Expect to apply to 100 jobs before getting an offer

• Maddie Macho was a recruiter for Microsoft, Meta, and LinkedIn prior to starting a career counseling service.
• She calls what she does “reverse recruiting,” after gaining a following on TikTok.
• Last year, Macho said, it took an average of 60 to 80 applications to get a job offer for her clients, but now it takes 100.

This tipped article is based on a conversation with Maddie Macho, a 33-year-old career counselor and former tech recruiter. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I’m a former technology recruiter who has worked for Microsoft, Meta, and LinkedIn and has my own career consulting business. I tell my clients that in this slowing job market, it can take about 100 job applications to get an offer.

While on the Meta, I made a TikTok post about the company’s great benefits package, and it just so happened to go viral. I was eventually kicked out of the Meta for posting on TikTok, but after it went viral a few times, I decided to start my own business using tips I learned from being a recruiter for 10 years.

I call my business a “reverse staffing” service. We help clients with everything from career strategy to resume reviews and LinkedIn optimization. We will also apply for positions for our clients and assist with interview preparation and salary negotiations.

The price for my services ranges, but the standard is $2,000 for a three-month service.

Last year, I would tell clients to expect it would take 60 to 80 applications and about two and a half months to get a job offer. Now, with tech layoffs, things are slowing down. Based on the information we track, it takes about 100 job applications and 12-16 weeks to get an offer. I don’t know if it’s harder to get a job as far as it takes more consistency.

Even though I got kicked out of Meta, I don’t regret my experience there. I feel like I’ve learned a little bit about how to run a company from every job I’ve had.

The best part about running my own business is that I get to choose who I work with. I’m a woman of color and a single mom, and there aren’t many career coaches out there that cater to this audience. When I worked for these big tech companies, I worked with people who had graduated from the best schools and had the best backgrounds. I now work with people I feel I can really help, and I can genuinely change their lives.

We stay in touch with our customers every week, emailing and calling to make sure they stay motivated. It’s hard to find motivation for an unwanted job like applying for jobs in a black hole. I tell my clients that the process will be more difficult if you don’t stay focused, especially in 2023.