Hi, I’m Nikita.
I’m 17, and I built Calyqen after watching my mom struggle through a job search.
I thought job hunting should be simpler. So I watched, asked questions, studied what was broken, and built Calyqen — an AI coach that stays with you throughout the search.
Built in San Antonio, Texas
I didn’t understand job searching at first
I used to think job searching was simple. You find a job, you send your resume, you interview, you get hired. That’s it, right? Then I actually watched my mom do it.
So I started asking her questions, probably annoyingly many. Why do you need a different resume for every job? How do you even know if a job is a good fit? How do you remember where you applied? What happens when an interview goes badly?
She didn’t always have answers. And the more I looked, the clearer it seemed: there are a million job-search tools, but they each do one little piece, and nothing stays with you through the whole thing.
What I expected
- One resume
- Apply and wait
- Prepare for one interview
- Keep a simple list
What I actually saw
- Five resume versions
- Follow-ups and dead-ends
- Research, notes and practice
- Tabs, documents and trackers everywhere
So I studied the problem before building anything
Watched
I watched my mom search, apply, and prepare.
Researched
I looked at job boards, tools, and advice sites.
Documented
I wrote down the friction points and what needed to be better.
Tested
I mapped what would actually help and what would just add clicks.
My first sketches — drawn on a whiteboard
These were my early ideas. Not polished — just the first version of what would become Calyqen. The app today looks almost nothing like them, because everything kept changing based on my mom’s feedback.
I built it, then tested it with my mom
I’ll be honest: I didn’t write the code — AI development tools did that part. I decided what to build, sketched every screen, and tested all of it on my mom’s real search. She became Calyqen’s first user, and her feedback shaped every step. (My parents handled the grown-up stuff, like the company paperwork.)
We simplified confusing parts
We removed extra steps
We focused on what actually helps
Meet Caly, your job-search coach
Caly helps you search smarter, stay organized, prepare with confidence, and remember what comes next. She will never invent experience or make you sound like someone you’re not.
Find opportunities
Organize resumes
Prepare for interviews
Track follow-ups
Caly stays with you throughout the search and beyond.
Why Caly the Fox?
I wanted Caly to feel like a career partner, not just a cheerleader telling people to keep applying. Foxes are quiet, observant, and adaptable. They notice details, look ahead, and choose the right next move instead of rushing toward everything.
That is what I wanted for my mom: someone who could notice the things she was too tired or overwhelmed to catch, help her understand what mattered, and point her toward the one action worth taking next.
That is also why Caly carries binoculars. Her job is to look ahead, spot opportunities and important details you might miss, and help you focus on the right next move.
Her name comes from Career-Ally, because Caly is designed to stay on your side throughout the search and beyond.
I’m still learning too
Calyqen is still in beta, and I’m still learning from my mom, job seekers, and everyone who tries it. It took my days, nights, and weekends — a lot of them technically summer vacation — and it was worth every one. My mom was Calyqen’s first user. I hope Caly can help you too.
— Nikita
Your next opportunity is out there.
My mom was Calyqen’s first user. I hope Caly can help you too — she’s already got the binoculars out.
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