Lauren Settembrino 
When you take your time, you'll get better results.
When conducting a job search, it can be tempting to send out as many applications as you can, as quickly as possible. The more applications you submit, the more chances you have at landing a job, right?
That may technically be true, but when it comes to job applications, remember this: quality over quantity. It's better to put forth three impressive resumes that grab attention than eight that are just OK.
Additionally, rushing through submissions can often lead to mistakes. And in a competitive arena like the job market, those mistakes could mean the difference between a new role and an extended search. These are some of the risks you take when you speed through job applications.
Mistakes you make when you rush a job application
You let typos slip by
When you move too quickly, your attention to detail is bound to diminish. Often, that is shown through typos that appear in your resume, cover letter, and other elements of your application.
Imagine if an employer sees your resume in their inbox, only to notice that in the subject line, you've misspelled the company's name. If you think of the battle for the role as a race between you and your competition, you're now starting out 10 feet behind.
A study by TopResume found that 79 percent of hiring professionals identified spelling and grammatical errors as a resume deal-breaker — that's a lot!
One of the reasons so many recruiters and hiring managers expect typo-free materials is that those mistakes are easily avoidable; the only explanation for spelling and grammatical errors is that you didn't take the time to proofread your documents. That's not the impression you want to make on someone you're trying to impress.
Your resume is not tailored to the job description
We know that when applying for jobs, it's essential to tailor your resume to fit the specifics of each job you submit for. This means placing extra emphasis on the most relevant details of your experience and strategically incorporating keywords to please applicant tracking systems (ATS), among other important actions.
However, when you rush a job application, you may be rapidly sending out generic resumes that don't speak to the hiring manager's needs. By neglecting to study the job description and add relevant keywords to your document, you are increasing the likelihood that your resume will not get past the ATS. In other words, you'll be rejected before a human ever even sets eyes on your application materials.
If you get lucky and pass through the ATS, your resume still won't stand out to an employer because it won't demonstrate that you're the right fit for their specific role.
You ignore instructions
We learn the importance of following instructions at an early age, but these lessons don't always stick. This is especially true when you simply skim the directions and cut corners. Except, the results of a submitted job application and a job application submitted correctly are not the same.
When a job listing specifies how your resume, cover letter, and other materials should be submitted, do not ignore it. This can mean copying your cover letter into a form instead of attaching it as a file, including certain information in the body of email, or any number of detailed instructions. There have even been instances of applicants being requested to state their favorite color within the cover letter for no other reason than to determine who is paying attention to instructions.
A hiring manager likely has a reason for collecting candidates' information in a certain way. Even if they don't, you don't want to send the message that you have a tendency to ignore what people ask you to do; that type of behavior would not be appreciated while on the job, and an employer may remove you from the running for this alone.
Why it's important to put the work in
You show that you care
All the risks involved in rushing a job application boil down to mean one thing: telling a hiring manager that you don't care. Simply put, avoidable mistakes and rushed work communicate that you aren't interested in putting in the effort to make each job application the best it can be. If that's the message that the employer receives from your application, it's no wonder why they'll look to the next candidate.
Part of impressing a hiring manager is showing that you care about the work you do, and that should shine through in your application.
You show that you're the right candidate for the job
A little extra effort can go a long way in the job search. By taking the time to edit your resume and cover letter to fit each job description, you raise your chances exponentially.
When your application materials speak directly to the needs of a hiring manager, you show that you're more than a qualified candidate — you're exactly the candidate they're looking for. Unfortunately, this impactful application is not one you can create when in a rush.
How to successfully speed up your job search
Thankfully, there are ways to speed up your job search that don't put your chances in jeopardy, such as enlisting the help of a professional resume writer. Another TopResume study found that candidates job searching with a professionally written resume landed jobs at a 32 percent higher rate than those who applied with self-written resumes.
Once you hand off your resume to be rewritten and improved by an expert, you can focus on other aspects, such as networking during the job search or updating your online profiles. This allows you to set yourself up for greater (and faster) success by strengthening your candidacy in all areas instead of devoting all of your job-search energy to just your resume.
Slow and steady wins the race
We know that often in the job search, time is of the essence. However, rushing through your job applications will likely do more harm than good. Show employers that you care about their positions by taking the time to tailor and polish your materials. Your efforts won't go unnoticed, and you'll be sure to impress.
To speed up your job search while improving your chances, learn about working with a professional resume writer.