Job Search: Is It a Numbers Game?
Yes and no.
No, it's not just a numbers game when it comes to job searching — but yes, there is some truth to the fact that employers are receiving too many resumes for them all to be processed properly.
The first time I started looking for jobs in a major city was back in 2006. Back then search engines like Monster, HotJobs and Indeed made it really easy to find jobs online. All you had to do was enter your zip code or type of industry you wanted a job in, and the sites would spit out as many listings as they could find from local companies.
However, I noticed over the years that the number of employers online had started to dwindle. What happened? It wasn't just one company deciding it didn't want to pay for a job posting on Monster — but rather multiple employers — not really because the jobs were too difficult for them to fill, but because they didn't have time to post , or they just weren't sure if a student was serious about their career path and therefore wouldn't bother posting.
And while I've always held onto hope that as an industry we'd make more progress in technology and job searching, this is where I'm at now:
When I'm ready to begin my search, my first step is browsing Monster's list of openings. I scroll down until I find something that catches my eye, click on it and see if the listing exists. And then I wait.
If it does exist, I'm asked to fill out a lengthy form that requires me to enter my resume and education level. Then, for want of a better term, I'm "pilled" by yet another application process that can take months to complete in addition to the application process itself.
But even though my Monster application hasn't been accepted yet, other companies are already contacting me about positions. It's as if just by applying for a job from Monster or any other job board, I've created an employer's market .
Then I stop myself. I remind myself that the economy is in a bad place right now and companies will prioritize people who are immediately available to start working within a given timeframe rather than those who are best suited to the job.
And so — back to the example at hand — when I look for jobs in an industry, it's just as likely that my search will result in an application form as it is that I'll see any actual listings posted by employers.
That's where my second lesson about job searching comes into play. You can't just apply for every position you see online or you'll simply be dumping your potential around the Web like last week's newspaper .
Sure, everyone wants to get hired . But if you're not looking for a job that's relevant to your career, then a company will have no reason to hire you.
To get the most from your job search, you must look for positions that are relevant to you . I know this sounds totally obvious, but it's something that only makes sense once you've actually started your search.
If you're searching for a job in UX design and all the listings you find are for junior design roles, then move on. If every listing is asking for more than three years of experience, then move on. If none of the employers are looking for people with your specialization or skillset — or worse yet, they don't list any requirements at all! — then move on.
Here are five skills and experiences that you can't afford to forget as you consider your search:
Your field . If you're looking for a role in UX design, then look at listings in UX design. If you're looking to move into sales, then look at listings in sales. If you're not even sure what industry or discipline you want to move into, don't be afraid to make the first step by simply entering "job" or the name of your field into Google. It's going to take some time and will require some research on your part, but no matter what field or discipline you choose, there is guaranteed to be someone online that is hiring right now. Your interests . Can you see yourself working for an insurance company? Do you have a degree in political science and want to work for a law firm? Is there someone online that works in the industry or discipline that you're interested in even though you have no idea what their job title is? If so, it won't hurt to apply for the position. Your choices . If you're looking for your first job and don't know where to start, here are a few things to consider: Don't get stuck thinking of your past positions as "employment." Sure, they were all jobs — but they weren't all successful ones. You can consider them whatever you want, but don't feel too bad if those jobs didn't turn out as well as planned. It's important to view your job search as a process that will take you toward a better position. Be prepared to look at positions of all levels and in all fields — from entry-level roles to professional jobs — and be open to applying for multiple positions on the same day, even if you don't get the first position. Your personality . Some people may say that it's all about who you know and that it's irrelevant whether or not you're the right fit for a position. But I disagree with that idea entirely. To me, being the right fit means that you'll fit in with the team and organization. You'll share common interests, be able to build relationships and form connections and — if all goes well — you'll get along with your coworkers.
Embrace your personality by reminding yourself of it as you search for your first job. Because everyone has something that makes them unique — whether it's how we think or how we act or how we communicate — deciding not to hide your personality throughout the interview process could make all the difference in getting a job offer .
So what's my point? As I said in the beginning of this post, I'm not very good at looking for my first job. But I am at least better than I was six months ago. The only thing I haven't done is completely abandon the whole idea of looking for a job and finding a job instead.
I'll keep trying to make sense of it all, but in the meantime I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Good luck out there!
This page was last updated September 19, 2013 . Copyright 1997-2019 JobPedia Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Why Bother? Why Not? How To Get There Page 6: Why Bother? → >> Return to Top of Page > Return to About Home Page > Return to Career Resources Directory > Return to How To Get There Page > Related Articles and Spotlight Pages... Why Bother? Why Not? How To Get There Page 6: Why Bother? (Part 3) Use our Career Test to discover what career is best for you >> Overcoming The Fear Of Change I don't want to sound too morbid, but change comes in waves. When one wave hits, we're okay. But when we're hit by wave after wave after wave, sometimes it's hard not to feel overwhelmed. ************************************************************************************* Article II of this series — Why Not? — was written almost exactly a year ago, on March 2nd 2012 . Now a year later, though the U.S.
Conclusion
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sometimes the best way to get a job at a particular company is to wait for its new product or service or initiative. At other times, a company's latest trend makes the quickest way for them to hire is by hiring their most recent graduates. It all depends on what their plans are for their department in the near future.
Being aware of these changing tides is one of the reasons that everyone should read JobMob as much as they can, even if they only sign up on an occasional basis. The engine behind every new launch is built upon our community's collective efforts, and being active in the forums gives you an edge when it comes to getting your name out there.