Harvard Business Review LogoJuly 15, 2026Tim Platt/Getty ImagesHiring managers believe they prioritize experience, credentials, and fit when they wade through job applications. But a new study found that how quickly candidates reply to messages powerfullyEvery time you make a hiring decision, you likely have a set of metrics in mind to evaluate candidates. You filter them based on objective qualifications like years of experience and academic degrees, and perhaps you also incorporate more subjective considerations, like letters of recommendation and the quality of an applicant’s cover letter. In all likelihood, you reach out to multiple candidates, but how do you ultimately choose who to hire?
Are You Biased Toward Job Candidates Who Reply Quickly?
Hiring managers believe they prioritize experience, credentials, and fit when they wade through job applications. But a new study found that how quickly candidates reply to messages powerfully influences who gets hired. An analysis of more than 11 million Fiverr transactions and a series of controlled experiments found that even a one‑hour delay can sharply reduce a candidate’s chances, sometimes outweighing higher ratings or stronger applications. Managers implicitly read fast replies as signals of competence, warmth, and future responsiveness—yet few recognize how much they rely on this cue. To avoid overlooking strong talent, leaders should explicitly decide when speed truly matters, and job seekers should respond quickly, but authentically.
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