Blog
Debra Wheatman, President of Careers Done Write, provides expert insight to the job search process that puts your career in gear with tips for interviewing, networking, job search strategies and how to create a winning resume and cover letter.
Spray and Pray Isn’t an Effective Job Search Strategy
Applying for jobs can feel like a full-time job in itself. You spend hours tailoring your resume, writing cover letters, and clicking "apply" on dozens, or hundreds, of job postings, only to be met with silence or automated rejection emails. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that job hunting is a pure numbers game. The logic seems sound: the more applications you send out, the higher your chances of landing an interview. However, this high-volume, low-effort approach, called the "spray and pray" method, rarely produces the results you want. Instead of maximizing your odds, it often leads to burnout, frustration, and a low response rate…
Are you doomjobbing? Here’s how to avoid the burnout.
The modern job hunt can feel less like a career transition and more like a psychological endurance test. If you have ever found yourself awake at 2:00 AM, eyes glazed over, mindlessly clicking the "Easy Apply" button on LinkedIn for roles you barely qualify for or even want, you aren't just job hunting. You are doomjobbing….
Overhaul your job search in 2021
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, as attested to by celebrations worldwide and the return of annual blooms. It marks a noticeable change in the earth’s position relative to the sun and is seen as an opportunity for new beginnings. With that said, spring is an apt time to overhaul your job search and career management strategies. So, if you’ve been doing the same thing and getting the same results, it’s time to try a new approach….
Humanize your job search to drive real results
Is your cover letter addressed “To Whom It May Concern”? Does your LinkedIn profile read like a list of skills rather than a description of you? When you meet with potential hiring managers, are you stiff, formal, and “just the facts”? If you said yes to any of these, you are doing it wrong. I know this is what you have been taught, but it is not the way to influence a decision. You see, when you are a job seeker, you are promoting yourself and there is a human being at the other end of your message. People do not always respond to facts. Facts and data do not always convince people. If they did, swaths of people would not believe that the earth is flat! People are emotional creatures; oftentimes, they make decisions based on feelings rather than empirical evidence. Sometimes they make decisions in conjunction with evidence, but a “gut reaction” almost always wins….
How to Deliver Application
Dear Deb: I am applying for a sales position. The posting says to apply online or in person. It is at a national bookseller. I am looking for a second job to supplement my primary job as a network administrator. There are rumors that my company is downsizing so I am trying to earn extra…