Now the people, real humans, have your application... somewhere.

They glance through it to see if you make their own list of key-words that you will never know exist, and if you have a misspelling well my dad told me that there was a special folder for those applications; the trash can. If you make it on their shorter list there are many theories of what goes on at this point, I had been told by sources not to be disclosed that those applications are brought to a committee who will do the same thing that the first person did with their own secret list of key-words to make a "short list" of applicants they want to interview.

Now you may NEVER hear anything past the first email the computer gave you. You might get an email from the hiring office to see if you still have interest in the listing. You may never hear past that email either. The third email is usually a request for interview times. Huzzah you made it to the interview. Remember to not be sick during the phone call. Get all your research about the location done. Pile up questions you have regarding both location and job specifications.