Master Job Applications

career

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

  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