By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP 3109 This show reveals the single biggest mistake almost every job seeker makes, which results in them landing at the bottom of their resume.
Well, let’s talk about something we’ve probably all experienced. You’re applying for jobs online, right? You will find the perfect one. You spent a long time revising your resume.
You pour your heart into your cover letter. You finally hit submit. and then? cricket.
Just nothing. This has to be one of the most frustrating things about job hunting today. You know that feeling, right? It’s like your resume has been sucked into this giant black hole.
You keep sending them out, one after another, and you can’t help but wonder, is a real person going to see this? All the work, all the effort is gone. Well, it turns out it’s true. People actually call it an application black hole.
In this digital abyss, all our hard work seems to disappear without a trace. Think about it. We spent hours on this stuff.
It’s not just a quick click. We’re making this app to try to show exactly what we can do. When you get complete silence and not even a thank-you-but-no-thank-you email, man, it’s so frustrating.
In this chart, that pretty much sums up the harsh reality that many of us face. Look at the gap. We call this the effort-reward gap.
The threshold for sending an application is very high. But the response received was minimal. It really feels like you’re just shouting into the wind.
But what if I told you there was a way to completely flip this script? So the good news is there is actually a solution. It’s not what you think. This isn’t about sending out more applications or rewriting your resume for the 100th time.
Use this 15-minute strategy to land a job (even before posting)
No. This is about a very simple but super powerful little trick. A filter that honestly changes the entire game for you.
Believe it or not, it all comes down to this number. 24. Tell the truth.
This number, that’s the key. This is the key to escaping the black hole and finally getting your resume in front of real people. So what is it? This is called a 24-hour filter.
And the strategy couldn’t be simpler. You are only (and I mean only) applying to jobs posted within the last 24 hours. Now I know what you might be thinking.
Wait, why am I limiting my options like this? Sounds a bit backwards, right? But stick with me, because there’s a good reason why it works so well. Well, that’s why. It’s all about what’s called the “early applicant advantage.”
It really depends on the timing. You know the saying, the early bird catches the worm. Well, in the world of online job hunting, that’s a very, very understatement.
Imagine something like this. Think of it like going to a party. People who applied on the seventh day, they showed up too late.
The party is packed, right? The hosts, our recruiters, were absolutely swamped with a million things to do. It’s almost impossible to stand out. But you, as a first-day applicant, you’re one of the first people through the door.
Recruiters are fresh, they’re engaged, and they actually have the time and energy to focus on you. Suddenly, you’re no longer competing against 200 people. You’re competing against about 20 people.
In fact, that’s the whole idea. This isn’t some magic trick that will guarantee you the job. Let’s be honest.
Recruiters know something you don’t: They won’t fill that many positions
What it does is perhaps more important. This almost guarantees that your resume will at least be read. You step through the door.
Well, this all sounds great in theory, right? But how do you actually do it? Let’s get practical first. I’ll walk you through how to put this into practice, like right now. You’ll be happy to hear that this is easy on almost any job site.
Let’s take LinkedIn as an example. Step one, you do your normal search, project manager or whatever. In the second step, find the release date filter.
In the third step, you just need to select the past 24 hours. That’s it. Just a few clicks and you’re ahead.
Honestly, that’s the beauty of the whole thing. This isn’t some big, complicated strategy. You don’t have to completely change everything you’re doing.
Just making small adjustments to your daily routine can have a huge impact on your results. So what’s the biggest takeaway here? It’s really about changing your entire mindset. This means abandoning the “spray and pray” approach of sending resumes everywhere.
Instead, you will become a target. You will become strategic. This is a new script.
First, we will stop playing the numbers game. No more sending out hundreds of applications in the hope that one of them will be accepted. Instead, we’ll focus on freshness.
Our first priority is to get our applications seen. We were first in line every time. See, it all comes down to this one question.
The old trick is to have you competing for a little attention in a big, noisy crowd. But this way, you get a VIP pass straight to the front. So next time you start looking for a job, ask yourself this question.
Why should I compete with the crowd when I can be first in line?
About big game hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense career advice around the world because he makes many things in people’s careers easier. These things may involve job search, recruiting more effectively, managing and leading better, caregiver transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the producer and former host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,100 episodes.
Your digital first impression may get you rejected
You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, Job Hunting.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
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