How Many Jobs Should an Active Job Seeker Apply For?
A question that I frequently get asked by job seekers is… “How many jobs should I be applying for?”
Unfortunately, I cannot give you exact metrics to say that if you apply for “x” many jobs each day, you will find a job in “x” days. You could apply for a bazillion jobs a day and never get a call or email back (chances are you are applying for the wrong jobs or need a little resume refresher).
But what I can tell you is this…
Have you ever heard the saying looking for a job is a full-time job? It’s because it’s true!
The amount of time you spend searching for a job when you are an active job seeker should resemble the amount of time you’d expect to be working. So if it’s a full-time job that you are looking for, I hate to say it, but until you land one you should be spending approximately 7 or 8 hours per day searching for job openings, tailoring your resume and cover letter, applying for jobs, going on interviews, etc.
Within this time frame you should be able to submit approximately 6-8 applications per day. There may be limitations to this number depending on the job demand or a geographic location that you may be looking to work in.
If you are currently employed full-time and are searching for a new job, then it is likely that the time you have to spend job searching will be a lot less – especially if you have a family etc. that requires your attention when you are not working. What I do suggest is you scale your job search accordingly. Select a day or a few days of the week that you will allocate to your job search to keep you on track with your job search goals. Take a look at this post to hit the ground running and accelerate your job search.
If you are applying for 6-8 jobs per day and have not had any success, then there is likely something else that is going on that you should look into further.
Here are some things to consider if you are an active job seeker who is not receiving responses from employers regarding their applications:
- Are you applying for jobs that you are qualified for?
- Are you tailoring your resume for each application?
- Are you writing a captivating professional profile on your resume?
- Are you writing unique cover letters for the positions you are applying for?
- Does your LinkedIn profile match your resume?
It’s very important to understand where in your job search that you are going wrong so you can make adjustments and land that dream job!
If you are spending 7-8 hours per day applying for jobs that you are not qualified for, you might as well not even bother. Your resume will quickly end up in the regret pile and you will have wasted so much time that you’ll never get back. And not to mention all the stress! Speaking with someone, like a career coach, can help guide you through the job search process. They can help you determine if your qualifications match job requirements.
If you are not tailoring your resume for each job application that goes out… you are going to have to start! Make the first glance at your resume count, a recruiter will spend only 6-8 seconds scanning it! So make sure you stand out among the other applicants and show them exactly how your qualifications match the job requirements.
Suggested Read: Update Your Resume With These Helpful Tips
I am going to be completely honest here, the only time I personally read a cover letter is if I am looking to review someone’s written communication skills or to see if they have included something in their cover letter that will make sense of something on their resume that I am questioning (like a gap in employment or career shift).
What I do read is someone’s profile on their resume. You have to make it captivating and extremely relevant to the job and company your applying for!
Although I just confessed that I personally don’t read cover letters, there are several recruiters who do. And you never know who is going to be on the other end of the recruitment process screening applications. So as an active job seeker, it is important to ensure that you are writing a unique cover letter for each job that you are applying for. As tempting as it is to just summarize your resume, you shouldn’t. Its redundant with your “attached resume” and wont set you apart from other candidates.
Finally, if you are using LinkedIn to apply for jobs or are providing a direct link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume, ensure that it matches your resume you are using to apply for jobs. The best thing about your LinkedIn profile is that you don’t have to tailor it for each job you are applying for, it should be consistent and include all of your skills and more detailed information about your experience. But it should match your resume!
Job searching is a hard process, a time consuming, stressful process. If you feel like you have done everything but are still not able to land a job or your dream job, you can always contact ReRouting for job search strategy information or a consultation.
Best of luck in your job search!
