How many applications per week make sense?

Quality over quantity — the data clearly shows this. LinkedIn Economic Graph: tailored applications with relevant keywords have a 3x higher invitation rate than generic ones. BA employment statistics: average search duration in Germany is 3–5 months — 3–5 high-quality applications per week over this period is realistic and sustainable. 20 copy-paste applications per week have empirically worse overall results than 5 individually tailored ones. Objection: in markets with skills shortages, generic applications can also be successful. Recommendation: 70% direct applications, 20% via network and referrals (NBER Q022: 3–4x more effective), 10% headhunter contacts. 15–20 minutes adaptation time per application.