I have learned that for jobs posted on job boards, it appears that the usual duration for their "shelf-life" is 2 weeks. Even if the job remains posted, it seems that within the hiring company ( & not the job site proprietor) they do not deal with anymore applications.

BUT--the question which I do not have an answer to, is how long AFTER the 2 week period do the companies get around to sifting the applications, creating a short-list, and then replying? Another 2 weeks? 4 weeks?

Anyone here able to shed some light on this?

Thanks.

it depends on the company, but in my experience - if you haven't received a response within 1 week, you got boned.

For bigger companies (read MNC), they have software that scans CVs for words/phrases. If it found something good, then your CV will be physically read by a HR person. If you seem like a good candidate, you will be shortlisted, notified, contracted. This whole process takes about a week, depending on a work load.
Smaller companies are more efficient. All CVs are handpicked by HR staff, and sent to management for a review. if managers gives green light, you are shortlisted.

~bump

If I dont get a response within 1 week I write that company off. In Europe I give them a month. They seem to be real real slow at answering in my past experiences. Shanghai so far 1 week, if you send it on monday expect an answer on wed thursday on average, if not they prolly found a few better candidates. If you send in on a thurs- friday you might have to wait a bit probably for the week.

I did some job hunting here before I found a few stuff and most replied within a week no matter how big it was. The smaller companies were just faster with settling an interview with me and had a shorter interview. The biggies made me sit in their office and talk to different line managers/team leaders for several hours.

In my hunt, in 2009, I sent about 400 applications via the job web sites. I received about 20 replies, and about 5 interviews and the job I finally accepted wasn't from any of them. It was a job I got through contacts.

So you have a 6 percent chance of getting a reply if you apply to the right jobs. So keep on applying for those jobs. Follow up. Adjust your resume regularly for wording and style. Take a recent picture of yourself in a business suit to send along with your resume. Keep hacking at it, something will come up.

They usually reply within 1-2 weeks. If longer, you were put in the stack of other applicants.

txaggie07 wrote:In my hunt, in 2009, I sent about 400 applications via the job web sites. I received about 20 replies, and about 5 interviews and the job I finally accepted wasn't from any of them. It was a job I got through contacts.

So you have a 6 percent chance of getting a reply if you apply to the right jobs. So keep on applying for those jobs. Follow up. Adjust your resume regularly for wording and style. Take a recent picture of yourself in a business suit to send along with your resume. Keep hacking at it, something will come up.

They usually reply within 1-2 weeks. If longer, you were put in the stack of other applicants.

I surmise that your hunt was conducted in the US, and not China?

What is to be done in the "follow up"?-ask if they've received all my documentation? reason/s not placed on shortlist?

reason is fine not received is unlikely.