The RTH Flow Chart

What to Expect in Your RTH Application Timeline

If you’re preparing your Research Talent Hub (RTH) application, understanding the timeline is just as important as preparing the documents. This flow chart outlines what typically happens week by week.

Weeks 1–2: Job Posting, Interviews, and Portal Setup

The first two weeks are all about preparation and recruitment.  This is also the moment your application evidence officially begins.
From the second you publish your job post, every action becomes part of the record you may need to provide later.

During this stage, you should:

• Create your account in the RTH portal

• Begin filling out background information and reviewing the application questions.  

• Publish your job post on open, public platforms (the Labour Department, JIJIS, LinkedIn, etc.) 

• Capture screenshots of the job post with visible dates

• Start reviewing resumes and interviewing potential talent

• Keep records of applications, communications, and interview notes

Good documentation here prevents delays months later.

Week 3: Select Your Talent and drafting the Application

While your are interviewing, there is certain good to start drafing the application, getting other supporitng documents ready. So, you can submit your application once you have an agreement with your talent.

Week 4: Select Your Talent and Submit the Application

By week 4, you should be ready to:

• Finalize your candidate selection

• Prepare the employment contract (final or draft)

• Submit your full RTH application through the portal

Submitting by week 4 keeps your timeline on track for the next steps.

Week 8 -10: First Response From the Secretariat

About one month after submission, you can expect the first round of questions from the Secretariat. These questions usually relate to:

• Your project details

• Your hiring process

• Supporting documents

This is a normal part of the review — not a sign that anything is wrong.

Weeks 10–11: Address Questions and Update Start Date

During this period, you will:

• Respond to all follow‑up questions

• Provide clarifications or additional documents

• Revise the talent’s start date if needed (this is common)

Timely responses help prevent unnecessary delays.

Approval: Congratulations!

If everything goes smoothly, you should receive your approval letter shortly after addressing the final questions. This is the moment your project officially moves forward.

A Final Note

Because the evidence trail begins the moment you post the job — and because missing or incomplete documentation often causes months of delay and you will not find out until your application is rejected. If you are serious about your applying, a consulting session is highly recommended to confirm that your timeline, documentation, and hiring process align with RTH expectations.