A reader considers letting someone else fill out all those pesky job applications, in the January 12, 2021 Ask The Headhunter Newsletter.
Question
What do you think of the new app Apply4Me? It fills out your job applications for you. My question is, how could anyone else, let alone an app, know how best to present my profile for an application?
Nick’s Reply
Let’s take a look. This service (it’s not an app) is offered by TheLadders, a jobs site with an interesting history that led the company into federal court a few years ago.
“Team” job hunting
The idea here is that, if you pay TheLadders for its premium service, a “team” will fill out all your job application forms for you. (There is no indication whether there’s an extra fee for filling out your forms.)
You can check it out for yourself, but here’s the pitch:
“Apply4Me is a full hand-off [sic] process – you submit your information once and we do everything for you.”
“The service was created by Ladders due to the high number of professionals surveyed who were frustrated by the ‘time-consuming’ and ‘repetitive’ nature of the job application process.”
“With one click, our team fills out job applications on corporate sites for you, saving you a ton of time.”
“I am automated”
What happens if an employer’s application form asks a question that the Ladders team cannot answer? They say they’ve got it covered. The application they submit on your behalf includes an admission that it’s all “automated” and that you were not involved — even though it’s in the first person:
”I’m using Ladders Apply4Me to apply to the jobs I’m most interested in. As this is an automated system, please follow up with me directly for any additional questions at [email address].”
If you’re the employer, how do you react to that?
“One-click” job applications?
TheLadders has offered some equally interesting services in the past. As we noted earlier, these offerings led TheLadders into federal court.
- Guaranteed job offers for $2,495
- “ONLY $100K+ jobs”
- Free “expert resume critiques”
Job search is a time-consuming task that I’m sure we’d all like to pawn off on someone who will do it for us — with just “one click.” But you’re right. Someone else doesn’t know how to present you better than you do.
Is this a good idea that will help you get a job? Have you encountered any other such “job search help” services that “will do it all for you?”
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