Are you sick of sending out applications through email? Have you tried searching online job boards only to get disappointed? If yes, then you might want to reconsider using these methods to apply for jobs.

Applying for jobs has never been easier thanks to the Internet. In fact, over half of employers now post their open positions on websites such as Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, Simply Hired, and LinkedIn.

However, despite the convenience of online application processes, they don’t always work.

Here are 6 reasons why applying for jobs via the web isn’t always the best option:

Most employers prioritize on-site applicants

The reason why most employers prefer on-site applicants is that it’s more convenient for them. They can easily screen candidates in person and interview them face-to-face.

This saves them a lot of time since they can proceed with the application process in one go. This also means that many companies will not consider your application if you applied online. As a result, you may be missing out on opportunities.

In addition, some employers believe that people who apply online lack professionalism. Therefore, they won’t even bother reading your resume.

Furthermore, there are certain types of jobs where an employer would rather see you in person than online. For example, many retail stores require potential employees to visit their stores before being hired.

This is because they need to make sure that you know how to operate the cash register properly.

If you do end up getting hired, you’ll probably receive a call from the manager asking you to come back in person so he can check your skills.

This is just one example. There are plenty of other situations where you should apply in person instead of online.

The application process online takes a long time

You shouldn’t expect to have your application processed within hours. It could take anywhere between 2 days and 3 weeks depending on the company.

For instance, when I applied for a position at a large Call Center Company, it took about 4 weeks to get a response.

I was told that this was due to the high volume of applications that they were receiving. 

I understand that each company has different hiring policies. But it just felt too long to get a response for a simple answer.

It’s important to note that the length of time doesn’t necessarily mean that the application wasn’t accepted. Some companies simply ask you to fill out a questionnaire first.

They use this information to determine whether or not they want to continue with your application.

Therefore, you should try to find out what kind of questions they ask during the initial stage. You can either skip those questions or provide answers that show you’re qualified. 

It’s way too competitive since everybody is doing it

When I started looking for a job, I thought that I had no chance of getting hired.

After all, everyone else was already applying for the same job. So I decided to apply online.

But after submitting my application, I didn’t hear anything back. I assumed that I must have missed something.

So I went ahead and sent another application. However, again, nothing came of it.

Honestly speaking, I realized that the competition was too fierce. Most recruiters don’t even spend much time screening applications online. Instead, they simply send them straight to the hiring managers.

A recruiter might only spend 30 seconds reviewing your application before moving on to the next applicant.

It’d be easy for someone to miss your name or email address (if applicable) on your application form. In fact, some recruiters don’t look beyond the first page of the application.

As a result, you might have missed out on dozens of interviews.

You could be dealing with an AI instead of a real human

Recruiters usually work with a technology called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These tools help them manage multiple applicants simultaneously.

Accordingly, if you applied for a position at several different companies using the same resume, ATS will automatically generate different sections of a resume for each company.

Unfortunately, these systems aren’t designed to interact with humans. They simply rely on keywords to classify your application as “relevant” or “irrelevant.”

This means that if your application contains any keywords associated with HR positions, then your application will likely be classified as relevant.

However, if your resume doesn’t contain those words, then it will appear irrelevant. This is exactly the reason why you received no replies after sending additional applications. 

If your only option to apply for a job as of the moment is online, our team of professional resume writers can help you get past ATS filters.

Technical issues may cost you opportunities

The worst thing that could happen is when you experience technical issues during an application process.

For example, if you were looking for a sales-related position where you would need to give presentations to clients, you wouldn’t want to lose focus because there was a power outage.

Or if you were applying for a position related to customer service, you wouldn’t want to lose focus because the website crashed or you lost your internet connection.

In other words, the chances of missing out on an opportunity are pretty high when applying for jobs online due to the risks of any technical or network issues that you may encounter.

Employers can have a very high standard when looking at resumes

Now let’s say that you did everything right in your application. You submitted the same resume to three different companies.

Then, after receiving no replies, you started feeling frustrated. After all, you had invested so much time into writing this particular resume.

At this point, you might start thinking about how to improve things in order to stand out from competitors.

Maybe you are wondering what’s wrong with your cover letter. Or maybe you should include more details in your resume.

While it’s true that you do need to make sure that every aspect of your application is perfect, you shouldn’t feel discouraged.

And when it comes to hiring managers and recruiters, they expect to see some sort of effort before being impressed by your skills.

Even though you are not going to win over every recruiter, you should keep trying. The best way to show your potential employer that you are worth his/her time is to always try new methods of getting noticed.

Some companies may just scrap online applications altogether

To avoid wasting precious resources, many companies decide to limit the number of applicants who reach them via online channels.

This is probably the most obvious and logical explanation for why some companies reject your application without even giving you a chance to interview.

Of course, it’s important to note that there are exceptions to this rule. Some companies may still choose to go with online applications, but they want to save some costs, which means that they need to be selective regarding the positions they offer.

Conclusion

If you want to improve your job search results, then you have to take steps to ensure that your online application stands out as unique. Make sure you are using professional headshots and clear CV templates.

Our expert writers can also optimize a professional resume that will help you get more interviews, higher paychecks, and better career advancement opportunities.

We hope our tips helped you learn something new today. If you have any questions, please leave us a comment below.