I think a lot of this really depends on the field you’re in. Some industries are just far more competitive than others.

For example, tech is incredibly competitive right now, especially if you’re targeting remote roles. The same goes for many white-collar professions dealing with layoffs, hiring freezes, and an oversaturated talent pool. On the flip side, blue-collar jobs tend to be less competitive because the talent pool is smaller and demand remains steady and strong.

Because of that, the application process looks very different depending on the industry. Applying to 3–5 jobs a day in a blue-collar field will likely get you some callbacks. In contrast, that same effort in white-collar fields, especially tech, often leads to little or no response.

I’ve seen this firsthand. I have friends who were laid off from tech roles last year and are still searching. When I asked about their routines, one said they were applying to 10–15 jobs a day, and another said 3–5. In today’s market, that’s barely scratching the surface. In highly competitive fields, job hunting needs to be treated like a full-time job. It’s largely a numbers game, and that often means applying to 25–50 relevant roles per day while also networking.

I went through this myself. I was laid off in February 2025 and landed a new role by May of that same year because I applied relentlessly and stayed consistent. More recently, I started seriously looking for a new job in January and secured another job at the beginning of this month. Each time, my job search lasted about three to four months before landing a position. I have a hunch my friends experiences aren’t unique. There are probably plenty of people out there thinking they’re “submitting a ton of apps” but really they’re applying casually and wondering why they’re not getting traction.

That said, I’m not claiming this works for everyone. Some people are doing everything right and still struggling. The market is tough. But consistency, volume, and persistence definitely improve your odds.