Tentatively Accepting
With this type of letter, the employer is hedging his bets and buying time. The applicant is not an ideal choice, but may be acceptable if the first or second selected employee doesn’t work out. Also, the interest of the applicant is retained while the employer searches for a better candidate.
Letter 1
Dear [[Recipient]]:
Thank you for your resume.
So many applicants have responded to our advertisement that we will need from two to three weeks to evaluate them before scheduling interviews.
We sincerely hope this delay will not be inconvenient for you.
Letter 2
Dear [[Recipient]]:
Thank you for your job application letter (for your resume) (for returning our job application form).
Because we review each one in detail, we will need up to three weeks to set up a timetable for interviews. We will let you know as soon as possible if you will be invited to discuss your qualifications.
We apologize for the delay necessitated by the large number of applicants.