Stop Throwing Your Resume at Every Ad

Job searchers who apply to every job that even remotely fits their background and career goals are wasting time and energy. You might argue that it only takes a few minutes to apply. Really? That can only be true if you are careless in your approach. Or, you might say that you have nothing to lose by applying. Who knows? This job could turn out to be a perfect fit. Not likely. Every minute you spend chasing random jobs is time that should be spent researching ideal employers, networking, and developing marketing pieces that showcase your skills and qualifications.

If you can apply to the job in less than thirty minutes, you probably don’t really even want the job. Heck, it generally takes me several hours to create a targeted cover letter and resume for a posting. If a lengthy application is involved, the process can take even longer. Many internal applicant-tracking systems prevent job searchers from applying to more than three openings in the system. Employers are trying to encourage applicants to think before applying. Believe me. Recruiters can tell when an applicant has not taken the time to read the position description.

Be selective in your approach. Ask yourself if a position really sounds like it would be a great fit for your skills and qualifications. The more selective and targeted you are, the more likely you are to find a good job. Decent employers are not interested in casual relationships; they are looking for people who take their careers and job searching seriously.

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