How To (Actually) Get a New Job in 2026, by AdviceWithErin on YouTube. 13 min 2 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 2 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours to set up, then a few
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Start by understanding why mass applying fails right now. Automated screening, ghost postings and hundreds of applicants per role mean your resume often never reaches a person.
Pick 10 to 15 companies you actually want to work for instead of every posting you find. Write them in a spreadsheet with a contact name for each.
Tailor your resume for each role. Copy the main skills and job title wording from the ad into your summary and bullet points so screening software matches them.
Find one real person at each company, such as a recruiter or team lead, and send a short LinkedIn message saying what role you want and one line on why you fit.
Ask people you already know for referrals. Keep the ask small and specific: name the company, the role and a sentence they can forward.
Log every application with the date, the contact and a follow-up date. Check the sheet twice a week so nothing goes cold.
Practise your answers out loud for the questions you know are coming, starting with tell me about yourself and why this role.
Follow up about a week after applying. Send two or three sentences, restate your interest and offer to share more work samples.
Tips and common mistakes
Spend less time per application and more time on outreach, since one warm contact beats ten cold submissions.
Never pay a fee, buy equipment or share bank details for a job offer you did not interview for.
Keep your resume to one page when you are early in your career, and put the most relevant experience at the top.
Save a copy of each tailored resume with the company name so you know exactly what you sent.
Questions
How many applications should I send a week?
Aim for a small number of tailored applications plus direct outreach rather than volume. Ten well-researched applications with a contact each will usually beat a hundred quick ones.
Do I still need a cover letter?
Sometimes, but a short one is enough. Three paragraphs on why this company, why this role and what you bring covers most requests.
What if I have no experience at all?
Lead with projects, coursework, volunteering or part-time work and the skills they show. Then ask a teacher, coach or former supervisor to be a reference.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
