There's no substitute for meeting people and creating genuine relationships, and there's no way to "hack" or speed up that process. That really is a numbers game: you may make 20 friends, and only one of them results in a job. But each friend requires genuine time and effort.
As far as being a senior in college, what about talking to alumni, especially recent ones? What about connections from internships?
Machines can't do the most important part of finding a job, which is to increase the number of people in the world who know your name and like you.
> That really is a numbers game: you may make 20 friends, and only one of them results in a job.
Comparing the difficulty and social capital required to maintain 20 friends to having an app send out job applications is...not even in the same ballpark? People seem to have vastly different interpretations for the word friend, but making 20 friends certainly isn't trivial.
Having to wait that long for a better job shouldn't be necessary. Keep in mind, the goal isn't to get the best result, it's to get a better result than where you currently are.
So to actually answer your question - when applying, write why you are interested in the job. Make it at least sound like you know what the company you're applying to does. Ask questions about the job. If it's just some generic "I'm good at this and that" we'll just throw it in the bin even if you seem to have the skills.
That being said, many firms don't have enough information on their websites -- and even in their job application info page! -- about what do they do technically and what is their current need.
That makes it hard to make a proper addressing to them while doing a sales pitch of your abilities and profile. And I refuse to engage in vague guess-work, too.
Thank you, I realize some people might not have responded because I didn't have enough info to go on to try and tell them why would I like working with them.
Tell me what business need my work will solve!
For almost everyone else, there are two problems: not enough applicants and no infallible way to screen them.
Hiring is (and should be) the most difficult thing a company does. It's the most important thing a company does for sure.
> the reason we bin the generic ones is that we have never found a fit through one of those.
That's an interesting bit of pattern recognition and something I hadn't considered.
> I'd rather be programming :)
Haha, fair enough. :)
Many people aren't only about the money. I feel many employers grossly underestimate this point.