If at first you don't succeed...try, try again.

Answer: 61.7%

Questions:

1. Did you think the average number of interviews when submitting 1-10 applications would be lower? Higher? Explain why.
2. The study claims the “sweet spot” is 21-80 applications. Would you agree with this? Why or why not?
3. How do these numbers make you feel about the job search process? Should people let these kind of statistics affect their efforts?
4. What are some tactics you can use to improve your chances of receiving a job offer, no matter how many applications you’ve submitted?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (Zippia):

"It takes between 1-100 applications to get an interview. Job seekers who sent between 1-10 applications have a 61.7% of getting at least one interview, while those who sent 81 or more applications have an 85.2% chance.

The sweet spot, however, seems to be between 21-80 applications. This gives you an 81.8% chance of getting at least one interview, and the greatest odds of converting an interview into a job offer as well."

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For more resources related to career planning, check out NGPF's Career unit.

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About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.