By Karen Friesen

Not long ago, I received an email from a frustrated job seeker who claims to have sent out more than 35,000 job applications without a single offer.

Thirty. Five. Thousand.

Just imagine the universe lightly blanketed with copies of this guy’s (let’s call him “Joe”) resume, single sheets of 8 ½ x11 paper drifting gently on a light breeze. Sure, sure. He almost certainly applied online, fingers flying frantically over his keyboard, but still. That’s 70 reams of virtual paper we’re talking about. And no offers.

Guess what? Joe was feeling a little frustrated.

Where, exactly, was he going wrong? Answer: probably everywhere. But who hasn’t experienced the frustration of wondering why you haven’t heard back after sending an application, questioning what you may have done wrong, and feeling like it is taking freaking forever to find a mother-loving new job?

The reasons why, of course, vary. But there are some basic steps you can take that will increase your chances of success tremendously, and hopefully keep your application count to the single (or, at most, double) digits.

Where can you take control and up your odds of landing an interview? We’ve got a few tips.

Ask yourself: Am I qualified?

Study those job descriptions. Really read them, and be honest with yourself about whether or not you qualify. That doesn’t mean you can’t go for a role that may be a bit of a stretch, but know that the competition may be intense, and the more boxes you tick, the much better your odds of success.

Job search is a game of strategy, and quality over quantity. No way in heck was our friend Joe qualified for all 35,000 of those jobs he applied for. Don’t be Joe.

Keep the ATS in mind

ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” and it’s the computer tool – or “robot reviewer” as we like to call it, that many companies use to collect, store, and track candidate information. Before human eyeballs ever see your resume, the ATS scrolls through, searching for key words and terms, job titles, dates – a wide variety of information, actually – to decide if you are an applicant worth passing along to a human reviewer.

The ATS can be easily confused, so be careful – and straightforward – with your formatting. This is not the time to go all fancy pants and artsy. (Save that for cases where you are able to hand or email your resume directly to a real person.) Be smart about key words by studying the job application and plugging terms you see there into your resume. Using a “Key Skills” section for this is a smart and easy way to help the ATS make a decision in your favor.

Target your search

First order of business: do NOT send out 35,000 applications. We all know you don’t qualify for every single opportunity currently open everywhere.

When you desperately want (or need) a new job, it’s easy to fall into the “I can do this kind of job, but I can also do that, and maybe that” line of thinking. Pretty soon, you’re overwhelmed, and confused, and probably feeling stuck because your brain is going in 10 different directions.

Tip #1: Pick a path. Focus on one career direction (or target job), and place your efforts there. This approach gives you a better sense of control and allows you opportunity to share your career story and accomplishments in the most compelling(and directly relevant) way. You’ll feel less scattered and more apt to look for jobs that are truly in your wheel house.

Tip #2: So maybe you really are qualified – and can see yourself – going down a couple of potential career paths. That’s cool. But be sure your paperwork reflects that. You’ll likely want to prepare a couple of different versions of your resume. This could be as simple as swapping out a few words or highlights here and there, or as dramatic as a crafting a completely different document. (LinkedIn will be trickier, since there’s only one version of it. Your best bet is to aim for jobs that require similar skills.)

Use your network

When you want to throw a dinner party, do you stand on the sidewalk and hand out invites to random passersby? Certainly not. You may get a few interested takers, but it’ll be a tough sell, and you may end up with random weirdos at your dining room table.

Enter your network. The people you know – and the people those people know. They’re the folks you want to have in your corner, the folks most likely to want to help, and the folks who can actually vouch for you and your skills. (They’re also a great way to get your resume and cover letter into the hands of a real person, in addition to applying online).

Take advantage of these connections (and do the same for them when it’s your turn to help). A networking letter sent out to your closest friends and contacts is another way to let people know you’re searching, and gives you a chance to spell out exactly the type of work you do, what you’re great at, and what you’re looking for next.

Stick to a schedule – and then follow up, the right way

So much about job search is out of your control. Grabbing back what you can starts with a plan.

Set aside a certain amount of time each day that you plan to dedicate to job search. Or make it a goal to apply to X number of opportunities each week (Remember: quality over quantity.) Then stick to it.

Be patient. There are zillions of factors at play once you release your application into the hands of the hiring people: size of the organization, number of applicants, employer urgency to fill the spot, internal politics. The list goes on.

Assuming you’ve stuck to your plan, used your network to your advantage, ensured your keywords and messaging are on point, got your LinkedIn squared away, etc., then it’s a bit of a waiting game. Still, mark your calendar to follow up in about a week if you’ve heard nothing. It’s worth an email (to the right person; LinkedIn may be able to help identify who that is) or a quick phone call to check on status.

Keep it professional, inquire about where they are in the hiring process and offer to answer any questions about your application. You’re not desperate. You’re interested. Make that evident.

Finally, give yourself a little break.

Reward yourself for your efforts. Take a bubble bath, go for a walk or run (getting outside is a reward!), or fix yourself a little happy hour treat complete with cheese and crackers.

Know your value and what you have to offer and work on how to tell that story to hiring people when you get the opportunity. And if you need a little support along the way? We’re here for it.

Looking for more guidance to help you fine tune your job search strategy? Check out Jenny’s LinkedIn Learning courses. If you’re already a LinkedIn Premium member, you already have access to the entire library of LinkedIn Learning courses. If you’d like a free month, head HERE.