-Rob Pritchard

Are you currently looking for work? Are you applying to lots of jobs and not getting the response that you would like? Your problem may be a question of quality vs. quantity.

A successful job search isn't a numbers game. It's not about sending your résumé to as many companies as you can in a short period of time. Many applicants assume that if they apply to enough jobs, they're bound to get responses. They aren't looking for a high percentage of returned calls or e-mails, just a few. Research shows that only about 7% of applicants that randomly send out their résumé get a job this way. An emphasis on numbers inevitably ends up compromising the quality of their approach, and in turn decreases the chance that they will get a call. What happens when they've sent their résumé to every company in town and no one's called them back? That's when most people start to re-evaluate their strategy and wish that they had put more effort into their first contact with each company/organization.

The real key here is to personalize your efforts. Applicants that take the time to get to know the companies that they are applying to, and can demonstrate it in their approach, get better results. Every time you send out your résumé, send it to somebody specifically. Every time that you call a company, know whom it is that you want to speak with. When you're writing your résumé, don't list everything that you've ever done, list the skills and achievements that will benefit the person you're sending it to. Focus on creating a document that will show a potential employer how you can solve the problems that he/she is having, and how you'll make life easier for them if you're hired. Don't use an identical résumé and approach for every position that you apply for.

The bottom line is that a shotgun approach is not a successful job search strategy. It's not about how many résumés you can send out, it's about sending out the right information to the right people, the right way. Take some extra time to tailor your résumé and approach efforts for every company. Find out who you should be contacting, and direct your efforts towards them. Think about the challenges that the company is having, and about how you can position yourself as a solution to them. When it comes to the question of quality vs. quantity in your job search, quality is the proven winner. A little bit of time invested now will reap greater results later.

Reprinted with permission

Rob Pritchard Career Coach robp@jobjoy.com jobjoy.com