Job application in progress meaning: what to do next
Job Harbour team· 7 min read
Key takeaways
- ✓An In Progress label usually means the employer’s system has not recorded a final outcome, not that an offer is coming.
- ✓Labels such as Applied, Under Review and Interview mean different things in different portals, so read the employer’s email and process notes too.
- ✓After an interview or referee check, use the timeframe you were given, then send one short, polite check-in if it passes.
- ✓Keep applying and improve the evidence in your resume while you wait, because one portal status should not pause your whole search.
“Job application in progress” usually means the employer’s system has not recorded a final outcome yet. It can mean your application is being reviewed, waiting for the next recruitment step, or simply sitting in a portal with a broad label, so the status alone cannot tell you that you are shortlisted, rejected or about to receive an offer.
Why can a job application stay in progress for weeks?
An application can stay in progress because recruitment is a chain of steps, and the portal may not update at each one. A hiring team might still be comparing applicants, arranging interviews, checking a referee, waiting for approval, or closing other candidates before sending the outcome.
A nurse may be waiting after an interview while a panel finishes. A warehouse worker may see it while a supervisor decides the shift and start date.
Australian recruitment processes have no single waiting time. Careers Victoria says shortlisting can usually take up to three weeks, sometimes longer when many people apply. The Fair Work Ombudsman says its own process takes about eight weeks from opening to offer, with some large-scale recruitment taking longer. Neither is a national deadline.
A long-running status is a reason to check the portal, your messages and the advertised contact, not proof that you have been selected or rejected. Keep your job search moving until you have a clear written outcome.
What does each application status actually tell you?
A status label is useful as a rough process clue, but its exact meaning belongs to the employer or platform that created it. Indeed notes that some statuses are set by the employer, some by Indeed, and that the available information can differ when the application was completed on an external employer site.
| Status you might see | It may tell you | It cannot tell you by itself |
|---|---|---|
| Applied or Submitted | Your application was sent or recorded | That a hiring manager has read it |
| Under review or Employer reviewing | Review activity has started, or the employer is reviewing applications | That you are on the shortlist |
| In Progress | The application remains open in the system | Whether you are the preferred candidate |
| Interview or Interviewing | An interview stage has been recorded | That you will receive an offer |
| Reference checks | The employer is checking information from a referee | That all checks will lead to an offer |
| Closed or Not selected | The role or application has reached an end state | The detailed reason, unless the employer tells you |
A storeperson who sees In Progress after applying should first look for a confirmation email, an interview invitation or a request for availability. If none of those exists, the safest reading is simply that the application has not been marked with a final outcome.
Save a screenshot or note the date each status changes. It gives you a clearer record than refreshing the page, and it helps you write a precise follow-up if you need one.
Want a quick, honest read before you spend more time on the next application? Check your fit for free with Job Harbour, which shows what the ad asks for that your resume does not show yet.
Does in progress mean I am shortlisted?
No, In Progress does not by itself mean shortlisted. A shortlist is the smaller group an employer chooses for further assessment, such as an interview, work sample or referee check.
The strongest evidence of shortlisting is a direct invitation to the next stage. The Australian Government Department of Health describes reviewing applications, creating a shortlist, and then assessing shortlisted applicants through interviews, referee checks, work samples or group activities. Its page also says applicants who are not shortlisted may be contacted at that stage or after the selection process is complete.
After an interview, an unchanged status is still not a reliable ranking. A nurse who has finished a panel interview may be one of several suitable candidates, or the panel may not have updated the applicant system. The next email, call or request for a check tells you more than the colour of a status badge.
What should I do after an interview or reference check?
After an interview or referee check, follow the stated timeframe first, then ask a short question if that timeframe passes. A referee is someone who can comment on your work, skills or conduct, usually a former manager or supervisor who has agreed to be contacted.
Step 1: Read the interview email and your notes. Find any sentence about when the panel expects to decide, whether another assessment is planned, or who to contact.
Step 2: Check with your referees. Make sure they know the role and organisation. The Health Department says it contacts referees by email or phone, so a ready referee can avoid a missed message.
