Quality matters more than volume. A tailored application to a well-researched role often converts at a higher rate than five generic ones. A steady 5 to 10 quality applications per week is a reasonable target. As an illustration, a 2% response rate on 50 applications gives you 1 callback; a 30% rate on 10 researched ones gives you 3.
Yes, though the degree of customization scales with the role's importance to you. At minimum, the cover letter should reference the specific company and role. For priority applications, customize your CV summary and reorder experience to lead with the most relevant work. The job description contains the words the hiring manager uses to think about the role; use them.
It varies significantly by sector, seniority and market conditions. For professional roles, a focused search often takes a few months from first application to offer acceptance. Senior and executive roles usually take longer. A passive search alongside a current role tends to take longer still.
Once, after 10 to 14 business days with no response. Keep it brief: your name, the role, the date you applied, and a one-line expression of continued interest. A second follow-up a week after the first is acceptable. After two attempts with no response, consider the application inactive, though some applications resurface weeks later.
Company, role title, date applied, source, current status, key contact name and role, last and next action date, and notes. Notes should be specific enough to be useful in an interview: what you know about the company's current challenges, who you spoke to, what they said. Generic notes are not worth keeping. Source: career management practitioner consensus.