How Many Jobs Should You Apply to Each Week?

You might be sending out tons of applications, spending hours and hours looking at jobs boards… and somehow it still feels like you’re not doing enough.

Canada’s job market heading into 2026 is tighter than it was a few years ago. There are fewer postings, more applicants, and a lot more competition. According to Statistics Canada, job vacancies are at their lowest level in years, meaning that you’re competing for a smaller number of jobs. So it’s completely reasonable to wonder how many applications you should be sending each week.

The honest answer is that the right number varies from person to person – but in this article we’ll help you figure out the best strategy for you.

Quality matters more than volume

There’s a big difference between sending out dozens of generic applications and sending a smaller number of thoughtful, targeted ones.

Mass applying with the same resume and cover letter can feel productive, especially when you’re anxious. But these days, Canadian employers are flooded with applications – sometimes hundreds of them for a single job posting. Many of these applications are technically correct with all the right keywords (ChatGPT makes this easy to do). But these applications feel generic and they tend to blur together very quickly.

A targeted, personalized application takes more time. You need edit your resume and adjust your cover letter. This requires researching the company and making it obvious that you understand what the role actually involves and why you’re a good fit. That extra effort usually matters more than sheer volume.

Hiring data backs this up. Platforms like LinkedIn and Pinpoint have consistently shown that candidates who apply with referrals or tailored applications are significantly more likely to land interviews than people who apply cold at scale. That doesn’t mean referrals are mandatory, but it does reinforce one thing: quality beats quantity.

So what’s a reasonable number?

Rather than thinking in daily quotas, it’s more helpful to think in weekly ranges.

For most job seekers, a realistic and sustainable target is about five to fifteen targeted applications per week.

If you’re job hunting full-time, that might mean one to three solid applications per day, with time left over for follow-ups and networking. If you’re working, studying, or dealing with other responsibilities, it might mean a few strong applications spread across the week.

If you’re sending out dozens of applications every week and hearing nothing back, that’s often a signal to slow down and sharpen your approach, not to push harder.

It may also be helpful to think in terms of hours. How many hours can you realistically dedicate to your job hunt each day? If you have four hours per day, you might consider spending a few hours on writing targeted applications and a few hours on pursuing networking opportunities. A referral will go a long way in landing an interview – and you need to network to get referrals (more on this later).

Why targeted applications matter so much right now

Employers are receiving an enormous number of applications for each role. Many of them hit every keyword and still feel completely interchangeable.

To stand out, your application has to do two things at the same time. It has to clearly show that you meet the requirements, and it has to sound like it was written by a real person who actually wants this job.

That’s why targeted applications are more effective in the current market. To write a targeted application, you have to spend time researching the role and the company. Then, going through your resume and cover letter to position your experience to match the role – and to feel human!

If you want help doing this well, we have two resources that can help. First, our guide to writing targeted job applications in Canada. Second, our tips on how to write a personalized cover letter in 2026.

Networking may matter more than applications

Look, we get it. Networking is awkward and weird and feels uncomfortable. But the truth is that in a tight job market, networking is often more effective than applying.

That doesn’t mean asking strangers for jobs. It means building real connections so your application isn’t just another document in a pile. Join local networking groups, reach out to former colleagues to ask if they know of open positions, and set up informational interviews (informal conversations with professionals in your industry). Warm introductions and personal referrals can dramatically increase the chances that someone actually looks at your resume and offers you an interview.

If you’re spending all of your job-search time submitting applications and none of it building connections, there’s probably room to rebalance.

If networking feels awkward or unclear, our Canadian networking guide breaks down how to do it best.

You’re doing great: keep going!

If you’re applying thoughtfully, consistently, and in a way you can sustain, you’re not falling behind. There is no perfect weekly number that guarantees a job offer. What matters more is that your approach is focused, human, and realistic for your life.

A handful of strong applications, combined with ongoing networking, will almost always outperform hundreds of rushed ones. Take your time and stick with it. It’ll work out.

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