How to organize yourself for a job hunt

In today's electronic age where you can apply for twenty jobs in a matter of minutes on the internet, it pays to organize yourself when searching for a job. I have found that keeping track of where you sent your resume, who has responded and when you did it becomes an overwhelming task. Track your applications Personally, I create a spreadsheet on my PC to help me track all of my resumes, emails and correspondence. I add as many columns as necessary to track when I sent a resume, the company I sent it to, the source of the ad, any special considerations from the ad and any additional correspondence relating to that resume. I create a new folder to save any documentation and I do my best to keep up with everything. Make yourself look good One of the worst things you can do when looking for a job is to not remember something you said or promised as it relates to searching for a job or getting an interview. If you promised to provide references to an agency and then forget to do that, it can adversely affect your chances of getting a position. So, use whatever method you can to track your correspondence with prospective employers. Take notes when you interview then document and confirm them in a follow up email. Create folders in your email client so you can track all the emails you send and receive. Keep copies of your cover letters just in case someone comes back to you with a question regarding them. Don't apply multiple times Finally, remember who you have applied to so you are not sending several resumes for the same position. With countless job sites available today, you might see one position on ten different sites. It helps if you record the job ID or the job title so you are positive that you have applied and don't send an extra resume. Overall, you want to appear as an organized and efficient job candidate who can keep track of multiple tasks while maintaining contact with all parties involved. When a company sends you correspondence requesting additional information, make sure you note that you have provided the extra information and when you did it. That way, when you are interviewing for a position and someone asks if they have this information, you can respond that you sent it on this date. Be prepared at an interview The last step in being prepared for your job search and eventually getting an interview is to keep all documentation with you in a folder or in your briefcase. When interviewing, you might be asked for almost any type of information and it always looks good when you have that info at hand. So, come up with a tracking method that suits your style and fits your needs and stick to it until you land a job. And, keep all of that info just in case you have to start looking again any time soon.