Should I use software to mass apply to FAANGMULA companies and avoid using WorkDay?
I normally apply to companies on a warm basis, with warm contacts so I can always try to get feedback post-interview to land a job, or sometimes while I apply cold, limit these and prioritize warm ones. I've noticed a lot of new software coming out during the pandemic for mass applications, but I am not sure this will work for me as a non-traditional candidate who has mainly interviewed for positions in the non-standard way. I do realize that given layoffs, the numbers is game is one I might need to play more and could invest some money into this, but I know some software might be better than others. There seem to be so many new services out there, that the market is saturated and I'm wondering how effective this would be and if it's worth the money and that maybe I would rather spend my time (instead of just money) instead focusing on applying more thoughtfully through my warm networks and referrals, rather than mass cold applications via an AI bot or other software service.
Will I get screened/frozen out and auto-rejected for two years if my resume is crap because I hit 'apply' to a hundred companies?
Thoughts?
Discussion
(2 comments)- 38 months agoTech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
Here's my general logic:
- For big companies - Do the bare minimum to get your application through the door - If you can use software to automate this, do it! Nobody will believe that you were born to work at Google: The recruiter will just assume that you, like everybody else, wants to work at Google due to its stellar reputation and pay.
- For smaller companies (i.e. startups) - If you truly care about the company and have the time, you should try something more custom. Smaller startups need workers to truly be passionate about the product, unlike Big Tech. Check these out:
In terms of whether it's worth paying for this automation software, it depends on its price and reliability. If it never messes up and is like $5/month, that seems worth it. Otherwise, it's really not that hard to apply to jobs quickly, especially with the rise of 1-click-apply platforms. You can use ChatGPT to generate cover letters as well.
Will I get screened/frozen out and auto-rejected for two years if my resume is crap because I hit 'apply' to a hundred companies?
I've been on the hiring loop for 1,000+ candidates across many different company types, so I can confidently say "No" here. As long as your resume isn't downright offensive, you'll be fine. Tech companies (especially good ones) understand that candidates can get better over time. I have seen candidates completely wipe out of an interview who end up getting into the company a couple years later after a ton of growth.
Lastly, check out this other discussion which has tons of great advice: "How to get interview calls?"
- 28 months agoTech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
I'd answer this question by considering the opportunity cost. What is your biggest limitation for landing a job?
- If you don't have time to do your normal "warm contacts" approach, using automated software feels sensible. You may get auto-rejected, but you wouldn't have applied here anyway. The rejection certainly wouldn't last for 2 years.
- If your bottleneck is around interview prep (DSA), then using automated software feels sensible. You hopefully already have a few interviews lined up (if not, I wouldn't do DSA prep), and the application software can help you get more.
