Job searching can be overwhelming. There are thousands of companies out there looking for employees. And even though you might be qualified, you may not get hired because you didn’t submit enough applications.

In this article, I have gathered the best practices for how many jobs you should apply for and ways to speed up your job hunt.

Is the number of job applications you submit matter?

The number of job applications submitted each day varies greatly depending on the role being applied for. Some people submit one application per day, while others submit up to 15 weekly.

A recent study found that the optimal amount of applications to send out daily is 2-3. This makes sense because it allows applicants to focus on the best opportunities without spending too much time searching for the next opportunity.

There are some exceptions, though. Suppose you’re looking for a specific position, such as a particular level within a certain organization or an exact location. In that case, increasing the number of applications sent out could make sense.

You’ll likely receive better responses if you keep sending out applications, even if you don’t think there’s a good chance of getting hired.

However, it doesn’t matter how many applications you send for a generalist role where you’d work across multiple industries and locations.

If you are unemployed

For a job seeker, being unemployed means having more time to devote to your job search. If this is the case for you, consider upping your online application quota from 2-3 to 3-5.

Doing so could significantly increase your chances of finding a job sooner, whether in entry-level positions or higher-level roles.

Challenge yourself to apply for three additional jobs per day. You might even find that using for five makes sense.

But don’t let yourself get stuck in an “application black hole.” Plan your day as if you were employed, including breaks, time to take lunch, and time to evaluate how different strategies work for you.

If you are employed

When you’re still working, submitting 10-15 or even 5-10 applications is hard.

But while submitting fewer applications does reduce the likelihood of landing a new role quickly, it doesn’t necessarily mean all hope is lost – especially if you’re able to keep your current gig. Just expect a more prolonged search.

Avoid job hunting throughout the workday to reduce stress and the chance of losing your job. You should also avoid overly publicizing your job search or application process. Reserve your application time for weekends when your focus is less split.

It’s essential to keep up the momentum and continue sending applications to different hiring managers even if you don’t think you’ll find anything. This way, you won’t lose focus and miss out on the opportunity to land a significant new role.

If you are a fresh college graduate

In most scenarios, fresh graduates applying for professional internships compete against hundreds of applications.

It only indicates that there is quite a lot of competition for such positions, especially throughout the spring and summer immediately after graduation.

With this in mind, I suggest that you aim to submit around 15-20 applications each workweek rather than the typical 10-15 range.

This will help you to make sure that you’re submitting to every possible opportunity that might come up.

If you are looking for higher-level roles

The average person spends about four hours looking for work each week. But if you want to land the best jobs, you’ll need to spend even longer.

If you’re applying for senior leadership or executive positions, you might need to spend up to five hours a day job hunting—and that doesn’t include weekends.

In a survey conducted by LinkedIn, most people surveyed reported that they spent anywhere from three to six hours a week actively seeking opportunities.

And while many respondents said they weren’t interested in working for companies outside of their industry, the majority did say they wanted to see what else was out there.

So how do you balance the time commitment with the desire to explore different industries? Start by focusing on the skills and experience you bring to the table.

“As long as you’re taking steps to demonstrate your value, you shouldn’t feel like you have to apply for every role,” says career expert Jennifer Ludden.

And don’t forget to keep track of where you are in the process. “There’s no reason to be discouraged if you haven’t heard anything back from potential employers in weeks,” she adds.

Quality over quantity

A job seeker should also remember that the quality of her applications is essential when applying for a dream job. This is regardless of her current job status, background, or level of expertise.

While it might seem like you are doing yourself no favors by submitting dozens of generic resumes, sending out multiple copies of one application, or applying for jobs with little regard for the skills listed in the job posting, these tactics could hurt your chances of landing an offer.

The reality is that many factors are involved in determining whether or not someone gets hired. Your resume will likely be reviewed by either an applicant tracking system (ATC), a human recruiter, or both.

If you send out ten strategic, targeted, and high-quality applications, you will stand out among the crowd and land a better opportunity.

How many is too many?

You might think sending dozens of applications to one position sounds overkill.

