Why a plan beats more applications
Most freshers apply to hundreds of jobs in a panic and hear back from very few. The problem is rarely effort. It is that the same unready resume goes out again and again. This plan spends the first month getting ready, so the next two months of applications actually work.
Days 1 to 30: Get ready
Week 1: Know where you stand
- Take a timed aptitude test. Ours is free and takes 15 minutes.
- Pick one target role. Not three.
- Read ten job descriptions for that role and list the skills that appear most.
Week 2: Fix your resume
- One page. Projects at the top. Numbers wherever possible.
- Follow our ATS friendly resume guide.
Weeks 3 and 4: Build one piece of proof
One project that matches your target role, deployed, with a clear README. See our portfolio plan by role.
Days 31 to 60: Apply with focus
- Five tailored applications a day beats fifty copied ones. Change the summary and the top project for each.
- Track every application in a sheet: company, date, role, status, follow up date.
- Message one person working at each company you apply to. A short, polite note asking one specific question.
- Keep 30 minutes a day for aptitude and coding practice.
- Check verified off campus openings and government schemes like NATS apprenticeships.
Days 61 to 90: Interview and improve
- Do at least two mock interviews with a friend, senior or mentor. Record one and watch it back.
- After every rejection, write one line: what went wrong, what to fix.
- Update your project or add a second one based on what interviewers asked.
A realistic weekly schedule
| Activity | Time per week |
|---|---|
| Aptitude and coding practice | 4 hours |
| Project work | 6 hours |
| Applications and networking | 5 hours |
| Interview practice | 2 hours |
About 17 hours a week. Manageable alongside final year.
Protect yourself
Real employers do not charge you to interview or to send an offer letter. If anyone asks for money to hire you, stop. Read our 9 red flags of fake job offers.
If you want structure
Some students do better with a fixed schedule and someone checking their work. That is what Ucanly's Career Toolkit and programmes are for. If you prefer to do it alone, everything in this plan can be done for free.