Don’t Spray and Pray: Apply With a Purpose

When you’re looking for a job, it’s easy to think that the spray and pray tactic will be the best bet, because if you’re applying to that many positions, one must pan out right? Wrong.

What happens when you spray and pray? When you’re applying to a lot of jobs without taking the time to customize your application package and learn about the company, you are actually lowering your chances of scoring a follow up or an interview.

By using the spray and pray tactic, you are essentially showing hiring managers and/or recruiters that you don’t care enough to put time and effort into your application, and that you don’t really care about where or what kind of job you’re working at as long as you are working. People want to hire individuals that truly want to be there. The old saying quality over quantity perfectly describes how you should be going about job applications.

What negative effects does the spray and pray tactic have? First off, when you use the same general resume and cover letter to apply to a plethora of jobs, recruiters and hiring managers can tell. By using terms such as “your company” instead of actually writing out the company name, or not referencing specific aspects of the company and/or job description, it becomes transparent that you’re using that resume and cover letter to apply everywhere.

What’s wrong with that? It gives off the notion that you’re too lazy to customize your documents, and that you don’t care about the company which you’re applying for. The best employees are those that care about their work and about the company they work for, so if you immediately show employers that you won’t be that kind of employee, you can kiss you chance of landing the job goodbye.

When you apply for a lot of jobs, you will most likely forget which is which. If you forget which jobs you’ve applied to, you won’t be able to accurately describe why you want the job if someone does call you back, which will ultimately hurt your chances of getting an interview.

When I was in recruiting, I remember receiving an application and noticing immediately that the person was well qualified for the position. Not wanting to waste any time, I picked up the phone and called the person back. When they answered, they couldn’t even remember what position they had applied for less than 10 minutes before. Needless to say, the interview process stopped there.

A better tactic to use: Instead of using the spray and pray tactic when applying to jobs, apply with a purpose and take the time to put your heart into each application. It takes more time and effort, but in the long run, it will serve you better. Any hiring manager will tell you that they immediately notice the difference between people who spray and pray, and those who take the time to customize their application and show why they truly want the job. Wouldn’t you rather be recognized as someone who cares about the position than someone who doesn’t?

Another great tactic to use is to reach out to recruiters. Do some research and find recruiting agencies or find internal company recruiters through LinkedIn. It never hurts to reach out and let them know you’re interested. If anything, it’s always good to start a conversation and make a new contact, but they also may be able to point you in the right direction or put your resume directly in front of the hiring manager if they see you as a good fit.

If you’re applying with a purpose and still not getting the response you want: If you’ve been taking the time to apply to jobs with a purpose and still haven’t been getting the response you’re looking for, take a look at your resume and see what could use improvement.

• Does your document have strong metrics, facts, and achievements?
• Do your qualifications/skills directly align with those in the job description you’re applying to?
• Is your document easily skimmable and can the reader easily pick out your strengths and achievements?

If you can’t answer “yes” to all of these questions, it may be time to rework your resume. Ask friends and industry professionals for their opinion to see what their first take on your resume is. Take those notes and use them to your advantage. If you feel completely overwhelmed, reach out to a certified professional resume writer. (That’s me!) Having a 3^rd party write your resume will help because they can be objective, and have no problem highlighting your skills and qualifications, whereas many people struggle with writing/talking about themselves.