By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
EP 3068 Let me share data with you about what is working in a #jobsearch
Don’t Act Like a Politician on Job Interviews
Today, we are going to crack the code on the modern job search. Forget all the opinions and anecdotal advice for a minute. We’re going to see what the data actually tells us about how to get hired in today’s market.
So let me ask you this. Have you ever felt like you’re just launching your resume into a black hole? You spend all this time crafting the perfect application, you hit submit, and then just crickets. You are definitely not alone.
It’s probably the number one frustration out there. But what if we could take some of the guesswork out of it? Well, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to dive into some really fascinating data highlighted by the firm Hunter that paints a super clear numbers based picture of what actually gets results.
Okay. First things first, before you even start tweaking your resume, where should you even be looking because it turns out the platform you use to apply it matters like a lot. You know, you might think the best strategy is to just blast your resume out everywhere, the old spray and pray method, but the data shows that focusing your energy is way, way more effective because response rates are wildly different depending on the job board.
And when you actually look at the numbers, it’s not even close. You see the big names you’d expect here, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, but Google jobs is just in a totally different league. 9.3%. That’s the response rate for applications sent through Google jobs.
Reverse the Search: Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping
Now I know what you’re thinking. That might not sound like a huge number, but in the job search game, where any response feels like a huge win, that number is basically a giant flashing neon sign telling you exactly where to go. And just to put that into perspective for you, a 9.3% response rate is nearly triple what you can expect from applying on LinkedIn.
So right off the bat, this tells us that choosing where you apply is your first and maybe biggest strategic advantage. All right. So you’ve picked the right platform.
Now, what about the thing you’re actually sending? Let’s talk about your resume. Ah, yes. The eternal debate.
One page or two? Everybody seems to have a super strong opinion on this, right? Well, let’s cut through the noise and just see what the numbers have to say. And the answer is drum roll, please. It pretty much doesn’t matter.
I mean, look at this. A two page resume has a tiny, tiny edge, a 3.69% success rate compared to 3.6% for one page. The difference is so small.
It’s basically a wash. So if we shouldn’t be obsessing over how long it is, what should we be focusing on? Well, the data points to something else, something that makes a much, much bigger difference. And here it is.
The real game changer. Customization. People who took the time to tailor their resume for each specific job saw a 5.75% conversion rate.
That absolutely blows the 3.6% for generic resumes out of the water. The data is crystal clear here. One size does not fit all.
Okay. See, you’ve used the right platform, you’ve sent a beautifully customized resume, and now comes the really hard part. The waiting game.
So how long should you actually expect to wait? Let’s start with a little bit of good news. That first big milestone, just getting an interview. That happens for about half of all job seekers in 22 days or less.
So there’s some hope. But, and this is a big but, don’t pop the champagne just yet. Because the full journey from submitting that application to getting an actual job offer, that’s a whole lot longer.
The median time is a whopping 68.5 days. Yeah, let that sink in for a second. Over two full months.
And this isn’t some weird fluke. The trend actually shows that this waiting period is getting even longer. And a huge reason for that long wait? Well, the time it takes to get an offer has jumped by 22%.
It’s just a more competitive market out there and hiring processes are really dragging on. So what on earth does this two month waiting period mean for your strategy? Well, it means the old way of doing things, you know, apply and wait, is completely broken. You need a totally new mindset.
The winning mindset today is really a continuous loop. You submit applications to land interviews, but the key is this. Even when you land a great interview, you immediately go back to step one and keep applying.
The search never ever pauses. And this is exactly why that’s so critical. If you pause your search, every time you have a good interview, you could easily wait two months just to get a no, and you’d lose all of your momentum.
The only way to win this game is to always have multiple irons in the fire. All of this really leads to a pretty powerful truth. The skills needed to find a job are different from those needed to do a job.
This data helps you master that first part. So the real question isn’t just, are you looking for a new role? It’s, are you ready to master the game of getting hired?
Transitioning to Another Industry or Field
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.
Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.
You can order a copy of “Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems” for Kindle on Amazon and receive free Kindle versions of “No BS Resume Advice” and “Interview Preparation.” If you are starting your search, order, “Get Ready for the Job Jungle.”
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
Do you have questions or would like advice about networking or any aspect of your search. Order and schedule time with me.
Would you like me to critique your resume? Order a critique from me
Jeff’s Kindle book, “You Can Fix Stupid: No BS Hiring Advice,” is available on Amazon.
