Is it safe to say that, especially nowadays, when applying for jobs online, 90-99% of resumes don’t even get viewed by a human? Is it simply a waste of time for the most part?
Your specific application probably matters more than the overall statistics. I’d say I get around 20% call backs from online applications, but I only apply to jobs where I think I am very well suited, and I put a lot of effort into cover letters and job specific resume details. If I were to randomly apply to all jobs, undoubtedly, I would receive a lower percentage of responses.
No…I’ve had call backs from just applying online. It’s not the most effective way but if you’re a match it works sometimes, but you have to have other ways of applying.
I agree that personal connection is more effective than online applications. It’s even better if you have someone who can recommend you to the company.
Hey Lock. Maybe you’re shooting too high. Not everybody can take home the hottest chick at the bar. Instead of shooting for the 9’s and 10’s, try looking at the 5’s and 6’s. It’s better than not getting anything at all. You can always upgrade later.
Like I said in another thread–jobs are like chicks. It’s easier to get one when you have one. So get any one you can. Then you’ll find that it’s easier to attract the better-looking ones.
But to answer your question–I have heard that a lot of resumes/applications are automatically kicked out by the computer because you don’t have enough “keywords”. So read the job description,try to use a lot of the same “keywords” that they use. If they say the responsibilities include “timely and accurate reporting of investment results”, then say that in your last job you performed “timely and accurate reporting of investment results” (or something similar).
^I don’t trust a computer to evaluate resumes when I’m interviewing people. I’m not sure why I would want to work for a company that does that. For entry-level finance positions where they receive too many resumes to manually evaluate, I’d prefer just a completely random selection of those who should be invited to interview over some sort of keyword search.
True. If you receive 10,000 resumes and your goal is to select the top 2% of applicants for interviews, you could take a subset of the 10,000 resumes, assuming the candidate quality is reflective of the overall pool, and just find the top 2% of that sub set. That way, at least you can spend more time reviewing each application.
when a job in high demand is posted (investments, equity research, investment banking etc.) thousands of resumes come pouring in. As no one wants to screen each one, you have a computer search for specfic work experience, names of top schools, certifications etc…
If the computer took 5,000 and eliminated 4500, then you spend 20 seconds looking at the remaining resumes.
of course these days, personal connections / former bosses vouching for you will increase your odds dramatically, and easily squeeze out unknown strangers from the sea of random resumes
Every time I’m forced to go through a computer web form, I ask myself if there is really any point in doing it, since I know my resume is not a cookie cutter fit, and the software is designed to chop off everything that doesnt fit the cookie cutter, and it’s going to take at least a half hour to an hour to go through the process of filling the thing out and making everything fit what they are asking. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten any reply to anything I’ve applied to via web form.
Emails, yes. Referrals, yes. Meet someone at a conference, yes. Write a letter to a guy I’ve never met before and send it through the regular mail, without knowing whether there’s a position or not, yes. All of those have had positive outcomes.
Via a web form, not one single time in years and years of doing it.
Thanks guys, this is good feedback. I’m trying various tactics on the online front (as my network from b-school, and prior work has not been too fruitful as the months drag on/especially the summer months)…
So many of the large firms use ‘taleo’. Just seeing that pop up makes me nauseous nowadays. I’ve been now applying across the board in regards to job levels, including entry level, but the chances are even harder to get an entry level than an appropriate level due to my age alone. I just sent a cover letter/resume for an operations position for kids fresh out of college. I took off the CFA Level III and MBA, but still had to keep the year I graduated undergrad. Unless I can also omit that? Could you do that? Just put your education, but not the year you graduated?
I’m realizing now that the resume attrition blast is counterproductive especially in this current economy.
And today’s NonFarm Payroll breakdown was frightening. This time next year, I might be the first CFA/MBA burger flipper or dishwasher in Chinatown.
If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage that you have someone review your application the next time you apply for the job. You are systematically failing in job applications, and you should identify the reasons for this. True, the job market is not so good, but your lack of success reflects more than just the bad market.
Honestly, other than my first job, i haven’t applied anywhere directly.
It’s best to use a recruiter or by referal in my opinion, and once you have experience, headhunters some how find you, and i get probably 1-2 serious “job offers” per month.
And from my experience those job offers get you right to an interview, and usually there are only 3-5 candidates max and the chance of getting hired is very high.
Are headhunters reliable? I mean, I have applied through some human resourece comapnies and received almost nothing from them. When I applied through my university career website however, I could get a higher response rate. But I only get phone calls or first round interviews, never going further than this…
And now I am applying to jobs at a different city. It is even harder. I tried Monsters, Workopolis, etc…omg…it is like throwing a stone into the sea.
Headhunters can be reliable and useful if you’re a mid-career or higher. Companies won’t pay external recruiters for new grads or very junior positions, the direct supply to the company’s internal recruiters is more than enough.
headhunters and recruiters are a big hit or miss. Their only interest in you exists if you are one of their hopefuls as they only get paid if you land the job. They will call/email/prep you for interviews and keep in touch so much you’ll be annoyed.
as soon as there’s someone better or the company shows their interest in waning, you’ll never hear from them again.
Sounds like dating IEV. ;-). Where’s he been, anyway?
It’s like Big Pimpin’ I suppose…
If bchad can’t get a response, no one can. I remember he posted his resume here a couple years ago, and it was far more impressive than anything I could aspire for. I can only assume it has gotten more impressive.
I disagree. I got interviews and a job via online applications.
Never had any luck with headhunters though: mostly waste of time… sometimes they even disinform you of the positions (lie!!! yes!!!) to ensure that someone shows up for selection… utterly disgusting
others above are correct, you are unlikely to get jobs from headhunters as a fresh grad, getting jobs through your university website is definitely the way t go since they are looking for students specifically.
I would say in general, the recruitment industry is reliable, but you sometimes have to search for a good one to represent you. if the recruiter doesn’t like you, you are unlikely to get referred by them.