The Value of Being Organized in Your Job Search
Imagine trying to balance your bank account from memory alone. Now that’s a job in itself! Without all the details properly in place, it’s hard to even start on a task, let alone get it done completely. This is especially true during your job search. Finding the right version of your resume, quickly, when a recruiter calls, just might be the thing that saves your career. There are a few skills that can be fine-tuned into a superpower; for me, being organized is the greatest of them all.
Discipline and effort are key players in staying organized. There are many ways to organize, as much as there are things that need organizing; for now, I want to put the focus on tracking job applications. There are lots of moving parts in the job search – multiple versions of your resume, multiple recruiters, and other contacts, thank you notes, and other follow-ups – having an organized system to do things can make a big difference, by not only organizing your search as a whole but help prevent you from applying to positions more than once. You can also utilize your tracking system to remind you to send out thank you notes (so important!). The possibilities are endless.
Keeping a record of the companies and positions you’ve applied to, and tracking the status of each one, is crucial. Without organized records, you will lose track and something important may (and will) slip through the cracks. As a bonus, you’ll have less stress, and organization will give you the leg up you need to land the job.
The good news is if you want to start getting organized it’s so simple once you know where to start. You don’t have to use anything fancy or spend extra money. You probably already own some of tools that you can use to do the things you need. Spreadsheets can track applications, calendars can remind you to follow up, and cloud storage and file folders organize your resumes; you no doubt have those already. Use what you have available to you and observe your tasks as they become more manageable.
Obviously, we’re living in a technologically advanced time where, in a pinch, you could take screenshots of information and share it across platforms in real time. There are also hundreds (if not thousands) of templates available, in many formats, online. Additionally, there are plenty of apps designed specifically to organize your job search. Many offering basic services for free along with paid extras. Again, you don’t have to spend money to be organized, but if you can and they work for you, then why not go for it? Choosing the right method is no doubt fundamental, but in order for this to work, action is important – you need to put into practice whatever organization hack you choose to use, and commit to it.
Eager to see how this can work for you? Start small – organizing your work space, your portfolios, your certificates – and then watch how the positive feelings of organization charm you into tackling all the areas of your life that can benefit from rearrangements. Nobody is perfect; nothing in this world is perfect. The goal with staying organized is not to achieve perfection; it is to achieve clarity that can free you up from repetitive tasks to be the best version of yourself. Remember, all you have to do is start. Simply start somewhere, and let the flow lead you forth to your success.
Imagine trying to balance your bank account from memory alone. Now that’s a job in itself! Without all the details properly in place, it’s hard to even start on a task, let alone get it done completely. This is especially true during your job search. Finding the right version of your resume, quickly, when a recruiter calls, just might be the thing that saves your career. There are a few skills that can be fine-tuned into a superpower; for me, being organized is the greatest of them all.
Discipline and effort are key players in staying organized. There are many ways to organize, as much as there are things that need organizing; for now, I want to put the focus on tracking job applications. There are lots of moving parts in the job search – multiple versions of your resume, multiple recruiters, and other contacts, thank you notes, and other follow-ups – having an organized system to do things can make a big difference, by not only organizing your search as a whole but help prevent you from applying to positions more than once. You can also utilize your tracking system to remind you to send out thank you notes (so important!). The possibilities are endless.
Keeping a record of the companies and positions you’ve applied to, and tracking the status of each one, is crucial. Without organized records, you will lose track and something important may (and will) slip through the cracks. As a bonus, you’ll have less stress, and organization will give you the leg up you need to land the job.
The good news is if you want to start getting organized it’s so simple once you know where to start. You don’t have to use anything fancy or spend extra money. You probably already own some of tools that you can use to do the things you need. Spreadsheets can track applications, calendars can remind you to follow up, and cloud storage and file folders organize your resumes; you no doubt have those already. Use what you have available to you and observe your tasks as they become more manageable.
Obviously, we’re living in a technologically advanced time where, in a pinch, you could take screenshots of information and share it across platforms in real time. There are also hundreds (if not thousands) of templates available, in many formats, online. Additionally, there are plenty of apps designed specifically to organize your job search. Many offering basic services for free along with paid extras. Again, you don’t have to spend money to be organized, but if you can and they work for you, then why not go for it? Choosing the right method is no doubt fundamental, but in order for this to work, action is important – you need to put into practice whatever organization hack you choose to use, and commit to it.
Eager to see how this can work for you? Start small – organizing your work space, your portfolios, your certificates – and then watch how the positive feelings of organization charm you into tackling all the areas of your life that can benefit from rearrangements. Nobody is perfect; nothing in this world is perfect. The goal with staying organized is not to achieve perfection; it is to achieve clarity that can free you up from repetitive tasks to be the best version of yourself. Remember, all you have to do is start. Simply start somewhere, and let the flow lead you forth to your success.
Company, position, submitted resume version, recruiter or company contact, communication preference, thank you notes/other follow up.