Guide to Starting a Career Search

Every career search will have a unique timeline, but here is a general idea of what to expect: 

• Week 0: Applicant prepares job materials, including their resume and cover letter. 
• Week 1: Applicant submits job application. 
• Week 3: According to Indeed, about 83% of candidates receive a response to their applications within two weeks or so. You can double-check the job posting to see if the employer has specifically indicated their timeline. If not, and you have not received a response after two weeks, send a follow-up email to the email address listed on the job description. 
• Weeks 6-8: You can probably expect the interview process for each company to require between three and five weeks. Some companies will have quicker processes, while others may be slightly slower.
• Weeks 9-10: You should expect it to take between one and two weeks for you to receive post-interview job offers. Higher-level positions may take even longer. 

Keep in mind that you likely will not receive an offer for every job application that you submit. It is common for candidates to repeat this timeline a few times before finding a good fit! The average job search may take somewhere around five to six months from application to hiring.