Organize Your Job Search

Over the past couple of years I have done contract work in various communication positions. What’s great about this is that I get to "try on" various jobs which have helped me better understand what it is that I’m looking for in a career.

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However, there is a downside to taking on contract after contract. I have found myself looking for work much more often than the average person. Anyone who has ever done a job search knows that it can be downright exhausting!  In order to minimize my stress level and stay organized, I created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my search. Being organized during your job search can enhance your chances of landing that dream job. What's great about a spreadsheet is that it's simple to create and maintain. Here is how I went about building my spreadsheet:

1. Start by making a list of all the organizations that you would like to work for. Insert the names of the organizations in the first column (Company name).

2. In the next column (Contact info) add the contact information of the department executive or the HR person that you will contact about a position. Make sure that you contact the person who is in a position to hire you.

3. In the next column (Follow-up) I indicate if the person has gotten back to me or whether or not I've contacted them to follow-up on my application

4. When you land an interview you may choose to keep track of the details in your spreadsheet. Who did you interview with? How did it go? Do you still think that you are a good fit for the organization?

If you find that maintaining your spreadsheet gets too exhausting over the course of your search, you may want to look into online tools such as JibberJobber.

Do you keep track of your job search? Do you have any tips that can help others make their job search less stressful?