Yesterday the job was open. Today the portal says "Requisition Closed." Not "rejected." Not "position filled." Just... closed. Like the whole thing never existed.
You spent an hour tailoring your resume. You wrote a cover letter. You followed up with a recruiter on LinkedIn. And now the requisition is closed — and you don't know if someone got hired, the budget was pulled, or the role was reorganized out of existence.
What does 'requisition closed' mean?
It means the job opening (the 'requisition') has been shut down in the company's ATS. All remaining candidates for that role are moved to a closed status. It can happen because the role was filled, canceled, frozen, or restructured.
Does 'requisition closed' mean I was rejected?
Not necessarily — it's a requisition-level action, not a candidate-level decision. When a requisition closes, every remaining applicant gets the same status update, whether they were being actively considered or not.
Can I reapply if the requisition is closed?
To the closed requisition, no. But if the company reposts the role (new requisition number), you can and should apply fresh. Set a job alert to catch it when it reappears.
You checked the portal and saw "requisition closed." Does that mean someone else got the job? Maybe. Or maybe the role was canceled entirely and nobody got it. The label itself doesn't tell you which — and that ambiguity is the frustrating part.
- Job Requisition
A job requisition (or "req") is a formal internal request to fill a position. It includes the job title, department, salary range, required qualifications, and approvals. In an ATS, every job posting is tied to a requisition number — and when the req is closed, the posting and all associated applications are closed with it.
Think of it as the backend identifier for a job opening. You see the job title and description; the ATS sees a requisition number with a lifecycle: open → active → closed.
"Requisition closed" is about the job, not about you. Every applicant gets the same status change.
Not all closures are created equal. Here are the most common reasons:
The role was filled
Someone accepted the offer. This is the most straightforward reason — the company found their hire and closed the req.
The role was canceled
Budget cuts, reorgs, leadership changes, or strategic shifts can kill a requisition before anyone is hired. The role simply no longer exists (for now).
Hiring freeze
The company paused hiring across departments. The req stays in the system but gets closed or put on indefinite hold. This happens frequently during economic uncertainty or after layoff rounds.
The role was restructured
The job description changed significantly enough that the company decided to close the original req and open a new one. The "new" role might look almost identical — just with a different req number and possibly a slightly different title.
The role was reposted
Sometimes companies close a req and immediately repost it to reset the applicant pool — especially if the first round didn't produce strong enough candidates. This is actually an opportunity for you.
If you see the same job reappear on the company's careers page with a new posting date, it was likely reposted under a new requisition. Apply fresh — your old application won't carry over.
| Requisition Closed | Position Filled |
|---|---|
| Broader term — could mean filled, canceled, frozen, or restructured | Specifically means someone was hired for the role |
| All remaining candidates get this status | All remaining candidates get this status |
| Role might reopen later (under a new req) | Role is filled — unlikely to reopen soon (unless the hire doesn't work out) |
| Not always a personal rejection | Not a personal rejection — it's a system-wide close |
"Position filled" is a subset of "requisition closed." Every filled position results in a closed requisition, but not every closed requisition means the position was filled.
- Set a job alert for the company so you catch reposts quickly
- If you have a recruiter contact, let them know you're still interested
- If reapplying, tailor your resume for the specific posting — don't copy-paste your old submission
Check whether the role is reposted (this week)
Visit the company's careers page and search for the same or similar title. If it reappears, apply fresh.
Set a job alert for the company
If you're interested in the company, set an alert so you're notified when similar roles open. Many companies repost roles within weeks.
Reach out to the recruiter (if you have a contact)
If you had a relationship with the recruiter, a brief note expressing continued interest is fine. Don't ask them to reopen the req — ask whether similar opportunities exist.
Keep applying elsewhere
- 01'Requisition closed' means the job opening was shut down — not necessarily that you were personally rejected.
- 02Common reasons: role filled, canceled, frozen, restructured, or reposted under a new req.
- 03All applicants get the same status update when a req closes.
- 04You can reapply if the role is reposted or apply to other roles at the same company.
- 05Set a job alert and check for reposts — many closed roles reappear within weeks.
What does 'requisition closed' mean?
The job opening has been shut down in the company's ATS. All remaining applicants are moved to a closed status. The closure could be because the role was filled, canceled, frozen, or restructured.
Does 'requisition closed' mean I was rejected?
Not necessarily. It's a system-wide action — when the requisition closes, every remaining candidate gets the same status. It may or may not reflect a decision about your specific candidacy.
Is 'requisition closed' the same as 'position filled'?
'Position filled' is one reason a requisition might close, but not the only one. Requisitions also close due to cancellations, freezes, or restructuring — situations where nobody was hired.
Can I reapply after a requisition is closed?
Not to the same req. But if the role is reposted under a new requisition number, apply fresh. You can always apply to other open roles at the same company.
Why was the requisition closed without anyone being hired?
Common reasons include budget cuts, hiring freezes, organizational restructuring, or the company deciding to reallocate the headcount to a different role. It's not unusual and not a reflection of the applicant pool.
Prepared by Careery Team
Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for careerists · since December 2020