When you see a job posting online or in person, you might think the odds are automatically in your favor. After all, how many people are really going to apply for the same position? Well, perhaps more than you think. Statistics show that the typical corporate job posting can attract up to 250 unique resumes on average. That means hiring managers and human resource employees have a lot to comb through when looking for the right candidate. Strive to tailor your application in a way that makes you stand out from the other 249 candidates.

Use keywords that would appear in the job posting itself and avoid generic terms that every other candidate would use. Once you submit that application, how long will it take to hear back from someone? Well depending on what is happening at a company and the urgency in which they want to fill the role, it may take quite a long time to hear back from a potential employer. Around 44% of employers will get back to a candidate within a few weeks of receiving their application. Only around 37% will get in touch within one week. If you don’t hear back right away, don’t fret, there’s still time!