After all, there are hundreds of thousands of open positions every year. But it turns out that if you want to land a great job, you should expect to spend about five to ten applications per position you apply for.

You should expect to send many applications because you should always aim to apply for as many jobs as possible. Why? Because you never know what can come up.

If you opt for a single job application, you might miss out on something amazing.

Applying to as many jobs as possible before application deadlines can increase your chances of getting hired. And since you don’t know how many people are competing for each role, applying to as many roles as possible makes sense.

Benefits of submitting many applications

Submitting multiple applications daily can help you maximize your chances of finding employment.

A study by CareerBuilder found that people who submitted ten or more resumes per week had a higher chance of receiving a response than those who applied once every three weeks.

Additionally, applicants who sent out 20+ resumes per month received over 50% more interview requests than those who submitted fewer than five.

The more applications you send, the more experience you gain crafting your resume and cover letter. This allows you to tailor your resume and cover letter to specific companies and positions.

You may even discover that some companies prefer certain types of candidates based on how well you write.

Disadvantages of submitting many applications

There are several disadvantages to submitting too many applications per day. You could end up feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out.

This could lead to less focus on each application and lower quality work overall. Here are some possible downsides to submitting too many applications each day:

1. Stress: Maintain a balanced schedule to avoid getting fatigued.

2. Reduced Quality: If your daily goal is to send a certain amount of applications, you might not give each one the detail and consideration it deserves.

3. Not Focusing On What You Are Good At: Applying for jobs you aren’t qualified for takes away from your strengths and makes you look like a generic applicant.

4. Making Your Resume Look Generic: Sending a general version of your resume with each application helps no one. Instead, highlight your unique skills and experience by making your resume stand out.

5. Missing Out On Jobs You Qualify For: When applying for qualified jobs, you miss out on opportunities.

6. Being Overwhelmed By Applications: Too much information can overwhelm a hiring manager. They don’t want to read lengthy resumes, so keep yours short and sweet.

How to win a job application?

When you apply for a job, it’s important to remember that it’s not just about what you say – it’s also about how you say it.

Research suggests that people who use words like “I,” “me,” and “myself” tend to do better in interviews.

If you want to show off your confidence and charisma to a hiring manager with solid company culture, try saying something like, “I am excited to bring my unique skillset to because I believe we could really make a difference.”

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mention your strengths; it simply means emphasizing those things that set you apart from others.

For example, don’t discuss your ability to write copy or design logos if you’re applying for a marketing position. Instead, highlight your experience working closely with clients and being able to think creatively.

What are the ways to improve your job application?

As you apply for many jobs, you must know how to improve your chances of getting hired.

While there are many different types of job openings out there, most require a basic understanding of what makes someone qualified to work there.

Your resume is one of the most critical pieces of paper you’ll ever submit, so make sure it’s tailored specifically to each position you’re applying for.

And while you’re at it, keep reading to learn about ways to improve your job application.

1. Understand why you want to work a part-time or full-time job for an employer

The first step to creating a great job application is knowing why you want to work there.

If you don’t understand why you’d like to work at a particular place, it’s hard to tailor your resume and cover letter to fit that specific role.

If you’re applying for a management role, talk about your ability to communicate effectively with employees.

2. Know what the employer wants

Another thing to consider when crafting a good job application is what the employer is looking for. This could mean anything from a particular skill set to a personality trait.

If you’re applying to a restaurant where they want applicants who love food, include pictures of your favorite dishes on your resume.

3. Focus on relevant experiences

When thinking about what to write on your resume, remember that you’re trying to sell yourself. So while you want to showcase your skills and achievements, you also want to avoid talking too much about yourself.

Keep things short and sweet, and stick to examples of your work experience. Make sure to give concrete examples of tasks you completed rather than vague descriptions of your accomplishments.

In addition, be careful about including irrelevant information.

Conclusion

So, how many times should you send out resumes? It’s a question that doesn’t have a definitive answer.

However, if you want to increase your chances of getting hired, applying for more than one job is always a good idea.

And if you need some help coaching on your applications or just refining your resume, Lancerbee is here to help.

Don’t wait any longer, and reach out today!