#JobSearch : How Many Jobs Should You Apply For To Land An Offer In 2023? Think More you Apply, the Better your Chances? Wrong!
You’ve just been laid off, or informed that your role has the likelihood of being eliminated, and you’ve started resuming the job hunt after being out of the game for several years. It’s natural to panic and start applying randomly to every role that appears in the job board results page. But is there a limit to how many jobs you should apply for? How many job applications should you reasonably send to receive the highest chance of landing an offer?
Latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that jobseekers who apply for 21 to 80 jobs have about a 30% chance of receiving a job offer. Paradoxically, it was found that candidates who apply for more than 81 jobs reduce their prospects, with a 20% chance of receiving an offer, according to job research website Zippia.
Therefore, applying for too many jobs can be self-defeating, because although it appears that you’re exposing yourself to more opportunities, it actually may diminish your chances of being hired.
Here are a few reasons why applying for hundreds of jobs, also known as “panic-applying,” is an ineffective job search strategy:
If you apply to hundreds of jobs, especially within a short space of time such as two or three months, there’s a high probability that you have merely skimmed through applications, clicked the “easy apply” button, and not been able to give each one intensive, quality, tailored effort. Keeping your gaze fixed on the number of applications as though it were a numbers game is misleading because the more you apply for, the more you reduce the quality and energy you put into your applications, and the less you are able to sell yourself to employers.
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Article continued …
Destroys Your Mental Health
Applying for roles in panic-apply mode ruins your mental health. Due to the sheer number of low-quality applications you’re sending, you can be sure to expect a significant rejection rate via rejection emails and even ghosting, comparable in proportion to the number of applications you’ve sent out. This can cause depression, stress, and anxiety, as you notice that the harder you try, the deeper you sink into the quicksand of unemployment. Receiving a large number of rejection emails in quick succession can injure your self-esteem and confidence, and makes it harder for you to have the energy to project a strong personal brand image to the next employer.
80% Of Job Offers Come Through With Networking
According to Zippia, 80% of hires come through networking, not scouring through job boards. Recent estimates also show that 70% of jobs are not posted on widely used job sites, while Deloitte reveals that “individuals will need to find others who can help them get better faster—small workgroups, organizations, and broader and more diverse social networks.” Therefore it makes more sense to focus on building the quality of your applications and network instead of the mere quantity of applications.
Instead of applying for hundreds of roles, try these job-search tactics instead:
Build your personal brand on LinkedIn
Focus on completing your LinkedIn profile and establishing yourself as a sought-after candidate on LinkedIn. Make your profile tell and show your career story, and contribute meaningful insights relevant to your expertise and desired role. Engage meaningfully with others’ posts and add significant value through your presence on the platform.
Add quality connections to your network
In both your LinkedIn network and in everyday life, seek quality connections who can add value to your career. Connect and build relationships with head-hunters, recruiters, and most importantly, key decision-makers who work in or supervise roles that you wish to apply for, ideally at your desired employers. Word of mouth goes a long way, and these people might be the very ones who throw in a recommendation for you or suggest newly created roles at their organization.
Tap into your existing network
It’s likely that you already have a database of valuable connections you can already tap into, such as friends, family members, college classmates, and even ex-colleagues or previous stakeholders. Ex-colleagues are particularly beneficial as they have already worked with you in a professional setting, so will tend to have a less biased approach than your family or friends, and will be able to recommend you to others based on actual facts rather than character assumptions. Also since they most likely still work in the same or similar industry, they will have access to their own network of business partners or employers whom they can connect you with.
Invest in quality
Take time to focus on meticulously tailoring every detail of your application, from the research you do into each company, to the keywords you insert throughout your resume, to the examples you provide to support your application. You may only be able to apply for one or two roles a week, but this is more beneficial and laser-focused than applying to several hundred within the same period.
Ultimately, applying for hundreds of jobs is proven to be ineffective and is wasting your precious time. The golden range of 21 to 80 as cited in Zippia’s study is not about numbers; it’s about quality over numbers. Invest your energy and effort into improving your two important assets: your network and your portfolio of application documents. Remember, the success of your search isn’t dependent on volume. Less is more.