A simple, repeatable method
Stop sending resumes. Start landing interviews.
Most job searches stall for the same reason: one generic resume sent to everyone. This four-step formula keeps every application focused — and takes less time than the scattergun approach.
- 4 steps
- Works for any role
- Free to follow
1
Target
2
Build
3
Tailor
4
Follow up
The formula
Four moves, in this order
Skip a step and the next one gets harder. Follow them in sequence and each application becomes faster than the last.
- 01
Before you apply
Target
Pick one role and three to five companies. A focused search beats a wide one: you learn the language of the job and recruiters see a clear fit.
- 02
One afternoon
Build
Create a clean, ATS-friendly resume around that target role. Lead with results, keep it to one or two pages, and let the template do the design.
Start building → - 03
Every application
Tailor
Mirror the job post's own words in your summary and skills, and write a short cover letter that answers what the employer actually asked.
Try the AI cover letter → - 04
Days 3–7
Follow up
A polite note a few days after applying doubles as a reminder and a signal that you're serious. Keep a simple list of what you sent and when.
Where the time goes
What the formula saves you from
Endless rewriting
Build the base resume once, then adjust a few lines per job instead of starting over each time.
Silent rejections
ATS-friendly layouts and real keywords from the job post keep your resume readable by software and people.
Applying blind
Targeting first means every application is aimed at a company and role you actually researched.
Generic cover letters
A letter written from the job description answers the client's questions instead of repeating your resume.
Not knowing what works
Track each application and what happened. After ten, patterns show you what to change.
Going it alone
Share your progress with a friend who's also searching — accountability makes the follow-up step actually happen.
Quick wins
Habits that separate fast searches from slow ones
✓Do this
- Apply to roles where you meet most of the requirements
- Reuse a strong base resume and tailor three to five lines
- Name the company or team in your cover letter
- Send a short follow-up after a few days
- Keep a simple log of every application
✕Avoid this
- ✕Send one identical resume to fifty jobs
- ✕Paste the job description's buzzwords without proof
- ✕Leave gaps unexplained when a one-line note would do
- ✕Wait weeks before following up
- ✕Apply to everything just to feel busy
Start here
Your resume is step two. Make it a good one.
Build it free in about ten minutes, then come back and run the formula.
Keep going
More to help your search
A free resume in about 10 minutes
Pick a template, add the essentials, download — the quickest route to a resume you can send today.
Read more →
Beat the ATS
How applicant-tracking systems read your resume, and the simple rules that keep it readable.
Read more →
The AI cover letter writer
Paste a job post, get a tailored cover letter and a checklist of what it covers.
Read more →
Supercharge your resume
AI review, ATS scoring, tailored suggestions and cover letters — the upgrades that move the needle.
Read more →
Refer friends & family
Know someone still looking? Pass this on.
A friend, a sibling, a classmate — one free professional resume can change how their next application lands. Sharing takes ten seconds.
FAQ
Questions about the formula
How many jobs should I apply to each week?+
Quality beats volume. Five to ten well-tailored applications a week usually outperforms fifty generic ones, and it leaves time for follow-ups.
Do I really need a different resume for each job?+
No — one strong base resume, adjusted for each role. Change the summary, reorder skills and swap a few bullets to match the job post.
When should I follow up?+
Three to seven days after applying is a good window. Keep it to two or three polite sentences and restate your interest.
Is any of this paid?+
You can follow the whole formula with the free plan. Paid plans add things like more resumes and AI writing help, but they're optional.