“If you’re applying for 100-plus jobs, you are wasting your time,” Gretchen Wiegerink, who works for a staffing agency, declared in a trending TikTok last week. “Being on the job market is a job in itself, so quality versus quantity is huge in this case.”
“Take time to read job descriptions,” she continued. “Take time to look at company websites, Glassdoor [reviews]. You want to make sure that company’s core values — and also just the job description and what they’re actually looking for in this hire — align with your core values, your traits, your skill set.”
The job research site Zippia found that on average, it takes 21 to 80 job applications to get one offer.
Plus, the typical corporate job opening receives around 250 applications.
To stand out from the pack, Wiegerink advises using LinkedIn to your advantage
“After you apply to a position, go to that company’s LinkedIn immediately. Click the ‘People’ tab, find the talent acquisition manager or HR manager, and send them a connection invite with a note,” she recommended in her 2-minute clip, which has received over 370,000 views.
She added: “Introduce yourself, let them know you just applied for XX position. You can kind of sell yourself with a couple … sentences there. Let them know your availability for a call.”
There are an estimated 771 million active LinkedIn users worldwide, according to 2023 statistics, with active membership expected to grow to 942.8 million in 2028.
“I’m always on LinkedIn, so when somebody applies and then connects with me and sends a note with that, I will read it,” Wiegerink shared. “And if it’s grammatically correct, maybe their resume is attached, they’re expressing their genuine interest, I will respond to you no matter what. A good recruiter or HR manager will respond to you.”
In the comments section of Wiegerink’s post, TikTokers laid bare their application struggles.
“I only apply to 3 jobs a day so I can put in quality applications. 0 response from HR managers,” one person lamented.
“I’ve been ghosted numerous by hiring managers after reaching out to them via LinkedIn message,” another person sighed.
“Maybe that company/hiring manager doesn’t care to give feedback,” Wiegerink responded. “If they don’t spend 10 seconds writing you back (even if it’s them saying they aren’t moving forward) maybe that’s someone you don’t want.”
