"Under consideration" typically means a recruiter or ATS has flagged your application as worth reviewing further. You're in the active pool. You haven't been eliminated.

It does not mean:

  • You'll get an interview.
  • The recruiter has personally read your resume in detail.
  • You're a top candidate.
  • You're definitely going to advance.

It means: you're in the pile that hasn't been rejected yet.

What this status actually signals

Different employers use the phrase differently, but the most common interpretations:

  • You passed an initial ATS filter. Your resume matched enough keywords to surface in the recruiter's queue.
  • A recruiter looked briefly and didn't immediately reject. You're saved for a deeper review.
  • You're in a batch waiting for hiring manager review.

How long it typically lasts

  • 1-3 weeks: normal. Recruiters batch-review weekly or biweekly.
  • 3-4 weeks: the role may be slow-moving but still active.
  • 4+ weeks: the role is likely frozen, filled, or your application got buried. Move on.

Should you follow up?

Yes — once, at the 7-10 business day mark after applying. The follow-up should:

  • Reference your application date and the role
  • Give one specific reason you're a fit
  • Ask a clear question or offer something useful

Here's the full follow-up template.

A second follow-up at day 21 is the cap. After that, silence is the answer.

What "under consideration" doesn't tell you

The status field tells you almost nothing useful. It's a placeholder ATS systems use because they have to display something.

The real signal is the velocity of your hunt. Are you getting interviews from the 50 applications you sent? If yes, your resume is working. If no, the resume or the targeting is the problem — not the status of any one application.

Specific platforms

  • Workday: "Under consideration" generally means active.
  • Greenhouse: Doesn't usually use this label; more granular stages.
  • Lever: Custom labels per company.
  • iCIMS: "Under consideration" is the active-not-rejected state.

For Workday-specific content, see under consideration on Workday.

What to actually do

Stop refreshing the status page. The real signal isn't there.

  • Apply to more roles in parallel. One in-flight application is too few; ten is the floor.
  • Follow up at day 7-10 with a specific reason you're a fit.
  • Move on at day 21 if no response.

Sorce applies to 5M+ open jobs for you — swipe right, AI agent submits, repeat. 40 free a day. The status field stops mattering when you've got 40 in flight.

For more: how to follow up on a job application, how long to hear back from a job application, job application status.