Series: A 30-Day Experiment to Land a Role in 2026
CV <> Interviews <> Rejections <> One Acceptance
Quick Recap (So We Stay Grounded)
- Day 0: Identified blockers > focus, discipline, consistency
- Day 1: Began CV and profile revamp
- Day 2: Finished CV and optimised profiles
- Day 3: Shortlisted 25 companies and reached out
And now, Day 4 > the day where things finally started talking back.
Heard Back? Yes. And That Was Enough.
Out of all the emails I sent, I heard back from two people.
One response was predictable and, honestly, useless:
“Please apply through the career portal.”
That wasn’t help. It was a polite way of stepping aside. But the second response made the entire effort worth it. They reviewed my profile honestly. They didn’t sugarcoat anything. They suggested alternative routes that fit my background better and pointed out where my positioning could improve. I appreciated that more than any referral. I made the suggested changes first thing in the morning.
And just like that, something important clicked:
I hadn’t applied to a single job yet and it was already Day 4, but the process was working. Slowly. Quietly. Human to human.
Emailing and reaching out does work. Not everyone responds. But someone always understands the position you are in.
The Plan for Today
The goal for Day 4 was simple and overdue:
Start applying, but do it strategically.
My filters
- Roles posted within the last 24 hours
- Lower applicant count
- Strong alignment with my profile
- Or roles I genuinely want, even if I’m slightly underqualified
Application strategy
- Use LinkedIn and other job boards to find fresh roles
- Copy the JD and evaluate fit using AI
- Apply only to roles with 70%+ fit
- Align CV properly: use cover letters where context matters
- Find 4–5 relevant employees (preferably recruiters) and reach out
If someone from earlier outreach replied:
- Ask for guidance, referrals, or the hiring manager’s contact
- Apply through the recommended route
- Follow up with clarity, not desperation
Today, I followed the plan.
I applied.
I reached out.
No chaos. Just execution.
A Side Note That Matters More Than It Sounds
I want to talk about something that doesn’t directly look like job searching, but absolutely is.
Movement and Social exposure
Morning workouts drain my physical energy and sometimes they slow my start. I’m not instantly productive after them because my body is tired.
But I’ve learned this the hard way: I will not sacrifice my routine for efficiency.
I’ve tried that before. It doesn’t end well.
When you don’t have a job:
- Increased Stress Level
- Unhealthy diet routine
- Self-doubt multiplies
- isolation amplifies negativity
Working out or attending social gatherings does two things:
- Keeps me mentally stable and happy
- Keeps me visible to life & opportunities
Opportunities don’t always come from applications. Sometimes they come from conversations you weren’t planning to have. You get solutions from the most expected ways.
And yes maybe it also gives the universe more routes to help. I’m okay believing that.
Tools Used Today
- ChatGPT – JD analysis, email drafting
- Wiza – finding professional email addresses
End-of-Day Reflection
This morning was heavy.
Even though I committed to a 30-day challenge, I still wake up with the same thoughts:
- I’m not earning.
- I’m sitting idle.
- The gap in my CV is growing.
Today, those thoughts hit harder, partly because I woke up late and skipped my workout.
I felt lazy. Not tired but just mentally foggy.
Somehow, I forced myself to just do a 20 min run. So I went for a run.
After that, everything shifted. I felt disciplined again. My self-talk softened. I had answers to my own fears:
- Am I wasting time?
→ No. I’m working on myself intentionally. - Is the gap increasing?
→ Yes. And if a company can’t see potential beyond that, it’s not where I belong anyway.
This series started as a job search experiment.
But I’m realising something important:
We already know most tools and tactics.
What we lack is the mindset to repeat the same effort daily, slightly better than yesterday and without quitting.
Going forward, this series won’t just be about tools and techniques. It will also track morale, discipline, motivation, and attitude, because without those, no strategy survives.
I have something in mind for tomorrow.
It won’t be quick. But I’ll try it anyway.
Day 5 coming up.