How realistic (or not) is applying for 7-10 jobs per day?

[user1471867483]

I went for my first job seekers allowance appointment yesterday and the agreement you have to sign is applying for 7-10 jobs per day! Well, sometimes it takes me 3 hours to even apply for one job as the questions asked are rigorous. How can I possibly keep up this agreement? 😞

I think it depends on the job really.

Applying for something like a civil service job for example where you have to do assessments, write competencies, 500 word personal statement etc- not realistic to do 7-10 per day, they do take a few hours.

Applying for jobs via something like Indeed where it’s just upload a CV & maybe a cover letter, have your CV ready to go and 15-20 mins to personalise cover letter to the job, 7-10 is realistic.

I did about that while working a full time 50 hour week earlier this year so yes very realistic.

What jobs require 3 hours to apply?

This is why so many recruiters get 'noise' applications from people who don't even want the job. Stupid short-sighted system that doesn't align with how the job application process works.

I would apply for 7 via Indeed (quick applications), and then do the more intense/serious applications. Tick the box but still taking your job search seriously!

Very doable.

Most of it you cut and paste from one to another.

Very easy but probably only if you are applying for low paid jobs.

I mean I guess it's possible if you fire out a lot of crappy applications for jobs you're not qualified for or couldn't do..? Is there any sort of quality control, or do you just have to send them a list of the jobs you applied for or something?

Log in your journal the time you spend applying for each job to demonstrate that you're showing commitment to the agreement. Use quick application processes where you can.

If they are all the same type of job and you are copy and pasting. But if your applying for senior roles no, they take hours.

Only bother tailoring the jobs you really think you could get. Have one default CV and letter for the others and answer the questions as quickly as you can.

Do able if its upload your cv and go. But if you have to tailor your cv,cover letter and submit a application/video/creative about me type thing. No way it's takes bloody forever.
Even the lower paid entry level jobs want quite time consuming tailored applications.

I had to make sure I took breaks from applying to jobs it was so time consuming.

Make sure you keep a log of every position you’ve applied for so you don’t duplicate apply to the same role and so if you are offered an interview you know what job it’s for.

make a spreadsheet/word or journal log with the URL for the advert. A copy and paste of the job description and people spec, the date you applied, the name of the company, the salary and the location of the role, the deadline for applications, Then check them off as you hear from them or if you haven’t heard anything by the deadline

In the first week, it's probably not realistic, but after that you should have system in place whereby you copy and paste answers and statements and use chatgpt to draw out the key competencies from any job spec and then tweek your statement around it.

Obviously this assumes that there are 50 suitable (ish) jobs where you nearly meet, meet or exceed the essential criteria, advertised within a realistic proximity to your home (what do the job centre specify with regards to distance) each week.

It's also worth remembering that whilst you might not get these jobs, every application and every interview is practicing and refining your technique.

I have to take a list in next week of all the jobs I've applied for. Guess, I'll apply for anything.

I've been advised to apply for anything until I get what I want and she said up to 90 mins travel to and from the job!

Just apply for jobs that actually mean you could realistically do them for at least the medium term without burning out one way or the other.

I have similar issues I can’t even find jobs that I could apply for as nothing at all is suitable

Exactly.

Seems reasonable, this is why people put huge amounts of their free time into educating and improving themselves so that they make themselves more employable and don't have to travel too far. If you get a job 90 minutes away you can still keep studying and keep applying for jobs closer.

How is nothing suitable?
What are your barriers to working?

I think you can easily send 7-10 CV out on Indeed per day.

I agree it takes much longer to apply for a decent job you actually want.

I think the key is that the agreement is to apply that number of times, not necessarily to make good applications. You could look at remote jobs too.

Oh my god, awful for you but also - the poor employers who actually want to hire someone and have to wade through hundreds of spurious applications. What a crazy system.

Why is it awful for OP? She is in effect doing a WFH admin job whilst paid by benefits.

I get that for some people they need a bit of a kick up the backside to apply for as many as possible but for the vast majority of people it would be better to spend the time doing a few properly tailored applications each week rather than wasting recruiters (my!) time sending applications off for jobs that are entirely unsuitable

I’d say doable but it’s a ridiculous policy

Because it won't actually get her a job, and the time would be better spent writing good focused applications or building skills and qualifications.