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It is hard to put a definitive percentage on the percentage of available jobs that are posted on job posting sites. I have seen various figures ranging from 15% to 40%. Because it is virtually impossible to know for sure, our ballpark estimate will suffice for this exercise. Let us assume the higher end of our estimate and go with 40%.
Even if 4 of 10 job opportunities is posted online, then there are naturally 6 – or 60% - which are not. This means that most job opportunities are no where to be easily found on the web.
This is actually okay because if you thought you were going to effortlessly jump on the web, hit a job board site, send out your resume, all with little friction and a quick call back, then you were either dreaming or fantasizing about life in an alternative galaxy far, far away.
For a multitude of reasons, applying for jobs online is less than ideal. Here are three basic reasons:
1. Employers often post for legal reasons even though they really intend to hire from within. In this case, you are almost certainly wasting your time and effort. The employer is going through the motions because they feel they are required to. Your chance of success hovers around 0%.
2. If it is easy for you to apply for the job, then it is naturally just as easy for your competition. The numbers game is in play here and it is not in your favor. You may be an excellent candidate for the position, but this will be of little consolation when you are one of 500 or more “great candidates” that submitted their resume for the open role. Again, the numbers are against you. The system was designed for the benefit of the hiring organization, not the job candidate.
3. Because of the volume of resumes received via online job boards, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated to filter-out resumes which appear less than ideal based upon key word search criteria and formatting requirements. You could be the best person for the open role, but the computer will not care if you do not align to the rules it has been directed to follow.
Now that we have covered the “bad news,” we can focus on the “good news.” The good news is that approximately 60% or more of available jobs are not advertised within online job sites. This is good for you, the sharp and highly competent candidate. You are now free to rely on your talents and good wits to network into a role that really suits you and that will help facilitate the upward arc of your career trajectory.
More to follow on the topic of an effective job search and networking strategy in upcoming posts. In the interim, please select the link below for like-minded observations related to job boards from Chameleon Resumes.