You’ve Hit Submit. Now What?
You’ve hit submit. Now what? The in-between can feel uncertain, but it doesn’t have to. With Hardly, you can reset, refocus, and stay organized. Whether it’s tracking applications, preparing for interviews, or building new skills, every step forward counts—even while you wait.
The Period of Waiting After Submitting
The relief of finally hitting the submit button is cause for celebration. The process of writing has been made so much easier by utilizing Hardly.
But what about the days and weeks of waiting after? Puttering around the house and waiting to hear back is nobody’s idea of a good time. The longer the waiting period stretches, the more room yawns open for anxiety to slip in.
If you’re wondering what to do next, wonder no longer. Hardly has your back (and a few options of what to do in the meanwhile).
Take a Breath and Reset
It’s a lot of pressure to organize everything and apply. Taking a moment to breathe is never going to hurt. Life is always going to be chaotic and full of surprises. One moment of peace is something you shouldn’t begrudge yourself.
While applying, your eyes tend to be locked on a screen for HOURS. Hitting the submit button means screen time can finally be over. Hardly recommends stepping away from all screens, big and small. Especially right before sleeping. That text can wait (all non-urgent ones of course) and so can that new TV show.
Don’t overthink or let yourself join the negativity club. Don’t let yourself spiral into “what ifs.” Easier said than done, right?
What To Do Instead
Once you’ve hit submit, give yourself a minute. Literally.
- Step away from your screens. (Big AND small!)
- Stretch your legs. (Leg cramps from not moving are the worst.)
- Get some air. (10 minutes can make a world of difference).
- Call a friend. (Never a bad idea.)
You’ve done the hard work. Now it’s time to let your brain catch up. Focus on the things you are grateful for and things you are looking forward to.
Track and Organize Your Applications
With Hardly’s job tracker, you can see every single application you have submitted, what stage you are at with each one, and have coaches able to advise you every step of the way. Creating multiple accounts for different job portals, remembering all of those passwords, and hoping that you won’t miss the next email or phone call sounds like a hassle.
I’ve seen people utilize Excel and create gigantic spreadsheets or write down every job in their Notes app. It works for some people, but definitely not for everyone.
Don’t make extra work for yourself. Keeping track of your applications reduces stress and keeps you prepared.
By inputting the company, date applied, and the link to the job description, you’ve already organized your pile of jobs in less than a minute. Once you get an interview, you can change the status of the application to “Interviewing.” If an opportunity doesn’t work out, another click of a button greys it out.
Prepare for the Next Steps
If you’re antsy to get past relaxing and onto the next thing, we have a few tips for you. Use the waiting time to get ready for potential interviews or follow-ups.
Do the research. Companies LOVE when you already know all about the position and the company. If you bring fresh ideas to an interview or personal projects that you completed specifically for that company, that puts you 5 steps above the rest of the applicants.
Practice common interview questions. You can never practice enough. Sometimes you might have to wing it because life happens. It’s not the end of the world BECAUSE you have already spent extra time practicing for whatever might come your way. The research you have done will ensure you’re never caught off-guard with questions related to the company.
Update your portfolio or LinkedIn. Don’t think that interviewing companies won’t look over your portfolio or Linkedin before they even speak to you. You want to show and put your most polished foot forward.
Keep relevant materials (resume, cover letter) handy and polished. Printer paper won’t cut it. Invest in a few copies of your clean and simple resume on white cotton paper. You won’t regret it and your future employers will appreciate it.
Build Up Your Skills
Like I mentioned earlier, personal projects can be huge when interviewing for a specific job. In the design world, a branding project focused on the company you’d love to work at should be included in your portfolio and mentioned.
Online courses and free webinars are abundant. LinkedIn Learning is a huge resource. I highly recommend certificates. They take a few hours to a couple of days to complete, but ultimately highlight your steadfast dedication to a specific skill.
Network, Network, and Network
Friends can refer you to people in that company or industry. Those people can refer to exactly who you need. Six degrees of separation is not entirely unfounded. Everyone knows someone.
If not, sending out a few messages and emails to people in the company or industry for a cup of coffee or a 15 minute call can establish relationships and help you get you where you need to be. Down the road, it could be the tipping point of an opportunity or help create a new opportunity just for you. Make sure you aren’t just asking the person for a job. That’s shallow and transactional. Truly invest your attention in them and then they’ll invest in you AFTER building a strong relationship.
Keep Applying, But Stay Focused
Now that you’re ready to start applying again, I recommend applying to a few every day. Don’t apply to a thousand because that encourages burnout in a wildly short amount of time. Sending out a few high quality applications is worth much more in the end than a thousand half-baked applications. Make sure to proofread and ensure your resume and cover letter are saying exactly what you want them to say.
Never forget to celebrate your progress!
Conclusion: Own the In-Between
It might feel empty, just waiting for people to get back to you. Fill that time and space with things that can only help you move forward. Rest and being proactive are qualities that will serve you well, even outside of job applications.
Staying positive makes all the difference. That time between submitting and hearing back doesn’t have to feel empty. With Hardly’s tools like your resume, your tracker, and your next steps, it all becomes part of the bigger picture you’re building. You’re not just waiting. You’re moving forward.