It sounds to me like you're analyzing your job-hunting process like one would a sales funnel. You're probably thinking that if you put in enough into the top of the funnel, then you're bound to get a closed deal out of the bottom.
My recommendation would be to identify a handful of companies that you'd really want to work for and instead invest heavily in building relationships with people connected to those companies. Attend meetups at the company's office, reach out to employees on linkedin to chat, or find out who the hiring manager is and see if they'd be willing to speak with you over the phone.
During my limited time as a hiring manager, I've experienced the impact that a pre-existing relationship has on the hiring process. Even if I've only had a coffee or phone conversation with someone, they're almost always guaranteed a better shot at landing a job than if they apply cold.
Upswing is looking for a Backend Software Engineer with experience in object-oriented programming and SQL. We've grown 5x over the past 2 years, and are looking for a sharp mind to join our tech team. Fun environment, great benefits, and lots of career opportunities!
My recommendation would be to identify a handful of companies that you'd really want to work for and instead invest heavily in building relationships with people connected to those companies. Attend meetups at the company's office, reach out to employees on linkedin to chat, or find out who the hiring manager is and see if they'd be willing to speak with you over the phone.
During my limited time as a hiring manager, I've experienced the impact that a pre-existing relationship has on the hiring process. Even if I've only had a coffee or phone conversation with someone, they're almost always guaranteed a better shot at landing a job than if they apply cold.