Q. "Do we need to review every application submitted for a position?"
Answer:
The short answer is no, there is no legal requirement to review all applications before moving forward, and you can always return to the applicants who applied later to review them if needed. Having said that, we do recommend reviewing every application.
Doing so ensures you don’t miss excellent candidates buried in the pile and also demonstrates a commitment to fairness and nondiscrimination in your hiring process.
If you’re concerned about a flood of applicants after interviews are already underway, remove the job posting and simply repost it later if none of the current candidates work out.