A job search in India works best as a short weekly routine: pick a role and two cities, tailor one resume, apply to a small set of live openings, and follow up once. Spraying the same resume at every listing wastes the week and rarely reaches a hiring manager.
Pick one role and two cities
Recruiters search by job title, skill and city. A search aimed at "anything in IT" is hard to match. Write the title you want, the skills you can prove, and the cities you will actually join.
- Use the title employers post, such as "software engineer" or "accountant", not an internal grade.
- Choose cities you can join within your notice period.
- Save the search and check new openings on the same two days each week.
Apply with proof, then stop
Ten tailored applications beat fifty identical ones. Match the skills in the posting, keep the resume to two pages, and send it as a PDF unless the employer asks for a Word file.
- Mirror the skills you truly have, using the wording from the posting.
- Put the most relevant project or achievement in the top third of the resume.
- Apply on the company or agency page so your details stay with that role.
Run the search on a weekly rhythm
Block two hours twice a week. In the first hour, update the shortlist. In the second, follow up on applications that are more than five working days old and prepare for any interview already booked.
- Track company, role, date applied and the next action in a simple sheet.
- One polite follow-up is enough. A second message a week later is the limit.
- Pause new applications in a week when you have two interviews to prepare for.
Treat the search like a project with a target role, a shortlist and a follow-up date. That is the whole system.
Questions people ask
How many jobs should I apply to in a week?
- Five to ten tailored applications a week is a healthy pace for most people. Quality of the match matters more than a high application count.
Should I apply if I miss one required skill?
- Apply when you meet the core skills and can show them with a project or a job. Skip roles that need a licence, a degree or a tool you do not have.
When should I start searching if I have a notice period?
- Start about a month before you are ready to serve notice, so interviews line up with the date you can join.
Related reading
Meera Iyer
Meera edits WePlacement career guides for people searching, interviewing and negotiating offers in India. She writes from questions recruiters and candidates ask every week.
