Some depressing statistics from my job search

In another fit of unemployment, I inventoried my inboxes: my main inbox, the one mentioned on my contact form, and another inbox that I use to pretend that I’m an adult. There is no mention of sushi or writing in this address, and everything from this inbox forwards to my main inbox, where it is tagged accordingly.

I have 385 items tagged jobsearch in my main inbox today. A few of these items are not actual job applications. A few are items related to job hunting that I found interesting enough to save and thus tagged with the jobsearch tag. Other items are conversations because for some reason Gmail decides to group multiple items sent from the same sender with the same subject within a short period in the same conversation. This usually happens when I apply to multiple positions within a short period. Without going through every item, I think it’s safe to say that there are at least 350 items that are confirmations of job applications.

Some people prefer their cover letters and resumes to be emailed, though. Looking in the sent mail of my non-sushi account, there are 289 items. Some of these are also conversations with people I have to be a professional adult around, and others are overlapped with the 385 items mentioned earlier. Let’s say that 200 of these emails are for actual jobs.

Once you add up the applications I’ve done in person at places and the resumes I’ve handed out in person, we’re definitely at 575, if not 600 applications, well over my estimate of 500 jobs that I thought of earlier today. And this is ignoring the fact that I didn’t apply to as many jobs as usual in November because I was drowning out my unemployment sorrows into writing two novels, one of which can be read at this site and the other of which will be edited starting next month.

Despite all this, I’ve had only five job interviews since graduating from college in May. What am I doing wrong? If we assume 600 job applications (or shows of interest, as is the case), that’s one interview for every 125 applications. One hundred twenty-five. Looking at the lower end doesn’t improve that statistic much. I’m willing to bet that not too many others have that kind of luck. If you do, let me know so I know I’m not alone.

If ever I get a job, I’ll post the final estimated statistics.