The short answer
Not Retained generally means your application is no longer being considered for that opening. It does not identify the reason or prevent you from considering a different role with the employer.
Read it as an outcome for this application
A recruiting portal uses short labels to summarize a longer employer-controlled workflow. Not Retained is usually a rejection outcome for the specific application, rather than a request to update your profile or a stage you need to unlock.
Start with the job title, requisition number, and any message attached to the status. Companies can have similarly named openings in different locations. A decision on one does not tell you the result of another. If the wording is only Not Retained, the reason remains unknown; do not infer an automated resume score or a particular interview mistake.
Not Retained, under review, and a closed job
Under review normally presents the candidacy as active, although it does not prove a person has read it. Not Retained, Not Selected, and No Longer Under Consideration are more direct negative outcomes. Closed can describe the requisition rather than a decision about your qualifications.
These are general interpretations, not a universal status dictionary. Workday employers in particular choose what candidates see. An employer message or recruiter confirmation is more useful than comparing your wording with a stranger's portal screenshot.
What to do after the status changes
Record the result, retain the job description if you already have a copy, and keep applying elsewhere. If you interviewed, a short request for feedback is reasonable. If you only submitted an application, a response may not be available.
For another opening, check the employer's reapplication rules and compare its requirements with your experience. Do not create another identity or repeatedly submit the same application to get around a decision.
A concise follow-up after an interview
Hi Taylor, I saw that my application for the Operations Analyst role is no longer active. Thank you for considering me. If you can share one area I could strengthen for future openings, I would appreciate it.
If the result appears to be a mistake
Contact the recruiting team using the employer's own career site or your existing email thread. Include the requisition number and a screenshot with personal information removed. Explain the discrepancy without sending account passwords or verification codes.
A recruiting software provider generally cannot reverse the employer's hiring decision. Keep the original confirmation email so the employer can locate the right application.
Sources and further reading
Provider and employer requirements can change. Follow the instructions for the particular application or integration.