I applied to 112 jobs and finally stopped doing it the “right” way

I followed every rule. Customized every resume. Rewrote every cover letter. Still, it took 112 applications to finally get an offer — and only after I stopped playing the game.

For the first 70 or so applications, I did what every career blog said. Tailored my CV, used the STAR method, prepped for culture questions, showed up early to every call. And all I got in return was a handful of rejections and a long string of ghostings.

Then I snapped.

I stopped writing full cover letters. I started cold messaging hiring managers directly. I skipped ATS-optimized formats and started just telling people what I actually do, in plain English.

That’s when things changed. A hiring manager replied to a blunt, three-sentence message I sent on LinkedIn. I ended up skipping the HR loop entirely and talking to the head of product. Two weeks later: job offer.

Moral of the story? The “correct” process is often just noise. You have to be human in a system that treats you like data. Sometimes cutting through the noise means breaking the rules.