Applications Sent After 4 PM Only Have a 5% Chance Of Being Read – Here’s When to Send Instead

On the job hunt? You’ve probably got plenty of stuff on your mind – from crafting the perfect cover letter to checking in with your references. 

But a recent study by TalentWorks revealed another crucial variable that can make or break your ability to score an interview: The hour at which you send in your application. 

The TalentWorks analysis identified the job application “sweet spot” as 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Apparently, sending app in between those hours gives you a 5-times-better chance of nabbing an interview slot. 

In an article about the study, LearnVest posited that getting into hiring managers’ inboxes at the start of the work day can improve your odds because “email overload is a struggle." Fair. 

LeanVest also considers lunchtime a prime moment for sending job applications, as “people dedicate some time after their break to catch up on email that's piled up from the morning.” Maybe because everyone is too tired after lunch to do anyhting but check email? 

Either way, the start of the day and the lunchtime break should get peak real estate in your job-search agenda. 

And if you tend to wait until you’re home from work to start sending your applications, we’ve got bad news for you: There’s a good chance that it won’t be read. According to TalentWorks, applications sent after 7:30 p.m. have only a 3% chance of being read. Even if you preempt the end of the work day and send your application at 4 p.m. or later, your odds of receiving an interview invitation still hover at the low likelihood of 5%.

As with so many other aspects of our lives, when it comes to the job search, timing is everything. Set your iPhone alerts for the beginning of the day and your lunch hour, and you’ll stay ahead of the hiring curve.