Stop Applying to 100 Remote Jobs: Try This Instead

If you apply to many jobs and get so little feedback, applying for even more jobs does not mean reaching your goal. The objective is not to submit hundreds of applications but rather to establish a system for targeting jobs, optimizing your resume, and tailoring your application. In terms of getting a remote job, the goal is not to have a longer list of applications but to improve the quality of jobs you apply for and to get useful feedback. Specific applications can say a lot to the employer, unlike a general one sent to many companies.

Many job applicants make the mistake of treating each job vacancy the same way. They notice a vacancy that says “remote,” check that they have the specific requirements, and submit their application. This behavior seems productive, but in fact, it turns into a game of numbers and does not provide much feedback.

Reasons Why Mass Applications Lead to Bad Results

Distributing 100 applications may seem impressive. You may even believe that each application raises your chances of landing a job. Besides, mass application implies that you do not have enough time to study the companies. Instead of getting to know the organization and the position, you rather hurry up from one job offer to another. You send the same CV, your covering message is tediously similar, and you often miss important details from the job description.

• Poor job fit can take up endless hours.
• Standardized resumes don’t provide enough details about relevant experience.
• Being impatient can make job searches miss geographical or time zone criteria.
• A higher number of applications means more usefulness only if the quality of those applications is high.

Quality is More Important Than Quantity

Reading through a bunch of hasty applications will be less beneficial than working through a smaller collection of good matches. Of course, it’s not to say that the right approach is to put one application out and wait. You need to start determining what the requirements are and how this corresponds with what you can offer.

If the job description states a company’s need for great written communication, customer service experience, and knowledge of certain software applications, you need to make this information easy to find in your resume.

This is especially important in view of the fact that remote jobs usually require an employee to possess great communication skills, time management, and the ability to work with less direct supervision than in a typical desk job.

Build a 10-Job Shortlist

Instead of randomly applying for jobs from multiple job boards, you should compile a list of about 10 promising openings. This list should contain jobs that you would actually agree to take if you were offered the position.

Your list would include:

• 4 positions that are fully suitable for your current level of experience,
• 3 positions that you would fit most of the requirements for
• 2 positions that could allow you to make a step towards a different position,
• 1 position that would require the acquisition of stronger skills.

The ratio may vary depending on the professional background of every applicant, but the general thing is that every job included in the list earns its right to be here.

Match Your Resume to the Job

The most effective method of improving your applications for remote job postings is linking your experience with the job requirements. You don’t have to write a new resume for every opportunity; you simply have to determine the most relevant skills and duties for the specific position and make them easy for the employer to spot. It does not mean that you should use the same phrases and sentences as in the job description.

Find the Hiring Manager When Possible

One more significant thing to do is to find out who is responsible for the position. This can be a hiring manager, head of a team, head of the department, or a recruiter, depending on the specific company. It is not necessary to contact everyone. On the contrary, contacting several people is not a wise thing to do, as it may spoil the impression. Focus on finding the right person and try to figure out their responsibilities. Sometimes a little research into public information can lead you to the right person.

Write a Better Application

Below is something you must not say:

“I have a strong desire and good communication skills.” Instead, you must say, “I respond to customer inquiries on emails, deal with their support requests, and ensure no client is left unattended.” This second option clarifies what you can do and gives the employer all the necessary information.

• The mission is to stick to the evidence and avoid vague adjectives.
• In addition, direct your application towards the precise job.

Follow Up Without Becoming Pushy

After the application process, do not think that silence is rejection. Some organizations may have a lot of applicants, several people involved in recruitment, or need more time to process information about candidates. A nice follow-up can remind the right person that you have applied and show them your interest. A follow-up message must support your application and not substitute for a good application.

Track Your Conversion Rates

Tracking results helps you to know what is working. Build a basic application tracker. You don’t need complex software. Just a spreadsheet is enough.

Log down the following information:

• Company name
• Job title
• Date of application
• Source of job
• Required key skills
• Whether a resume was customized
• Whether you contacted someone
• Reply of application
• Interview
• Result

After a couple of weeks of data collection, look for possible trends. In case you sent 30 accurate applications but no interviews have been conducted, it indicates that there may be an issue to be resolved.

Know When to Stop Pursuing a Job

For example, if a position clearly requires qualifications that you do not have and it is impossible to prove an equivalent experience, then you should not waste your time applying for it. The same stands true for a job that requires you to work in a place that doesn’t meet your requirements or has inconvenient hours. There is no point in sending an application to a position that was never appropriate for you. You have to have the right judgment for conducting a successful remote job search.

A Better Way to Learn How to Get a Remote Job

Knowing how to land a remote job involves more than just applying for various job openings. It entails figuring out which jobs you can be a great fit for and representing your fit accurately. If you are not getting any results from your application, don’t rush to send in more applications. Instead, analyze your application.

1. Use the following strategy when you apply for a remote position:
2. Select relevant remote jobs.
3. Identify 10 of the best options.
4. Carefully read descriptions of all the jobs you have identified.
5. Determine if the jobs are compatible with your competencies.
6. Make the necessary changes to your resume.
7. Create a relevant application.
8. When necessary, make sure to speak to the right person in business.
9. Always follow up on your applications logically.
10.  Keep track of the results.

The purpose of using this strategy is not to just apply fewer applications. The goal is to stop wasting your precious energy filing applications that have no chance of succeeding.

Final Thoughts

It may seem that applying for a lot of jobs makes you busy, but it is not going to help you be successful in finding a remote position. In fact, you need to use a good strategy that will allow you to realize what strategies work and what don’t.

Instead of sending out hundreds of applications, you should concentrate on sending a few applications, changing your resume and cover letter based on the requirements of the job. As a result, you will become more efficient at applying for jobs over time.