Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs

Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by geoelectric on Monday May 23, 2016 @05:26PM (#11757149)

You are quite literally the only hiring manager I've ever heard of in tech who says they're swayed by the cover letter or really even reads the cover letter. I had concluded that, at best, it fed the inside sourcer some talking points with which to sell you internally.

Interesting to know that there are exceptions to the rule, but on the whole the cover letter isn't something I'd optimize for. I just don't think it's used that much.

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by thedz on Monday May 23, 2016 @05:34PM (#11757228)

FWIW I'll add another data point as someone who reads cover letters, uses that to distinguish between what are sometimes very similarly experienced resumes

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by gearoidoc on Monday May 23, 2016 @05:29PM (#11757172)

Sorry, you're a million miles off the mark.

The cover letter is your chance to explain Why you want to apply and Why you'd be a good fit.

The resume explains Who you are (professionally).

The Why is just as (and sometimes more) important than the Who.

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by geoelectric on Monday May 23, 2016 @05:43PM (#11757292)

Sure, I took job hunting 101 too. I've also been involved in a lot of hiring decisions and a number of these sorts of discussions.

The gap in your chances between "I know someone in the company" and "I don't know someone in the company" is so huge that I can't/couldn't imagine a cover letter making a big difference if you don't already know somebody. So my recommendations have normally been around networking or canvasing friends-of-friends to know somebody and then go that route.

That said, I have to admit it's been a long time since I've had to do a cold round of applications so I totally accept I've underestimated.

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by jc4p on Monday May 23, 2016 @05:52PM (#11757352)

This is really interesting, I think we've experienced some very different companies! Where I currently worked, I've been the "inside source" for 4 people (2 of which I initially reached out to first), all of them were rejected :(

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by hdctambien on Monday May 23, 2016 @07:23PM (#11757789)

But did they get an interview?

A Cover Letter / CV / "Inside Source" isn't (usually) going to get you the job. It's just going to get your foot in the door.

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Re:Show HN: I built a bot to automatically apply to jobs by jc4p on Monday May 23, 2016 @08:18PM (#11758013)

Two didn't

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