly — if you've been rejected, the status typically changes to 'not selected,' 'closed,' or 'inactive.' However, some companies leave applications 'under review' for weeks after an internal decision, because portal updates lag behind real activity.
How long does 'under review' last?
Anywhere from a few days to several weeks. It depends on the company's hiring pace, the number of applicants, and whether the role is actively being filled or paused internally.
You applied. You got a confirmation email. You logged into the portal, saw "under review," and felt a brief dopamine hit — they're looking at me!
Maybe. Or maybe the system just moved you from one bucket to another automatically. The honest truth: "under review" is one of the most overloaded status labels in recruiting, and its meaning changes depending on the ATS, the company, and sometimes the day of the week.
Every major ATS — Workday, Greenhouse, iCIMS, Jobvite, SmartRecruiters — uses some version of "under review." But none of them mean the same thing by it.
- Under Review (application status)
"Under review" is an ATS status indicating that a job application has entered the employer's evaluation pipeline. The specific stage varies by company — it can mean anything from "passed automated filters" to "recruiter is actively reading resumes" to "waiting on a hiring manager decision."
Here's what the label can tell you:
- Your application exists in the system and was submitted successfully
- You haven't been formally rejected or closed out
- There may be a next step coming (screening, assessment, interview)
Here's what it can't tell you:
- Whether a human has actually seen your resume
- Whether you're a strong candidate or just in a queue
- Whether the role is paused, on hold, or actively being filled
- How many other applicants are ahead of you
ATS platforms are built for recruiters, not candidates. Status labels track internal workflow stages — they were never designed to communicate progress to applicants. Companies configure these labels differently, and many don't update them in real time.
"Under review" is a broad bucket that means "still open." It's not a signal of progress or a prediction of outcome.
These three labels cause endless confusion because they overlap, and different companies use them interchangeably. Here's how they generally compare:
The practical truth: at many companies, all three labels mean the same thing — "your application is still open." The wording depends on how the employer configured their ATS, not on your actual position in the pipeline.
For ATS-specific breakdowns:
- Workday Application Status Meanings — covers "In Progress," "In Process," and "Under Review" in Workday
- Greenhouse Application Status Meaning — covers "Active," "In Review," and "Rejected" in Greenhouse
Don't read into the wording difference between "under review," "in progress," and "under consideration." The real signal is direct communication — emails, assessments, interview scheduling.
Short answer: not directly. If you've been rejected, most ATS platforms change the status to something explicit — "not selected," "closed," "inactive," or "no longer under consideration."
But here's the catch: portal updates lag behind real decisions. A recruiter might decide to pass on your application on Monday, but the system doesn't update until Friday (or never, if the company doesn't send rejection notifications).
Common scenarios where "under review" outlasts reality:
- Batch processing — the recruiter reviews 50 applications at once but only updates statuses after making final decisions for the whole batch
- Hiring pause — the role gets frozen internally, but nobody closes out the req or updates candidates
- Ghost rejection — the company fills the role but never formally closes other applications
Some companies never update your status at all. The role fills, the requisition stays technically "open" in the ATS, and your application stays "under review" indefinitely. If you've heard nothing after 3-4 weeks with no communication, this is the most likely explanation.
The only reliable rejection signals are:
- An explicit rejection email
- Status change to "not selected," "closed," or "inactive"
- The role disappearing from the company's careers page + no communication for 3+ weeks
"Under review" doesn't mean rejected — but it also doesn't mean someone is actively reviewing your application right now. Watch for direct emails, not portal updates.
There's no universal answer, but here's what's typical:
Most decisions happen within 2 weeks. If you've heard nothing for 3+ weeks, the status label is probably stale.
The worst thing you can do is refresh the portal daily and hang your mood on a status label that might not change for weeks.
Confirm your submission actually went through (day 1)
Check for a confirmation email. Log into the portal and verify your resume uploaded correctly. Some ATS platforms accept submissions with missing attachments — you think you applied, but the recruiter sees an incomplete profile.
Watch for time-sensitive next steps (first 72 hours)
Many companies send assessments, questionnaires, or pre-screen surveys within the first few days. Search your inbox and spam for the company name, "assessment," or the ATS name (Workday, Greenhouse, etc.).
