To Apply, or Not to Apply: What to Know Before Applying for a Job
By: Katy Byrtus, Sr. Recruiter
Picture this: you’ve had another rough day at your job that you hate, but can’t quit, because we all have to live, right? Perhaps you had a happy hour with your bestie to dish on the latest drama, and you find yourself scrolling on job boards for…anything.
You angrily mass apply for jobs, hoping for the best, and wake up to a pile of automatic rejection emails from the night before.
Yet another hit to the ego, and that’s not the way to search or apply for jobs. But this has likely happened to all of us at least a time or two.
There are a few mistakes that could have been avoided in the above scenario.
Let’s go through a few key things to consider before hitting submit.
Narrow Down Your Interests Before You Apply For Jobs
Taking the time to get clear on what you’re searching for goes a long way. Knowing your strengths, areas of opportunity, and expertise will help you as you comb through open jobs and decide whether to apply.
Many women and people from underrepresented groups hesitate to apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of the requirements.
Here’s your reminder: 70% is more than enough!
Skills grow. Confidence grows. Careers grow. Shoot your shot, as they say.
Plus, we know those requirements are often hiring managers’ wish lists rather than hard-and-fast requirements for the role.
Look for Roles that Align With Your Values & Goals
Ensure the roles that you’re applying to are in line with the values you’re looking for in a company and support your long-term career goals.
This one is key in finding organizations and roles that will help you get to where you want to be and aren’t seen as a means to an end.
Take the time to reflect on your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and disqualifiers when it comes to companies and opportunities. This can include company size, type, industry, etc.
For Example:
As an HR professional, you might want to be at an organization big enough to have an HR team to bounce ideas off of, rather than being an HR department of one.
Or, as a software engineer, maybe you need to be writing code for a product you believe in, rather than something that feels like it’s adding noise to the market.
Pay Attention to Compensation, Benefits, & Work Requirements
Make sure the compensation, benefits, and work requirements meet your needs before you apply for the job.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten on a call with a candidate I’m excited about, to find out that they are only interested in fully remote roles, and this one requires three days a week in the office. What a letdown, and a waste of time, for all involved.
Pay attention to the details of what the company requires and ensure they align with your own before submitting an application!
Take the time to research compensation for your position in the current market. That way, you have an informed answer to the question, “How much are you looking to make in a new role?”
Some great resources for this include Glassdoor and salary.com. You can also compare job ads on job boards in the location you’re applying in.
Remember, compensation is based not only on experience, but also on the local market.
Avoid the Urge to Apply for Jobs in the Heat of the Moment
Above all else, avoid the knee-jerk reaction to submit angry applications after a tough day. You never know if there might be a role at that company in the future that aligns with your needs.
But now you’re stuck with that awful version of your resume from your angry application several months back. Or a sour taste in that recruiter’s mouth who came to find out at the phone screen that you weren’t open to hybrid roles.
You don’t want to hurt your shot at a company you’re actually really excited about!
You also want to be sure you’re practicing self-compassion and care during the search.
And angrily applying to jobs in the middle of the night and waking up to auto-rejection emails certainly doesn’t fall in line with that. Nor does applying for or even interviewing for roles of no interest to you.
Following the steps outlined here can help you avoid these all-too-common mistakes of job seekers. Just to think, now you’re ahead of the curve!
Looking for extra support with finding the right job for you? Reach out to us to learn more about our Career Coaching services:
