When you apply for a job on Indeed, your application is submitted directly to the employer. As an applicant, you cannot delete or remove your own application from the employer’s applicant tracking system. Only the employer has the ability to delete your application. However, there are a few things you can do if you want to withdraw your application or make sure a job application is no longer considered active.
Contact the Employer
The best option is to directly contact the employer and ask them to delete or withdraw your application. Every employer handles this differently, but many will honor a request to remove your application if you have changed your mind and are no longer interested.
To do this, first try to find the hiring manager or recruiter’s contact information in the job posting. If available, send them an email or give them a call explaining that you would like to withdraw your application. Be sure to include the job title and the date you applied so they can locate your application easily.
If you cannot find direct contact information, check the company’s website for general contact info or a careers email address. HR departments are usually willing to pass along your request to the right person. Just be clear in your request and share the details of the job you applied for.
In your message, politely ask them to disregard or delete your application from consideration. Explain that you are no longer interested in the position or unable to pursue it any further. Thank them for their time and consideration.
While not required, it can be helpful to provide a reason for withdrawing. Whether you accepted another offer, your circumstances changed, or you realized the role is not the right fit, sharing this context can leave the employer with a good impression of you in case another suitable position becomes available down the line.
Remove Your Application in Your Indeed Profile
While this does not delete your actual job application, which the employer still retains, it is another option to indicate you are no longer interested in a particular job on Indeed.
To do this, take the following steps:
- Go to indeed.com and log into your account
- Click on your name icon in the top right and select “Account Settings”
- Click “Applications” in the left menu
- Find the job you want to remove and click “Remove”
This will update your Indeed profile by removing the job from your active applications list. The change is only reflected from your end as the applicant, but can help signify to Indeed and employers that you no longer want to be considered.
Disable Your Indeed Profile
If you wish to remove yourself entirely from being visible to employers on Indeed, you can disable your profile. This essentially pauses all activity on your account so employers can no longer search for and view your profile.
To disable your Indeed account:
- Go to indeed.com and log in
- Click your name icon and select “Account Settings”
- Click “Disable Account” at the bottom of the page
- Check the reason you are disabling your account and click “Disable Account”
Once disabled, employers will only see a message that your account is unavailable if they try to access your profile. You can still log in to reactivate your account at any time in the future.
Remove Personal Information from Your Application
Unfortunately, there is no way to fully erase the details you provided when you first submitted your job application to an employer. This data remains in their applicant tracking system.
However, if your application contains personal details you now want deleted, such as a Social Security number, home address, or contact information, you can request for the employer to remove those specific items. This allows you to maintain a level of privacy without fully withdrawing your application.
To do this, contact the employer and explicitly state which fields or information you want deleted or concealed from your application materials. While legally they may not have to comply with every request, most employers want to respect the privacy of candidates.
Conclusion
When applying for jobs on Indeed, it’s impossible for applicants to directly delete or remove their own applications. The submission process transfers your application out of your hands and into the employer’s control. However, by reaching out to the employer, adjusting your Indeed profile settings, or requesting the removal of personal details, you can achieve a similar effect of withdrawing your candidacy.
The key is communicating your wishes quickly and clearly so the employer can take appropriate action. Withdrawal requests are common, so most employers will work with you accordingly. This allows you to change your mind about a role or remove yourself from consideration without negatively impacting your reputation with the employer.
So if you need to retract a job application submitted through Indeed, focus on the options available to indirectly remove yourself from contention. With some effort on your end to notify the necessary parties, you can get yourself out of the running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my indeed account?
Yes, you can delete your Indeed account if you no longer wish to have a profile on Indeed. To delete your Indeed account:
- Log into your Indeed account
- Click on your name icon in the top right corner
- Select “Account Settings” from the dropdown menu
- Scroll to the bottom and click “Delete Account”
- Check the box confirming you want to delete your account permanently
- Click “Delete Account”
Deleting your account will remove your profile, resume, applications, and account details from Indeed’s system. However, employers may still retain any applications you previously submitted.
Does deleting an indeed account delete your applications?
No, deleting your Indeed account does not delete or remove job applications that you have already submitted to employers. When you apply for a job through Indeed, your application is sent directly to the employer’s applicant tracking system. Deleting your account only removes your profile and account information from Indeed’s system – it does not impact applications that are under the employer’s control.
