sean48•5d ago

Vent: I used to just apply to any job posting, but focusing on companies I actually liked got me a real offer

For about a year, I was sending my resume to every open role that even slightly matched my skills. It was a numbers game, right? I probably sent out 200 applications. Then a friend in Phoenix told me to pick five companies I really admired and learn everything about them. I spent a week just reading their blogs, watching their videos, and finding people who worked there on LinkedIn. When I applied to one of those five, I wrote a cover letter that mentioned a specific project they did in 2023. I got a call back in two days and an offer three weeks later. The difference was showing I cared about their work, not just needing a job. Has anyone else had luck with this more focused approach instead of blasting applications everywhere?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_carter5d ago

That strategy works because it changes the whole game. You stop being a random resume in a pile and become a person who gets what they do. It shows you did your homework, which most people won't bother with. That specific detail about their project proves you're actually interested, not just desperate. It makes the hiring manager's job easier because they can already picture you fitting in. The time you save on a hundred generic applications is better spent on a few really good ones.

emma_lee225d ago

But Shane, what if the job just sucks?

viola_garcia565d ago

Honestly my last cover letter was so generic I think it applied itself to a spam filter. Shane's right though, putting in that real effort makes you stand out in a sea of copy-paste. I just need to stop being lazy and actually do the research.