Applying online - does time count?

Fluorescence

I've always been convinced that if you're applying for a job through a website or by email, you should aim to do so early in the morning. I've always thought 9am applications might be looked on more favourably than, say, 9pm. I reckon it gives the impression that you're that bit more diligent, and that you're capable of getting up on time (and into work on time?).

I was chatting to a friend last night though who thought that this was rubbish. He reckoned most people getting a high volume of applications are extremely unlikely to go looking at the timestamps. Even if they did, who's to say the 9pm applicant isn't working another job at 9am and only has time to fire off an email later in the evening?

So I open this relatively unimportant question to the knowledgeable boardsies of this forum. Do you think the time you send your application off matters a whit?

April O Neill

I think it does, but I wouldn't be bothered about sending it first thing.

After 10pm, I wouldn't.

starlit

Does not really matter I find sending them the night before is just as good as it be there in their inbox first thing. Timing wise getting them in early before the deadline might count more! Better than sending last minute!

Fluorescence

April O Neill wrote: »

I think it does, but I wouldn't be bothered about sending it first thing.

After 10pm, I wouldn't.

Certainly no 2.55am applications :pac:

LowKeyReturn

I don't think sending it after midnight is a good idea but then I'd say the same about sending it during the working day. It says "I'm unemployed" or "I dos about at work".

In the evening imho.

That said I doubt many people check.

cloudatlas

I've sent applications at 11.55 p.m. before the midnight deadline, still got an interview. An application is all about content. If you're not in you can't win.

Fluorescence

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

I don't think sending it after midnight is a good idea but then I'd say the same about sending it during the working day. It says "I'm unemployed" or "I dos about at work".

In the evening imho.

That said I doubt many people check.

What about 7.30-8am, before the working day begins?

cloudatlas wrote: »

I've sent applications at 11.55 p.m. before the midnight deadline, still got an interview. An application is all about content. If you're not in you can't win.

Excellent point

April O Neill

Fluorescence wrote: »

Certainly no 2.55am applications :pac:

I think it looks kinda bad.

Your friend might be right, but if there's one thing the job-hunting game has taught me it's you never know! I think there's no harm erring on the side of caution. There's been a few times where I've completed an application in the wee small hours, but I'll hold off on sending it until morning.

April O Neill

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

It says "I'm unemployed" or "I dos about at work".

If you're unemployed and have enclosed your CV, surely they'll work that out anyway?

Even if you're doing volunteer work, you likely wouldn't be doing that 40 hours a week.

seamus

I think this is probably one of those things that people overthink and put too much emphasis on.

An application at 8am (or before the working day begins) says that you've sent in a boilerplate application rather than a customised one. Either that or you prepared the application the night before and then deliberately waited to send it.

An application between 10am and 5pm says that you're either unemployed or you're the kind of person who goes job hunting on their employer's time.

An application after 5pm says that either you're a procrastinator, or you already have a job and so the evening is the only time you get to do this.

Like I say, too much emphasis. Most of the time the relevant mailbox is checked once or twice a day, and any new applications are then reviewed regardless of when they actually came in. Unless you're applying to a very small company or a very niche job and the recruiter is receiving applications directly into their personal mail, I reckon the timestamp on the application is of little significance.

Fluorescence

Yeah you're probably right there, seamus. Even so, 2:55 am probably doesn't look great if they notice :P

Chauncey

I couldn't care less what time an application was sent.
I do notice the times because I'm nosy but other than that it makes no difference.

If in doubt, send it in the early evening or during lunchtime.

freeze4real

Interesting topic.

If I were to apply for a job in the morning e.g 1 - 5am etc, there's a good probability that it will be among the forts that an interviewer would see.

This being so, it's the start of the day, hr/recruiter can be in a good mood which might lead to something good.

But again if I apply ion the after, the application might be among the back log of other application, hr/recruiter at this stage might be tired, stressed thus have little/ no tolerance for mistakes.

This is just my 2cents.

tatli_lokma

If you apply via website like job.ie or irishjobs.ie or whatever, they batch the applications anyway. They don't hit your inbox everytime someone applies - they send you a batch every 12 or 24 hours.

Personally I couldn't give a stuff what time you applied. I have better things to do than read too much into it. Maybe you are dossing at work, or maybe you are on a scheduled AL day which you purposely booked off so you could spend time on your application?? Maybe you applied at 2.30am because you are a working mum and that is the quietest time of day for you to get time to yourself to work on your application?? Maybe you are an insomniac?? Maybe you are out of the country and there is a time difference??

Far too many variables to even bother worrying about. As cloudatlas says its the content and quality of your application that matters, not the time stamp on it.

If a recruiter has enough time to be seriously thinking about the time stamp on your application then they seriously have too much time on their hands!