Setting Realistic Timelines (3, 6, 12 Months)

One of the most damaging things you can do in a visa-dependent job search is operate without a timeline. Without clear benchmarks, every week that passes feels like a crisis, and you cannot distinguish between normal progress and a strategy that needs adjusting. This chapter gives you a realistic roadmap for what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months — and the specific signals that tell you when to change course.

The 3-Month Mark: Foundation and First Signals

What You Should Have Done by Now

• Finalized your resume and had it reviewed by at least two professionals or mentors in your target industry
• Built a target company list of 50-100 companies (using the tiering framework covered in a later chapter)
• Sent 75-150 tailored applications