If you're researching the Teal HQ career platform, you're probably tired of juggling spreadsheets, browser tabs, and half-finished applications across multiple job boards. And the stakes are high: recent data shows that in 2025, job seekers need to submit an average of 400 to 750 applications to secure a single job offer, with 83% of companies now using AI for resume screening. Teal was designed to help you stay organized and build better resumes, but if you're looking for a platform that automates the job application process, Teal HQ might not be the right tool for you. With Teal, you do still have to manually apply for jobs.
In this post, we'll take a deeper look at what Teal can and can't do for job seekers.
TLDR:
Teal offers resume building and job tracking but requires manual customization and submission for every application.
While Teal offers a free version, Teal+ costs $13 per week, and it's necessary if you want to access premium features like unlimited resume templates and advanced design options.
Job seekers should consider Sprout, which automates the entire job application process, generating tailored resumes with job-specific keywords and submitting applications for you.
What Is Teal?
Teal is an AI-powered career development tool that helps job seekers organize their search and create customized application materials. The tool includes an AI resume builder, an application tracking system and other organizational tools, a cover letter generator, and a work style assessment feature.
The resume builder uses AI to craft targeted resumes with keyword optimization. You can create multiple versions tailored to different roles, and Teal's resume analysis feature provides scores that show how well your resume aligns with specific job descriptions. The scoring system highlights keyword gaps and suggests improvements to boost ATS (applicant tracking system) compatibility.
Teal's Chrome extension lets you bookmark job postings from more than 50 different job boards and company sites. These bookmarked roles automatically populate in your job tracker, where you can monitor application status, set reminders, and keep notes in one dashboard.
The cover letter generator creates drafts based on your resume and the target job description, giving you a starting point to customize before submitting applications.
Teal's Resume Creation and Customization
Teal treats resume building as a manual workflow with AI recommendations layered in. You start by creating a base resume in the system; then you duplicate and modify that document for each job.
For each application, you manually check or uncheck bullets, experiences, and skills. Teal provides a matching tool that surfaces keyword gaps and compatibility scores, but you make all the edits yourself. On Trustpilot, where Teal has a rating of 4.1 stars (out of 5, based on 73 reviews), some users report that AI-generated suggestions feel generic and need a lot of manual revision to sound authentic.
Teal's Application Process and Automation
Teal takes a manual approach to submitting applications. The tool prepares your materials and tracks where you've applied, but you complete every application yourself. After generating a resume and cover letter in Teal, you are responsible for filling out online forms, attach your documents, and submitting your application.
The Chrome extension bookmarks job postings so you can save roles that interest you. Once bookmarked, those positions appear in your Teal dashboard where you can update their status, add notes, and set follow-up reminders.
Teal's Job Tracking and Organization
Teal's job tracker works as a CRM (customer relationship management) system for your job search. You can rate positions by excitement level, add notes about contacts or interview details, set reminders, and move roles through application stages. This feature is frequently mentioned positively in Trustpilot reviews.
The Chrome extension bookmarks jobs from over 50 different job boards and company sites. These bookmarked positions automatically appear in your tracker, but everything after that requires manual input. You update statuses yourself, log when you've applied, record interview dates, and track follow-ups independently.
Teal's Pricing
Teal HQ starts with a free tier that lets you build and export one resume. Premium features, such as unlimited resume templates and advanced design options, require Teal+, which costs $13 per week.
Why Sprout Is a Worthy Alternative to Teal
Teal HQ works well for job seekers who want organizational tools and AI-assisted resume building with hands-on control over each application. The job tracker feature is well reviewed and may be a draw if you are OK with manual submissions and just need a centralized place to manage opportunities.
But you may also want to consider Sprout, a better choice for many job seekers. While Teal requires that you manually customize your resume, apply, and log each position, Sprout automates the entire workflow while generating genuinely tailored applications for every role.
Take resumes: Sprout automatically generates a fully tailored resume for every job you apply to. Sprout's AI extracts relevant keywords directly from the job description, reorders your experience sections based on role requirements, and highlights the skills on your resume that match what the employer wants. When you want to apply for a role, Sprout automatically creates a unique, customized resume that is optimized for ATSes and that reads naturally to recruiters.
And Sprout builds tracking directly into the application workflow through a unified dashboard. Because Sprout submits applications for you, every job you apply to is logged instantly and automatically, with timestamps, the exact resume version sent, and current status.
Sprout's dashboard syncs in real time across web and mobile. When an employer responds or an interview gets scheduled, you update it once and see that change everywhere.
The time savings matter. Instead of spending hours per day on applications, you can apply to more positions in minutes while maintaining higher quality than manual efforts. More than 150,000 users trust Sprout, and in October alone our users landed 2,738 interviews at companies like JPMorgan, Nike, and Johnson & Johnson.
Final Thoughts on Teal
The real question isn't whether Teal is good, it's whether manual applications make sense for your search. If they do, and if you don't mind doing some manual work on the tracking side, Teal could make sense for you. But if you're applying to dozens of jobs, Teal alternatives that automate submissions can save you hours every week. Sprout creates tailored materials for each role and handles everything from form completion to tracking applications. You get more applications out with better customization and actually have time left for networking and interview prep.
FAQ
What's the main difference between Teal's resume builder and automated alternatives?
Teal requires you to manually check or uncheck bullets and experiences for each job and then submit applications yourself, while automated platforms generate fully customized resumes and handle the entire submission process without manual intervention for each role.
Can I apply to jobs directly through Teal?
No, Teal doesn't submit applications for you. You must visit each company's career page, fill out their application form, attaching your documents, and submit manually after preparing your materials in Teal.
When should I consider switching to an automated solution?
If you're applying to more than ten jobs per week and spending more than 10 hours on manual applications, an automated platform will save you significant time while maintaining application quality through AI-tailored resumes for each position.
Why do Teal's AI suggestions often need heavy revision?
Teal's AI generates generic recommendations that aren't deeply customized to specific job descriptions, requiring you to manually edit content to sound authentic and match the exact keywords and requirements employers are looking for.
