You may spend hours perfecting your CV, preparing for an interview or writing a carefully worded job application. But once a potential employer sends you a message, another factor could begin influencing your chances: how quickly you reply.New research from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business suggests that every minute of delay may matter during a conversation between a job applicant and a potential employer. Analysing more than 11 million conversations, researchers found that delaying a response by just five minutes was associated with roughly a 15% drop in the odds of being hired. After an hour, the decline in hiring chances reached 46%.The research, published online on June 3 in the journal Management Science, offers an interesting lesson for job seekers: when an employer reaches out, playing hard to get may not work.
Why a quick reply can influence hiring decisions
According to the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business research, employers often have limited information about an applicant, particularly during the early stages of a hiring process. In such situations, even seemingly minor details can become signals.A quick response may lead a hiring manager to assume that the applicant is attentive, interested and likely to be responsive in the future.“Sometimes, whether we are slow to respond or fast to respond has more meaning than what we say,” Ovul Sezer, assistant professor of management and organisations at the SC Johnson College, said while explaining the findings.The research examined data from Fiverr, an online freelance work marketplace, and found a consistent relationship between faster replies and a greater likelihood of being hired.The findings challenge a common belief that appearing less eager can make a person seem more desirable.“There are gaps between what we intend to signal and what the other person actually perceives,” Sezer said. “The idea of playing it cool is ingrained in every sort of interaction that we have.”But the data, according to the researchers, pointed in the opposite direction.
Even candidates with fewer ratings benefited
One of the more significant findings was that response speed appeared to matter independently of an applicant’s reputation.Even candidates with low ratings or no ratings saw their likelihood of being hired improve when they responded quickly. In other words, speed appeared capable of creating a positive first impression even when an applicant did not have an established track record on the platform.The researchers also carried out hiring simulations involving full-time professions, including photographers, caterers and doctors. The positive effect of responding quickly continued across these occupations.This suggests that the finding may extend beyond freelance work and could have implications for graduates and professionals navigating increasingly digital recruitment processes.
But replying quickly is not enough
There is, however, an important catch.According to the Cornell research, the advantage of speed disappeared when a response appeared automated or AI-generated. A quick but impersonal reply could make employers question an applicant’s credibility and authenticity.“I predict that authenticity will carry a lot of weight now that we are in the age of AI,” Sezer said. “So, the durable advantage isn’t speed alone, but it’s being quick and unmistakably human.”The message for job seekers, therefore, is not to send an instant reply without thinking. A poorly written response cannot be rescued simply by sending it quickly.
Take your time with the application, but not necessarily the reply
The researchers draw an important distinction between preparing an application and responding after a conversation with an employer has begun.“When applicants are putting together their materials, they should take their time,” Sezer said. “Quality wins there and nobody’s watching the clock yet. But the moment an employer writes them, the conversation has started.”For students preparing to enter the job market, the research offers a practical takeaway. Take time to prepare a strong CV, portfolio and application. But once an employer reaches out, do not assume that waiting will make you appear more valuable.In a hiring process increasingly shaped by emails, messaging platforms and online applications, being prompt may itself communicate something about the candidate — provided the response is thoughtful, genuine and unmistakably human.Disclaimer: This article is based on research and information published by the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the study published in Management Science. The findings have been presented for educational and informational purposes and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of individual hiring outcomes.
