# Job search and interview workbook
Original worksheet by Codex | September 28, 2026

## Weekly activity plan
Suggested starting cadence: 3-5 tailored applications, 2 thoughtful conversations, 1 interview practice session, 1 portfolio improvement. Adjust to the roles available and your time.

## Application log
Repeat this record for each opportunity.
Company / role:
Source URL and date checked:
Location / experience requirements:
Why it fits:
Relevant project evidence:
Application date:
Contact or referral (keep private):
Current stage:
Next action / date:
Feedback / lesson:

## Outreach draft
Hi [Name], I am exploring [specific team/problem]. I built [project] and observed [honest result]. Your work on [detail] interested me. If you have time, I would appreciate one piece of feedback on [focused question]. Here is a short demo: [link].

Adapt the wording. Do not mass-send. One respectful follow-up after about a week is enough; accept no response.

## Interview sessions
- Coding: parse, transform, validate and test a small dataset.
- Debugging: identify why retrieval returns the wrong passage.
- Design: an internal document assistant with permissions and a budget.
- Project defense: show a failure, explain the baseline and discuss a tradeoff.

## Self-rating (0 unable, 1 with help, 2 independently and explain)
Coding/debugging:
API and data flow:
LLM concepts:
Evaluation:
Deployment:
Communication:

Avoid zeros before a technical round. This is a practice rubric, not a hiring guarantee. Ask each employer about its interview format and rules for AI assistance.

## After each interview
Questions asked:
Where I was clear:
Where I struggled:
One exercise to close the gap:
Follow-up promised: