What to Do After You Click "Submit" (Besides Refreshing Your Inbox)

You've done it. The application is in. Resume tailored, cover letter polished, submit button clicked.

Now comes the hard part: waiting.

The average company takes 2-4 weeks to respond to applications. Some take longer. Some never respond at all. And in that void, your brain will try to fill the silence with anxiety, obsessive inbox refreshing, and the creeping certainty that they've already rejected you.

Here's how to handle the waiting period productively.

The First 24 Hours

Right after you submit, you're running on application adrenaline. Use that energy wisely.

Document what you submitted. Save the job description (companies sometimes take postings down). Note which version of your resume and cover letter you sent. Record the date.

Set a follow-up reminder. Put a task on your calendar for 7-10 business days out. That's when a follow-up email becomes appropriate.

Move on immediately. Your next application should already be in progress. The worst thing you can do is pin all your hopes on one company.

Productive Ways to Spend the Waiting Period

Keep Applying

This is the most important one. If you stop applying because you're "waiting to hear back" from one company, you're making a mistake. Keep your pipeline full.

Research the Company Deeper

If you do get an interview, you'll be glad you did this homework now.

Prepare Your Interview Stories

Most interviews ask behavioral questions: "Tell me about a time when..." You should have 5-7 STAR stories ready to go.

Build Visibility on LinkedIn

While waiting, stay active on LinkedIn. Comment on industry posts. Share relevant content.

The Follow-Up Email

After 7-10 business days with no response, a brief follow-up is appropriate. Keep it short and professional.

One follow-up is fine. Two is the maximum. After that, the ball is in their court.

Managing the Emotional Rollercoaster

Job searching is emotionally exhausting. The hope, the waiting, the silence, the rejection—it takes a toll.

Set boundaries on job search time. Don't spend all day, every day on applications.

Talk to people who get it. Isolation makes everything worse.

Celebrate small wins. Applied to 5 jobs this week? That's progress.

Remember the numbers. Most applications don't lead to interviews. This is normal.

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