Lots of applications and no interviews? Maybe it's time to review your job search approach.

Applications: 250. Interviews: 12. Job offers: 0. Does this describe your job search?

If so, then maybe it’s time to stop and review what you’re doing.

Last week I posted a list of 10 things to try if your job search is taking longer than you thought it would.

Number one on my list was to stop and review what you’re doing.

Einstein said ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’.

But that’s what many job seekers do. They get lots of rejections but rather than stopping to think if their approach is working, they plough on, working even harder. More applications. More networking. More job alerts.

Sometimes, taking a pause is the best thing you can do.

So if you aren’t getting many (or any) interviews or have yet to receive an acceptable job offer, maybe it’s time to step off the jobseeker conveyor belt just for a moment.

Take time to think if what you’re doing is the best use of your time and getting you closer to a new job.

What could you change, do better or differently to increase your interviews and move you closer to a job offer?

Here are some suggestions on how to review and improve your job search:

1. Have you assessed your needs, wants and values?  What type of company would you like to work for? And how are you matching your values to a prospective employer’s?
2. Are you targeting the right jobs for your skills, experience and strengths? Or are you applying when you meet only a small percentage of the job requirements?
3. Have you researched and made a list of organisations you’d like to work for? How often are you making speculative approaches and is this working for you? What’s your success rate?
4. Have you done a skills audit, examining what you have to offer prospective employers? Are you working to close any gaps you’ve identified?
5. Could your CV be improved? Are you tailoring it to the job and the type of company you’re applying to? If you’re a creative, a video CV might work for you.
6. What about your online profile – is it as good as it could be? Have you asked for feedback on how it could be improved?
7. Are you continuing to sign up for job alerts from the sources that are most likely to advertise the jobs you’re targeting?
8. How often do you keep in touch with recruiters and headhunters? In what ways are you building relationships with them?
9. How often do you ask for feedback after rejection? Do you call, email or contact via social media platforms? Which works best? How do you use the feedback to improve your performance?
10. Are you volunteering and helping others with their job search? How could you develop these relationships to help your own search?
11. Would you consider taking a temporary demotion or sideways move in your career to help you achieve your ultimate goal?
12. Have you considered working as a contractor or consultant to get a ‘foot in the door’?
13. Are you networking online and offline? Do you have a networking plan, describing who you want to contact and for what purpose? Are you crafting well-considered messages to connections you’ve identified as being able to help with your efforts to secure a job?

Being a job seeker is a busy (unpaid) job!

There’s so much to do. But taking time to plan your search gets better results. But like any plan, it needs to be reviewed, tweaked and then monitored to see what’s working and what isn’t.

Doing more of what’s working will get you closer to securing the job you want at the salary package you deserve.