Three things that have nothing to do with your CV
You can't control the first one. But you can choose where to spend your time and how your CV gets to the company.
What to do about each one
- 1Job adsCheck that the job is real
Check when it was posted, whether it keeps reappearing month after month, whether it lists specific responsibilities and whether there's a contact person. You'll waste less time on old, vague job ads.
- 2ReferralsFind someone at the company before you apply
A former colleague, a friend, someone who works there. Ask what the team is like and whether they can refer you.
- 3Where you applyApply directly on the company's website
If you find the job on a job board, look for it on the company's careers page too and apply there.
- 4How manyFewer, better-chosen applications
According to Huntr's 2026 data, people who sent 11–20 applications were invited to an interview nearly 4 times as often per application as those who sent more than 100.
What to write to someone at the company
Example“Hi, Mihai. I saw that your company is looking for a data analyst. I spent three years working on sales reports for a distribution company, and I think I could be a good fit. Do you have ten minutes this week to tell me what the team is like? If you think I'd be a good fit, I'd really appreciate a referral.”
Keep it short, specific and low-pressure: ask to talk first, and only then ask for a referral.
- Remove job ads posted more than a month ago if they don't list specific responsibilities or a contact person.
- For every company you're interested in, find someone who works there and reach out.
- For your next applications, find the job on the company's website and apply there.
- Close the job ad once you've filled the role: leaving it open damages your reputation with candidates.
- List the specific responsibilities for the first month in the job ad: it shows the role is real and helps attract the right candidates.
- Ask your colleagues for referrals: referred candidates are more likely to get past the first screening.
On Recrutora, when a company closes a job, it can let everyone still waiting to hear back know that the role has been filled.