Prepare for a recruiter screen (this week)
If the application moves forward, the first step is usually a 15-30 minute recruiter call. Have your pitch ready: why this role, why this company, 2-3 relevant accomplishments with numbers.
Set a follow-up date — then stop checking (7-10 business days)
If you have a recruiter email or a referral, follow up after 7-10 business days. If you don't have a contact, focus on your pipeline — not the portal.
- Verify your submission (confirmation email + correct resume/attachments).
- Check spam for assessments or screening emails in the first 72 hours.
- Prepare a 60-second pitch and 2-3 STAR stories for this specific role.
- Set a follow-up date (7-10 business days) instead of checking the portal daily.
- Keep applying elsewhere — one status shouldn't control your week.
Structured patience beats portal obsession. Verify, prepare, set a follow-up date, and keep your pipeline moving.
Use these when you have a real contact (recruiter email or referral). Don't send cold "any updates?" messages to generic info@ addresses.
Subject: Application for [ROLE] — quick follow-up Hi [NAME], I applied for the [ROLE] position on [DATE] and wanted to follow up to confirm my application is in the right place. I'm still very interested — especially in [SPECIFIC DETAIL: team, product, challenge]. A quick summary of relevant fit: - [Proof point 1 with metric if possible] - [Proof point 2] Is there a timeline for next steps, or anything else I can provide? Thanks, [YOUR NAME] [LINKEDIN URL]
Subject: [REFERRER NAME] referral — [ROLE] application Hi [NAME], [REFERRER NAME] suggested I reach out regarding the [ROLE] position. I applied on [DATE] and wanted to share a quick note. Relevant fit: - [Proof point 1] - [Proof point 2] - [Proof point 3] If the team is still hiring, I'd appreciate any guidance on next steps. Thanks, [YOUR NAME] [LINKEDIN URL]
Hi [NAME] — I applied for the [ROLE] at [COMPANY] on [DATE]. Quick question: is there a timeline for next steps on this position? Happy to share a brief summary of fit if helpful. Thanks!
Don't follow up if: (1) it's been fewer than 5 business days, (2) you don't have a real contact, or (3) you'd just be sending "any updates?" with no value. One good follow-up beats five vague pings.
Application 'under review': the practical playbook
- 1'Under review' means your application is still open — not that someone is actively reading it right now.
- 2The label is used differently across every ATS platform and every company.
- 3'Under review,' 'in progress,' and 'under consideration' often mean the same thing.
- 4The most reliable signals are direct emails and recruiter communication — not portal labels.
- 5Follow up after 7-10 business days if you have a contact; otherwise, focus on pipeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'under review' mean on a job application?
It means your application is still active in the employer's ATS and hasn't been rejected. It doesn't confirm a recruiter has read your resume — it's a broad status that covers multiple internal stages.
Is 'under review' a good sign?
It's neutral-to-positive: you haven't been rejected. But it doesn't indicate how strong a candidate you are or whether an interview is likely. Treat it as 'still in the game' and focus on what you can control.
Can 'under review' mean rejected?
Not directly. Rejection typically shows as 'not selected,' 'closed,' or 'inactive.' However, some companies make internal decisions without updating the portal, so 'under review' can outlast the actual review period.
How long does 'under review' usually last?
Most active hiring processes move within 1-2 weeks. If your status hasn't changed after 3-4 weeks with no communication, the process may be paused or the role may have been filled without a formal update.
What's the difference between 'under review' and 'in progress'?
'Under review' sometimes implies an active screening step, while 'in progress' is a broader catch-all for any open application. In practice, many companies use them interchangeably — the wording depends on ATS configuration, not your candidacy stage.
Should I follow up if my status says 'under review'?
Yes — if you have a real contact (recruiter email or referral) and it's been 7-10 business days. No — if you'd just be sending 'any updates?' to a generic inbox with no additional value.
Why hasn't my status changed in weeks?
Common reasons: the company processes applications in batches, the role is paused internally, the hiring manager hasn't reviewed candidates yet, or the portal updates lag behind real decisions. A stale status is more common than you'd think.
Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for careerists since December 2020