Should I Apply For it, Just Because?

Tammy Harvey • August 28, 2017

Job hunting can be stressful. It can be frustrating and it can also seem time consuming. Although you may be desperate to leave your current role, or urgently trying to find one to get back into the workforce, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should be applying for every role advertised. Here’s why.

We’re asked for specific requirements

Often if we are advertising a role requiring a person to have specific experience or skills, there’s not a lot of room for movement. You might be a fast learner, but the hiring manager usually has advised us that they do not have time and they want someone specifically with the traits listed.

It’s time-wasting

If you’re applying for every role that is advertised, even if you do not possess the skills or experience required, it’s an unproductive use of your time and then this feeds onto the hiring manager and the recruiter

It’s time consuming

Depending on the role, job seekers will often tailor their resume to highlight transferrable skills. If you’re making these amendments for every single role for which you are applying and you still don’t meet the ‘must-have’ requirements, you’re using up your precious time unnecessarily!

If you’re looking for work but don’t fit the requirements for the roles advertised, that’s when it is a good idea to register with a recruiter. Give us a call or send through an email on our online enquiry form to get you started with your job search today.

So the answer to the original question, ‘Should I apply for it, just because?’ Ultimately it’s up to you, but I would advise not to. Don’t apply for any role if you do not meet the majority of what is being specified. Register with the agency. That way, we can have your file on record so when a role does become available, you will be front and centre if the role suits what you’re looking for and matches your skillset.

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with people2people

Australia   I   United Kingdom

In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.



Share insights

Recent articles

By Bianca Luck July 31, 2025
Across Australia and New Zealand, finance leaders are balancing automation, flexibility, and rising pay demands. In this joint update, Leanne Allen and Chris Yam share how stable teams, upskilling, and strategic roles are redefining accounting and finance for 2025.
By Liz Punshon July 28, 2025
Australia's labour market in 2025 is marked by rising applications, fewer job vacancies, and growing uncertainty for both employers and job seekers. While it may appear to be an employer's market, challenges like irrelevant applications and low candidate reliability persist. This update breaks down the state-level trends and strategic responses shaping recruitment.
By Aiden Boast July 24, 2025
With AI reshaping content and remote teams on the rise, the marketing world is in flux. In this update, Nicole Clarke explains how marketers can stay ahead by mastering new tools, preserving quality, and adapting quickly. Discover what it takes to lead in the age of automation.
By Bianca Luck July 21, 2025
The accounting and finance sector enters 2025 facing familiar challenges: talent shortages, growing expectations, and the push for system upgrades. With competition high, employers are rethinking training, contract hiring, and technology use. This update outlines where demand is strongest and how teams can adapt.
By Leanne Lazarus July 17, 2025
Rising expectations and shifting demographics are challenging HR teams to rethink how they support, engage, and retain staff. In this update, Adeline Rooney shares how Cancer Council Queensland is addressing these shifts through skills-based hiring, technology, and total rewards.

Latest Media Features


Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us