How many jobs do you need to apply before you get a job offer?

Are you familiar with the myth of Sisyphus? In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, repeating this cycle for eternity. For many job seekers, finding employment in the current situation feels eerily similar to this ancient tale.

The pressing question on everyone's mind: Is there a magic number of job applications one must submit to secure a job offer? The search for employment is a complex equation influenced by industry trends, job types, personal experiences, and a host of socio-economic factors, making a one-size-fits-all answer elusive

However, we can glean insights from statistics. A Zippia article presents an intriguing picture: when job seekers apply between 11 and 20 jobs they have 29.48% of receiving offer and 30.89% chance of favourable outcome when they apply between 21 to 80 jobs, and interestingly, it decreases to 20.36% upon exceeding 81 applications.

The strategy employed in the job hunt significantly impacts results. There's the 'perfect match' approach, often favored by women, involving applying to positions where the job seeker meets all listed criteria, leading to fewer applications but arguably more tailored ones. Conversely, the 'spray and pray' method — more common among men — entails applying to any job where the job seeker meets about 60% of the job requirements. This strategy can lead to stories you must have read on the news outlets and social media of job seekers applying to five hundreds jobs over nine months, to no avail. It's a story of stress and frustration.

In truth, most job seekers' strategies lie somewhere between these two extremes. But regardless of the number of applications, the quality of each application is crucial. According to StandOut-CV staggering 73% of resumes are rejected by recruiters because they don’t match the job requirements.

Navigating job searches can be overwhelming. Having had that experience, I know that customizing resumes and writing cover letters for each application is time-consuming and disheartening especially when employers fail to respond.

Job search success, much like dieting or exercise, needs routine and consistency. But when companies don't respond for months, it's tough to keep that the motivation up to reach that 80 jobs target.

This is where JobsGuru, will be the game-changer in your job search. Utilizing advanced Generative AI technology, JobsGuru analyzes your resume and the job description, then provides a bespoke recommendation on whether to apply, and cover letter - all in under a couple of minutes. It's like having a personal career advisor, empowering you to apply smarter, not harder making it easier to sustain the routine so you get hired faster.

Ready to roll the boulder to the top of the hill and watch it stay there? For limited time, join the JobsGuru's Access Program for FREE and transform your job search into a story of triumph, not frustration.

In my next blog, I will look at some interesting data on the competitive landscape when you apply for a position, and some stats from the US Labor Statistics.