Estimated Runtime: ~10 minutes
Tone: Organized, systems-thinking, motivational — like a coach helping you
set up for game day
You have your target role defined. You have your company list built. You
understand how the hiring machine works. Now we need one more thing — a system
to run it all.
Because here's what happens without a system. Week one, you're energized. You
send twenty applications. Week two, you slow down. Week three, you feel lost.
Week four, you're watching TV at two PM wondering what happened to your
motivation.
A Search Dashboard prevents that spiral. It gives you clear weekly targets,
tracks your pipeline in real time, and shows you exactly where your process is
working and where it's breaking down. It turns a vague, emotional experience
into a measurable, manageable campaign.
Think of your job search as a pipeline — like a sales pipeline. Opportunities
enter at the top and move through stages until they become offers.
There are six stages. Researched — you've identified a company or role.
Connected — you've made contact with someone inside. Applied — you've submitted
a formal application. Screening — you're in initial conversations. Interviewing
— you're in the full process. And Offer — you're evaluating or negotiating.
Every stage has a conversion rate. Not every researched company becomes a
connection. Not every application leads to a screen. And not every interview
leads to an offer. That's normal and expected.
The power of pipeline tracking is that it shows you WHERE things are breaking
down. If you're applying to fifty roles and getting zero screens, the problem
isn't the market — it's your resume or your targeting. If you're getting screens
but no interviews, the problem is your phone presence. If you're getting
interviews but no offers, the problem is your interview skills.
Without tracking, all of these problems feel the same — like rejection. With
tracking, each one has a specific fix.
Let me give you the numbers that work. These are based on data from thousands of
job searches at various levels.
Five to ten new companies researched per week. This keeps your pipeline fresh
and ensures you're always finding new opportunities.
Ten to fifteen networking outreach messages per week. At a twenty to thirty
percent response rate, that's two to four real conversations. Those
conversations generate referrals, intelligence, and access to the hidden market.
Two to three informational conversations per week. These are the
highest-leverage activity in your entire search. One good conversation can open
doors that a hundred applications never would.
Five to eight tailored applications per week. Not fifty generic ones — five to
eight carefully targeted ones. Quality always beats quantity in job
applications.
Five to ten follow-ups per week. This is where most people drop the ball.
Following up on previous conversations, applications, and connections is the
easiest way to increase your results with zero additional effort.
And two to three hours of skills development per week. Reading, taking courses,
building projects, staying sharp. This keeps your confidence up and your skills
current.
These are minimums, not maximums. And the key word is consistency. Doing these
numbers every week for twelve weeks will generate dramatically better results
than doing three times these numbers for two weeks and then burning out.
Structure prevents burnout. Here's a rhythm that works.
Monday is planning day. Review your dashboard. Set your targets for the week.
Prioritize your Tier 1 actions.
Tuesday through Thursday is execution. This is when you do the work — sending
outreach, having conversations, submitting applications, doing interviews.
Friday is reflection and adjustment. Update your dashboard. Calculate your
conversion rates. Identify what worked and what didn't. Set yourself up for next
Monday.
And weekends are for recharging plus light prep. Maybe research a few new
companies. Prepare for next week's conversations. But mostly rest. This is a
marathon, not a sprint.
You now have the complete Module Two toolkit. You've defined your target role
with surgical precision. You've built a list of thirty to fifty companies,
tiered by priority. You understand how the hiring machine works from the inside.
And you have a Search Dashboard to run your campaign with weekly targets and
pipeline tracking.
Starting in Module Three, we're going to build the professional brand that makes
this entire system work — your resume, your LinkedIn, your digital presence.
Because the best targeting in the world means nothing if your brand doesn't
close the deal. Go set up your dashboard. The system starts now.