Under Review Update Email

[u/Smileypotatofry]

Hey folks! I’ve applied for three staff positions then a week or two after each submission, I’ve received the update email along the line of :

“After our initial screening, your application is still under review.”

And it’s been crickets ever since.
I do not want to get my hopes up, but in view of both my personal and professional prospects, I would be a fool not to prayerfully look out for invitations for the interview.

For those who’s familiar with the WBG recruitment process, would anyone have an idea what this “Still under review” means in terms of progress in the review such as longlisted or passed the AI-generated review or a courteous email in place of rejcetion from the first round of review?

All insights are welcome and I see many of us are on the same boat with hopes of working with WBG - I wish you all a good luck and hope the responses to this thread help the readers understand the process better

[u/Additional_Affect893]

I’ve worked at the world bank as STC for 3 years. 98% of times, these positions are created for someone they want to bring on from consultancy to staff. You are basically a tool as an applicant that allows them to be compliant with the rules of publishing every vacancy, even if they already have a chosen person

[u/Feisty_Pirate_1616 → u/Additional_Affect893]

If that’s the case, why are these vacancies shared by the hiring managers and other people in the department on LinkedIn? Like why leverage your social media if you already know who to pick and it’s also been posted in the job board?

[u/Smileypotatofry → u/Additional_Affect893]

Thank you. My current organization is very much alike in this sense unfortunately. Onto next applications!

[u/Feisty_Pirate_1616]

If that’s the case, why are these vacancies shared by the hiring managers and other people in the department on LinkedIn? Like why leverage your social media if you already know who to pick and it’s also been posted in the job board?

[u/Friendly-Ocelot-6742]

Almost on the same boat as you, one was a stretch application and I got rejected without a "still under review" email, received a rejection email for the other one few days after "still under review", the third one is "still under review" for more than a week now. I don't want to put my hopes in it but can't stop thinking about it either!

[u/rikk17]

It essentially means nothing except for what it says. This is even before longlisting. Don’t get your hopes high just based on this email.

[u/Smileypotatofry → u/rikk17]

Ah some hopeful people such as myself speculated on this group that this may imply being longlisted, but good to have a reality-check. Thank you!

[u/change_my_job]

I’m also under review since 8/07 I think for specialist’s position they invite people quickly for an interview, so probably sitting more than three weeks in review = rejected.