To ask if anyone else is relentless in their job search or do most people take a more laid-back approach?

[ForBreezySloth]

I’m currently job hunting and realised how intense I’ve become - applying daily, tweaking every CV, writing fresh cover letters, tracking roles, the whole works. It’s exhausting but I feel like I have to stay on it constantly or I’ll miss something. But I’ve also spoken to friends who take a much more relaxed approach - checking once a week or just waiting for the “right” role to come to them.

AIBU to think being relentless is the only way to get anywhere these days? Or am I just stressing myself out unnecessarily?

I was not relentless, and I got several interviews and one job offer within a few weeks.

OTOH I have a very specific skill set, and I mostly applied for jobs I had an excellent chance of getting, and I made sure my CV and covering letter were tweaked for each.

It depends entirely on circumstances. If I really needed a job, I'd be focused entirely on it and do everything I could to get one. If I had a job already but just wanted a change, I'd be far more relaxed and I'd apply only for the jobs that were particularly interesting.

I have wondered about this in the past too. I took your approach to applying for jobs, and made it a full time job. But the jobs that I have got have always just come along. So I have wondered if maybe I could have stopped the intense work of looking and just waited for them. Or maybe it was just luck that they turned up for me. I dunno.

It's a full time job to get a full time job!

Instead of tailoring ever single CV - could you have 5 versions for the most common themes of jobs you are applying for.

For example - 1 heavily focused on people management, another focused on your technical skills, another for project delivery etc.

Also have you a LinkedIn page which is detailed and open to recruiters?

Depends. If I was close to the end of a contract, not enjoying my job, or needed more money, I would be relentless like you. If I was just growing out of a role I would take my time and wait for the “right” role to come along.

Depends how desperate you are for a job surely? If you're unemployed and really need the money then naturally you're going to be more intense in job searching but if you already have a job and just want to find a different one then there's not so much pressure so don't need to be so intense.

I’m systematic about the looking what’s out there part but very very picky about what I actually apply for. Applying is a lot of effort! I find this pretty much always means I get the job I really want pretty quickly. Last time I wanted a new job I decided I was leaving my job mid Jan and handed in my notice for a new role in March.