Step 3: Check the portal and inbox together. Look in spam or junk mail, and use the same email address you used for the application. Careers Victoria says the confirmation email should explain how to find the application and who to contact with questions.
Step 4: Send one concise follow-up when the promised date has passed. Ask whether there is an update or whether the employer needs anything else from you.
Hi [NAME], I’m checking in on my application for [ROLE] submitted on [DATE]. Could you let me know whether the process has moved to the next stage or if you need anything else from me? Kind regards, [YOUR NAME]
Hi Priya, I’m checking in on my application for the warehouse storeperson role submitted on 10 October. Could you let me know whether the process has moved to the next stage or if you need anything else from me? Kind regards, Sam.
How should I follow up without sounding pushy?
A good follow-up is brief, specific and easy to answer. Include the role title, the date you applied or interviewed, and one clear question about the process or timing.
If you have not heard anything after applying, SEEK suggests asking about the recruitment timeframe. Keep the message professional and do not follow up repeatedly. If you have already interviewed, refer to the timeframe the employer gave you rather than a generic number of days.
A barista might write to the café manager after the advertised decision date: “I’m checking whether there is any update on the part-time barista position I interviewed for on Monday. I’m still interested and can provide any further information.” That is more useful than several vague messages that only say, “Any news?”
A free Job Harbour fit check can show which skills match the next ad, so your follow-up does not become the only task in your search.
What should I do while I wait for an application outcome?
While one application is in progress, keep your search active. SEEK advises continuing to look for other opportunities until you have a confirmed new role, so one uncertain status does not control your week.
Step 1: Keep a simple list of each role, closing date, contact, status and next check-in date. This helps when you apply through SEEK, Workforce Australia, an employer site and an agency at the same time.
Step 2: Prepare the next application from evidence you can support. A warehouse worker could note orders handled in a typical shift, equipment used and safety checks completed. A café worker could record the busiest service period, equipment used, and how they handled customer requests.
Worked on the register and helped customers.
Processed customer orders during busy café shifts, balanced the till at close and resolved routine order questions calmly.
Illustration only: Replace the general wording with details that are true for your own work.
Step 3: Keep referees informed when you apply for a role that may contact them. Tell them the job title and ask whether their phone number and email are current.
Step 4: If a new ad is a close match, compare its duties with your resume before sending it. Job Harbour tailors your existing resume and writes a matching cover letter for the exact ad without adding experience you do not have.
If you usually apply from your phone, the free Send to Job Harbour button can import an eligible ad from SEEK, LinkedIn or Indeed in one tap, so you can check the next role without retyping it.
Where to start this week
Log in to the application portal and write down the exact status, last update date and contact details.
Search your inbox and junk folder for the confirmation, interview, referee or outcome email.
If the employer’s promised timeframe has passed, send one short follow-up with the role title and application date.
Choose one new Australian job ad, mark the evidence that matches it in your resume, and submit or prepare that application.
Frequently asked questions
What does in progress mean on a job application?
It usually means the application is still open in the employer’s system and no final outcome has been recorded. It may be under review or waiting for another recruitment step, but the label alone does not prove that you are shortlisted or receiving an offer.
Does an in-progress application mean I passed the interview?
Not necessarily. The status may stay broad after an interview while the panel compares candidates, completes checks or waits for approval. Look for a direct message about the next stage or outcome rather than reading a result into the portal label.
How long should I wait before following up on a job application?
Use the timeframe in the job ad or interview email first. If that date passes, send one concise message asking whether there is an update and whether the employer needs anything else from you.
Should I keep applying while my application says in progress?
Yes. Keep preparing and submitting suitable applications until you have a clear written offer and have accepted it. A live application can still be worth pursuing, but it should not pause the rest of your job search.
What should I do if my job application status never changes?
Check the confirmation email, portal instructions and spam folder, then contact the named recruiter or employer if the stated timeframe has passed. Keep a record of your message and continue with other applications while you wait.