253 Jobs I Didn't Get: Here's Why

Having spent 15+ years as a Human Resources professional isn't my only credential for being a career coach; having failed miserably in my past job searches is arguably a more impressive credential for guiding people through their own process of finding a new position.

253. That's the number of jobs I applied for over a 6-month period back in 2011 when I was laid off after 13 years with the same company. 253 applications and 0 job offers. Here's why:

Lack of Focus do you think I was genuinely interested in 253 openings? Or does it sound to you as though I applied for every position within commuting distance of my home? Sure, I was operating in full panic mode; it was the first time in my entire career that I had been unemployed! The more irons in the fire, the better: that was my rationale. But a scattered, random approach is rarely successful. It wastes time and energy when you don't focus on employers you'd want to work for and who will appreciate you as much as you appreciate the opportunity.

What to do instead Develop a short list of companies where you'd like to work based on their culture and mission. Set your focus on this list. Network with your LinkedIn contacts who work there, soliciting their feedback on the company, its potential and its openings. Research the names of influencers at your target companies - heads of the department or team you hope to work on, or members of the human resources staff. See if these people are willing to connect with you on LinkedIn. Follow them on Twitter. Engage with those who you've targeted on social media by posting thoughtful, intelligent comments on their tweets or posts.

Recycled cover letter Why re-invent the wheel, I reasoned (foolishly) back then. Not as if I didn't know better: when I was recruiting and hiring people, I never read a single cover letter. Who has time?

What to do instead Read each job description and identify the 2 - 3 most important needs the company has and write a cover letter that BRIEFLY demonstrates how you = the best response to that need.

Refusal to believe that ATS software might spit out my resume But it does and it did...most of the time.

What to do instead I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. And for the record, I never used ATS software myself, preferring my own intuitive ability to select the right candidates. But as I've written before, ATS isn't going away, so you need to learn how to work around it. Here's how: 

• identify the most important keywords from the job descriptions you're interested in applying to
• embed them judiciously in your resume and cover letter
• assume that the above two suggestions might not work, and ask your network contacts at your target companies to personally forward your resume to the hiring manager when you apply for a job

After six months of unemployment (which I actually enjoyed because I had time to run longer distances, relax on the beach and take a badly needed class in Excel), I got a great job. And I didn't even apply for it; a network contact on LinkedIn told the CEO of a company looking for a global HR director about me. We emailed, spoke on the phone, arranged several Skype interviews with stakeholders around the globe, and I got hired.

Lynda Spiegel is founder of Rising Star Resumes, a career coaching and resume writing service. With 15+ years’ experience as a human resources professional, she leverages her background to help professionals in a variety of industries achieve their career goals. Email Lynda@risingstarresumes.net or in the U.S. or Canada call (718) 897 – 5074