Searching for a new job can sometimes feel as challenging as it is exciting. There’s no way around it – you’re going to have to put in a little work before you get to, well, go to work. However, there are a few simple ways to sharpen up your job search and make it work better for you. We looked at our data to find out how you can hack your job hunt and improve your chances of getting hired fast.
First, we looked at the results of our Job Alerts. Job Alerts are already a crucial tool for your search, but we investigated this feature a little more closely and found the technique that will help you get the most bang for your job alert buck. Essentially, Job Alerts send the jobs you want to apply to directly to your inbox. You can also set up multiple Job Alerts through your ZipRecruiter account to give you greater reach and broaden your search; you can try different keyword combinations, receive alerts for jobs in different locations, and generally get a better sense of what is available.
Job Alerts are a pretty straightforward tool, but through our research we found that the way you use them can actually have a significant effect on the time it takes to get hired. Our data shows that users with 1-5 active Job Alerts were over two times more likely to get hired within 30 days than those with 6-10 active Job Alerts. This isn’t just a simple ‘less-is-more’ phenomenon. What seems to be occurring here is that users in the 1-5 job alert category are using a focused approach – setting fewer alerts in their account because their job search plan is more targeted on a specific field and position. These job seekers know what types of jobs they’re looking for, and are attacking these specific types of jobs from every angle by taking a triangulated approach to the Job Alerts feature.
Even if you don’t know exactly what kind of job you’re looking for, this is still the most effective technique for searching with job alerts. You can try setting up alerts in different categories like ‘Retail’ ‘Customer Service’ and ‘Restaurant’ in one location, or look for Hospitality jobs in multiple locations. However you choose to search, use those 5 slots wisely.
We also noticed the benefit of a targeted approach when we looked at job application data. Job seekers who submitted over 46 applications were only 4% more likely to get hired within 30 days than those who submitted between 6 and 10. What this shows is that sending out a huge number of applications doesn’t really increase your odds of getting a job fast. How can you use this information to your advantage? Don’t waste time applying to dozens and dozens of jobs just to get your resume out there in the hopes that someone, anyone will bite. Instead, take that time to focus your search and craft resumes that are customized for a fewer number of open jobs.
Not only will these tactics save you time, but focusing your search based on your skills and interests could also give you a better chance of getting a job you’re actually going to like doing.
