11 May 2023
We’ve been doing some work recently to look at statistics. Now stats aren’t our favourite topic, but we’ve found some useful data that can help you understand your chances when applying for jobs online.
It can be hard to understand your chances of winning a job when applying online, and the best things that you can do in advance are to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for, making sure as many of the relevant skills are mentioned as possible, and brush up on your interview technique. At Our Bob, we offer help with CVs and also give you the opportunity to practice interview techniques with one of our experts.
Firstly, these stats aren’t from any precise scientific measurement. We can’t, for example, examine the CVs of all candidates applying through our site at OurBob.com, so we can’t comment on qualitative measures, but we can comment on stats relating to quantity, which is what we thought might interest you. As you all know, if you're a fantastic candidate, your chances of success are better than the average!
So, here goes:
Firstly, you’ve applied for a job, along with 99 other people (obvs it's a popular job!). According to some of our clients, approximately 35% of applications are generally put forward for shortlisting, i.e. where the hiring manager looks at the applications and decides who to take to interview. So, on that basis, you have a 35% of being shortlisted, so long as you’re applying for a suitable job. This is a key point, you do need to be applying for something suitable to your particular set of skills, or you will stand less chance of being chosen.
Then, if you work on the basis that the average employer wants to see around six people for an interview, you have a seventeen percent chance of getting an interview (i.e. six as a percentage of thirty-five), so long as your skills match up to the job requirements. Of course, if there are fewer people shortlisted, this percentage increases.
And then? Well, it’s easy to work out that if you've got to the interview stage, you have a one in six chance of getting the job. But then it’s down to you to perform well and impress your potential new employer! Take a look at the information about “What to Take to a Job Interview” and “5 Ways to Make a Lasting First Impression at a Job Interview”.
Now, all of this comes with one major proviso - if you're applying for jobs you're not suitable for, you can guess your chances of success are much nearer zero. The moral of the story is that you should only apply for jobs where you have the relevant skills that they are looking for. This will maximise your chances of securing an interview and getting the chance to impress the recruiters in person. If you are unsure where to get started when looking for a new job, use our jobs board.
