07/29/2025
Wanted to Make Job Hunting Easier… So I Built Something to Help
Job hunting used to feel overwhelming, until I decided to build a system that works for me. After weeks of tinkering, I’m excited to share what I came up with. And the best part? It cost me nothing to build.
Here’s what I’ve done:
• I self-hosted n8n using Docker and exposed it publicly via ngrok, allowing full end-to-end automation.
• The workflow pulls job listings from several job boards using RSS feeds tied to my custom search keywords.
• I added filters to keep only job posts from the last 7 days, ensuring everything’s fresh.
• Built logic to remove duplicates, even across different platforms.
• Dates are automatically formatted for consistency, making sorting and tracking easier.
• All relevant fields—Source, Title, Date, Link—flow straight into a Google Sheet for clean storage.
From there, I created a personal web app that connects to the sheet and takes care of the rest:
• Displays jobs in a simple list view
• Lets me mark listings as “Applied”, and saves that status even if the sheet updates
• Includes a “Generate Cover Letter” button using the job title and my stored resume, and generates an actual cover letter using AI.
• Allows me to upload my resume once and reuse it across applications
• Uses Google SSO to secure access (only I can view it)
• Has a refresh button to pull new job posts from the sheet instantly
• Cleans up job titles, removing extra fluff like location, benefits, or repetitive phrases
This setup turned job hunting from something I used to avoid… into something I actually look forward to. It’s focused, organized, and—most importantly—free. No subscriptions, no paywalls.
If you’re curious about the setup or want to build your own version, I’d be more than happy to share.
