Job search
Career Tips: A Practical Job Search Playbook
By RedvicaUpdated October 1, 20267 min read
Job searching goes better as a system than as a panic. Decide the roles you want, prepare a strong base resume and profile, apply thoughtfully to the roles that fit best, keep a record of every application, and follow up. This playbook is the routine in order, with links to the detailed guides for each step.
1. Decide your target roles
Vague searches produce vague applications. Pick one to three job titles you're genuinely qualified for or can credibly move into, and write down what the typical posting asks for. That list drives your resume, your LinkedIn headline and your search filters.
2. Build one strong master resume
Keep a complete, honest "master" version that lists all your relevant experience, projects and skills, written with results rather than duties. Each application starts as a copy of it (see how to build a master resume). Follow the resume writing guide for structure and bullets, and keep the layout simple enough to pass automated parsing (ATS guide).
3. Align your LinkedIn profile
Recruiters often look you up. Make sure titles and dates match your resume and that your headline and About use the terms for the roles you want. The LinkedIn guide has a 20-minute checklist.
4. Apply to fewer jobs, better
Sending the same resume to hundreds of postings is the slowest way to get interviews. A better split: apply quickly to roles that are a rough match, and put real effort into the ones you'd be excited to get.
- Read the posting properly. Note the must-haves, the tools and the keywords it repeats.
- Tailor your resume (20-minute method) to emphasise the matching experience and use the posting's wording for skills you really have. Job-specific tailoring can compare your resume with a posting and suggest changes you approve one by one.
- Answer application questions honestly. Knock-out questions (work authorisation, required licences, minimum experience) can end an application automatically, so check them before you submit.
- Use the file format asked for. If none is specified, a text-based PDF or DOCX is a safe choice.
5. Write cover letters that earn their place
Our guide to writing a cover letter has a structure and a sample. A cover letter helps most when it connects two or three of your specific achievements to what this employer needs, and explains anything the resume can't (a career change, a gap, a relocation). Keep it short and specific, and never repeat the resume line by line. The AI cover letter generator drafts a letter from your resume and the job description using only facts that are in your resume.
6. Track every application
By the third week you won't remember where you applied. Record for each application the company, role, date, the version of the resume you sent, a link to the posting, the contact and the next step. A spreadsheet works. Redvica also includes a job tracker for logged-in users, which keeps postings, statuses and notes in one place.
7. Follow up and keep a rhythm
- A short, polite follow-up after about a week or two is normal when no timeline was given.
- Reach out to someone in the team, not only the recruiter, with a specific, brief note about why the role fits.
- Set a weekly routine: a fixed number of tailored applications, a few conversations, and a review of what's working.
- Review results every two weeks. No responses usually points to the resume or targeting; interviews without offers point to interview preparation.
A simple weekly routine
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Collect and shortlist new postings that match your target roles |
| Tuesday and Wednesday | Tailor the resume and apply to your best-fit roles |
| Thursday | Networking: messages to people at target companies |
| Friday | Follow-ups, update your tracker, review what's working |
Start the cycle by checking your base resume with the free Redvica resume checker.
Frequently asked questions
How many jobs should I apply to each week?
There's no magic number. Aim for a volume you can do well: enough tailored applications to keep momentum, with extra effort on the roles you most want.
Should I tailor my resume for every application?
For roles you really want, yes. Start from a strong master resume and adjust the summary, bullet order and keywords for skills you genuinely have.
Is a cover letter always required?
No. Follow the posting. When optional, a short specific letter can still help, particularly for career changes or when you have strong context to add.
What should I track?
Company, role, date applied, resume version sent, posting link, contact, status and next step.