Hit 500 applications this week before getting my first real callback

I started tracking every job I applied to back in February when I got laid off from my IT support role in Austin. At first it was just a handful per week, then I ramped up to 15-20. This Tuesday I hit exactly 500 submissions on my spreadsheet and honestly it felt more depressing than anything. But then Thursday I actually got a phone screen from a company that seems legit, so maybe the numbers game finally paid off. Has anyone else kept a count like this and noticed a weird tipping point where responses started picking up?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellis.susan17d agoTop Commenter

I read somewhere that most callbacks start around 600.

ellis.robert17d ago

Guess I should start at 600 then since my callbacks barely hit 60.

kevinc8414d ago

Six hundred is way too high for a starting point, you'd just be wasting your time with companies that aren't serious. The real sweet spot is probably somewhere between 400 and 500 if you want actual conversations with decision makers. Most callbacks under 200 are just bottom feeders looking for anyone with a pulse. I've seen people run through 300 dials before getting a real conversation, it's just the nature of the game now. Your 60 callbacks probably had bad timing or bad targeting, not a dial count problem. Try bumping it up to 200 and see if your conversation quality changes before jumping all the way to 600.