What to Do When a Job Application Is in Progress
When an applicant tracking portal displays an "In Progress" status, it simply means your submission cleared the initial receipt filters and entered the hiring queue. It does not indicate an offer is around the corner, nor does it mean your resume has been personally evaluated yet.
What "In Progress" means behind the scenes
Seeing your status shift from "Submitted" to "In Progress" is better than receiving an instant automated rejection, but hiring pipelines rarely move quickly. As shown in this tracked job posting example, a role can linger in this state for weeks while internal priorities shift, budget approvals freeze, or the recruiter gathers candidates in cohorts.
Instead of treating this status as a real-time signal, understand how recruiting teams operate:
- It confirms clean parsing: Your resume met basic formatting parameters and requisition requirements without triggering an automated decline.
- It reflects batched reviews: Most recruiters review incoming applicants once or twice a week rather than evaluating resumes as they arrive.
- It signals a bench: If an earlier applicant is already in final-round interviews, your application may be kept warm as a backup option before a formal rejection is issued.
When to follow up and what to write
Do not message the hiring team within 48 hours of applying. Give the company seven to ten business days before checking in. When you do send a message, keep it brief, cite the specific role, and offer one tangible outcome from your past work that matches their needs.
You can send a message structured like this:
"Hi [Name], I submitted an application for the [Job Title] position (Req #[ID]) two weeks ago. In my previous role, I rebuilt our customer onboarding sequence to cut setup churn, which aligns directly with the roadmap initiatives mentioned in your posting. If you are still reviewing candidates, I would welcome the chance to share how that work applies to your team."
Logging your submission dates in Destava's application tracker helps you maintain this schedule automatically, showing you precisely when each role was entered so you never follow up prematurely or let an active prospect slip away.
How to reach out without being annoying
Relying solely on the career portal leaves your outcome to luck. While your file sits in review, build internal visibility through direct, respectful outreach:
- Message a future peer: Find someone currently working on that specific team on LinkedIn. Ask about their technical practices or team focus rather than demanding a referral: "Hi [Name], I saw your work on the recent core migration. I'm exploring an open role on your team and would appreciate knowing how your group handles deployment debt day to day."
- Sharpen your application for similar postings: If you notice recurring tools or qualifications on other job descriptions, use Destava's Writing Hub to draft tailored cover letters and adapt your experience bullet points for upcoming submissions.
- Engage with the team's public work: If hiring managers or senior individual contributors publish updates about company projects, leave thoughtful comments discussing the trade-offs they mention.
Focus on momentum instead of checking portals
Checking an application portal daily produces anxiety without improving your odds. Treat an "In Progress" status as passive background data: schedule your single follow-up note for day ten, continue networking with people working on similar problems, and keep your attention focused on identifying your next opportunity.