The "I've Applied for 100 Jobs" Problem: Why the Scattergun Approach to Career Change Isn't Working

When you’ve decided to leave teaching, the first instinct is often to get out as fast as possible. You’re desperate for a change, and the easiest way to make that happen feels like applying for everything you see.

The result is what we call the "scattergun approach": you fire off dozens, maybe even hundreds, of applications to any job that looks remotely interesting. You tell yourself that it’s a numbers game, and eventually, something has to stick. You find yourself counting the applications - 100 submitted! - and feeling discouraged by the sheer number of them, all while missing the most important part of the process.

But a few months later, the only things that have stuck are the rejection emails (or worse, the sound of silence). You feel exhausted, burnt out by the job hunt itself, and more stuck than ever. Applications aren’t progressing to the next stage, and you begin to lower your expectations, thinking you’ll have to take a much lower salary or a job you're not passionate about just to escape.

This isn't a problem with you. It's a problem with the strategy.

Why the Scattergun Approach Is an Act of Self-Sabotage

The scattergun approach feels productive, but it's often an act of self-sabotage that drains your energy and damages your confidence. Here's why it's not working:

You're making it impossible for your skills to be seen. Your transferable skills as a teacher are powerful, but they don't speak for themselves. A hiring manager in a tech company isn't looking for a "science teacher," they're looking for a "project manager with excellent communication skills." When your CV is generic and untargeted, you're not giving them the language they need to see your brilliance. You end up feeling like you don't have a "real" skill, when in fact, you just haven't repositioned it yet.
It's a huge time-suck. Each application, even if it's a quick one, takes time and emotional energy. When you multiply that by dozens of applications, you're left with application fatigue, a burnout that mirrors the one that made you want to leave teaching in the first place. You feel like you've tried everything, but what you’ve really done is exhaust yourself with a strategy that was never designed for success.
You're missing the forest for the trees. When you're focused on the volume of applications, you lose sight of the bigger picture: what you actually want. The scattergun approach prevents you from doing the foundational work that's essential for a successful career change, leaving you feeling frustrated and lost.

The Antidote: Laying Your Foundations First

The solution isn't to apply for more jobs; it's to apply for fewer, better jobs. It's about taking a step back and building a solid foundation first. This isn't just a career change - it's a rebranding of your entire professional identity.

Here's what that looks like:

Heal from burnout. Before you write another cover letter, you need to be in a place where you can make clear, strategic decisions. Prioritise your rest and recovery so you can approach your career change from a place of clarity, not despair. This isn’t a luxury; it’s an important step to ensure you’re not just jumping from one burnout to another.
Define your must-haves. Before you look at a single job board, get clear on what you truly want. What are your values and must-haves in a role? What are your absolute no-go's? What does your baseline salary need to be, and what is your take-home pay on that? Knowing these things will help you filter out 90% of unsuitable jobs immediately, saving you from wasted time and disappointment.
Rebrand your skills. As a teacher, you’re an expert in communication, project management, and conflict resolution. A scattered approach keeps you thinking like a teacher. A focused approach helps you understand and articulate your skills in the language of the industries you're targeting. You need to learn how to tell a new story about your experience that makes sense to a hiring manager outside of education.
Choose a lane. This is the big one. Instead of applying for ten different types of roles, pick one or two areas to explore deeply. When you focus on a specific job area, you can tailor your CV and cover letter, learn the industry's language, and make every application a stepping stone for the next. This focused practise is how you gain confidence and start getting interviews. You'll get better with each attempt because you're applying your learning to a similar field.

From Frustration to Forward Momentum

The goal of this new approach isn't to land your dream job with your first application. It’s to shift the process from a frustrating numbers game to a meaningful, strategic journey.

Each application becomes a learning experience that refines your CV, hones your interview skills, and builds your confidence for the next opportunity in that same area. You stop receiving generic rejections and start hearing from employers who are genuinely interested in your focused expertise.

You're not stuck. You're simply using a strategy that was never designed for success. By taking a breath, doing the foundational work, and choosing a focused path, you can transform the job hunting process from an exhausting chore into an empowering journey toward a career you'll love.

Inside the Academy, we offer all the support and guidance you need to make this strategic shift. We walk you through the process of tailoring your CV so your skills stand out, teach you how to leverage LinkedIn for networking, and provide you with a clear step-by-step process for you to figure out what you want from your next career.

You don't have to navigate this alone. Because your next chapter is too important to be stalled by a broken job hunt.

Categories: : Psychology of Career Change