Tips to Organize Your Job Search: 10 Things to Keep Track Of

Having standards can simplify many things in life, including job search. As a job seeker, you must stay organized to make the experience stress-free and worthwhile. Organization is particularly important when attending multiple interviews and meeting several people.

However, many job seekers don't know how to organize their job search. They miss application deadlines and forget to follow up. If you let your job hunt fall to chance, it will take longer to land a job.

To help you get started, here are some job search tips for staying organized.

Keeping a Journal When Job Hunting

Staying organized during a job search can be challenging. You'd have to track the companies you applied to, the interview stages you're in, and more. This is where journaling comes in handy. Journaling teaches you how to organize your job search.

Recording your job hunting experience can help you stay organized. Journaling lets you track your applications, goals, experiences, and job-hunting hours. You'll also remember the contact person for each company you applied to. You can address them properly when they call again for a job offer or a rejection notice.

10 Things to Keep Track of When Job Searching

Monitor these aspects of your job hunt and consider them as job search tips to stay organized.

1. Companies

   List all the companies you applied to, their addresses, the people you talk to, and their contact numbers. These details let you know where to go for the interview and who to follow up with. It also helps you to research companies before attending interviews.

2. Contacts

   Take note of the people who have interviewed or helped you throughout your job search. Even if they reject you, they can still be helpful during your job hunt. They can provide you with connections and opportunities in your field.

3. Job descriptions and ads

   Potential employers will likely ask you where you found their job ad. Knowing where you applied is another important job search tip. This detail lets employers know what job boards are effective and when they closed applications. Try to keep a copy of every job ad you reply to.

4. Resume versions

   You'll make different resume versions as you apply for various companies and positions. It is important to match your resume with the job description or requirements. Keep a copy of every version of your resume you send.

   Recording each version in a journal lets you know which resume goes to which company. This tip for organizing your job search enables you to remember what you emphasized when you get an interviews.

5. Cover letters

   A cover letter is your chance to give a first impression. The more original your cover letter is, the better. Record each original cover letter in your journal.

6. Thank-you notes

   Sending thank-you notes to your contacts is a critical thing during your job search. Even if they reject you, they'll likely remember and appreciate you because of the note. It'll also help you save time and energy in retaining valuable contacts in different companies. Writing a thank you note to everyone you talk to will make a big difference.

7. Mood

   Job hunting can be tiring. You'll go through many ups and downs with every application. Recording your mood throughout the process allows you to relieve stress and control your emotions. Staying upbeat even after receiving rejections will make a difference during your job search.

8. Hours on the job

   Treat job hunting like a full-time job. Submitting applications, attending interviews, and following up requires time and effort. Recording them in a journal informs you of how long each step takes. Journaling also helps you see which job search tips work and which don't.

9. Job hunt goals

   It's not enough to say, "I want a job." Set small and large goals for every application you submit.

   You should also have goals as a job seeker. For instance, improve your cover letters if you aim to make a good first impression. You can also learn more skills to land a managerial position.

10. Personal goals

    You work to live, not live to work. As such, an important tip to organize your job search is to list your personal goals in your journal. It gives you direction and aligns your job and personal life for work-life balance and job satisfaction.

Learn How to Organize Your Job Search

Journaling is often tedious, especially if you're not used to it. With the job search tips above, you can start journaling to stay focused on your applications. Journaling can also teach you how to organize your job search. Dedicate 20 days to develop and include this new habit in your daily routine.

Aside from journaling, we at Career.com can offer more job search tips. We also feature jobs in different categories to make job hunting easier. Visit our website today to find your next best job!