The #1 Mistake Made During Your Job Search

When you see your peers updating their LinkedIn profiles with recently snagged jobs, the pressure to begin your career can start to intensify. With the proverbial clock ticking, it may seem like mass applying to jobs to increase the probability of landing one is your best bet, but are you sacrificing quality for quantity?

When it comes to securing a job, applying to a copious amount of jobs may end up hurting you rather than helping you. Hundreds or even thousands of people may be applying to the same position and while you might be a qualified candidate, you may end up getting lost in the stacks of applications that flood hiring managers’ desks daily. However, sending out a massive amount of job applications just to boost your odds is not always the solution. Instead of casting hundreds of lines, choose quality over quantity with these three steps to help you boost your chances of landing a job.

Be Qualified

Only apply to jobs for which you are qualified. There are exceptions when it comes to filling a position’s exact requirements, but do not waste your time applying to a role for which you are very under-qualified. Instead, focus your time and efforts on finding positions for which you are a strong candidate.

Use Keyword Optimization

If you are applying for a position online, your application may be filtered through an automated system before ever reaching a hiring manager or recruiter’s desk. Make sure that your resume and cover letter contain keywords found in the job description. It will take a little extra time to tailor your resume and cover letter to each specific job posting, but it will help increase your chances of having your application seen by a human.

Apply Quickly

Do not save or bookmark jobs to apply to later. It is important to apply to a job posting as soon as you come across it: the more recent, the better. A job ad may attract hundreds of applicants and being one of the last to apply decreases the likelihood of it being seen. Try to conduct your job search daily so that when you come across a great position, you will be one of the first to respond.

While it is important to be constant with your job search, remember that how and when you apply to a job can be just as beneficial as the amount of jobs you apply to.