How Late Is Too Late to Reply to a Job Posting

How Late Is Too Late to Reply to a Job PostingHow Late Is Too Late to Reply to a Job Posting2Youve been searching for that perfect job for weeks now. Finally, you come across a listing that would be ideal for you- your qualifications match the requirements of the job, and it has a flexible schedule that would work well for you and your family. Only problem? The job posting date is from a month ago. Many job seekers find themselves in this predicament and wonder how late is too late to apply to a job posting.Consider this advice when deciding if you should submit your application or elendUnderstand the timing.Lets state the obvious ideally, you should apply to a job listing within a week or two of the posting. Being one of the first to get your name and resume in front of a recruiters eye will only be beneficial to you. After all, a report from Brazen found that 43% of job openings are filled during the first 30 days. However, this stat also means that 57% of job postings may totensti ll be active after a month. So even if youre nearing the 30-day mark, you may still have a chanceDo some research.Unfortunately, not all companies stay on top of the job listings on their websites. It can happen that a company fills a position, but doesnt remove it from its website. Or its removed from the website, but the page link is still active, meaning you could still stumble upon it during a job board or Internet search. Pay attention to the companys career page to determine if its cleaning up its positions. Are there jobs with dates from months (or even years) ago? Chances are, there could be outdated or already filled positions listed.Make it count.Just because a listing might be older doesnt mean that you should half-heartedly send in your resume and cover letter. If youre planning to apply, make sure that your application counts Tailor your resume so that it highlights your education, experience, and skills that correlate to the job youre applying for, and write an amazing cover letter that would win over any employer. After all, if you wind up submitting your application after the deadline, you still want it to impress a potential employer- and hopefully have them reach out to you for this job, or hold onto your application for any positions in the future.Highlight your strengths.Some recruiters may wait and collect resumes for a few weeks or a month before looking them over. Some may start glancing through resumes as soon as they come in. Even if the job has been open for a month or so, it may be worth it to apply to a job posting if you are a strong candidate and highly qualified. If you highlight yourself as a star candidate and show your enthusiasm, recruiters may be open to interviewing you even if theyre partially through the process with other candidates. Passion and qualifications can go a long wayShow the connection.Lets say that your friend or a former colleague tells you that the company youd love to work for is hiring. But, they point ou t, Theyre already in the middle of the hiring process. Having a connection to someone who can refer you to a job is a great reason to send in your job application late, even if the posting has been up for a while. Be sure to mention early in your cover letter that So-and-So recently told you about the position, and youd like to be considered for the role. This can help excuse your tardy application, and give you a leg up on the competition by already having a recommendation from a mutual colleague or friend.Dont be disappointed.Even if you decide to apply to a job posting thats been open for some time and you dont get the job or even a call back, your effort is not necessarily wasted. Perhaps the company has an upcoming opening for a similar position, or even the same position, and your resume may be kept on file. Its ultimately up to you to determine if your time might be better spent searching for more recently posted jobs.Strategize your search.It can be incredibly frustrating to find a potential job, only to find out the listing has expired. Keep in mind that, sometimes, using big job search boards can actually slow down your search, since youll have to weed through many listings that you arent interested in, just to find the jobs that youd like to have. Sites like can help you have a clean job board, since we clean out our jobs database every week to ensure the listings are still active, fresh, and as always, legitimate flexible jobs.Browse Open Flexible JobsJennifer Parris contributed to this post.