memes

Double twist:

Just go work for the AI

Jesus that sounds so demeaning. I haven't had to apply for a job in about 15 years now. All networking, and I was poached and offered my current job. Union now, so I'm set. I don't remember having to jump through so many hoops when I was younger and applying for a job, but recently I passed by a Wendy's and there must have been 50 people lined up outside with resumes because there was a job posting. That many people for one burger job, that's hard times.

if indeed doesn't allow me to quick apply, it's gotta be a dream job to even want to go to their site and do even more work.

Yeah, about that cover sheet. Did you not get the memo? We're putting new cover sheets on all the applications now, mmmkay? If you could just do that from now, that'd be great.

I've worked for several big corps have never seen anything like that.

Yeah, as I’m going to move across my country I’m basically calling on everyone I know to give me references there. I figure it’s time that my extroversion help me instead of hurting me like usual

and after more than forty applications in six months

That's not "spray and pray"

I just started a job search yesterday and I'm already at about 40 applications. My job search before this one I went from search start to offer in ~2 weeks w/ ~200 applications in, all manual. Though my industry is IT, so I do have a bit of flexibility as far as roles go, but still 6 applications/month is a bit on the low side IMO

This may be Australia specific, but do job postings not spell out what they want in other countries?

Like, job postings in Australia (these days) are: this is the job, here are the key selection criteria, please provide us a resume and cover letter (or just a resume, or cover letter optional, etc). Even down to maximum number of pages sometimes.

They just tell you, and part of the way they weed people out is if they fail to follow what's written (simple way to weed out anyone paying no attention).

Do other countries just have to GUESS what the recruitment managers want at each company?

I always thought of a cover letter for clarifying something on your resume. Ex: you’re changing careers or industries and out want to clarify why your experience is relevant. So, I don’t do them for every application but in certain situations.

When I get them from new grads I delete them. Experienced people or weird resumes I might read if borderline.

Same. They already have my resume and application for the job, I'm not writing a whole page groveling and begging them to hire me.

Right. When I was interviewing people, I honestly couldn't care less about the CV. I'm an engineer, words are hard. I want a list of your skills, your software proficiencies, and a run-down of your previous jobs along with your responsibilities. When you get here, I'm going to care about finding out how much you know about designing and cad. Then we'll take a tour of the shop to see if the machinery we build is in your comfort zone. We'll have some small talk to get a feel for if you'd fit in with the group, and off you'll go. All said and done, it should be under 45 minutes.

A cover page is not the same thing as a cover letter

I feel like this is very situation dependent.

That may be the case in your company or industry, but not everywhere.

In my experience there's been a big difference between a general resume I'm uploading to a place like a LinkedIn or Indeed (and letting the recruiters come to me), using that uploaded resume to apply to job postings on that site, and sending resume/application to specific companies on their site.

For the first one, hell no, no cover letter. How would that even work? No cover letter is better than a generic one.

For applying for specific postings on these sites? For me it depends on just how good the opportunity is. If I feel like there's some sort of special connection that makes me tailor made for the role, the money is great, it's doing really interesting work, or a company I really want to work for? Absolutely I'll include a cover letter. I'm just looking to get out of a shit job, or the role doesn't really move the needle, but I think it might be a good fit? Nah, just hit that quick apply button and move on.

But if I'm reaching out to a company directly?

Cover letter every time (unless they specifically say not to). If they don't want it, they won't read it, but I've never felt like it hurt my chances, and in a few interviews, they've specifically mentioned something about it.

I mean you say that, but I got my last amazing job because I mentioned pertinent info in my cover letter that resonated with the recruiter. I wouldn't have got it if I just sent my resume.

I know it's just anecdotal but hey

For my industry, IT, pretty well. A nice upward career trajectory and an average of about a month from search start to offer over the past couple of jobs