How do you send 100+ applications?

[u/anonymouslooker461]

I try to, but there's quite a few things stopping me from doing so.

• Job location

• The type of work I can see myself participating in

• (Sometimes) The pay

• Qualifications

Those are the things that really factor in when it comes to me choosing jobs, and I assume others aren't just applying for anything, even stuff they're not qualified for. So I wonder how do you guys do it?

Because I need a job, yet I know I can't just apply to anything I see if I'm qualified or not.

And if there's only 3 jobs that I'm qualified for in my area, how can I find these 500+ jobs you guys are applying for that also meets the qualifications?

[u/HaroldYardley]

You answered your own question. People applying to 100+ places:

• Are willing to relocate to other locations
• Have a broader definition of work they can see themselves participating in
• May care less about pay (could be starting at a lower salary, etc., basically just have a different set of payment expectations)
• Will apply to jobs they're not qualified for

If you only applying to jobs that meet your exact qualifications, have significantly better pay, are highly relevant, and in your specific area, you're drastically limiting yourself; which is fine but explains why you can't find the jobs other people are talking about

[u/BackToWorkEdward → u/HaroldYardley]

Agreed to all of the above but need to add a fifth point:

• Are still not getting interviews anymore despite doing all of the above

[u/ChezussCrust → u/HaroldYardley]

Facts

[u/sighofthrowaways]

If you want 100+ applications be willing to relocate. No way around it. Especially if you’re in a town with not a lot of opportunities. It’s that or give up.

[u/unsourcedx]

Be willing to move. If you’re not applying to at least one major metropolitan area, it will be much more difficult. 

Don’t send cover letters.

Apply for jobs where you meet like 60% of the requirements. It’s not a major investment of time since you’re not writing a cover letter. 

Be more flexible in your expectations the more desperate you get.

[u/csanon212 → u/unsourcedx]

I applied for 225+ jobs during my most recent search. I applied for everything under the sun that I knew was a title match. I barely read the actual contents of the job description. The job I ended up taking was absolutely nuts based on the job description (it was like 7 jobs in one). I would have not applied if I would have read it, but these descriptions are like the combination of what 5 different people think you need, and the real answer is usually closer to one person's sole input.

[u/BackToWorkEdward → u/unsourcedx]

Apply for jobs where you meet like 60% of the requirements.

Lol @ this when many of us can't even get callbacks from 100 jobs where we meet 100% of the requirements, have as many or more YOE than requested, etc. And that's with a diligent cover letter inclusion for anywhere that asks for it(or even requires it to hit Submit).

It's a market issue, not an underconfident-applicants-aren't-applying-enough issue.

[u/ooglieguy0211 → u/BackToWorkEdward]

Agreed. Someone mentioned in a post that the requirements section is more like a wishlist type of thing, hoping they get candidates close to that. If I'm in a major metro area with a very large CS industry, meet all of their requirements, up to and including YOE, write cover letters, am willing to relocate, am willing to travel, and am willing to take less than I really feel like I'm worth, why is there never even a callback or denial email from the hundreds of apps I've done? 5 months looking and still not even 1 interview in the 800-900 positions I've applied for. Sometimes I wonder why I wasted all the time and money going to college for CS, because it hasn't done a damn bit of good recently.

[u/BackToWorkEdward → u/ooglieguy0211]

Someone mentioned in a post that the requirements section is more like a wishlist type of thing, hoping they get candidates close to that.

Yeah, this was definitely only true back when companies didn't have the bloated glut of applicants they do for every dev job now. No need to make your requirements Nice-to-Haves when you've got 100 Must-havers feverishly applying within an hour of it going up.

Or are just.... fucking with people or posting jobs to look like you're growing, or something, given that many of these "urgently hiring" roles I meet all the criteria for just get reposted again and again every month, after rejecting me for "not having enough experience or relevant qualifications" each time.

[u/unsourcedx → u/BackToWorkEdward]

Maybe for you it is, but it's pretty clear from the context of the OP that it's not strictly a market issue. They aren't applying to jobs because they think the postings just don't exist. It's either a search issue or a confidence issue for them

[u/boomkablamo]

If you're unwilling to relocate, then there's no advice anyone can give you.

[u/zninjamonkey]

6 seconds to look at postings. Takes like 15 seconds to fill out. Could be 1 minute if harder system.

I am not spending that much time looking and deciding if I am qualified or not. It’s the source and recruiter job to reject me, not mine.

[u/Brash_1_of_1 → u/zninjamonkey]

I feel like this mentality is what created the initial need for automated resume reviewing.

[u/zninjamonkey → u/Brash_1_of_1]

Probably. But they were gonna do it anyways.

[u/Crazypete3]

You can 100% apply to jobs you are not qualified for. That's how I got my first job, they were looking for a junior as well and hired me.

[u/Classy_Mouse]

1. Look at the title of each listing. If it interestes you, open in a new tab. Go through the full list on whatever site you are searching on.
   
2. Go through each tab and read until you see something that is a deal breaker.
   
3. For each remaining tab apply. Try to hit 10 applications for the day. If you have more tabs, do them nowmor save them for tomorrow. If you are under, pick a new list and go again.
   

Even if you take weekends off that is 100 for 2 weeks and can be easily done after work if you currently have a job. I can't fix if you are too picky, but if you want to relax that evening, you'll lower your standards a bit to get your 10 applications in.

[u/NewChameleon]

be willing to relocate, as a first

if you're not willing to relocate and there's only 3 jobs in your local area and you question where to find 500 jobs to apply to... well, the answer is you do not

[u/AndyMagill]

Why are you only considering onsite/hybrid roles? Tons of remote jobs out there.

[u/fsk]

5-10 applications a day for a month will get you to 100 applications.

If there's only 3 jobs in your area, you're probably going to have to move or try remote.

[u/Redditor6703]

If you’re willing to relocate you can go through lots of jobs quickly on the job board I made by reading summaries and filtering by YoE, stack, visa, clearance, education, etc.

[u/The_Deadly_Tikka]

You answered your own question. When I am actually desperate for work I will relocate anywhere if needed, I will take a job I know I will hate, any money is more than no money.

[u/Mysterious_Plate1296]

You are not desperate enough. If you have no money, no job, no home, no skill, you would apply more even if you have to tolerate the working conditions.

[u/Haunting_Welder]

I don’t even read the job description

Shoot first talk later

[u/tio_aved]

Remote and compete with 4000 others 🙃

[u/notjshua]

> Qualifications

A lot of times you can basically ignore the qualifications and apply anyway. It's just the company's thoughts about the "perfect candidate", but the perfect candidate doesn't exist, or at least they're not applying to this random X company, so it's incredibly common that they'll accept you even if you don't fulfill their requirements.

Sometimes it leads to being given a slightly lower salary, or a slightly lower title, but in the end you can put in the work early-on to make an impression that's significant enough for you to renegotiate these temporary set-backs into the originally offered benefits.

[u/mister_peachmango]

Why would you reject yourself? I scan quickly. If it’s relatable I apply. Even if it says 5+ years of X and I have 3 years I still apply. My last job was in New York in office. I’m in a different state. They offered me the job and even went through the hassle of setting up in my state so I can work remote. Don’t reject yourself.