Keeping a Job Search Journal: 9 Types of Journaling You Can Do

Job search journals can help capture your mood, disappointments, enthusiasm, discoveries, and connections during your job hunt.

When job hunting, keeping track of these things is key to making the process more organized and efficient. Doing so can lessen your stress. Here are the different types of journaling you can use to aid your job search.

Benefits of Keeping a Job Search Journal When Job Hunting

A job search journal has many benefits. It can improve your memory, giving you a better recall of the needed details.

Having a job search journal may also help you develop other necessary skills. For example, writing in your journal can make you become a better writer. This skill helps build your communication skills by expanding your vocabulary. That way, you can improve your answers to interview questions.

Another benefit of a job search journal is that it helps you track your progress. This journal doesn't just let you know where you are in the application process. It also allows you to see your emotional growth. Doing this is especially helpful to keep you sane during the tough times of receiving rejection letters.

Types of Journaling You Can Do for Your Job Search

1. Sketches

   If you want to stay creative, a sketch type of journaling may be what you need. This job search journal can double as a hobby that relieves your stress from the job hunt. Instead of focusing on the negatives, you can keep yourself preoccupied with your artwork.

2. Narrative

   Another creative type of journaling is to write out the day's stories. You can be as creative and detailed as you want. This way, you can improve your memory and vocabulary, which can help you both in interviews and your career.

3. To-do lists

   To-do list types of journaling can help you keep track of all the important dates and requirements for your job search. These details may include when you must take interviews or exams. As such, you won't miss out on anything.

4. Stream of consciousness

   This job search journal is where you can write the first thing that comes to mind. Usually, it's easier to remember the urgent things you need to remember or take care of. With this type of journaling, you can prioritize details that matter.

5. Dreams

   Looking for jobs makes you dream of adventure, fear, and low self-esteem. Writing your dreams in a job search journal allows you to keep track of your progress. Doing so may help boost your confidence once you look back and see how far you've gone.

6. Fitness

   Job hunting can be mentally taxing. However, exercising and the right hours of sleep can help improve your mental health. With that, fitness types of journaling can improve exercise routines that suit your needs.

7. Food

   Keeping tabs on your food and eating habits in your job search journal can help improve their quality. It does so by encouraging you to make healthy choices consciously throughout your job hunt journey.

8. Gratitude

   Being thankful for the things you have can change your mood. It reminds you to smile instead of focusing on the negative emotions from rejection letters and uncertainties. You can express this gratitude and remind yourself of the good things with a gratitude type of journaling.

9. Days/Events

   A job search journal can also include the things that make you happy or sad in a day. This type of journaling is also a good mood booster and helps you reflect on things you could have done better.

Start Your Job Search Journaling Today

Journals are a great way to track your progress, keep an eye on your mental health, and write down your discoveries. This tool is especially helpful when you're on a job hunt. You can do this in many ways, with each type offering different benefits. Take time exploring the different types to find the best one for your routine.

Check out Career.com and find your dream job today.