Quality over quantity. This principle applies to all aspects of life, including philosophy, economics, entertainment, nutrition, technology, sports, work - everything. This rule applies, even when applying to jobs.

One of the most challenging things about applying to jobs is weeding out the unwanted or undesired positions so that the things we are left with are those we know to be truly challenging and interesting. PTC encourages our candidates to apply to only those positions that interest you and that you could learn from. It’s not just about getting a position that you could do, it’s about getting the one you want to do.

Many applicants assume that if they apply to enough jobs, they're bound to get responses. They aren't looking for a high percentage of returned calls or e-mails, just a few. An emphasis on numbers inevitably ends up compromising the quality of their approach, and in turn decreases the chance that they will get a call.

Don’t make it your goal to apply to as many jobs as possible in a day. Make it your goal to apply to only those jobs that will contribute to your growth and development. It's not about how many resumés you can send out, it's about sending out the right information to the right people, the right way. Create a resumé that has a history of jobs that have each contributed to your advancement in your career.

Applicants that take the time to get to know the companies that they are applying to, and can demonstrate it in their approach, get better results. Each resumé should be customized to that particular employer, designed so that you demonstrate how you can meet their needs. Expecting an employer to take time extracting what is relevant from a generic resumé is a gamble you are unlikely to win.

Proactive job seekers understand the concept of quality versus quantity job-search targets, and they take the lead, following through on every opportunity that fits their career goals. Proactive job seekers can be identified by their activity. This is an active group who follow up on all leads not once but as many times as necessary until they have closure. Not only is this group proactive, they view rejection as part of the process and keep moving forward.

Undirected job searchers often are scattered in their job search, because they have no quantifiable goals, so they are open to every job that seems interesting. Those people often are led into jobs that might not be a good match - take time to focus on what jobs match your skills and interests.

At its most basic level, choosing quality over quantity generally means that our lives will be richer if we opt for things, relationships, and experiences that are fulfilling and special, rather than opting for simply more of everything.