It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Just try to apply to three a week to start with. This will help you figure out which jobs resonate with you more.  As you develop this sense yourself, you will eventually be able to tell if a job is worth your full time and effort to do a full tailoring and prep, or if one of your previous “tailored” resumes and cover letters will suffice.  Applying to jobs is about managing your effort. 

Weekly Application Plan

Step 1: Selecting Jobs to Apply

• Prioritize Fresh Job Listings:

  • In today's competitive job market, job listings older than one week often have already attracted thousands of applicants, making your chances slim.

  • Aim for jobs posted within the last 48 hours, or ideally within 24 hours, to significantly improve your chances of standing out.

• Alignment Check:

  • Confirm the job aligns with your tailored resume, networking conversations, and interview preparations. Consistency across your approach improves your chances.

  • If there are significant gaps, reassess whether it's worth the time or if adjustments are needed.

Step 2: Tailoring Your Application

• Job applications should emphasize how your experience and skills fit specifically with the job and company you're applying to—it's less about you and more about them.

• Thoroughly research the company and role; reflect their language, values, and priorities in your resume and cover letter.

• Address explicit qualifications from the job posting clearly in your documents.

Navigating the Quantification Trap

• It's common to feel uncomfortable with the numbers-driven nature of resumes. As discussed in our article, resumes today are designed more for automated systems and quick-glance reviews rather than truly reflecting your value.

• Understand that while you might feel uneasy including metrics, it's currently necessary to "play the game." For more insights, see our article on the realities of resume metrics here.

• Focus on metrics genuinely connected to your real responsibilities and be ready to confidently discuss them in interviews.

Keeping Your Integrity

• Aim for authenticity within the system’s constraints. Highlight metrics you genuinely feel represent your contributions, understanding that this compromise is a temporary step toward larger changes we're working toward.

• Remember, numbers are only one part of your professional story. Your genuine experiences and unique contributions are ultimately what will resonate most strongly in interviews.

Consistency and Reflection

• Regularly applying to three jobs each week develops consistent, manageable momentum.

• After each application cycle, briefly reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve for next week.

By methodically applying and continuously tailoring your approach, you'll strengthen your application skills, gain deeper insights into your chosen field, and significantly enhance your job-search success.