What Does 'Regretted' Mean on a Job Application? (UK Guide)
You log into the application portal and see the status has changed. Not "under review" or "interview invited" but "Regretted". This guide explains what that label means, why UK employers use it, and what your practical next step looks like.
What does "regretted" mean on a job application?
"Regretted" means your application has been reviewed and will not be progressed. It is the UK employment equivalent of a rejection, and it is a final status. No further steps follow.
The word comes from formal British letter-writing convention ("We regret to inform you...") and has migrated into the status labels used by ATS portals, particularly in the public sector. NHS Jobs, civil service systems, and many local authority portals use "Regretted" as the standard closed-application label. Some private sector employers use it too, particularly larger organisations running formal recruitment processes on platforms such as Taleo or IBM Kenexa.
In plain terms: regretted = not successful this time.
Which ATS systems use "regretted" as a status label?
NHS Jobs is the most common place UK jobseekers encounter "Regretted". When a hiring manager or HR team reviews applications and decides not to progress a candidate, they update the status in NHS Jobs, and it appears directly in the applicant's portal.
Other platforms that use similar language:
- NHS Jobs: "Regretted" appears directly in the candidate application tracker
- Jobtrain: used by many UK universities and housing associations; shows "Unsuccessful" or "Regretted"
- Taleo / Oracle Recruiting: typically shows "No Longer Under Consideration"
- Workday: uses "No Longer Being Considered" or "Application Withdrawn by Company"
- Greenhouse / Lever: usually sends a rejection email with no portal status update
If you are applying across multiple sectors, the same outcome may carry a different label depending on the platform. "Regretted", "Unsuccessful", "Not selected", and "No longer being considered" all mean the same thing.
Does "regretted" mean my application was actually read?
Not necessarily. Two distinct things can lead to a "Regretted" status.
Automated screening: most modern ATS systems run keyword matching and scoring before any human reviewer opens the file. If your application does not reach the minimum threshold for required qualifications, location filters, or keyword frequency, the system can mark it regretted automatically. This can happen within hours of applying.
Human review: if the status changes one to four weeks after the closing date, it is much more likely a recruiter or hiring manager has read your application and decided not to shortlist you.
Timing is the best signal you have. A "Regretted" that appears within 24 hours of applying almost certainly came from automated filtering. One that arrives three weeks after the closing date almost certainly came from a person. Understanding how long it typically takes to hear back after submitting a job application helps you read the difference.
What to do after your application is marked regretted
The most useful move depends on what you think happened.
If you suspect ATS filtering: review your application against the job description. Look at the key requirements and check whether your CV or supporting statement used the same language the employer used. A common cause is relying on synonyms ("ran a team" rather than "managed a team", "handled budgets" rather than "budget management") when the ATS is scanning for exact phrases. Reapply for the next cycle with adjusted language.
If it was a human decision: a polite request for feedback is reasonable. One short email, sent once, within five working days:
Subject: Application for [Job Title] — [Your Name]
Thank you for letting me know the outcome. If it would be possible to receive brief written feedback, I would find that useful for future applications. I completely understand if you are unable to do so given the volume you receive.
Best wishes, [Your name]
Do not push further if they do not respond. Feedback rates are low across the board, but the ask costs nothing.
In both cases: move on. One regretted application tells you very little. A pattern of rejections at the same stage tells you something actionable: if every application is marked regretted within 24 hours, keyword matching is the likely cause; if rejections consistently come after interview invitation, the issue is elsewhere.
Other status labels that mean the same thing
If you are applying across multiple portals, here is a quick reference:
| System | Label for "not progressing" |
|---|---|
| NHS Jobs | Regretted |
| Jobtrain | Unsuccessful / Regretted |
| Taleo | No Longer Under Consideration |
| Workday | No Longer Being Considered |
| SmartRecruiters | Rejected |
| Greenhouse | (rejection email, no portal update) |
The label varies by platform, not by how competitive your application was. A "Regretted" from an NHS trust and a "Rejected" from a tech company using Greenhouse are the same decision.
When "regretted" is not the end of the conversation
Some portals allow you to reapply for the same role in a future cycle after a "Regretted" status. NHS Jobs keeps your profile active, and many trusts re-advertise the same band roles repeatedly throughout the year.
The stronger longer-term move, if a specific employer or team appeals to you, is to reach them before the role goes live rather than competing in a high-volume open application cycle. Finding unadvertised jobs in the UK covers how to build the kind of prior contact that means a hiring manager already knows your name when the shortlist is assembled.
If writing the supporting information field, the competency statement, or the "why this role" question is the sticking point, AI Job Answers lets you paste your CV and the job description and get a tailored first draft in under a minute.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Does 'regretted' mean the same as 'rejected' on a job application?
Yes. 'Regretted' is the formal UK term used by many employers and ATS portals, particularly NHS Jobs and public sector systems, to indicate that the application will not be progressed. It is a final decision, not a holding status.
Will I get a follow-up email if my application is marked regretted?
Not always. Many employers mark applications as regretted in their ATS and send nothing further, especially at high application volumes. If you applied through a portal like NHS Jobs, the status change itself is typically the notification.
Can I ask for feedback after my application is marked regretted?
You can, but feedback rates are low for volume roles. Public sector employers, including NHS trusts, civil service departments, and local authorities, are more likely to provide written feedback on request than private sector employers handling hundreds of applications per posting.
How quickly does an application move to 'regretted' status?
It varies. Some applications are marked regretted within hours via automated keyword screening; others sit in review for several weeks before a recruiter updates the status. A fast 'regretted' often signals ATS filtering rather than a human decision.
Can a 'regretted' status be reversed?
Rarely. Once marked regretted, the application is closed in the employer's system. Most portals allow you to reapply for future cycles, but contacting the employer to dispute a regretted decision almost never changes the outcome.