Why applying online first is a waste of time -- Career Center Blog

August 19, 2011

Why applying online first is a waste of time

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By Paul Anderson
NWjobs

I recently gave a presentation called Career Search Optimization to professionals in transition, emphasizing the need to become more strategic if they want to find their ideal job. Many, if not all, job seekers are so focused on advertised openings that they often miss out on what's most important to them.

It's a little like dating. You can troll dating websites, see who is available and send customized emails asking them out, or you can take a step back and ask yourself, "What do I want?" By identifying your values and goals, you're likely to zero in on the few people who would be a good fit for you long-term -- many of whom might not be online.

The same goes for finding a job: Being more strategic will help you find your ideal match. Here are five reasons why you shouldn't apply online first:

The employer gets too many résumés. Local employers have told me that they receive anywhere from 350 to 1,600 applications for just one opening. If a job is posted on Craigslist, a company might receive from 100 to 400 résumés in just one hour. Employers are flooded with applicants -- over 90 percent of whom aren't qualified or aren't a good fit -- and chances are high that your résumé will get lost among them.

The employer's needs aren't clear. Most employers don't receive formal training on how to write a job description. Many rely on HR templates that come with the human resources information system (HRIS) or even from other companies. If you see a job posting by Starbucks, for example, the hiring manager's specific needs -- say, someone with a strong retail-operations background -- won't necessarily be identified. So even if you send a résumé tailored to the ad, you're just customizing it to the template, not the actual job.

The employer has several filters. In previous columns, I've talked about how employers screen your résumé, how they profile you on social-media sites and how that information helps to determine whether they speak to you. There are too many filters that screen you out, and you'll likely be rejected before a human sees your application.

The employer could blacklist you. I've discussed various reasons why employers would blacklist an applicant. They might not use such a harsh word, but most companies have a "do not hire"/"do not look at this applicant"/"not a good fit for our company or culture" list. These are generally maintained for seven to 10 years. If you rub an employer the wrong way, you could land on its blacklist, which would greatly reduce your chances of working there.

The employer may prefer another method. In my column "Where you come from matters," I discussed the variety of ways that employers hire. While Expedia prefers employee referrals, for example, certain departments at the University of Washington prefer applicants who apply through The Seattle Times. Knowing which method the company prefers could determine whether your application is reviewed.

Before applying online to an advertised opening, take the time to learn about the employer's needs and hiring preferences. I want to caution you, however, that you probably won't find the job you want. To find happiness and build a successful career, you'll need to become even more strategic. Start by asking yourself questions such as: "What do I want?" "Why do I want that?" "Whose help am I going to need?" and "How am I going to get there?"

Paul Anderson of ProLango helps professionals in transition find their desired employment.

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Gary | August 22, 2011 8:09 AM | Reply

And then there's the real world, and not this fantasy land that you seem to live in.
You should do some research on, and talk to, the people like myself who have been searching for a job for over 2 years, with no success.
They'll tell you what I've found out...that the majority of employers all tell you to "apply online", or "apply on our website".
No one is taking applications in person anymore.
So, despite your advice, we are all being forced to apply online; we have no choice, that's the way the employers want it.

Happy Reader | August 23, 2011 12:55 AM | Reply

Gary,

It's obvious you haven't read any of Paul's columns. If you've been looking for over 2 years, maybe you should consider becoming open to receiving advice that works vs your own admitted failures.

Still Looking | August 24, 2011 9:45 AM | Reply

Gary is right to be frustrated.

Companies say "Do NOT Call" & "Apply Online" all the time. If you call you risk never getting the interview. And I have found that there is often zero contact after the 4 interviews I've gotten after 1 1/2 dedicated to trying to find a job in anything that may resemble my career field. The 2 interviews which went very well, I sent a thank you and follow-up email, but received no reply - none.

It is brutal being unemployed and reading generic advice with no actual way to contact potential employers adds to the frustration.

Happy Reader, we are open to advice, but need real-world advice not the "it will get better" or "it's not you, it's the economy" speeches we hear every day.

Paul Anderson | August 24, 2011 7:21 PM | Reply

This is real world advice:

http://blog.nwjobs.com/hireground/author/paul_anderson/

The focus here is to go the jobs you want and not focus solely on advertised openings. Once a position is advertised everyone and their mother knows about it. The unadvertised openings come from conversations with employers of your choice about the needs they have.

If a posting says, no phone calls, check this out:

http://blog.nwjobs.com/hireground/2010/09/if-the-job-listing-says-no-cal.html

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elaine haas | December 14, 2011 12:11 PM | Reply

i do agree with both sides on the "apply online' issue. sometimes you are given no choice other than to apply online for a job. i have gotten respones from ads where you applied on line but the percentage is very low. i personally feel that companies use the "apply online" as part of their screening process, so you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. i can give you a specific example of the blacklist issue however. i applied to local company called Lancaster Foods online. the application was a two step process. at the bottom of the screen it said "you will be directed to a second screen after finishing the first'. under my old name i never got to the second page. i went through a court-ordered name change this past year, went back to the website and applied using my new name and after finishing the first screen it went directly to the second screen.