Is Your Job Search Strategy the Lotto Approach or Laser Focused
A dilemma every job seeker using the Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com and other job boards faces is, which jobs do I apply for? Many job seekers go with the "shotgun" or Lottery approach and apply for anything and everything that is remotely close to what they are looking for. Is this your job search method, browse through the jobs on Monster and Careerbuilder and send in dozens of resumes every day? Is it working for you?
Wow, that was easy, OK, I'm just going to send my resume in for any job that is even close to what I want.
Monster and Careerbuilder have done a great job of making easy to search for jobs and to browse through hundreds of jobs fairly quickly. Both sites, in fact most job boards, allow you to save multiple copies (variations) of your resume and cover letter to "customize it for different jobs or industries. With a few clicks you can pick one of your resumes, one of our cover letters, tweak the cover letter a bit, and BINGO in a few minutes you've applied for another job.
While it's great they offer these features and they are a great tool, there is one problem with it. The overwhelming temptation is that since it only takes a few minutes, what the heck, go ahead and apply for lots of jobs. If you're already on the page anyway, and it only takes a few minutes and a few clicks, why not send it in?
Here's the problem with that. Firstly you really are wasting your time and the prospective employer's time if you clearly do not meet at least the minimum requirements. In today's job market I would say that if you are not a great fit for the position, don't bother! You will save yourself and the companies posting these jobs countless hours of work. Let's face it, there is a lot of talent on the market today. The company will certainly have a number of very well qualified candidates for the position and if you don't meet, I would even say exceed, the minimum requirements you are not going to make the first cut and will not get a call.
So why not go with the "shotgun" or Lotto approach and send lots of resumes?
While it only takes a few minutes to send in one of your saved resumes and tweak one of your saved cover letters, if you add this time up over dozens of jobs it turns into hours of your time wasted. Another problem is that after sending hundreds of resumes with few or even no responses, you will get burned out and discouraged. This is not going to help your mental attitude toward your job search. Going after hundreds of long shots is an act of desperation. It's like buying a bunch of Lotto tickets in expectation of winning in the next few weeks and then being disappointed because you spent all that time and money buying Lotto tickets and didn't win! The only winner when job seekers send in resumes to hundreds of positions is Monster and Careerbuilder because it helps their stats. They can show advertisers that millions of resumes are posted on their sites and tell them that they will receive hundreds of responses to their job ads.
Smart Job Searching on the Job Boards - Laser approach not Lotto approach
My recommendation is the following: Focus on the BEST jobs you find. I don't mean the highest paying or the highest level, I mean the best jobs for YOU. The jobs that YOU are exceptionally well qualified for, the ones where when you read the ad or job description, you say, WOW this is PERFECT for me! The ones where when you read the requirements you can put a check mark by each bullet saying that you have that experience. Since you aren't doing the job lottery and applying for dozens of long shot jobs, you can really focus on the few that you are a great fit for.
Of course this means you will be applying for a lot less jobs. Perhaps only a couple of jobs each day instead of dozens of long shots in the job lottery. This will open up more time for you to write a great cover letter and customize your resume, instead of just shot gunning the applications. It will also give you more time for networking which is often neglected in favor of blankly staring at computer screen applying for dozens of long shot jobs.
Here are some things I recommend when you find a job that you think is a great fit for you:
Wow, that was easy, OK, I'm just going to send my resume in for any job that is even close to what I want.
Monster and Careerbuilder have done a great job of making easy to search for jobs and to browse through hundreds of jobs fairly quickly. Both sites, in fact most job boards, allow you to save multiple copies (variations) of your resume and cover letter to "customize it for different jobs or industries. With a few clicks you can pick one of your resumes, one of our cover letters, tweak the cover letter a bit, and BINGO in a few minutes you've applied for another job.
While it's great they offer these features and they are a great tool, there is one problem with it. The overwhelming temptation is that since it only takes a few minutes, what the heck, go ahead and apply for lots of jobs. If you're already on the page anyway, and it only takes a few minutes and a few clicks, why not send it in?
Here's the problem with that. Firstly you really are wasting your time and the prospective employer's time if you clearly do not meet at least the minimum requirements. In today's job market I would say that if you are not a great fit for the position, don't bother! You will save yourself and the companies posting these jobs countless hours of work. Let's face it, there is a lot of talent on the market today. The company will certainly have a number of very well qualified candidates for the position and if you don't meet, I would even say exceed, the minimum requirements you are not going to make the first cut and will not get a call.
So why not go with the "shotgun" or Lotto approach and send lots of resumes?
