DEV Community: Brandy

From Layoff to Launch to Landing first 500 users in a month. Here is my story

Brandy — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:06:14 +0000

About four months ago, one of my coworkers was caught in a wave of layoffs. During a conversation, he shared his job search challenges and discussed automating various processes.

He pointed out that while numerous AI tools exist for different tasks, the sheer number can be overwhelming. A single, streamlined platform could save job seekers significant time. With this in mind, my coworker, despite having no development background, built an MVP (thanks to Cursor!).

The MVP, while not visually polished, was functional. It offered easy job tracking, job fit analysis, and interview recommendations. We onboarded a user to validate the idea, and the feedback was positive. This initial validation, though limited to one user, encouraged me to develop the project further, alongside my full-time job.

After working on this for a while, we reached a point where we felt comfortable releasing a public version.

Side note: AI tools helped us do 2-3x more work and save a lot of time.

January 2025, We discussed various rollout strategies, focusing on organic growth:

No paid marketing until significant user validation.
Leverage product directories.
Target specific subreddits on Reddit.
Avoid marketing to the wrong audience.

Our initial goal for the end of January was a modest four users. 😅

We started with alternativeto.net. Listing was quick, and we rapidly surpassed our initial goal of 4 users. We then shared the app on r/jobsearchhacks and we got a similarly positive response. Within a week or two, we had nearly 100 total users, and lots of errors and bugs to be fixed.

This made us shift our attention to user retention instead of focusing solely on acquiring new users. We wanted to ensure existing users found value in the platform and returned. Our approach included:

Analyzing user pain points using PostHog.
Reaching out to users
Analyzing usage patterns.
Fixing visual as well as functional bugs.

This helped us significantly improve the app and understand user priorities. Traffic primarily came from our Reddit post and alternativeto, initially bringing in five to seven new users daily, which later tapered off to one or two. At this moment we also got some random organic users from Google.

By the end of January, our metrics were:

175 total users
5 daily active users
30 weekly active users

Of the 175 total users, only 30-35 performed meaningful actions on the app.

At the beginning of February, we repeated our January strategy: did another reddit post, focused feedback gathering, usage analysis, and bug fixes. By early February, we had 5-7 daily active users, 30-35 weekly active users, and 200-225 total registered users.

We prioritized user engagement, diligently tracking errors, and personally contacting users after resolving their issues. At this point, we have started to notice the patterns and what users like using more in the app. This helped us focus on the things that matter most.

We tried to got our app listed on theresanaiforthat in January but apparently its not free and takes about 200$ to do so. However, their editorial team manually vetted us and listed us on their platform, which significantly boosted our reach, pushing us past 400 users in two days.

We got a lot of reach from this platform. We even got noticed by The AI Report, a newsletter with 400,000+ subscribers and they decided to feature our app in their trending tools section alongside news about Musk's SuperGrok launch. This brought in another 130-140 users in a single day, pushing us past 500 total users.

We even hit the free tier limits of some of our services that day! These are good problems to have. 😉

The response confirms the market demand for our solution, and the retention confirms that we are able to add value to users' job search. By continuing to deliver value, we're confident we can build something significant.

We are repeating the same strategy, trying to be close to our users and build on their feedback while getting the users organically.

Here are some of our learnings in these last 3 months (total) of developing this.

Creating user value is greater than fancy features
We can only unlock the full potential of our software if we see and use the app from our user's eyes - Direct feedback
If it does not work in the beginning, It's not going to work in the future -- This is not the first app we are releasing, we have some failed ones too ;)
Sharing the journey while building the app is as crucial as the launch.
Launching slowly (one platform after another) gives you time to improve your app much more based on users that are currently using it.

Thanks for reading, The app we are talking about here is Eloovor. It's an AI career coach app that provides an end-to-end solution for your job search journey. It has

One-click employer research
Job tracking
AI analysis on jobs - (Job fit, personalised resume/cover-letter, interview prep)
Helps you improve your existing resume by providing suggestions

If you are interested, You can try it out at https://app.eloovor.com

Finding Stability in Tech: My Journey Through Layoffs and How AI is Changing the Job Search Game

Brandy — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:17:16 +0000

After spending a couple of years at a company known for its "job security," I, along with many others, found myself caught in a recent wave of layoffs. The initial shock quickly turned into anxiety—I hadn't job hunted in years, and the market felt more uncertain than ever. This post shares my journey and the lessons I learned along the way.

The Overwhelm of Job Searching

The first few weeks were daunting. I spent countless hours tailoring resumes for different positions, lost track of dozens of applications across multiple platforms, and struggled to research companies thoroughly enough to feel confident going into interviews. At one point, I started questioning whether the roles I was applying for even aligned with my career goals.

I was stuck in the same frustrating cycle so many of us face: sending out application after application, hoping something would stick, but feeling increasingly disconnected from what I truly wanted in my next role.

That’s when I realized I needed a more strategic approach to job searching—one that prioritized quality over quantity and focused on the opportunities that truly aligned with my goals.

Quality Over Quantity

Over time, I learned that quality always trumps quantity. The "spray and pray" approach to job applications is not only exhausting but also ineffective. I saw better results when I focused on analyzing fewer opportunities in depth rather than mindlessly applying to everything in sight.

The Hidden Job Market Is Real

Remember when job descriptions actually told you what you needed to know? Yeah, me neither. Some of the best opportunities I found came from looking beyond job postings and truly understanding companies—their culture, recent developments, and employee sentiment.

This shift in approach helped me find roles that weren’t just available but actually aligned with what I was looking for. Networking, researching beyond job boards, and understanding a company’s direction became just as important as polishing my resume.

Interview Preparation Is More Than Memorizing Answers

After struggling in an interview because I wasn’t aware of a recent company acquisition (something I should have known about), I realized how crucial comprehensive preparation is. Beyond practicing common interview questions, it’s essential to stay informed about the company, industry trends, and how external factors might impact the role.

Taking Control of Your Job Search

The tech industry’s instability isn’t going away anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean we have to feel powerless in our job searches. Whether you’re actively looking or just keeping an eye on opportunities, having the right approach can make all the difference.

If you’re in the midst of a job search—especially after a layoff—remember, you’re not alone. This process is challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to find a role that truly fits your goals and values. Take the time to:

Clearly define what you want in your next role
Research companies thoroughly before applying
Prepare thoughtfully for each interview
Keep track of your progress and learnings

In an attempt to make job searching less about mass applications and more about finding the right fit, I am building https://www.eloovor.com which is basically an all in one career tool that aims to take the the monotony of job applications away from you.

The goal is simple: to help you stand out in your job applications while automating the tedious but necessary parts of the process. The app takes care of everything you need for your job search and is packed with powerful AI features.

When you start using the app: Firstly, You can analyze your resume and get actionable suggestions for improvement. It also checks your keyword usage and helps optimize it to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Writing compelling resume content can be challenging, so the app includes an input enhancer—just type what you want to refine, and it will rewrite it in a polished, professional way based on the suggestion.

You can also track your job applications while leveraging AI-driven insights. With just one click, you can research potential employers instead of wasting time searching the web. The app also offers a job fit analysis based on your profile and the job description, generates personalized resumes and cover letters, and even prepares interview materials and tips to help you stand out. It’s like having a personal career coach in your pocket.

it’s completely free! Try it out at https://app.eloovor.com.

I’d love to hear your job search stories and the tools or strategies that have worked for you. Drop a comment below or reach out directly