At the Career Thought Leaders conference, careers author and speaker Alexandra Levit shared findings from the DeVry University Career Advisory Board’s What the Most Successful Job Seekers Do Right survey. The findings run somewhat contrary to conventional wisdom. However, I was not surprised because I have seen these very realities with clients for more than a decade. Here are the findings along with lessons and applications for your clients, the surprising truth about what REALLY works for job search.
The study reports findings from successful job seekers who had accepted positions less than six months after starting their job search.
Effective job seekers do four activities.
Surprise! Successful job seekers are very selective about the companies and positions they apply for. This is not a shotgun approach (even if it’s called job hunting at times). According to the study, 51% applied to less than 5 positions. And by ‘positions’ they do not mean job titles (i.e., a candidate who wants to be a driver and applies for jobs as a Long-Haul Driver, Delivery Driver and Shuttle Driver). They mean job openings. Successful seekers applied 5 or fewer times total in their entire search! 66% applied to 10 or fewer positions (openings).
In addition to targeting positions that are right for them, successful seekers target jobs for which they are right. In the study, 90% targeted positions for which they met at least 75% of the qualifications, and 41% targeted positions for which they were more than 90% qualified.
Lesson: A successful job search is not a big numbers game. Success comes with targeting. In the study, almost one third of active job seekers got interviews for more than half of the positions they applied for.
Application: Once a candidate has identified the position (job title) they want to hold, they should verify that they are at least 75% qualified for the position and identify 5-10 companies they want to work for which offer the position. If there is more than one position the candidate wants to pursue, they should do this for each.
Another surprise! Successful job seekers get to know the company and the position, then use what they learn to tailor how they present their talent. In the study, 67% of successful seekers reached out to the contact person to ask about the position, and 32% used their own network to get insider details about the company and position. When they applied, 67% submitted not just an application but a customized resume with keywords and skills listed in the posting/description, and 56% crafted a unique email or cover letter for each opening. Prior to the interview, 84% customized their existing resume or crafted a new resume specifically for the opportunity.
Also prior to the interview,
Lesson: Instead of sending the same marketing materials to dozens or hundreds of potential employers, successful job seekers research their target companies/positions then craft custom communications that resonate…all in less than 3 hours a day, for less than 6 months!
Application: Candidates should research the company/position by talking with the contact person and tapping their network for insider details. Before they apply, they should use what they learned to craft a customized resume, and unique email or cover letter for each opening. Prior to the interview, they should learn more about the company via the company website and an online search, get to know the interviewer via an online search (including LinkedIn), and talk with current employees at the company then further customize the resume and brainstorm concrete examples of how their skills match the position.
Surprise, surprise...managing time, keeping track of information, and following-up after interviews increases job search success. Turns out, job search does not have to be a full-time job. In fact, just 7% of successful seekers searched for more than 3 hours per day. 47% searched for 1-3 hours per day, and 45% searched for less than one hour per day.
To stay organized,
Successful seekers followed-up early but not often.
64% followed up after interviews at least once, but just 6% followed up frequently.
Lesson: Organized, focused activity can produce results quickly. Plus, if you are targeting just 5-10 opportunities, you can manage your time, information, and interactions to get the most out of every moment of the search.
Application: Encourage clients to spend 2-4 solid hours of focused activity on their job search each day. As they research and interact with companies they should keep the details in an easily accessible physical or electronic file. Also, help them determine how, when, and how often to follow-up.
Surprised? Successful job seekers know it is unlikely they will get everything they want and are prepared to compromise some. In the study, most successful seekers accepted jobs they considered superior in only a few ways.
Only 21% accepted what they thought were excellent offers, 61% accepted offers they perceived as good enough, and 19% accepted offers they thought were not good, but they wanted the work.
Lesson: We rarely get everything we want in a job. However, when you target your search on the positions you really want, you increase the odds of getting more of what you want in the end, though you will likely have to make some compromise.
Application: If your clients target clearly, they pursue positions that offer more of what they want. If they customize and stay organized, they increase the likelihood of winning those high-quality opportunities. Have them prioritize where they will and won’t compromise. However, any offer using this approach is likely to be better than most offers won through a shotgun approach.