| February 22, 2009 | Posted By: Trevor Wilson | Category: Finding Jobs |
One of the biggest things I struggled with as a New Grad trying to find an Entry Level Job was how to approach the application process. Should I…
Looking back on it, I would have to say that it is a little of both.
When I started, I needed a job. I was running low on savings (meaning left over student loan money) so I started using the “Quantity” approach by pumping out applications as fast as I could. For my resume, I was using the same one each time, changing only the “objective” line. For the cover letter, I had a lot of template material, and I would enter in a few unique sentences based on company research (click to see how this got me into trouble).
That being said, I managed to find a job reasonably quickly. My application-to-interview ratio was about 10-to-1 (meaning I would get 1 interview for every 10 applications). I thought that this was pretty good seeing as I sent out 40 resumes in the first week. I thought life was good.
So what did I learn from this? If you use this method, you are more likely to find a job sooner, but it may not be the right job. I took a job with a large Fortune 500 company in sales and I hated it from the start. Looking back, the warning signs were there in the interview, but I was so desperate for work that I chose to ignore them.
Ultimately, it was my desire to send out as many applications as possible that got me into the mess that I was in. I didn’t take enough time to evaluate each individual company and its merits. Also, the lack of a tailored resume likely caused me to miss out on some great opportunities. I’m sure that my application got rejected by some great companies just because it was too generic.
What I’m trying to get at is that you need to strike a balance between the number of applications that you send out, and the quality of the applications that you are sending. Not only will you have better success in terms of the number of interviews that you will get, you are more likely to get interviews for better jobs.
Agree? Disagree? Leave us a comment!
If you’re thinking about going back to school, enrolling in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is a great way to prepare yourself with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to be successful in the exciting and competitive industry of business. To truly determine whether this program is suited for you, it’s important to [...]
Ninety-nine percent of us have all had that employer we didn’t like, who messed up our careers, made eight-hour days seem like 16 hour days, and on and on. That being said, have you gone on a job interview recently and purposely or accidentally trashed a former employer? If the answer is yes, there is [...]
College—While it’s usually a fun and adventurous experience for most students, there are other students who get into legal trouble due to their definition of “fun.” Getting charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in college is more common than one may think. And while it doesn’t make you the scum of the earth—after all [...]
How much time and thought do you put into your overall appearance preparations when you go on a job interview? If the answer is little to none, then there is a good chance that you are still looking for a job. You see, appearance, including clothing and grooming, does make the man or woman in [...]
This is the career story of a professional philanthropist as told to JustJobs.com Academy. This site features real stories from professionals in a myriad of professions. If you have considered a career in philanthropy, read on to learn what the job is really like from this Philanthropic Field Representative. Visit JustJobs for more interviews with philanthropy [...]
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved
