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Job Hunting

Devise a good tracking system - vital for when you've a number of job search activities on the go.

If you've ever wandered around a supermarket desperately trying to remember what you were there to buy, you have my sympathy and kinship.

Perhaps I'm unusual in having grey cells that simply don't jump to attention the way they used to, but I suspect that in these multitasking, information-overloaded, nanosecond noughties, we're all a bit prone to losing track of the odd strand of the plot. This can be particularly true when we're looking to change jobs, as there's a lot of fiddly detail we need to keep tabs on. Here are some possible examples:

How many job applications do I have on the go?
How long is it since I requested that application form?
Which version of my CV did I send to company X?
How's the ratio of CVs sent out to interviews gained?
When am I supposed to ring that networking contact again?

If you agree that a tracking system might be useful, I'd recommend up to four different logs, namely:

A job-search log
A weekly activity log
A networking log
A career log

The first two are relevant only when you're actively job searching. The final two underpin a broader, more long-term approach to career management. A definition of what each log is designed to do follows, as well as a series of headings to indicate the kind of information you might want to record. These headings aren't meant to be prescriptive; feel free to add or subtract headings to your heart's content.

JOB-SEARCH LOG

Purpose

To enable you to keep an accurate record of all the job applications you have on the go.

Possible headings

Vacancy.
Source of vacancy (e.g. press ad, job centre, tip-off, agency).
Where the vacancy was advertised (if applicable).
Date of advert (if applicable).
Date and nature of first contact (e.g. job information pack requested, telephone conversation with agency).
Date CV submitted.
Version of CV submitted. (It's crucial to keep tabs on this. If you go along to an interview you'll want to know what information you've already given them. It will also reflect whether one version of your CV is generating a particularly good response.)
Date of interview.
Date of second interview.
Follow-up phone calls.
Outcome of application.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY LOG

Purpose

To enable you to plan intended job-search activity over the coming seven days.

Possible headings

People to contact.
Approach letters to send.
Thank you letters and follow-ups.
Planned networking activity.
Topics to research.
Ads to respond to.

NETWORKING LOG

Purpose

To enable you to keep an accurate record of all the contacts you have made.

Possible headings

Name of contact.
Job title.
Organisation.
Address.
Phone.
Email.
Date of meeting.
Length of meeting.
Record of what came out of meeting.
Referred by (i.e. who introduced you to this networking contact).

CAREER LOG

Purpose

To keep yourself market-ready by keeping an ongoing record of material that might feed into your next CV.

Possible headings

You might want to add an entry into this log each time you complete a major project, achieve something notable, acquire a significant new skill or expand your area of knowledge or experience. Details to include are:

A relevant date
Any change in your current job title, reporting relationships or scope of responsibilities
The situation or challenge you faced
The actions you took
The results (quantified if possible) you achieved


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