“Under consideration” means your application is active: the employer has it and has not rejected it. By itself, it does not tell you that anyone has read it or that an interview is coming.
Employers choose their own status names and decide how often to update them, so the same words can mean “waiting in the queue” at one company and “shortlisted” at another. A phone call or an email from a person tells you more than any label.
Key takeaways
- “Under consideration”, “under review”, “in process” and “in progress” all mean the application is active. None of them promises an interview.
- Each employer defines its own statuses. Look for its applicant FAQ before you read anything into a label.
- A status can stay the same for weeks. The University of North Florida says its “In Progress” status remains until the position is filled.
- “Referred” or “routed” is real progress: your application has reached the people who choose interviewees.
- “No longer under consideration”, “not selected” and “position filled” end that application. They do not bar you from other openings.
01
What does “under consideration” mean?
It is a holding status. Your application was received, it has not been turned down, and it sits somewhere between the first screen and a decision.
How far along depends on the employer. Four public employers define their nearest equivalents very differently.
| Employer | Status | Its own definition |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University | Under review | The recruiter is currently reviewing applications, including yours. This is the first phase of recruitment |
| University of North Florida | In Progress | You have successfully submitted your application. The status stays until the position is filled |
| UC Santa Cruz | Routed for Further Consideration | Your application materials have been routed to the hiring department |
| Louisiana state government | Eligible for Consideration | You are among a group of applicants who may be considered for the position |
One label means someone is reading your application, one means only that it was submitted, one means it moved to the hiring department, and one means you are in the group that may be considered. That is why a label alone is weak evidence.
02
Common application statuses and what to do for each
Wording varies. Match yours to the closest row.
| Status | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Received, Submitted, Applied | The system has your application. Nobody has necessarily read it | Keep the confirmation email and note the date |
| Under review, In review, In process, In progress | The application is active, in the queue or being screened | Wait two weeks, then follow up once |
| Under consideration | Active and not rejected. At some employers it also means you passed the first screen | The same. Keep your phone on |
| Referred, Routed, Eligible | Your application moved forward: to the hiring manager, the hiring department or a list of eligible applicants | Prepare for an interview. It is not yet an invitation |
| Interview, Assessment | The employer wants a conversation or a test | Reply within a day and start preparing |
| Offer | An offer is being prepared or has been made | Watch your phone and email |
| Not referred, Not selected, No longer under consideration | You are out of the running for this opening | Log it and decide whether to reply |
| Position filled, Closed | The employer has closed the opening. It may have hired someone or cancelled the search | Move on and watch for new openings |
| Withdrawn | The application was pulled, by you or by the system | Check that it was intended |
| Not submitted, Draft, Incomplete | You started the application and never finished it | Complete it if the posting is still open |
Two of these catch people out. UC Santa Cruz explains that if you submit more than one application for the same position, it routes the most recent one and marks the other “Withdrawn”. And its “Not Submitted” status covers applications cut off by an interrupted session, which you can still complete.
Job boards have their own vocabulary. See Indeed application statuses and what “Application viewed” means on LinkedIn.
03
Why has your status not changed?
Because some systems do not track the middle of the process.
- The status only marks the start and the end. The University of North Florida says “In Progress” appears once you apply and stays until the position is filled. At UC Santa Cruz, an application sits at “Application Received” until it is routed to the hiring department or the job closes.
- Updates follow activity. Ohio State says the status changes when there is activity with your application. No activity, no change.
- Shortlisted applicants are contacted directly. North Florida says that in most cases only the applicants selected for an interview are contacted. The portal may show nothing new while that happens.
So watch your phone and your inbox, spam folder included, more closely than the portal. For what happens at each stage and how long it takes, see how long a job application review takes.
04
What does “no longer under consideration” mean?
You are out of the running for that opening. At Ohio State, this is how applicants who are not chosen for an interview find out: by a status change saying they are no longer being considered.
It is not always a verdict on your qualifications. UC Santa Cruz lists several routes to the same status:
- the hiring department decided your materials did not demonstrate the skills required for an interview;
- you applied after the review date and the department did not ask for more applications;
- the recruitment was withdrawn;
- a candidate with a rehire preference was hired, so no other applications were sent on.
Some employers will tell you which it was. UC Santa Cruz invites applicants to email its talent acquisition office to ask which selection criteria they did not meet as strongly as those chosen for interview. Some employers will not answer that question, but asking once costs nothing. The guide to replying to a job rejection has the wording.
05
What do federal job statuses mean?
Federal hiring is more standardized. OPM says agencies are responsible for giving applicants a status at four points:
- Application received. Your application reached the agency.
- Application assessed. It has been evaluated against the requirements.
- Referred or not referred to the selection official. Referred applications go to the person who makes the choice.
- Selected or not selected. The final outcome.
OPM adds that applicants generally hear from the hiring agency about 15 to 30 days after the announcement closes, and should contact the agency if they have not.
06
What to do when your status changes, or does not
- Find the employer’s definition. Search its careers site for an applicant FAQ. A published definition beats any general glossary, including this one.
- Record the change. Write the new status and the date in your tracker.
- Act on good news quickly. After “referred” or “interview”, answer calls from unknown numbers and reply to scheduling emails the same day.
- Follow up once if nothing moves. After two weeks, send one short message. The application follow-up guide has templates.
- Withdraw when you are no longer available. If you accept another job, withdraw your active applications. Be sure first: Ohio State says that once you withdraw from a job, you cannot reapply to it. Here is how to withdraw an application in Workday.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is “under consideration” a good sign?
It is a neutral one. It confirms the employer has your application and has not rejected it. At some employers it also means you passed a first screen, but the label alone does not say so. Treat it as “still active” and keep applying elsewhere.
How long does an application stay under consideration?
There is no fixed time. Some systems leave the status in place for the whole search: the University of North Florida says its “In Progress” status remains until the position is filled. Expect weeks, and sometimes months at public employers.
Is “under review” the same as “under consideration”?
Often, yes. Both show an active application. Where an employer defines the term, use its definition: Ohio State says “under review” means the recruiter is currently reviewing applications, including yours, which is more specific than the label alone suggests.
Does “position filled” mean I was rejected?
It means the opening is closed to you. The University of North Florida says applicants who were not selected for an interview should receive a notification when the position is filled. If you interviewed and saw this status with no call, send the recruiter a short note asking to be kept in mind for future roles.
Should I contact the employer if my status has not changed?
Not because of the status alone. An unchanged status is normal while applications are screened and interviews are arranged. Wait two weeks from the day you applied, or from the closing date, then send one short message to the recruiter or the contact in the posting.
Sources
- Ohio State Human Resources: Applicant Frequently Asked Questions: what “under review” means, when statuses change and the effect of withdrawing.
- University of North Florida Human Resources: Applicant Resources: the “In Progress” status, who is contacted and when others are notified.
- UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources: Applicant Statuses Explained: definitions of each status, including “No Longer Under Consideration” and “Withdrawn”.
- Louisiana State Civil Service: What happens after I apply for a job?: what “Eligible for Consideration” means.
- OPM: Why have I not heard anything back after applying?: the four federal status points and the 15-to-30-day window.
Published by Jobbie and last updated on October 6, 2026. This guide is general information for job seekers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.