Have you ever submitted more than 50 email job applications and felt frustrated when none of them replied? A coder in the U.S. shared on Reddit that it took him more than 80 job applications and several interviews before he actually got a job.
Whenever a job advertisement gets posted online, it is not uncommon for recruiters and employers to receive hundreds of job application emails within the first few days. Companies that have an attractive brand may even receive thousands of applications for just one role.
why does it take so long to hear back from a job application?
Specialist recruiters and hiring managers do their best to look at every application and will connect with candidates who fit the role they are recruiting for to further understand their skills and experience. After the recruitment consultants have a better understanding of your competencies and ascertained you will be a right fit, they might also make some edits to your CV to boost your chances of securing an interview with our clients.
Besides having a keyword-optimised CV and being equipped with the right skills and experience, your application must also reach the recruiter and HR professionals at the right time of the day to get noticed.
the best time of day to apply for jobs
The time of day you apply for a job matters. It can have an impact on whether your resume will be read by the recipient or not. For instance, if you apply for a job at 10pm, the recruiter would likely not get to it until the next morning when they start working. By then, they might have received another 100 applications, and your CV will get buried at the bottom of the pile.
Send it early enough and you may stand a chance to be shortlisted for an interview. Send it too late and you missed out on the exciting opportunity to work with a great employer. So when is a good time to apply for jobs?
Here are the times of the day that you’ll have a better chance of getting the hiring manager’s attention.
1. during commute
If you are not driving to work, going to and fro work every day via public transport will take some time, especially during peak hours.
Use this time to browse for new career opportunities or apply for a job. Job portals such as LinkedIn have an ‘easy apply’ function that makes it convenient for you to submit your application on the go. A majority of the job sites also have mobile applications, which offers you a seamless and stress-free application process. These mobile apps will also send you updates of your job application, so you’ll know when you are shortlisted or need to apply for more roles.
If you are unable to submit your CV while on the move, then save the link to these open roles on your phone and apply for the job once you’re back home from work.
2. during work
You’re not feeling particularly motivated at work and have been itching to move to a new environment, so you start browsing for jobs at your work desk. After all, you may think that it’s a better use of your time for job hunt.
However, if your boss or colleague finds out, it will reflect poorly on your professionalism. You risk losing the trust that you’ve built with them over time. If you’ve not tendered your resignation and have been performing poorly at work, getting caught browsing for jobs can be a good reason for your boss to let you go.
If you’ve been applying for jobs, you should expect a call from a recruiter or hiring manager in the middle of the day. An independent survey commissioned by Randstad Singapore found that 3 in 10 people have taken a call from a recruiter or employer during their lunch break. Another quick poll by Randstad Singapore revealed that people spend on average 35 minutes when speaking with a recruiter on the phone.