What to Do After Submitting a Job Application

You hit send and think you're done. Wrong. That's when the real work starts. Most people apply and then just wait, checking their email every 10 minutes. Smart people have a plan. Here's what actually works.

Stop checking your email constantly. I know the urge is strong, but checking every 10 minutes won't make responses come faster. Use that time productively. Keep applying to other jobs. Improve your CV. Learn new skills. The job search doesn't stop until you have an offer. Sitting around waiting helps nobody.

Track everything. Make a simple spreadsheet - company name, position, date applied, where you found it, follow-up date. This prevents you from applying to the same company twice (looks terrible) and reminds you when to follow up. I've seen people apply to the same job three times because they forgot. Don't be that person.

Follow up at the right time. 5-7 days after applying is the sweet spot. Too early (2-3 days) looks desperate. Too late (2+ weeks) looks like you forgot. Send a brief email - 2-3 sentences. Mention the position, when you applied, say you're still interested, ask for an update. That's it. Don't demand anything. Don't sound pushy. Just check in politely.

Prepare while you wait. Don't just sit there. Research the company more. Prepare interview answers. Update LinkedIn. Work on projects. If they call you, you'll be ready. If they don't, you've still improved yourself. Win-win.

Network if you can. Know someone at the company? Reach out. "Hey, I applied for [Position] at your company. Could you share my application with HR?" That simple message can change everything. Jobs in Pakistan are often filled through referrals. A recommendation from an employee? Huge advantage.

Don't take it personally. Most companies don't respond to everyone. They might get 200 applications and only contact 10 people. If you don't hear back, it doesn't mean you're not qualified. Could be timing, competition, internal stuff you don't know about. Keep applying. Don't get discouraged.

Use the wait time to improve. Not getting responses? Maybe your CV needs work. Maybe you're applying to wrong positions. Maybe your emails aren't professional. Review your strategy. What's working? What isn't? Adjust and try again.

Stay organized. Don't let applications pile up untracked. Set reminders for follow-ups. Keep documents organized. When a company calls, you need to know what position you applied for and when. That organization shows you're professional.

Keep the momentum going. Don't apply to one job and stop. Apply to multiple positions at once. Job searching is a numbers game - but quality matters too. Apply to enough positions to increase your chances, but make sure each application is good. Don't spam, but don't put all your eggs in one basket either.