Why You Should Stop Applying for Jobs Online (And What to Do Instead)
The Harsh Truth About Applying Online
If you've been job searching for months with little to no success, I want you to stop what you're doing and hear me out. As a career coach with over 20 years of experience, I can tell you that one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is relying too heavily on online applications.
I know what you’re thinking: But, JT, that’s how you get a job! Everyone tells you to apply online. The problem? It’s not the only way to land a job, and right now, it’s actually the worst way.
A recent study by Pathrise found that the average job seeker submits over 290 applications before landing a job. That means you could be applying to hundreds of jobs and still getting nowhere. Think about your own experience—how many applications have you sent? Dozens? Hundreds? And how many actual responses have you received?
The reality is that 80% of applicants don’t even make it past the initial screening process. That means only 20% of people applying online even get considered. If this sounds like you, it’s time to stop the madness.
Applying Online Isn’t Just Ineffective—It’s Painful
Job rejection is more than just frustrating—it’s actually physically painful. Research shows that rejection activates the same part of your brain as physical pain. Every time you submit an application and get ghosted or rejected, it stings.
But guess what? You’re just caught in a cycle of doing what’s familiar, even though it’s not working. It’s time to break free from that cycle and start using a strategy that actually gets results.
Enter TPD: Temporary Productive Discomfort
The key to job search success isn’t mindlessly applying online—it’s getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I call this Temporary Productive Discomfort (TPD). Here’s what it means:
Temporary: This phase won’t last forever, just long enough to get you results.
Productive: It’s designed to actually move your job search forward.
Discomfort: It will push you out of your comfort zone—but that’s exactly what you need.
Most job seekers keep applying online because it feels safe. But that safety is an illusion. It’s time to step outside of your comfort zone and start using a real job search strategy.
What You Should Be Doing Instead
If you’re not applying online, then what should you be doing? You need to focus on backchanneling—the secret to getting noticed and landing interviews without competing against hundreds of other applicants.
Backchanneling: The Smarter Way to Job Search
Backchanneling isn’t traditional networking. It’s about making yourself visible in a way that hiring managers can’t ignore. Right now, the online job market is completely gridlocked—so you need to find a different path to get noticed.
By strategically connecting with the right people, you can bypass the broken online application system and get directly in front of decision-makers. It’s not as hard as it sounds; you just need the right tools.
Get the Right Tools for the Job
To successfully backchannel, you need to have three key tools in place:
A Six-Second Resume – Recruiters only spend about six seconds scanning resumes. Yours needs to be optimized to grab their attention fast.
A Disruptive Cover Letter – Traditional cover letters don’t work. A disruptive cover letter speaks directly to what hiring managers care about and makes them want to meet you.
An Optimized LinkedIn Profile – If you’re a white-collar professional, your LinkedIn profile must be keyword-optimized so recruiters can actually find you.
When you combine backchanneling with these three tools, your job search will completely transform. My clients are cutting their job search time in half using these strategies. While most job seekers are stuck in a cycle of endless applications and rejection, they’re getting interviews and landing jobs.
My Job Search Bootcamp
You deserve better than this broken system. That’s why I put together a free training inside the Work It DAILY Free Resource Center that walks you through everything you need to know. In just 45 minutes, you’ll learn:
How to create a six-second resume
The formula for a disruptive cover letter
How to optimize your LinkedIn profile for recruiters
The exact steps to take to start backchanneling today
Most people will keep applying online and getting nowhere. But you? You’re going to take action. Go to the Free Resource Center right now and start the Job Search Boot Camp. Learn what actually works, put yourself in Temporary Productive Discomfort, and start getting results.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
Reply