In Workday, application status “In Progress” usually means your application is still active in the employer’s recruiting workflow—but it rarely tells you the exact step. Treat it as “not rejected yet”, verify your submission, watch for emails/assessments, and follow up after a reasonable window (often 7–10 business days) if you have a contact.
- What “In Progress” can and can’t tell you in Workday
- The most common interpretations behind this status
- A practical timeline for what to do next
- When following up helps (and when it hurts)
- Copy/paste follow-up email templates that sound calm and professional
Quick Answers
What does “In Progress” mean in Workday?
Most commonly, it means your application is still active in the employer’s Workday recruiting workflow and hasn’t been closed out. It’s a broad label and doesn’t guarantee that anyone has reviewed your resume yet.
Is “In Progress” the same as “Under Review”?
Not necessarily. Some employers use “In Progress” as a catch‑all status for multiple steps, including queueing, screening, and internal review. Others show more specific stage names separately.
How long can a Workday application stay “In Progress”?
It can stay “In Progress” from a few days to multiple weeks, depending on hiring volume, internal approvals, and recruiter capacity. Status updates can lag behind real activity, so email communication matters more than the label.
When should you follow up?
If you have a recruiter contact, a good default is to follow up after about 7–10 business days (or sooner if the job posting closes, you have a referral, or you were told a timeline). If you don’t have a contact, focus on improving your application and pipeline rather than repeatedly checking the portal.
"In Progress" looks like good news—until two weeks pass and you realize it might mean nothing. The reality: Workday status labels are signals, not verdicts, and the same label can mean different things at different companies.
Workday is used by thousands of employers, and each organization configures its recruiting workflow differently. Some update statuses in real time; others batch-update once a week. Understanding what the label can't tell you is just as important as what it can.
Skip to follow-up templates if you want to send a message and move on.
What Workday status labels can (and can't) tell you
Workday status labels are useful for one thing: whether your application is still open in the system. They are much less reliable for telling you exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.
Here’s what “In Progress” can usually tell you:
- your application exists in the employer’s system
- the application hasn’t been marked “inactive,” “closed,” “not selected,” or equivalent
- there may be next steps coming (screening, assessment, interview), but timing is unknown
Here's what it can't reliably tell you:
- whether a recruiter has read your resume
- whether the hiring manager has reviewed your profile (most HMs never see Workday statuses—they only see candidates when recruiters push profiles to them)
- whether you're a top candidate vs. in a large queue
- whether the role is effectively paused (even if still "open" in the ATS)
- whether "In Progress" simply means you passed automated knock-out questions (location, work authorization, salary range) without any human review yet
Many companies update Workday stages in batches, or only after internal decisions are made. Portal statuses can lag behind reality by days (sometimes longer), especially during high-volume hiring.
An Applicant Tracking System is recruiting software that stores applications, routes candidates through a workflow (screening → interviews → offer), and lets recruiters search and filter applicants by criteria like skills, titles, location, and experience.
Workday is an enterprise HR platform used by employers. When a company uses Workday Recruiting, candidates typically apply through a Workday-hosted careers site, and recruiters manage applicant stages inside the Workday workflow.
Treat “In Progress” as a broad “still active” status. The most trustworthy signals are direct emails (assessment links, interview scheduling) and stated recruiter timelines.
Meaning of “In Progress” in Workday (common interpretations)
Because employers can configure workflows and labels differently, “In Progress” is best understood as a small set of common possibilities.
1) Your application was received and is waiting in a queue
This is the most common interpretation—especially for high-volume roles. The application is "in the system," but it may not have been reviewed yet. In many cases, "In Progress" simply means you passed automated knock-out questions (location, work authorization, shift availability) and are now in a review queue.
Typical signs:
- you received an application confirmation email
- the role is still open on the careers site
- there’s no further message (assessment, screen) yet
2) Initial screening is happening (recruiter review or automated filters)
Recruiters may be screening applications for minimum requirements (work authorization, location, availability) or looking for a shortlist based on skills and prior titles.
A status that stays “In Progress” doesn’t mean “strong candidate,” and a status that changes quickly doesn’t always mean “rejected.” Many systems run on batch updates and internal approvals.
3) The application moved forward internally, but the portal label didn’t change
Some workflows keep a single “In Progress” label for many steps and only update when the candidate is closed out or formally advanced (e.g., interview scheduling).
4) The role is paused, backfilled, or waiting on approvals
In some cases, a requisition remains open in Workday while the team is waiting on budget approvals or internal changes. Your application may stay “In Progress” even when no one is actively reviewing.
5) You completed a step (assessment, questionnaire), and the system is waiting on the next action
If you were sent an assessment link or asked to fill out additional details, Workday may keep the overall status as “In Progress” while internal tasks proceed.
“In Progress” is a bucket, not a promise. The practical move is to control what you can: a clean application, a follow-up plan, and a stronger pipeline.
Workday status glossary (common labels candidates see)
Workday portals differ by employer, but most candidate-facing labels are variations of the same few states:
- In Progress / Active / Under Consideration: the application is still open in the system.
- Under Review / Review in Progress: the application is in a screening phase (often a queue, sometimes a true review).
- Interview / Scheduling / Assessment: a next step is happening or pending (often triggered by an email).
- Not Selected / Inactive / Closed: the employer closed the application out (rejection, role closed, or hiring completed).
