From the Job Search Tip File: When NOT to Apply.

In an earlier column, we discussed the “50% rule,” which was hopefully a simple way to say the following. Most jobs have MANY more requirements than are ACTUALLY needed. Therefore, if you have “50%” or more of the requirements, your application or resume is not in vain. It very well may be that your 50% is JUST what the employer was looking for!

However, there’s a part 2 to this: When NOT to apply.

In many ways, it’s more than just a reverse of the “50% rule.” With the “50% rule,” if your resume isn’t quite what someone is looking for, he or she is still likely to hold on to it for future reference. You are, essentially, a good candidate for something in the future – and folks don’t get rid of good resumes (especially if they’ve spent $300-$800 advertising the position online or in the papers – or both!)

However, there are times NOT to apply. Simply, if you don’t have at least 50% of the required skills, abilities or background required.

Here’s why NOT to send your resume or hit the “apply” button on Monster:
1. Employers get 300+ resumes for any good position, and they very much resent having to read resumes from “unqualified” candidates.
2. Thus, you are not only wasting an employer’s time.
3. They won’t read your resume at length, nor will they want to keep it.
4. Instead, they’ll wonder “Why did this person apply?”
5. You are also guaranteeing, for the most part, that your resume is shredded, trashed or filed in some part of oblivion no one regularly visits.
6. And that you’ll never hear back from the employer. If you follow up with them, you’ll find it’s likely they have NO IDEA who you are.

So, you are essentially frustrating the employer as well as yourself. Doesn’t seem like there’s much “up side” to this!

However you search, however you apply, keep in mind that your qualifications are only valuable to a specific employer if they are in that 50%+ range for the advertised position.

Sending a bunch of resumes out or applying for ANYTHING that’s of interest truly wastes your time. Instead, find what you qualify for or who may have interest in what you have to offer. That, and only that, is the best place to send your resume.

Trust me, there are plenty enough of those places if you do the research.

And can get you the best results possible, which WON’T happen if you simply send your resume around as if you were tossing snowballs into the air or leaves across the lawn before you raked.

Rake in a better chance of success. Send your best in a resume to those jobs you have at least 50% of what is required.

Something SMART ventured; hopefully, something GREAT gained!