11 Keep Records During Your Job Search

It is important to keep track of where you apply and what positions for. Create a system to keep the information organized before you start your job search. If a company requests an interview, it is imperative to review the original job posting and all the materials submitted through the application process. Keep all application materials in one place. Create a file on your computer for each job that contains the original job posting, the submitted resume and cover letter, and all additional files submitted for the application process.

There are many ways to keep job search records. One suggestion for staying organized is to create an excel spreadsheet to keep track of job search actions. Include the following items on your spreadsheet:

• Company name
• Position title
• Copy of original job posting
• Link to where job posting was posted
• Contact person name (Whom did you address your cover letter to?)
• Date position was posted
• Date position was closed
• Date of application
• Application materials submitted
• How you heard about the opening
• Interview (yes/no)
• Name of person who contacted you to schedule the interview
• Date of interview
• Name of person who conducted the interview
• Additional notes

Sample Excel Job Search Spreadsheet

It is best to take record keeping seriously. This will help avoid extra stress when contacted by a potential employer for an interview. Most applicants apply for many more openings than interviews they will receive, and have many more interviews than job offers.

Imagine being contacted for an interview by a company and not being able remember a thing about the position. What is the employer looking for? What are the duties for the position? It becomes a mad scramble to try to remember where the original job posting was located and to track it down. This isn’t easy and can take a lot of time, time that would be better spent prepping for an interview.