Which jobs should you not apply to?

Job Search

Jul 4

Episode 409 | Author: Emilie Aries

Which jobs should you apply to, and which should you skip?

I’m a big believer in being targeted and strategic when deciding how to spend your time and energy as a job-seeker. If you want to be as persuasive as possible and put forward tailored, customized applications, you must be thoughtful about which job descriptions make the cut.

The alternative - applying to everything and anything under the sun - simply does not work. In the age of “easy apply” options, employers are inundated with job applicants submitting generic resumes and cover letters, which is why it’s so critical to take the time to write high-quality resumes and compelling cover letters if you want to stand out from the crowd.

That said, submitting next-level job applications takes time!

SO how should you decide which jobs to APPLY TO AND WHICH TO SKIP?

This question came up on a recent conversation in my HIRED Office Hours - a group coaching call and Q&A session I host monthly for all my HIRED job search accelerator clients, past and present.

A job-seeker in our community was sharing one of her biggest challenges: time management while job-searching. This is an especially acute limitation when you’re working full time while job-searching, since let’s face it: the job search can feel like a full-time job itself! So knowing that time was limited and that creating high-quality, custom application materials takes time, she asked a simple question: “What jobs should I not be applying to?”

Here are the red flags to watch out for when perusing job descriptions and deciding whether or not to apply:

1. YOU love the organization, not the role

When you love the organization and are super excited about the fact that they’re hiring, you can become blinded by your excitement and read the job description with rose-colored glasses. But in almost all cases, the role has a much bigger impact on your day-to-day experience than whatever company you’re working for. So it’s imperative that you read the job description itself carefully.

Reflect on the duties and responsibilities outlined. Imagine what the day-to-day realities of the role will entail. Is that still a job you want? If not, it’s best to skip it.

2. YOU LOVE THE JOB, BUT NOT THE ORGANiZATION

On the flip side, if you love the job described, but the organization has some potential major flaws…it’s worth pausing before you throw your hat in the ring. It’s not that you need to love where you work, necessarily, but if the organization is fundamentally at odds with some of your core values, then you’re not really setting yourself up for success long term.

If you’re looking to make your next best career move, you have to consider how far outside of your own values you can stray. So at the very least: proceed with caution.

If you do choose to move forward with an application for an organization you have your doubts about, it then becomes your job as a job seeker to truly interrogate the company during the interview process. Make sure to interview the company that’s interviewing you by asking compelling questions in the interview, and then reflect on how you would feel to move forward with an offer.

3. YOU ALREADY FEEL RESENTFUL

If you’re reading a job description and feel dumbfounded thinking…

“This describes the job of at least three people!”
“How could they possibly think this is a reasonable pay grade for this level of responsibility?”
“Why would they structure the role this way?!”

If you feel resentful, angered, or incredulous after simply reading a job description - don’t deny your emotions. Notice them. Validate them. Try your best to label them and understand why you might be feeling this way.

And odds are, if you’re already feeling resentful at the mere thought of taking the job, you should pass on it! It’s not worth the time, energy, and effort of applying for it when you could instead make room to keep looking and create space for something better to come along.

4. YoU’RE stuck in your comfort zonE

Finally, I encourage you to ask yourself this:

“Am I applying for this job because I want it? Or because I know I could do it?”

There’s some peace of mind in staying within your comfort zone and only applying to jobs you feel 100% qualified for. But while it may feel like the safest path forward, this strategy can backfire.

People reading your application want to believe you really want the job, and they want to understand your motivation for taking it. Often this means fitting your story into a “next step” narrative. Why is this job the logical next step for you?

If it feels like taking the job will be a rinse and repeat of what you’ve done before, then folks might interpret that to mean you aren’t going to stick around for the long haul, since you won’t have too much growth potential in that role. Sometimes, that can get you labeled as a flight risk.

So ask yourself: do I actually want this job? Or am I just throwing my hat in the ring to feel like I’m making progress on my job search? If you don’t see any growth potential for you, this might be one to skip.

When needed, a bridge job is an option

All this being said, let’s acknowledge the privilege inherent in this conversation. If you’re in the position to move forward with a strategic and targeted job search, then the advice already shared above absolutely applies to you.

But if you’re navigating significant financial stress, and your back’s against the wall, a bridge job might be the better path forward for you. Here’s how I define a bridge job:

A bridge job is any job you get that provides you the time and mental space (and not to mention a paycheck) to navigate your way to the actual career path you want. A bridge job is not a “career move,” in that it’s probably not similar to the dream job you’re ultimately going for, but it’s something you can do with minimal effort that provides you enough time and money to get by while you actually get focused on your career transition.

I got a nanny job to help pay the bills when I was just starting Bossed Up, and #BradTheDad taught tennis as a tennis pro when he was navigating a big career pivot himself. These are examples of income-generating positions that helped assuage financial anxiety, while not necessarily advancing our careers in the direction we wanted them to go in.

Be a mindful job-seeker

We have to be strategic and mindful about what meets the threshold for our own job search - and then we have to be willing to say “no” to the rest.

Otherwise, you’re going to be job-searching all day, every day, burn yourself out, and start submitting lazy applications that don’t actually advance your search.

The modern job search can take a while - high-quality opportunities can take a minute to show up. They don’t all find you at the same time. You have to be willing, if you can, to give yourself time to figure it out.

According to a survey from Randstad, it took the average job-seeker 5 months to find their next job - so if you can, try to afford yourself the time to make your next move your best move yet.