Everyone has applied to a job and never heard back. Maybe you’ve sent so many resumes you’ve lost track. Here’s the reality: for every job posting, over 200 people apply. Of those, 150+ aren’t qualified, 40+ are just browsing, and only about 10 truly fit. Less than 10% of hires come from job postings, while 1 in 6 comes through a career site application.

I’ve seen thousands of resumes from completely unqualified candidates. In fact, 80% of applicants don’t even read the job description. They spam applications, clogging up systems with irrelevant submissions. The best candidates? They aren’t applying—they’re referred or recruited. No one risks their reputation on a bad referral, and top professionals aren’t scrolling job boards—they’re excelling in their roles.

I scan a resume in 25 seconds and know immediately if it’s a contender. Great candidates aren’t job hoppers, their resumes are polished, and they keep it under two pages. If you want the job, you better be prepared. Once you hit send, your resume goes through AI screening, lands in an ATS, and may sit there indefinitely. That first impression might be your only shot.

A great recruiter doesn’t wait for job postings. I know months in advance what positions are opening. I track company expansions, mergers, resignations, promotions, and retirements. My job isn’t to react—it’s to anticipate, strategize, and have the perfect candidate ready before the job even hits the market.