Slow and steady doesn’t always the win the race.
If you see a job you’re interested in, apply quick. That doesn’t mean clicking ‘submit’ right away – it means not wasting time by waiting. If the job’s been posted for longer than four days, don’t wait any longer – apply ASAP! Make it a priority and schedule it in your calendar. If you wait, you’re wasting your time by applying later.
The best days to apply are earlier in the week like Mondays and Tuesdays, during early mornings or right after lunch hours. These are the times when recruiters aren’t as busy and their emails don’t receive the typical daily floods. By placing your application ‘at the top’, it’s more likely someone will see it. The worst times to apply are during the weekends or after normal work hours. Also, don’t forget to check if there’s a time zone difference for the hiring manager!
You shouldn’t feel rushed or pressured. Like any other application, you still need to invest time and research the company and the job. The research will help you customize your application.
So, what happens when you apply near the application deadline? Well, you might be wasting your time because it’s likely no one will look at it. After looking through hundreds of applications, the hiring manager may already be conducting interviews.
However, there are many situations in which you SHOULD apply late in the application period. If a recruiter contacts you, it means they haven’t found an applicant who they want to hire. Often, many applicants are unqualified – maybe even half so don’t let the competition intimidate you or discourage you from applying. If you notice that the application deadline was extended – then yes, that’s also an indication they’re still looking, so apply ASAP!