To fully withdraw a job application, you would need to directly contact the employer and request they remove your application from consideration. Deleting the Indeed account itself does not automatically delete applications already submitted.
Can you undo applying for a job on Indeed?
There is no way to directly “undo” a job application submitted through Indeed. Once you apply, that application is out of your hands and in the employer’s control. However, there are a few options to essentially “undo” an application by communicating that you are no longer interested in the role:
- Contact the employer directly to withdraw your application
- Remove the job from your “Active Applications” in your Indeed account
- Disable your Indeed account so employers can no longer view your profile
While you cannot delete the application itself, taking these steps will signify that you no longer want to be considered for the position. Be sure to act quickly once deciding to withdraw so the employer is aware of your updated interest.
Can employers see if you applied then deleted the application on Indeed?
No, employers cannot see if you apply for a job then later delete the application from your Indeed account. Removing a job from your active applications only impacts your profile from the applicant side. Employers do not have any visibility into whether you have deleted a job from your account after applying.
When you submit an application, that data remains in the employer’s applicant tracking system even if you later choose to delete the record of applying from your Indeed profile. So employers have no way to tell if an applicant has removed a job from their account after applying – it does not delete the actual application that was already submitted.
Does deleting a job from your indeed applications withdraw your application?
No, deleting a job from your list of applications in your Indeed account does not withdraw or delete the actual job application with the employer. It simply removes the record that you applied from your Indeed profile.
Once you submit an application through Indeed, that data is sent to the employer’s applicant tracking system and Indeed no longer has control over it. Removing the job from your Indeed applications only impacts your own profile – it does not delete or retract the application that was already sent to the employer when you first applied.
To fully withdraw your application, you would need to directly contact the employer and request they remove you from consideration. Just deleting it from your Indeed account does not withdraw your candidacy.
Indeed Job Application Data
Here is some data on Indeed job applications and accounts:
Data Point | 2021 Statistic |
---|---|
Number of active Indeed users | 250 million |
Number of jobs posted to Indeed each month | 9 million |
Number of clicks on “Apply” each month | 35 million |
Number of job application submissions per month | 15 million |
Percentage of applications submitted via mobile | 50% |
Some key takeaways from this data:
- Indeed has an enormous number of active users searching for jobs.
- Employers continue to leverage Indeed to post millions of open roles every month.
- There is significant applicant interest and traffic, evidenced by the high volume of clicks to apply.
- Millions of applications are submitted directly to employers through Indeed each month.
- Indeed’s mobile app accounts for half of all application submissions, emphasizing the importance of mobile optimization.
In summary, Indeed has proven to be a highly valuable source for both finding open jobs and submitting job applications at scale. Both employers and applicants rely heavily on the platform as part of the recruitment process.
Best Practices for Withdrawing Job Applications
If you need to retract a job application that you submitted via Indeed, here are some best practices to withdraw appropriately:
- Act quickly – As soon as you decide to withdraw, take action by contacting the employer.
- Be professional – Politely explain your reasons for withdrawing in a professional tone.
- Provide context – Giving context helps maintain a positive impression even though you are withdrawing.
- Follow up if needed – If you do not get confirmation, follow up in a few days to confirm they received your request.
- Remove from Indeed account – Also remove the job from your Indeed applications as an extra step.
- Double check status – Occasionally verify the employer does not still have you marked as “Under Consideration.”
Withdrawing applications is common, so most employers will quickly honor your request. By handling it professionally, you can remove yourself from contention for a role while minimizing any inconvenience for the employer.
Alternatives to Withdrawing Your Application
Instead of completely withdrawing a job application, here are some alternatives to consider:
- Ask about other openings – You may discover the employer has other suitable roles that better match your interests and qualifications.
- Refer a contact – If you know someone who may be a good fit, you can recommend them when withdrawing.
- Express continued interest – Let the employer know you would be interested in future opportunities even though this role wasn’t the right fit.
- Provide feedback – Constructive feedback may improve their hiring practices, even if you are withdrawing.
Withdrawing does not need to be the end of your relationship with that employer. Job searches are imperfect by nature, so ask about alternatives or provide insights that leave the door open for the future.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot directly delete or remove a job application you submitted through Indeed.
- To withdraw your application, contact the employer directly with your request.
- Additionally, remove the job from your Indeed “Active Applications” section.
- Disabling your Indeed account also removes your visibility from employers.
- Handle withdrawing professionally to maintain a positive impression.