Why It’s Important to Stay Organized During Your Job Search

Finding a new job is a job in itself. It requires you to create unique versions of your documents, fill in and submit applications, follow up, attend interviews… there’s plenty to keep track of! And this increases depending on how long your job search takes. If you land a new job after applying to just one or two, then organization isn’t a huge deal—but imagine if you’ve applied to ten or more! You’ll have a lot to keep track of. It can feel overwhelming, but with a few techniques, you can keep everything in order.   

Four ways to stay organized  

It’s really quite easy when you have a few tricks in mind. Just try any of these techniques to keep track of your job search progress: 

• Use a spreadsheet. Excel spreadsheets may seem intimidating, but you don’t have to use them to crunch numbers. Think about graph paper you used back in your grammar school days—a spreadsheet can be used a lot like that. Create columns for tasks and rows for each job you apply to. You can track dates you sent in your resume, people you’ve spoken to, how often you’ve reached out, and more. The more intricate your notes, the easier it will be to track your job search activities and progress.  

• Make files on your computer. You’re probably tailoring your resume and cover letter for each job to which you apply. On your computer, create a folder for each company and save all associated documents within it. This will make it easier to track versions.  
• Keep a notebook. If you’re more hands-on, you may prefer to keep a three-ring notebook with tabbed dividers or folders to organize your information. You may want to create a section for each job to which you apply, with a list of activities you’ve completed for that job, dates when you contacted people and printed copies of the documents you submitted.  
• Be sure everything is accessible on the go. You never know when a contact will call you back, and it’s helpful to be able to reference important files from your phone or pull your notebook out of your bag as an on-demand resource. When all else fails, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask the person if you can call them back—just be sure to do it as soon as you can.  

You can do it!  

Job searches are not for the faint of heart, but with dedication and a little organization, you’ll find it much easier to stay on top of your progress.  

Let Inter-Connect help 

We work with candidates to find job opportunities that match your qualifications. If you’re having a hard time finding a new job, let us help! To learn more, visit our job search page or contact us today!