Start with a job target, not a job board
Write down two or three roles you could credibly do next. For each, list the work you want, the work you want to avoid, your location or remote constraints, and a pay floor you can live with. This is a working hypothesis, not a lifelong commitment.
Read ten current postings across those roles. Notice repeated duties and requirements. Keep the language employers actually use, then compare it with your experience.
Turn the search into four repeatable actions
A good weekly plan should fit your energy and obligations. Give yourself a few blocks for finding openings, a few for thoughtful applications, one for conversations, and one for review. Protect time away from the search too.
- Find: save roles that fit your target and check the employer’s own careers page.
- Prepare: adjust your resume to show relevant evidence.
- Connect: ask one person a specific, low-pressure question.
- Review: note what produced a reply and what needs changing.
Track signals, not just application counts
Use a tracker with company, role, link, date, next step, contact, and notes. Record when a role closes or you decide it is a poor fit. A rejected application is data about the search, not a verdict on your worth.
If you have many well-matched applications and no conversations, revisit your resume and target. If interviews stall, practice examples and questions. If the search itself feels unsustainable, reduce the volume and keep the highest-value actions.
This week: pick two target roles, read ten postings, and schedule three realistic search blocks.