While it only takes a few minutes to send in one of your saved resumes and tweak one of your saved cover letters, if you add this time up over dozens of jobs it turns into hours of your time wasted. Another problem is that after sending hundreds of resumes with few or even no responses, you will get burned out and discouraged. This is not going to help your mental attitude toward your job search. Going after hundreds of long shots is an act of desperation. It's like buying a bunch of Lotto tickets in expectation of winning in the next few weeks and then being disappointed because you spent all that time and money buying Lotto tickets and didn't win! The only winner when job seekers send in resumes to hundreds of positions is Monster and Careerbuilder because it helps their stats. They can show advertisers that millions of resumes are posted on their sites and tell them that they will receive hundreds of responses to their job ads.
Smart Job Searching on the Job Boards - Laser approach not Lotto approach
My recommendation is the following: Focus on the BEST jobs you find. I don't mean the highest paying or the highest level, I mean the best jobs for YOU. The jobs that YOU are exceptionally well qualified for, the ones where when you read the ad or job description, you say, WOW this is PERFECT for me! The ones where when you read the requirements you can put a check mark by each bullet saying that you have that experience. Since you aren't doing the job lottery and applying for dozens of long shot jobs, you can really focus on the few that you are a great fit for.
Of course this means you will be applying for a lot less jobs. Perhaps only a couple of jobs each day instead of dozens of long shots in the job lottery. This will open up more time for you to write a great cover letter and customize your resume, instead of just shot gunning the applications. It will also give you more time for networking which is often neglected in favor of blankly staring at computer screen applying for dozens of long shot jobs.
Here are some things I recommend when you find a job that you think is a great fit for you:
- CAREFULLY read the ad and job description: A well written ad will specify what experience the company is looking for, and characteristics of the job and the person they want to hire. Print out a hard copy of the ad and highlight or underline these key points, keywords, characteristics, and experience.
- Visit the company website: Some ads have the name of the company and a link to their website. If this is available your next click is to their website. Spend some time learning about the company to get some additional insight for your cover letter and resume. Granted, many ads are "blind" ads and there is no company information available, but if you are lucky enough to find one that does, take advantage of this. Many job seekers don't bother and this can give you an edge when you write your cover letter, not to mention when you get a phone call for a phone interview.
- Write a custom cover letter: Since you are focusing on just the best job opportunities, the ones that are really a good fit for you, and you are a great candidate for the job, you will have the time to write a great cover letter that is PERFECT for this job. Start with one of your existing cover letters and then make sure you have addressed the important points in the ad. Make sure you clearly show you have the experience and qualifications for THIS job (the one they advertised). Be specific and make sure this letter is written to them and for them, just for this job.
- Customize Your Resume: In a previous blog "Are You Resume OCD" I said that you should write a great resume and be done with it and not be OCD about writing the "perfect" resume. My point was that there isn't a perfect resume and you will never finish if you are trying to craft the ultimate resume. What I am referring to in that blog is your basic resume, the resume or resumes you use as your templates. It is a waste of time to perpetually rewrite your standard resume, BUT, it is a great investment to take that standard resume and tailor it to highlight the skills and qualifications you have that match the job you are applying for. By emphasizing your matching qualifications you greatly increase your chances of making the first cut and getting an interview. Remember, the person scanning your resume is going to give it a quick 15 second look; if they see the key qualifications and skills they are looking for, you go in the candidate folder and if not, it goes in the round file under their desk.
- PROOF READ CAREFULLY: Before you hit the send button (remember, there is no un-do for that), make sure you carefully proof read the cover letter and resume. Double check your content: did you cover all of the key points for the position, does your cover letter and resume show how your qualifications match the position, does your cover letter hit the highlights and make them want more (eg read your resume)? Next double check your grammar and punctuation. If you have read enough of my blogs, you know by now that I frequently have grammar and spelling errors. It's easy to miss these and it can be death to your prospects of getting to the candidate folder. I suggest reading the cover letter and resume aloud or having someone else proof read both.
- Save a copy or hard copy: Since you are writing a custom cover letter and resume you better have a copy hand for when you get a call. Let's face it, it would be embarrassing if they asked for another copy and you didn't have it, or if they asked a question on the phone and you could pull it up to discuss it with them.
- Send: Now you are ready to send it. Granted you have spent much more time on responding to this one position, but you know it is a good fit for you, you are well qualified for the position, and by doing the steps above your chances of going to the next step are much higher.
Additional resources:
- Impact Hiring Resources Blog - Brad & Barry have been professional recruiters for over 25 years. They post regularly here and have excellent tips on interviewing, cover letters, resumes etc.
- Impact Hiring Solutions Website - Brad & Barry also offer free resources to job seekers as well as a very reasonably priced home study course packed with practical advice and their book "This is NOT the Position I Accepted" which is a great resource for job seekers and career development.
- Help My Resume.org - has free resources and help for job seekers and they are really nice people too.
- CareerXL.com - of course check out my website for free resume templates and other resources.
Posted by Bill Grunau at 4/3/2010 3:03 PM 
Categories: Job Search Discussion, Career and Job Search
Tags: job search job board websites how to find a job
Categories: Job Search Discussion, Career and Job Search
Tags: job search job board websites how to find a job
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