Why Applying Close to the Deadline Works Better

I used to apply jobs very early.

The moment I spot a job post, I drafted my resume and cover letter right away.

I was concerned that if I don’t apply TODAY, I would lose the job race competition.

This urgency drained me.

School teaches that applying a job as early as possible increases your chances of getting noticed.

I applied this method when I first entered the job market - I was having a hard time. A new graduate - curious, ambitious, fearless, dynamic - soon felt defeated after sending tons of resumes but heard nothing or a stale sentence says, “After review, you are not the best candidate."

Every coin has two sides.

If apply early doesn’t work for me, what about apply late?

It turns out that I landed more interviews than what school tells me.

I learned that early apply makes me compete with others, but late apply I compete with myself - it provides me more time to sharpen the resume, match key words, refine wording language.

Applying later, closer to the deadline, increase your chances of landing more interviews.

The assumption is that recruiters pick candidates as applications roll in, meaning early applicants have an advantage, but I assure you that late applicants have more advantage.

🧬The Science Behind

Recruiter Fatigue & Overload

Hiring managers and recruiters often receive hundreds of applications early on, making it hard to focus.

The first wave of applications might be skimmed quickly or reviewed mechanically.

By the time the deadline nears, recruiters have a clearer sense of what they’re looking for, and late applications get more attention.

Avoiding the Initial Screening Trap

Early applications often get filtered through rigid initial screening criteria.

Late applicants often face a more human-driven, flexible review process when hiring urgency increases.

Standing Out from the Crowd

Early applications flood in, making it hard to differentiate yourself from hundreds of similar applicants.

Late applications come at a time when the recruiter may be weighing their final options, making unique candidates stand out more.

The Next, the Better

Since you’re applying later, make sure your resume and cover letter are exceptional and tailored.

Research the deadline before apply. The ideal time I’ve tried is 1-3 days before the deadline.

Good luck!