[Real Life HR] Do we need to review every single job application we receive?

Q: We’ve identified the job candidates we’d like to interview, but we still have applications coming in. Do we need to review every application before moving forward with interviews and making a job offer?

A: The short answer is no. There’s no legal requirement to review all the applications before moving forward, and you can always return to the applicants who applied later to review them if needed. Having said that, we do recommend reviewing every application.

Doing so ensures you don’t miss out on potentially excellent candidates who might be buried in the pile. It also demonstrates a commitment to fairness and nondiscrimination in your hiring process.

If you’re concerned about a flood of applicants after interviews are already underway, you can always take down the job posting and repost it if none of the current candidates work out.

Check out some more hiring resources below!

Exploring the Benefits of an Applicant Tracking System

[Real Life HR] Candidates Keep Ghosting in Interviews

[Trending Topic] Posting Salary Ranges in Job Ads

This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.

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