All replies have been negative! (case)

September 29, 2020 | CareerAngels | Real Cases

All replies have been negative!

Has this ever happened to you? You’re looking for a job. You feel you are being super productive and using your time effectively. But then, when it’s time to see results, there are none.

Below is just one of many e-mails (and our response to it) with a similar sentiment that we have received in the past months. It’s a good example of how a “false sense of productivity” can be misleading and strengthen disappointment.

Dear Career Angels,

Thank you for your work on my CV. Here’s a quick update since our last contact:

I have hired a freelancer to collect a list of 100 companies with e-mail addresses of recruiters / in- house specialists.

I have been sending 2-3 spontaneous applications a day to those companies.

Meanwhile, I have signed up to job search platforms and been applying to job ads with titles like XXX development, YYY and Project Management. An average of 4 applications per week.

I was surprised to see how many positions are available with these titles (and how many there are in English). It is also surprising how fast they respond to my e-mails – both when it comes to spontaneous applications and to job ads.

Unfortunately, all replies have been negative so far, and I’m wondering if it’s normal and expected in a competitive market. Do you think there is something I can improve and that you can help me with?

Dear candidate, we hear you!

Job searching has never been easy. If anything, it’s getting more and more difficult every year.

Here’s the heart of the matter: application via job ads remains the most efficient job search channel – read our latest Job Hunting Report for more information (click here!). Consequently, millions of people turn to job search platforms to look for their desired position, collectively submitting dozens of applications every second. Proper management of all job search channels is hence crucial if you want to find success – there can be no half measures in your job search process!

Let us now pick out fragments of the e-mail above, so we can comment on them directly.

I have hired a freelancer to collect a list of 100 companies with e-mail addresses of recruiters / in- house specialists.

While tempting, it’s good to do part of the research yourself instead of delegating it all to someone else. It’ll help you get a better feel & understanding of the local job market. And most importantly: you need to directly contact your potential bosses – not HR! If you work in HR yourself, go for your potential superior.

A recruiter or in-house specialist will only check whether there are on-going recruitment processes in the company, and that’s it. In contrast, directly contacting decision makers increases your chances of landing interviews. That is because your potential boss:

  • has the power to create a job for you
  • knows what’s “in the pipeline” (in terms of projects / recruitment processes) that hasn’t been published / made public yet
  • has access to the strategic plans, e.g. knows to hire XXX-speaking professionals for a special project

I have been sending 2-3 spontaneous applications a day to those companies.

It’s a good start but unfortunately, not enough. You are correct in saying that the market is very competitive. Only about 30% of your applications will ever produce a response. Even fewer will land you an interview.

Our recommendation to counteract that: contact 90-120 companies within 1-2 weeks.

Meanwhile, I have signed up to job search platforms and been applying to job ads with titles like XXX development, YYY and Project Management. An average of 4 applications per week.

Do you fine-tune your CV for ATS using JobScan.co? After all, 99% of large organizations use ATS as part of their recruitment process. We recommend reading our full guide on how to prepare an ATS-compliant CV, and make sure that you use this job search channel at full efficiency: click here!

I was surprised to see how many positions are available with these titles (and how many there are in English). It is also surprising how fast they respond to my e-mails – both when it comes to spontaneous applications and to job ads.

Unfortunately, all replies have been negative so far, and I’m wondering if it’s normal and expected in a competitive market. Do you think there is something I can improve and that you can help me with?

The job market has already been competitive before the pandemic. Nowadays, you need to be even more consistent and systematic. Maximize your job hunting efforts by using every single job search channel to the fullest.

To summarize our recommendations:

  • contact 90-120 companies within 1-2 weeks
  • contact your potential employers directly
  • fine-tune your CV for ATS using JobScan.co

And last but not least: follow up the employers within 7-10 days.

Not sure if you’re doing enough? Check our Job Hunting Efficiency tool – answer 9 short questions and receive a comprehensive analysis of your job search efforts: click here!

If you are an experienced manager or executive with min. 10 years of experience and would like to discuss your job search strategy, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!