Master Job Applications

After helping hundreds of developers land their dream jobs and being involved in hiring at Google, here’s my comprehensive guide to effective job applications.

Contents

• Application Strategy
• Application Checklist
• Tracking System
• Pro Tips
• Common Mistakes
• Strategic Outreach Process
• Application Timeline Management

Application Strategy

1. Target Companies

   • Research tech stack
     • Primary languages and frameworks
     • Architecture and infrastructure
     • Recent technical blog posts
   • Company culture
     • Employee reviews on Glassdoor/Blind
     • Work-life balance metrics
     • Remote work policies
   • Growth potential
     • YoY revenue growth
     • Market position
     • Funding rounds and runway
   • Recent news/funding
     • Product launches
     • Leadership changes
     • Market expansion plans

2. Application Channels

   • Direct company website
     • Set up job alerts
     • Follow their tech blog
   • Internal referrals
     • Alumni networks
     • Professional associations
     • Previous colleagues
   • LinkedIn Easy Apply
     • Premium features for priority
     • InMail credits usage
   • Tech job boards
     • Specialized platforms (e.g., AngelList, Wellfound)
     • Stack Overflow Jobs
     • GitHub Jobs

Application Checklist

1. Before Applying

   • Research company thoroughly
   • Customize resume
   • Prepare portfolio
   • Update LinkedIn
   • Clean up GitHub

2. Application Process

   • Cover letter (if required)
   • Resume tailored to job
   • Portfolio/GitHub links
   • References ready

Tracking System

Create a spreadsheet with:

• Company name
• Position
• Application date
• Follow-up dates
• Contact person
  • Name
  • Role
  • Email
  • LinkedIn profile
• Status
  • Applied
  • Initial Screen
  • Technical Interview
  • Final Round
  • Offer/Rejected
• Notes
  • Salary range
  • Benefits package
  • Interview feedback
  • Technical requirements
  • Cultural insights

Pro Tips

1. ✅ Apply within 24 hours of job posting
   • Set up RSS feeds for job boards
   • Use IFTTT/Zapier for notifications
2. ✅ Follow up after 5-7 days
   • Template follow-up emails
   • Track communication history
3. ✅ Connect with team members
   • Engage with their content
   • Join their communities
   • Attend company events
4. ✅ Research interview process
   • Glassdoor interview experiences
   • LeetCode company tags
   • System design expectations

Common Mistakes

1. ❌ Mass applying without customization
2. ❌ Ignoring company culture
3. ❌ Missing technical requirements
4. ❌ No follow-up strategy

Need help with your application strategy? Let’s connect!

Strategic Outreach Process

1. Find Recent Opportunities (7-14 days)

   • Monitor company career pages
   • Set up job alerts on LinkedIn
   • Track startup job boards
   • Follow #hiring hashtags

2. Quick Application Process

   • Submit application within 24 hours
   • Use Easy Apply when available
   • Attach customized resume
   • Include tailored cover letter

3. Recruiter Outreach

   • Tools for finding contacts:
     • Apollo.io
     • Hunter.io
     • LeapLeader
     • PhantomBuster
   • Research hiring managers
   • Find company recruiters

4. Multi-Channel Approach

   • Cold emails (personalized)
   • LinkedIn connection requests
   • LinkedIn InMail messages
   • Follow and engage with content

5. Cold Outreach Best Practices

   • Research recipient background
     • Recent articles/talks
     • Shared connections
     • Professional achievements
   • Mention specific company initiatives
     • Recent product launches
     • Technical blog posts
     • Open source contributions
   • Keep messages concise (2-3 paragraphs)
     • Clear value proposition
     • Relevant experience highlights
     • Specific role interest
   • Include clear call-to-action
     • Request for coffee chat
     • Ask for application review
     • Seek referral
   • Follow up after 5-7 days
     • Reference previous message
     • Add new relevant information
     • Maintain professional tone

Application Timeline Management

1. Weekly Goals

   • 10-15 highly targeted applications
   • 5-7 follow-up messages
   • 3-5 new network connections
   • 2-3 informational interviews

2. Response Management

   • Same-day replies to recruiters
   • 24-hour interview scheduling
   • Thank-you notes within 24 hours
   • Offer response within 48 hours