Bullhorn Application Status Explained

Bullhorn is a CRM and ATS platform built specifically for staffing agencies, executive search firms, and recruitment consultancies. It has a 30%+ market share among staffing companies globally, making it the dominant platform in the space.

The key difference between Bullhorn and direct-hire ATS platforms like Workday or Greenhouse is the workflow. In Bullhorn, you are a candidate in a staffing agency's database — not a direct applicant to the end employer. The staffing agency recruiter acts as an intermediary: they review your profile, match you with open client roles, and "submit" you to their client for consideration. This two-step process means you have two potential rejection points: the agency may decide not to submit you, or the client employer may pass on your profile after the agency submits it.

If you applied via a staffing agency's website, a temp agency portal, or a recruiter reached out to you about a role, your data is almost certainly in Bullhorn.

Applied / New Submission — Your application was received by the staffing agency. A recruiter has not yet reviewed it.

In Review — An agency recruiter is reviewing your qualifications against their open requisitions. This is not specific to one job — the recruiter may be considering you for multiple roles simultaneously.

Submitted to Client — The agency recruiter has reviewed your profile and decided to submit it to one of their client employers. This is a significant milestone — it means the agency thinks you're qualified and is representing you to the end employer.

Interviewing — The client employer has reviewed your profile and wants to interview you. The agency will coordinate scheduling. If you see this status, expect a call from the agency recruiter to prep you.

Placed — You have been placed in the role. In staffing terminology, "placed" is equivalent to "hired." For contract roles, this means your assignment has started.

Rejected / Not Selected — Either the agency decided not to submit you, or the client employer passed on your profile after review.

Understanding the Bullhorn workflow requires understanding how staffing agencies operate. When you apply to a staffing agency, you're not applying for a specific job — you're entering their talent pool. The recruiter then matches you to open requisitions from client companies.

This means: 1) Your application is visible to the entire recruiting team at the agency, not just one recruiter. 2) You might be submitted to multiple client companies from a single application. 3) The recruiter is motivated to place you — their commission depends on it — so they will typically reach out quickly if they think you're a strong match for something open.

For temp and contract roles, the timeline is typically much faster than for direct-hire roles. Staffing agencies often fill roles within days. For permanent placement (direct-hire through a staffing firm), the timeline mirrors the client company's normal hiring process.

When you see "Submitted to Client" in the Bullhorn portal (or hear this from your recruiter), it means the agency has forwarded your resume and profile to the end employer. At this point, the decision is no longer in the agency's hands.

Typical timeline after submission: the client employer reviews submitted profiles within 3–7 business days and either requests an interview or passes. If the client wants to interview you, the agency recruiter will contact you to schedule and provide prep materials about the company and role.

If you don't hear back within 2 weeks of being submitted, ask your agency recruiter for an update. They have a direct line to the client and can get feedback faster than you could by contacting the employer directly.

A few things that improve your chances when working through a Bullhorn-based staffing agency:

First, keep your profile current. Your Bullhorn profile (resume, skills, availability, preferred roles) is what the recruiter uses to match you to openings. An outdated profile means you'll be passed over for roles you're qualified for.

Second, respond quickly. When a recruiter contacts you about a role, speed matters. Staffing agencies are often filling multiple identical roles simultaneously and the first qualified candidates to confirm interest get submitted first.

Third, be honest about your availability and rate expectations upfront. Mismatches on start date or compensation are the most common reason a placement falls through after submission.

Fourth, it's fine to work with multiple staffing agencies simultaneously — in fact, it's advisable. Just be transparent if two agencies want to submit you to the same company, as double-submission is a major issue in the industry.