Applying for job is like finding a date to the senior prom!

Part of my job as a recruiter is to help people find a job.  May not be with my company, but if I can be a resource for someone in their job search then I am more than happy to do so.  Here is my first peice of advice...DON'T APPLY FOR EVERY JOB OPENING AT A COMPANY!!!!  I can see why a candidate may think this is a good approach (someone has to notice my resume if I sent it 1500 times), but in the end does it not make the candidate look desperate?

 

Let's put a little spin on this and think about it in a different way...If I was back in high school and asked 25 different girls to go to prom with me, the word would spread and not look so good for me with the girls who would actually consider going with me.  If I were to plan this out, and put some serious thought into the the ones who would be the best match, then it could turn out good for me. 

The same concept is true with applying for a position at a company.  The candidate really needs do some research, and put some serious thought into the positions that are posted.  If he/she is in fact a GREAT match for multiple openings, then you should have an opportunity to tell that directly to the recruiter!  (NOTE: If you are in fact a GREAT fit, then you WILL be contacted)  It does not look good for the candidate if they have applied to 10 - 20 openings, and looks even worse if these openings are varied from software development to business analyst to help desk...What are you really?  You can't be everything all at once.  You need to have a strategic approach to your job search and figure out where your skills could best be utilized by the company.

 

Anyone share this thought?

Views: 290

Comment by Kyle Schafroth on December 13, 2012 at 1:26pm

Couldn't agree more Ryan! The 'shotgun approach' or 'serial applicant' as I'm prone to calling them definitely paints a certain image for him/herself. You pull their profile up in the ATS for a job and realize it's going to take you 20 minutes just to scroll down past all the jobs they've applied for previously!

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