What 63 Job Applications Taught Me About Getting Hired
Everything that actually moved the needle.
Job searching is not fun. I just wrapped a 4-month search and accepted a role at Duolingo. This post breaks down what actually worked, what didn’t, and the tools, emails, and mindset that helped me receive a job I’m excited for.
💚 I’m Joining Duolingo!
I’m thrilled to be joining Duolingo as a Group Program Manager based in NYC.
I’ll be joining the new Scaling Operations team, focused on expanding internal and learner-facing systems across:
The Duolingo English Test (DET)
AI-powered content delivery
Company-wide infrastructure and team strategy
My initial focus will be DET Ops, but I’m equally excited to dive deep into Duolingo’s real-world use of AI and help scale systems that fuel global learning access. This role brings together everything I was looking for: zero-to-one execution, AI innovation, team-building, and meaningful impact.
🔄 From Rejection to Referral: The Long Game of Professional Relationships
Back in 2019, I cold-applied to a Strategy & Ops role at Duolingo, made it to the final round, flew to Pittsburgh, and presented a case study. The hiring manager liked me but said I wasn't quite experienced enough. She kindly called to share the news and offered to stay in touch—then referred me to another team a month later. I came up short again.
Fast forward five years: I'd just left Walmart and saw Luis von Ahn's "AI-First" announcement. While controversial, it inspired me. I checked Duolingo's careers page and found the perfect role, Group Program Manager on the Scaling Operations team. It combined everything I was looking for: AI innovation, operational excellence, team-building, and zero-to-one workstreams.
I reached back out to that same hiring manager. She immediately connected me to the recruiter.
Three months, one case study, and many interviews later—I got the offer. I start in August, and I'm thrilled!
💡What Actually Worked In My Job Search
🔑 Must-Read Newsletters & Job Boards
Next Play – Under-the-radar startup roles + warm intros
Ali Rohde’s Substack – Curated ops/strategy jobs
LinkedIn – Focus on posts from hiring managers
StrictlyVC – Daily deal/funding digest
🤓 Bonus Newsletters and Sites That Still Helped
Lovable.dev – My favorite tool for visualizing case studies and building my portfolio website. Clean, fast, and perfect for interviews or personal branding.
🧰 Productivity Tools I Suggest For Job Searching
Granola – My note-taker. Use it for all interviews!
Wiza – Chrome extension to uncover emails from LinkedIn. This is how I’d find hiring manager emails.
Superhuman – Email tool with open tracking + follow-up reminders. Pricey but worth it during your job search. Next Play offers a free trial.
Super Whisper – I dictated most of my emails and cleaned them up afterward
Airtable – Tracker for apps, outreach, follow-ups (Google Sheets works too)
📧Sample Outreach Emails That Got Responses
🧠Mindset Matters
If you’re in the thick of it, keep going. One great “yes” is all it takes. You got this!
This is so great! So proud