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Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

jobgen.io

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Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#11

Post by jorgemf »

I really hate when a recruiter sends a predefined message to me for a job. Most of the time my CV and the job description matches in a couple of keywords but I do not match for the job position at all. I see this tool as a way of fighting the recruiters spamming, now we can spam back them!

I also see this tool for first-time job application, I doubt it will work with a person with a lot of experience. Once you get experience in a field you know where to apply and it is not a numbers game anymore.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#12

Post by cpfohl »

IshKebab wrote: post #8
smt88 wrote: post #6

I actually really disagree that it's a numbers game. Yes, it is a numbers game if all you do is send a generic application. But it's not at all a numbers game if you only apply to companies where you have some human connection. For privileged people, that means a relative, family friend, or friend. For others, who have no useful connections, it's possible to make these connections by cold-messaging people on LinkedIn…

I agree, but also it is true that the mechanical process of actually filling in an application is very tedious. If that bit can be eliminated then it is definitely worth it. That said, I think you can apply to jobs with a single click on LinkedIn (and I assume StackOverflow?) so that has kind of been solved. Ish.

I've never gotten a job with a resume I didn't taylor for the job in question. Thoughtful tweaking is overwhelmingly the longest part of applying for any job. I've never found the 10 minutes (or so) of filling out the internet forms difficult.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#13

Post by brightball »

smt88 wrote: post #6

I actually really disagree that it's a numbers game. Yes, it is a numbers game if all you do is send a generic application. But it's not at all a numbers game if you only apply to companies where you have some human connection. For privileged people, that means a relative, family friend, or friend. For others, who have no useful connections, it's possible to make these connections by cold-messaging people on LinkedIn…

Right out of college, staffing firms were the way to go for me. Big companies seem to like hiring on a contract-to-hire basis because it avoids the unemployment risk if they hire somebody who isn't a good fit for some reason after the first 90 days.

I applied for companies directly and ended up getting the exact same job through a staffing firm instead. For getting in the door, it's a big help starting out.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#14

Post by kcorbitt »

smt88 wrote: post #6

I actually really disagree that it's a numbers game. Yes, it is a numbers game if all you do is send a generic application. But it's not at all a numbers game if you only apply to companies where you have some human connection. For privileged people, that means a relative, family friend, or friend. For others, who have no useful connections, it's possible to make these connections by cold-messaging people on LinkedIn…

> For others, who have no useful connections, it's possible to make these connections by cold-messaging people on LinkedIn, especially alumni from your school.

This. If the job you're applying to pays >= 50k/year, you owe it to yourself to take 30 minutes or so before you apply and find a way to differentiate yourself and make a connection. Ideally you reach out to someone on the inside that you have a shared experience/interest with, but if you can't, just prepare a highly personalized cover letter explaining why you're excited about the position and a great fit for it. For a position with 50 applicants maybe 3 of them will have done this, and those 3 are likely the first ones to get called in for interviews.

Treating job applications like an indiscriminate numbers game is doing a disservice to yourself and the companies you apply to.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#15

Post by smt88 »

IshKebab wrote: post #8
smt88 wrote: post #6

I actually really disagree that it's a numbers game. Yes, it is a numbers game if all you do is send a generic application. But it's not at all a numbers game if you only apply to companies where you have some human connection. For privileged people, that means a relative, family friend, or friend. For others, who have no useful connections, it's possible to make these connections by cold-messaging people on LinkedIn…

I agree, but also it is true that the mechanical process of actually filling in an application is very tedious. If that bit can be eliminated then it is definitely worth it. That said, I think you can apply to jobs with a single click on LinkedIn (and I assume StackOverflow?) so that has kind of been solved. Ish.

I've heard it said that if you send an application online, you're already screwed. Or, to put it another way: if the first person who sees your application is a computer or HR person, you're screwed.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#16

Post by cwt137 »

My department just finished a cycle of hiring developers. We could tell which applicants mass applied to jobs and used a generic cover letter. They are probably was just playing the numbers game. Since they didn't care enough to at minimum change or add one or two sentences to make the cover letter unique to our job posting, they didn't get far in our hiring process.

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#17

Post by StavrosK »

cwt137 wrote: post #16

My department just finished a cycle of hiring developers. We could tell which applicants mass applied to jobs and used a generic cover letter. They are probably was just playing the numbers game. Since they didn't care enough to at minimum change or add one or two sentences to make the cover letter unique to our job posting, they didn't get far in our hiring process.

When evaluating a developer, do you care more about whether they're a good fit for the job, or whether they spent more time than necessary applying for your job?

I mean, how much time did you spend approaching each developer individually? Since you used an ad, I'm guessing zero. I'm not saying you should have tailored your ad to each person, but why do you care if they burn time for you, rather than evaluate them on what they can do for the company?

Re: Show HN: A Webapp to Auto Apply for Jobs

#20

Post by nathantotten »

StavrosK wrote: post #17
cwt137 wrote: post #16

My department just finished a cycle of hiring developers. We could tell which applicants mass applied to jobs and used a generic cover letter. They are probably was just playing the numbers game. Since they didn't care enough to at minimum change or add one or two sentences to make the cover letter unique to our job posting, they didn't get far in our hiring process.

When evaluating a developer, do you care more about whether they're a good fit for the job, or whether they spent more time than necessary applying for your job? I mean, how much time did you spend approaching each developer individually? Since you used an ad, I'm guessing zero. I'm not saying you should have tailored your ad to each person, but why do you care if they burn time for you, rather than evaluate them on…

If someone can't be bothered to spend 10 minutes writing a cover letter for a job they want then I would consider them unqualified. I don't want to work with somebody who refuses to put in a bit of effort to get what they want.

I spend at least a few hours writing job posts. Why shouldn't I expect the same?

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