What “Pending” and “Under Review” Usually Mean (Job Applications)

Pending and under review usually mean your application is still active while teams move through internal screening, coordination, and decision steps that are not fully visible in the portal.

Last updated: 2026-02-22

Also seen as: what pending and under review mean, job application status meanings, pending vs under review

Definition

“Pending” and “Under review” usually mean broad portal labels that indicate your application is still active while a final decision has not been posted.

What’s usually happening behind the scenes

Most portals simplify many internal stages into a few broad labels. Common stages often include intake, recruiter screening, hiring manager review, interview sequencing, checks or approvals, and final closeout.

Why it stays in this status

These labels often persist because systems batch updates, teams wait for multiple reviewers, and candidates are compared across one requisition before status changes are posted.

How long it usually lasts

Timelines vary widely by role urgency, applicant volume, interview availability, and approval requirements, so the same label can last days at one company and weeks at another.

What usually doesn’t help

A common misunderstanding is that one portal label maps to one exact internal step. In practice, the same label is often reused for different stages, and repeated short-interval check-ins usually do not change queue order.

When action might make sense

If no timeline was shared, a concise follow-up is often reasonable after about one to two weeks. If a timeline was shared, following up after that window is often reasonable while continuing other active applications.

Related statuses

• Hiring freeze / role paused
• Internal candidate selected
• Moved to another requisition
• Not selected but “in process”

Disclaimer

This page is general informational guidance and does not represent any specific employer policy, timeline, or hiring outcome.