How to Organize your Job Search

Before you start applying for opportunities to the left and the right, it is important to take certain steps to organize and track the progress of your job search.

If your job search is unorganized and untracked, you may find yourself going around in circles a few weeks further down the line. To avoid wasting valuable time, effort, and resources, we suggest that you consider taking the following steps:

1. Polish your LinkedIn

LinkedIn and the modern job search go hand in hand. You cannot have a successful job search without an optimized LinkedIn profile in this digital age. Before you dust your favorite interview outfits, pay attention to your LinkedIn profile. Fill in any missing information and update each section of your profile.

2. Plan your strategy

Your job search strategy must be well thought out before you start applying for jobs. Hopping online and applying for every job you see is the definition of a bad job search strategy. Plan which tools you are going to use for your job search and which actions you are going to take to ensure the success of your job search.

3. Revamp your resume and cover letter

You cannot win in this job market with an outdated resume and cover letter. If you have trouble revamping your job search documents, get the help of a certified resume writing service like Resume Mansion. You absolutely will be lost without an updated resume and cover letter. Ensure that your resume and cover letter are optimized for your target roles with the right keywords and formatting.

4. Build and connect with your network

Most successful job searches are conducted with the help of one’s professional network. If you have fallen out of touch with your professional network, now is the time for you to reconnect with your coworkers, past employers, and friends. Drop them a friendly message saying that you are looking for a job and ask for their support. You will need your professional network to endorse your skills on LinkedIn and provide referrals for job applications.

5. Pick your target companies

One of the first things you must do on a job search is to narrow down your target employers. Find the type of companies you’d like to work for and make a list. This will help you identify opportunities that align with your career goals and skill set. You might even need to create a folder on your browser to add the websites of these companies as favorites because you will be visiting them a few times during your job search.

6. Come up with an organizational system

Your job search will involve a lot of documentation, dates, and information. Devising a system to keep track of all the information, dates, and tasks will help you immensely in the long run. Make a habit of organizing all information related to your job applications within dedicated folders. Also, create a document to track your job search activities.

7. Do interview prep

Interview preparation is a step that you cannot forgo when you are on a job hunt. If you do a good job with your job applications, you will receive a lot of interview requests from employers. Knowing what to do at each interview beforehand will give you a confidence boost that will improve your chances of impressing employers. Practice your interview answers, body language, and technical skills during your job search so that you will be well-prepared on the actual day.

8. Create a job search schedule

Job searching involves a lot of small tasks and activities. Without a schedule, you may find yourself lagging in your job search. If you want your job search to continue at a certain pace, you must stick to a well-planned schedule. Create a schedule for your daily, weekly, and monthly job-searching activities. You can use your phone or laptop to send you reminders about each task.