Best way to follow up on a job application?

[Fsturka]

So I just submitted a job application this morning. I've been stressing because I didn't receive a call (which I'm thinking is kind of silly considering it hasn't even been a full day). How long does it normally take for an employer to call an applicant, particularly when they need more employees?

I was thinking about following up on Thursday (3 days after applying). Would it be better to follow up in person or over the phone? I was thinking about just going in there and talking to the hiring manager himself.

[woofgang]

I would give it at least a week after the closing date for applications unless it says different in the literature you got about applying.Many jobs these days get so many applications (hundreds for one job), they say if you don't hear from us you didn't get it. I hope you are lucky though.

[factor-fiction]

It depends on several things. For example if the closing date hasn't passed then you probably won't hear anything for a while at least as most companies don't acknowledge applications. It then usually takes up to a week to sift through them and get a shortlist of maybe ten from possibly hundreds of applications. If you are one of those shortlisted for a first interview you will of course hear. If you're not going to be invited you may never hear anything.
Ideally a recruiter should give an indication of timescales and let candidates know whether it will acknowledge applications, since they don't want to be bothered by people chasing them up- imagine if they were to get 200 such calls.