If you’ve ever been on the job hunt, chances are you’ve received one of those polished, neutral messages from a recruiter that leave you thinking, “Okay… but what does that actually mean?”
I’ve been on both sides of that conversation — as a recruiter and as a candidate — and the truth is, a lot happens behind those short lines. Sometimes it’s genuine, sometimes it’s a way to keep doors open, and sometimes it’s just the easiest way to deliver a no.
Let’s break down three of the most common phrases candidates hear and unpack what’s usually going on behind the scenes.
1. “We decided to move forward with other candidates.”
This one hurts. It’s usually the end of the line, and because it’s phrased so formally, it often feels cold.
In reality, there are different stories behind this sentence. Sometimes another candidate had slightly more relevant experience or internal referrals that gave them a head start. Other times, it’s a matter of timing: maybe they already had someone in their pipeline and your application came in late. And occasionally, priorities shift mid-hiring process — the role changes, gets delayed, or goes to an internal hire.
Most of the time, it’s not about you doing something “wrong.” Hiring processes are rarely linear, and often it’s a mix of timing, context, and internal factors you can’t see.
2. “We’ll keep your résumé on file.”
I know this one sounds hopeful, but let’s be honest: in most cases, they won’t.
Unless a recruiter personally flags you for future roles, this line is often a polite way to close the loop. Companies rarely have the bandwidth to manually revisit past candidates unless a nearly identical role opens up soon.
That doesn’t mean the door is fully closed. If you liked the company, keep the connection alive yourself. Follow them on LinkedIn, engage with their posts, or check their openings regularly. The follow-up is more likely to come from you than from them.
3. “We’re still evaluating our options.”
This one sits in the grey zone. It can mean a few things, depending on the stage you’re in.
In some cases, you’re the backup — not the first choice, but still a contender if things fall through with someone else. Other times, it just means the process has slowed down. Hiring teams get busy, budgets shift, decision-makers change their minds. The phrase is intentionally vague because even they may not have clarity yet.
The key here is to stay professional and keep your momentum. Don’t pause your search waiting for a maybe.
Why This Matters
Understanding these phrases isn’t about becoming cynical. It’s about not taking vague communication personally — and learning how to respond strategically.
When you can read between the lines, you stop wasting energy wondering what went wrong, and start making smarter moves: keeping relationships warm, pursuing other leads, and recognizing when it’s time to move on.
Behind every polished message is a human trying to keep a complicated process moving. Decoding their language helps you navigate it with more clarity and less frustration.
And if you’d rather not do this alone, that’s exactly what we help job seekers with. We know how Canadian hiring pipelines work — the visible and the hidden ones. If you want to position yourself more strategically, get in touch with our team.
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info@axcesstms.com
www.axcesstms.com