You hit send. Your heart does that little thud against your ribs because you just submitted a job application, a manuscript, or maybe a high-stakes loan request. Then, you wait. You refresh the portal. Eventually, the status changes from "Submitted" to those two vague, slightly frustrating words: under consideration.
It feels like a win, right? It's better than an instant rejection. But honestly, it’s the purgatory of the professional world. It means your file is alive, but it doesn’t mean you’ve won yet. In the world of recruitment and academia, this phrase is a giant umbrella that covers everything from "we're literally reading it right now" to "we like you, but we're waiting to see if someone better shows up."
The reality of what under consideration means in hiring
When you see this status in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) like Workday or Taleo, it basically confirms you’ve cleared the robots. Most companies use automated filters to toss out resumes that don't have the right keywords or years of experience. If you’re under consideration, a human being—or at least a very sophisticated AI screener—has flagged your profile as a potential match.
But don't go popping champagne.
At a massive corporation like Google or Amazon, being under consideration might mean you are one of 50 people. Recruiters often move candidates into this bucket to "shortlist" them before they even start scheduling phone screens. You’re in the digital stack. It’s a good stack, but it’s still a stack.
Why the status stays stuck for weeks
Sometimes, your status will sit there for a month. You’ll start wondering if the company went bankrupt or if they forgot you exist. Usually, it’s just internal bureaucracy. Hiring managers get busy. Budgets get frozen. Or, quite commonly, they’ve already started interviewing three other people and are keeping your application "under consideration" as a backup plan. It’s the "maybe" pile. It's not a "no," but it’s definitely not a "yes" yet.
Journal submissions and the peer review grind
If you’re a researcher or a writer, seeing "under consideration" on a portal like Elsevier or Springer is a different beast entirely. Here, it usually refers to the period between the initial editorial check and the final decision.
- Internal Screening: The editor-in-chief looks at your work to see if it’s even worth sending out. If they don't reject it within 48 hours, it moves to the next phase.
- Finding Reviewers: This is where the status becomes a test of patience. The editor has to find experts who aren't too busy to read your 40-page paper for free. This can take weeks of "under consideration" time.
- The Actual Review: Once reviewers agree, they have to actually read it.
I’ve seen papers stay under consideration for six months. It’s brutal. In this context, the phrase means your work is being poked and prodded by your peers. It is a sign of respect for the work’s potential, but it’s also the stage where most things get torn apart.
Misconceptions that drive people crazy
One big mistake people make is thinking that "under consideration" means they are a finalist. I’ve talked to HR directors at mid-sized tech firms who admit they move almost 40% of applicants to this status just to keep their options open. It’s a way of organizing the "not-garbage" pile.
Another weird thing? Sometimes the status changes back and forth. You might see it go from "under consideration" to "reviewing" and back again. Usually, this is just a recruiter clicking a button to refresh their view or moving your file between different department folders. It doesn't always mean a specific human is looking at your resume at that exact second.
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Stop over-analyzing the timestamps.
Seriously. People spend hours on Reddit forums comparing the exact minute their status changed. It rarely correlates to your actual chances of getting the job.
What should you actually do?
You can't just sit there and stare at the screen. Well, you can, but it’s bad for your mental health.
If it’s a job, give it five to seven business days. If you haven't heard anything and you have a direct contact, send a short, polite follow-up. Don't ask "Am I still under consideration?" Instead, ask if there is any additional information or portfolio work you can provide to help their decision-making process. It’s a softer way of nudging them.
If it’s a legal or financial matter—like a loan or a permit—under consideration often means it’s sitting on a desk waiting for a signature. In these cases, the timeline is usually dictated by law or internal policy. You’re better off checking the "average processing times" on the organization’s website than trying to decode the status.
Real-world example: The federal government
If you apply for a job via USAJOBS, "under consideration" is often replaced by "referred." This is a high-stakes version of the status. It means you’ve been sent to the hiring manager. In the federal world, this is a massive hurdle. But even then, only about 10-20% of referred candidates actually get an interview.
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The psychology of the wait
There is a psychological phenomenon where humans prefer a definitive "no" to an uncertain "maybe." This is why "under consideration" feels so much worse than a rejection letter sometimes. It keeps the hope alive, which prevents you from fully moving on to the next opportunity.
Kinda sucks, right?
The best way to handle it is to treat it like a "soft no." Assume you didn't get it. Keep applying. Keep writing. Keep pitching. If they call you back, it’s a pleasant surprise. If they don't, you haven't wasted two weeks waiting for a ghost.
Actionable steps for the "Under Consideration" phase
- Take a screenshot: Keep a record of the status and the date it changed. If you end up in an interview, you can reference the timeline if they ask about your interest level.
- Audit your presence: While you're under consideration, recruiters are likely Googling you. Clean up your LinkedIn. Make sure your "Open to Work" settings are updated but subtle.
- The 7-Day Rule: Never follow up more than once a week. Anything more than that makes you look desperate or difficult to manage.
- Keep the pipeline moving: The biggest mistake is stopping your search because one job says they are considering you. Until you have a signed offer letter, you are unemployed (or looking).
- Verify the source: If the status is on a third-party site like Indeed or LinkedIn, take it with a grain of salt. Those statuses are notoriously buggy. Only trust the "Candidate Portal" on the company's actual website.
Ultimately, "under consideration" is just a data point. It’s a green light that says you’re doing something right with your presentation, but the race is still very much on. Focus on what you can control—your next application—and let the recruiters handle their own messy dashboards.