Why the Shotgun Approach to Job Hunting Doesn't Work

Sometimes more isn't better.

The huge quantity of interesting job openings on online search engines such as Monster, Yahoo! HotJobs, and CareerBuilder, persuades some job seekers to engage in shotgun applications. They blast out resumes and generic cover letters to dozens of job postings in hopes that something will hit its target.

The problem with this approach is that it lacks focus. Hiring managers are looking for candidates that fit their exact specifications. A generalized resume and cover letter won't tell a hiring manager how you possess the specific qualifications they are seeking. Instead, a watered-down, vague cover letter tells them that you don't care enough about your job search to research the company or carefully read the job posting.