By Dan Gathof
In a world that was always racing, where speed and efficiency was prized above all else, there lived two unlikely competitors: a Hare and a Tortoise. They had known each other for years, but things had changed with the rise of modern technology and convenience. The Hare prided himself on doing everything faster—faster meals, faster communication, and faster work results. The Tortoise, however, moved at an old-world pace. He prided himself on his thoughtful approach, especially in a society that seemed to rush past him.
One day, the two found themselves in a discussion about their recent job searches. The Hare, eager to show off, boasted about how he can apply online to multiple jobs with just one-click. What used to take hours, he could now do in seconds.
“I applied to 10 jobs today!” the Hare exclaimed, tapping his phone proudly. “I’ve got this down to a science—my saved job search criteria produces new openings each day, I quickly scan for those that look interesting, and ‘Bam!’, I hit the Apply button! It’s a numbers game – the more I apply, the better my chances”
The Tortoise gave a slow nod. “I’ve only applied to two jobs this week,” he said, his voice calm as always.
“Two?” The Hare burst out laughing. “Two applications? At that rate, you’ll never get anywhere! You’ve got to pick up the pace, Tortoise, or this world will pass you by in no time. I’ll be getting interviews before you’ve even applied to your next company.”
The Tortoise nodded, unruffled. “Maybe,” he replied, “but I’ve spent time looking over each job, reading the descriptions carefully. I’m tailoring my resume to fit the role. I want to show these companies how my skills match what they’re looking for.”
The Hare smirked. “Tailoring resumes? Who has time for that? This is the age of technology and efficiency, my friend. Speed is the name of the game.”
And so, they decided to race—not on a track, but in the recruiting arena. Whoever got to the final interview stage with a company would be the winner. The Hare gave a quick nod and thumped his foot, signaling his eagerness to start, while the Tortoise gave a slow, deliberate blink and pulled his head in, a subtle agreement to the challenge ahead.
The Hare immediately launched into the job hunt with his usual energy. He spent an hour browsing job boards and applying to every role that seemed remotely relevant. Whether it was marketing, operations, or sales—no job was safe from his rapid clicking.
“Done! That’s 25 more applications in the bag!” the Hare announced with a grin, leaning back in his chair, already imagining the flood of responses that would soon arrive.
Meanwhile, the Tortoise was quietly working through his process. For each job, he spent time reviewing the company’s website, checking the job description, and carefully adjusting his resume to highlight the experience most relevant to the position. He personalized his reach-out note to the company, mentioning specific projects that he believed could help the company grow.
It took him hours just to apply to the first opportunity, but he was content with his thoughtful approach.
Days passed, and the Hare grew restless. Following his initial efforts, Hare spent the following days watching Suits on Netflix, playing Call of Duty, and reviewing Instagram photos of Southern Italy. He was busy, really busy – just not on activities related to the race. Despite the dozens of applications he had sent, his inbox remained disappointingly empty. No nothing.
Confused, the Hare refreshed his email constantly, expecting at least something to come through.
“What’s going on?” the Hare muttered. “I’ve applied to so many jobs. How can there be no responses? Are companies not even looking at my resume?”
Frustrated, the Hare decided to apply to even more jobs—doubling down on his high-speed strategy. This time, he applied to another 50 positions in a single afternoon, sending out his standard resume to each one.
The Tortoise, in contrast, had only applied to a handful of jobs. Each application took time, but he felt good about his efforts. He was meticulous, making sure that his resume spoke directly to the job description and that his cover letter highlighted the skills the company valued most.
And then, slowly, patience began to pay off for Tortoise. One day, his phone buzzed with an email.
“Dear Tortoise, we’ve reviewed your application and would love to schedule an interview with you next week here at Shell.”
The Tortoise smiled. “There it is,” he whispered to himself.
The next week, another email arrived from Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. “Thank you for your thoughtful application, Tortoise. We’d like to invite you to the next stage of our hiring process.”
The Hare was stunned when the Tortoise told him about his interviews. “How?” he stammered. “You’ve only applied to a handful of jobs! I’ve applied to a hundred, but I haven’t heard back from anyone!”
The Tortoise paused, choosing his words carefully. “I think it’s because I’m taking my time,” he said. “Instead of applying to everything in sight, I’m focusing on roles that align with my values, skills and interests. I’m making sure my resume reflects what each company is looking for. It’s not about how many jobs you apply to, Hare. It’s about making each application count.”
Weeks later, the race had a clear winner. The Hare, despite his speed, hadn’t received a single interview. His inbox was still as empty as ever. The Tortoise, on the other hand, had landed multiple final interviews and was well on his way to securing a new role.
“Guess you were right,” the Hare admitted, sheepishly. “All that rushing didn’t really help me. Maybe I should’ve slowed down and been more thoughtful.”
The Tortoise smiled, not out of pride, but with quiet understanding. “There’s value in speed, but when it comes to something important—like finding a job—it’s better to take your time. It’s not a race to see who can apply the fastest. It’s about who can tell the most compelling story about why they’re the right fit.”
Hire Thought
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s tempting to race through your resume in the hands of others. But as the Tortoise showed us, sometimes slow and steady really does win the race. Taking the time to craft your resume and tailor it to each job might seem like extra work, but it’s what sets you apart in a sea of generic applications.
So, next time you’re tempted to click “apply” as fast as you can, remember the Tortoise. Slow down, review the job description, and make sure your application shows who you are and why you’re a great fit. Because when it comes to landing the right job, less is often more.