- Withdrawn: the candidate withdrew (sometimes accidentally—double-check before assuming).
For a similar “status labels are broad buckets” breakdown in another common ATS, see: Greenhouse Application Status Meaning.
Labels differ, but the states are consistent: active → next step (email) → closed out. Optimize for the workflow, not the wording.
What to do next (timeline + follow-up steps)
The goal is to (1) avoid missing a real next step and (2) keep momentum even if the status is vague.
Confirm the application actually submitted (today)
Check for a confirmation email and verify your Workday profile shows the correct resume and any attachments. If you applied from a phone, double-check file uploads (some failures look “submitted” but are missing attachments).
Look for time-sensitive next steps (next 24–72 hours)
Many employers send assessments or questionnaires shortly after applying. Search your inbox and spam for the company name, “Workday,” and “assessment.”
Strengthen the application while you wait (this week)
If the role is competitive, treat the waiting period as preparation time: refine your resume, build a short company-specific pitch, and queue up relevant examples for a recruiter screen.
Set a follow-up date (usually 7–10 business days)
If you have a recruiter email or a referral, follow up after 7–10 business days unless the role explicitly lists a faster timeline. If you don’t have a contact, focus on your pipeline and avoid repeatedly refreshing the portal.
A disappearing posting can mean “filled,” “paused,” or “reposted under a new requisition.” If it’s gone and you have a contact, follow up sooner and reference the role title + date applied.
- Save proof of submission (confirmation email + application ID if available).
- Verify your uploaded resume/attachments are correct and readable.
- Check spam for assessments or scheduling emails (especially in the first 72 hours).
- Do one high-leverage action: referral request, recruiter outreach, or portfolio update.
- Set a follow-up date (often 7–10 business days) instead of checking daily.
- Keep applying elsewhere—one Workday status should never be the only plan.
The best move is structured patience: verify submission, watch for email actions, set a follow-up date, and keep the rest of the pipeline moving.
When not to follow up (too soon or missing the right contact)
Following up can help, but only when it’s targeted and timed well.
Avoid following up when:
- It’s been fewer than ~5 business days and you weren’t given a faster timeline.
- You don’t have a real contact (no recruiter email, no referral, no hiring manager connection).
- The posting is still actively collecting applications (common for evergreen roles).
- Your message would be a cold “checking in” with no value, referral, or context.
Messaging “Any updates?” every few days signals poor judgment and can frustrate recruiters who are managing hundreds of applicants. A single, well-timed follow-up is more effective than repeated pings.
If there is no recruiter contact, a more effective strategy is to find the right person first (recruiter or hiring manager) and then send a single, specific message. For practical steps, see: How to Find the Hiring Manager for a Job Posting.
Follow up when you can send a specific message to a real person. Otherwise, invest that effort into pipeline + targeting improvements.
Templates: polite follow-up email (short and standard)
These are designed to be copy/paste friendly and calm. The placeholders are meant to be replaced.
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 in the role—especially the [SPECIFIC DETAIL: team / product / responsibility]. If it’s helpful, I’m happy to share a brief summary of relevant experience: - [1–2 bullets of proof, metrics if possible] Is there a timeline for next steps, or anything else I can provide? Thanks, [YOUR NAME] [LINKEDIN] | [PORTFOLIO]
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 in case it’s helpful during screening. 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 or whether a short screen call would be useful. Thanks, [YOUR NAME] [LINKEDIN] | [PORTFOLIO]
Hi [NAME] — I applied for the [ROLE] role at [COMPANY] on [DATE]. Quick question: is there a preferred contact for recruiting updates on this position? Happy to share a 2–3 sentence summary of fit if helpful. Thanks!
Workday “In Progress”: the practical interpretation
- 1“In Progress” usually means your application is still active, but it’s a broad label.
- 2Status updates can lag—emails and recruiter timelines are more reliable than the portal.
- 3Verify your submission, watch for assessments, and set a follow-up date (often 7–10 business days).
- 4Follow up only when you have a real contact and a specific message—avoid repeated pings.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “In Progress” a good sign in Workday?
It’s a neutral-to-positive sign: it typically means you haven’t been closed out. But it doesn’t confirm review, and it doesn’t predict interview odds. Treat it as “still active,” then focus on follow-up timing and strengthening the rest of your pipeline.
Why does my Workday status still say “In Progress” after an interview?
Some employers don’t update portal labels for each step, or updates are delayed while internal decisions happen. If you interviewed, rely on recruiter communication and stated timelines more than the portal status.
Does Workday update the status immediately when you’re rejected?
Not always. Some rejections trigger an email immediately while the portal label lags, and some companies update statuses in batches. If you received a clear rejection email, treat that as the authoritative outcome.
How long should you wait before following up?
A common default is 7–10 business days after applying, unless you were told a faster timeline. Follow up sooner if you have a referral or if the job posting closes and you have a recruiter contact.
Should you apply again if the Workday status is “In Progress” for weeks?
Reapplying to the same requisition usually doesn’t help and can create duplicate records. A better move is targeted outreach (referral or recruiter contact) and continuing to apply to other roles.
What should you do if you can’t find a recruiter contact?
Focus on higher-leverage actions: get a referral, find the hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn, or strengthen your resume and portfolio. Then send one specific message rather than repeatedly checking the portal.
Researching Job Market & Building AI Tools for Job Seekers since December 2020