Looking for a new job can be confusing, overwhelming and a lot of work.
But you’re prepared! You’ve developed your contacts via social networks, met professional colleagues and uploaded your résumé to job boards and companies you’re interested in working with.
You will soon realize how important it is to focus, dedicate and organize your time spent searching for that next job.
Tips for Organizing Your Job Search
Create an Excel spreadsheet to track your job search, contact list and career goals. Key columns to include:
Company name
Company contact – the person you will be in touch with during your specific job search
Email address of the point of contact
Date you applied for the position
Summary of the position for which you applied – Did you submit a resume, portfolio, additional material?
Status of your application – applied, interested, in review, rejected, followed up, interview scheduled, etc.
Example of how to use a spreadsheet to organize your job search.
Use Google calendar to enter appointments, networking events, seminars, interviews and so on. Create alerts!
Stay on top of the jobs you have applied for. If a recruiter calls, you should have relevant information on hand about the job description, your résumé and your shining smile!
Use a job search dashboard like Job Hero to:
Track your job search anywhere
Log activity – Interested, applied, followed up, etc.
Get referrals
Stay Positive
Be flexible! If one area of your career plan doesn't work out, don’t be hard on yourself. There are and will be many more opportunities in the job market for you.