What Does “Under Consideration” Mean on a Job Application?

“Under consideration” usually means the employer's portal still lists you as an active candidate. It does not confirm that someone read your resume or that an interview is coming. The display may also lag behind a decision communicated by email.

To work out what to do next, look at when the label appeared, your last conversation with the employer, and any outstanding tasks. For a broader comparison, see LifeShack's guide to job application status meanings.

What “under consideration” means in your situation

It appeared immediately after you applied

The employer may use the label as the starting status for completed applications. There may have been no human review between your submission and the change.

Check that you received a confirmation and that no required task is unfinished. Save the job description and application date. An immediate status change alone is not a reason to contact recruiting or submit the same application again.

It appeared after a recruiter call or interview

Your conversation is stronger evidence of progress than the portal label. The team may be comparing interview feedback, arranging another round, or waiting for approval. “Under consideration” cannot identify which step is happening.

Use the timeline the recruiter gave you. If they promised an update by Friday, allow one or two business days after that date before checking in. A new portal timestamp does not automatically restart that timeline.

It conflicts with an email or recruiter message

If you received a rejection email but the portal still says “under consideration,” treat the email as the decision for that role. Check the job title or requisition number if you applied to multiple openings.

If you have an interview invitation but the status changes unexpectedly, ask your recruiter whether the interview is still scheduled. Avoid canceling it based only on the label.

Save both messages when the information conflicts. That makes a clarification easier: “I received an invitation for [role/ID], but the portal now shows [status]. Is the interview still going ahead?”

What employers say about the label

Amazon's application FAQ addresses “Under Consideration” directly: Amazon says it will contact applicants about next steps if their application is successful and advises checking junk mail. It does not promise an interview or give a waiting period based on that status.

Workday's documentation explains why the wording can be vague. Employers can change the labels external candidates see, including labels for internal interview and offer stages. They can also configure delays in status notifications.

For a Workday application, check that employer's Candidate Home for messages and tasks. LifeShack's Workday application guide explains how the application flow can vary between employers.

Under consideration vs. under review or in progress

Employers may use these labels interchangeably or in different sequences. “Under consideration” is not reliably a step above “under review,” and “in progress” does not establish that interviews have started.

If your application changes between them without an email or task, record the change without assuming you advanced. The application under review guide covers that label's evaluation stages and possible next steps.

How long should you wait before following up?

There is no standard time limit for “under consideration.” A role can stay open while applications are reviewed in batches, a posting closes, or hiring pauses.

Follow any timeline or contact instructions in the posting first. If no timeline exists and you have a recruiter or hiring-manager contact, one brief follow-up after roughly 7 to 10 business days is a reasonable planning choice. It is not an employer deadline.

After an interview, follow up with the person who gave you the expected decision date. You can use this message once that date has passed:

Subject: [Job Title] next steps

Hi [Name],

Thank you again for speaking with me on [Date]. You mentioned an update around [Expected Date], so I wanted to check whether there is a revised timeline for next steps. I remain interested in the role.

Thank you,
[Name]

If you have not spoken with the team yet, LifeShack's hiring-manager message guide has examples for earlier stages. Do not send repeated messages to several employees because the portal has stayed unchanged.

Keep track of the application while you keep looking

In the free LifeShack job application tracker, record the exact status, last recruiter contact, and your next follow-up date. If several weeks pass without a reply, keep the record but stop planning around that opening.

If silence is happening across many applications, use LifeShack's four-step plan for applications that get no response to review your targeting, materials, and follow-up.

For the applications you send next, LifeShack AI Auto Apply can find matching roles and submit supported applications, leaving more time for interview preparation and recruiter conversations.