The “spray and pray” job application trend is now exhausting both job seekers and application receivers, however, it appears unlikely to stop anytime soon. As dubious as the term “spray and pray” sounds, it refers to the growing number of job seekers who are busy applying to jobs in bulk, reaching out to any and all recruiters on the off chance that they might find themselves a role.
Struggling with the lack of responses from recruiters, job seekers are shooting their shots with multiple employers, but this broad application strategy is resulting in an overload of applications for recruiters. Unfortunately, this further results in delayed responses to job seekers. This cycle is jamming up hiring systems like never before, and it’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
The “spray and pray” strategy has applicants sending out job applications in bulk wherever possible, regardless of whether it’s a good match. (Image: Pexels)
Job Seekers May “Spray and Pray” Their Job Applications, But It’s Not a Result of Impatience
Monster’s latest Job Application Behavior Report found that 48% of job seekers say they frequently or regularly apply to many roles quickly, instead of narrowing down on a few opportunities that interest them and match their skills. About 25% report that they apply for any jobs that seem even remotely possible.
This has now been made easier by “Easy Apply” options on websites like LinkedIn, with over half of the respondents using these features to get their application across quickly.
Why Do Job Seekers Apply Everywhere?
Some might presume that this is because these applicants are impatient or too lazy to pay more attention to the job requirements, but that is not the case. It is becoming increasingly rare for aspiring employees to hear back about their applications, with some finding it rarer still to get an interview or move further in the hiring process.
About 51% of job seekers state that they have changed how they apply because they aren’t hearing back. Additionally, 76% state that they would be more selective about how they apply to jobs if they received any feedback from employers during the hiring process. The lack of steady communication during hiring is one of the biggest shortcomings of the hiring process today.
Technology Both Complicates and Simplifies the Hiring Process
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have made considerable improvements to the hiring process by streamlining information for recruiters and HR teams. On the other hand, these systems, particularly those boosted by AI, have increased the likelihood of applicants using the “spray and pray” method in their job search.
Nearly 45% of job seekers say that the presence of ATS technology makes them more likely to apply for jobs broadly. Twenty-one percent say this is because they assume the resumes will be screened quickly and automatically by the technology anyway, freeing them up to apply for more roles and let the system decide what to do with their application.
The mass application behavior among job seekers is fueled by their desire to find employment under any circumstances, leaving the actual evaluation of the job fit once they hear back from the employers. Such trends are also why employees end up in roles that they are likely to quit shortly, or situations where they begin ghosting HR teams instead.
Tips To Refine Your Job Search Strategy
If you’re among those using the “spray and pray” strategy to shower your job applications or multiple employers in hopes that at least a few of them will result in a call back, you might be wasting your own energy. With recruiters relying on ATS support in hiring, a generic resume that doesn’t meet specific requirements is likely to get filtered out anyway.
While it’s fair to focus on quantity over quality in your job search, given the stresses that follow during unemployment, it might be better to actively make an effort to tailor your resume for a specific role and highlight the strengths that make you eligible for it, in order to improve the quality of your application.
Investing in more traditional job search strategies like cold emails, walk-ins, reaching out to hiring teams directly, etc. might allow you to actively participate in the hiring process instead of getting frustrated over unresponsive employers.
The “No Response” Habit in the Hiring Process Needs Replacing
HR teams and recruiters are being subjected to an overload of job applications, and it is understandably hard to manage this flood, particularly when the hiring teams are understaffed and there are multiple roles to hire for. Despite this, it is important for HR to communicate with business leaders and set up a more efficient hiring process that allows for better organization in hiring.
Job seekers who hear back from recruiters are likely to be more responsive and cooperative during the hiring process. They are also more likely to leave positive feedback about the hiring process, apply for a different role in the future, or recommend the organization to other job seekers. Building an efficient system of communication starts right from the hiring process to the employee’s last day on the job, and missing out on this during any part of hiring can hurt businesses in the long run.
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