What LinkedIn 'In Progress' Means for Your Application
When a LinkedIn application status reads In Progress, it means the job listing remains open in the employer's applicant tracking system. It does not indicate whether a hiring manager has opened your resume, placed your profile on a shortlist, or moved forward with other applicants.
What happens behind the scenes during 'In Progress'?
Job seekers often treat application statuses as real-time updates, but employers rarely update them stage by stage. As outlined in these original discussion notes, an active listing typically sits in one of four states:
- Batch reviewing: The recruiter waits until a set cutoff date before reviewing candidates all at once.
- Hiring manager backlog: The role is approved, but the internal team is busy handling active projects and has not cleared the intake queue.
- Window collection: The posting stays live for compliance or company policy reasons even if interviews have begun.
- Internal candidate priority: The team is evaluating internal transfers before reviewing external submissions.
Because you cannot know which scenario applies, waiting for the portal to change from 'In Progress' to 'Reviewing' wastes valuable time. You need to verify interest yourself through targeted follow-up.
How should you follow up on an active application?
Give the submission seven to ten business days before taking action. Once that window passes, bypass the job board and reach out directly to someone on the relevant team.
- Identify the right contact: Search LinkedIn for the hiring manager, a direct team peer, or the department's technical recruiter rather than a general HR inbox.
- Reference the specific role: State the exact title and when you submitted your materials.
- Offer a clear value point: Share a concrete achievement relevant to their current focus instead of asking for a status check.
Use a concise message like this one:
"Hi Sarah — I submitted an application for the Product Marketing Manager role last Tuesday. I saw your team is currently expanding into enterprise accounts; at my last company, I built the enterprise launch playbook that shortened our sales cycle by three weeks. If you are still reviewing candidates, I would love to share those notes with the team."
What should you do while waiting for a response?
Never pause your job hunt for a single application in progress. Treat every submission as complete the moment it is sent, then turn your focus to active outreach.
- Track your follow-up dates: Log the submission date, company name, and hiring manager in Destava's application tracker so you know exactly when to reach out without refreshing the portal every morning.
- Engage with the team publicly: If the hiring manager posts industry updates or questions on LinkedIn, use Destava's Comment Assist to draft thoughtful, professional replies that establish your domain knowledge before you message them directly.
- Keep applying to alternative roles: An application left on 'In Progress' often takes weeks to resolve. Submit new applications to keep your pipeline full rather than holding out hope for one listing.
A static portal status is neither a rejection nor an invitation. Take control of the process by reaching out directly with evidence of your work and moving your search forward every day.