My Withdrawal button disappeared for my FTI application.

The ATS games are the absolute worst part of recruiting—I've spent too much time reading those same tea leaves. You are not overthinking this; the anxiety is real, and the systems make you hunt for clues.

Here is the simple reality of what happens behind the scenes: When a firm begins processing mass rejections (Wave 1), they move the remaining viable candidates into a separate queue. When your status in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) changes from an open "Applicant" file to "Under Review" or "Shortlist"—meaning a human reviewer, usually a Senior Recruiter or Manager, is now assigned to your application—the system often locks out candidate-facing interaction features like the "Withdraw" button.

So, yes, it's a good relative sign: you successfully navigated the initial automatic and semi-automatic screening filters that cut 50-70% of the applicant pool. You are definitely in the stack of candidates still being considered for interviews.

Don't mistake this system update for a guaranteed interview, though. That shortlist is highly competitive, and the next steps involve senior personnel trying to match your profile to specific headcount needs. Use the time between now and the 16th to pivot entirely toward case prep and refining your specific stories for the firm's values and culture. The decision on your interview slot is likely coming soon, and you want to control the things you can control.

Hope it helps!

hey there :)

This usually does not mean much on its own, withdrawal buttons often disappear when applications move to the next internal step or are being reviewed in batches, so it is not a clear positive or negative signal. Given what your recruiter said, I would not read too much into it yet and just wait for the official update before January 16th. You are very likely overthinking it, which is totally normal. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk it through more.

best,
Alessa :)