Applying for jobs when you need one sucks. Big time!
You may find yourself applying to many jobs… Upwards 20-30 jobs per day (depending on your market of course). So how do you keep yourself organized?
This one can be tricky because you may think that you don’t need to keep track on each application, and should you get a response from an employer then all you need to do is search the platform you used, ex Linkedin – and see which jobs you’ve applied to and then move forward from there.
True, you could do it that way. Heck, that’s what i’ve been doing a lot lately. However, i had an epiphany last night. It hit me like a bag of bricks… I need a more organized way to keep track on my applications. This way i’ll stay prepared and can get to the information i need faster.
I found a list of 10 ways to track your job applications on the Balance Careers website. Sure, i’ll be able to stay organized with the items on this list, however efficiency is going to drop significantly. If i had to choose the best option in the list, i’d choose #1: Create a Job Application Spreadsheet in Excel.
This is simple, may cut into your efficiency but could be worth it in the long run.
The information you want to include in this document depends on your own preferences, but here are some key info to include:
- Company Name – The name of the organization you’re applying to.
- Contact – Your point of contact at the company; probably who you addressed your cover letter to, such as a Director of Human Resources or Office Manager.
- Email – The email of your point of contact, or, if preferred, a phone number.
- Date Applied – When you submitted your application.
- Application Summary – What you submitted: a cover letter, resume, and any additional materials, like a portfolio or reference list.
- Interview – When your interview is scheduled.
- Follow-Up – Did you send a thank you email or letter? If so, indicate here.
- Status – If you were rejected, offered the job, asked in for a second interview, etc.
This is what it can look like:
There you have it. Stay organized people – i’ll do my best to do the same! To learn about my personal job hunt, check out my blog section!
