When you are in the middle of a job search, things can feel overwhelming, and you can lose track of what you have completed and what needs to happen. To keep things humming smoothly, we recommend that you keep track of what applications you have sent and what you need to accomplish. You don’t want to miss out on an application or due date or forget what the next steps are for that company you applied to last week.
It can be as simple as creating a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or Word document. Create the categories that you want to keep tabs on; company name, location, name of your contact, their email and title, what you sent, when you sent it or date of application, and follow up actions like sending thank-you notes.
You will also want to create a system of knowing whether you have heard back from a particular organization and what was the result of your application (such as an interview or rejection). This will help you stay on top of weekly goals while in a job search and you can see your progress. By creating a status column, you can easily see what deadlines might be coming up and organize accordingly. You can even create a column to keep track of your customized job search materials, like your targeted resume and focused cover letter.
Want a tool to automate this process? We can help! The CCD provides Terriers with access to CareerShift. CareerShift is a tool that helps you keep track of your applications and is available to all degree-program BU students. It also has additional functions that allow you to store your focused resumes and cover letters and research your prospective employers. It is a great resource to help organize and stay on top of your job search.
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