Applying for jobs day after day can get tiring, and staying on top of all the deadlines, supplemental documents requested, and website logins is just as draining!

Don’t let these things discourage you from continuing to push forward in your job search! Staying on top of your job search organisation is just a matter of having a central location to save everything.

Start with a folder

In this folder is where everything will be saved: logins, job adverts, rejection letters, recommendation letters, job offers, etc. Identify one place where you will have this folder saved like your desktop, your Documents folder, OneDrive/Google Drive, etc.

Create a spreadsheet to track your applications

Tracking what you’re putting out is very important so that you know what to follow up on and to track any communication sent to you. On a basic level, this spreadsheet should capture:

• The positions you’re applying for, what company they’re with, where the position is based, and the link for the job posting
• When you applied and when you sent your references
• The application closing date and the status of your application

You can have separate tabs for tracking logins for websites like Indeed so you can check the progress of your applications. You can also have tabs for the contact information for your references or people you’ve made connections with, and when you have scheduled interviews.

*Protect this file with a password as you’ll be saving sensitive information in it.

Make subfolders in your main folder

Along with everything you’re saving in your spreadsheet, it’s good practice to save the advertisements for jobs that you’ve applied for so you can reference or reflect on the organisation’s request once the job posting has been taken down. Make subfolders for:

• Job descriptions
• Applications that you’re able to save or download
• Applied jobs
• Potential/interested jobs
• Rejection letters/emails
• Application materials

*Name the job descriptions with the job reference number, position, and organisation that you’re applying for. Do the same with applications, potential jobs, and rejection letters.

Save all your application materials in one place

By application materials, we mean CV, cover letter, document of references, portfolio, etc. Put all these in one folder so you can easily location them. These would go in your “Application materials” folder as stated above about subfolders.

Final tips

Here are some final tips and a summary for managing and organising your job search:

• Save everything in one main folder and have subfolders for the smaller details like job descriptions, application materials, incomplete applications, and rejection emails.
• If you can, save everything as a PDF. If not, a Word document is fine but try not to edit the organisation’s details.
• Name these documents as the job reference number, title and company.
• Save your main folder in a place that’s easily accessible to you and you would remember where it is. This could be your desktop, your Documents, or OneDrive/Google Drive.
• Create a spreadsheet to track your applications. Make sure to include the jobs you’ve applied for and the company, when you submitted your application or CV and materials, the closing date, the status of your application, and any website logins to track your applications. Protect this file with a password as it will contact sensitive information.
• Create a document or spreadsheet to keep track of people you will use as references. This includes their names, current job position and company, email and phone number they would like to be contacted on for references, and your relation to them and for what time frame (such as previous line manager 2021-2022).
• Save all application materials, such as CVs, cover letters, portfolios, reference sheets, etc. all in its own subfolder to easily access.

If you are a LUMS student, you can download a job organiser template via the LUMS Careers Moodle.

If you have any queries or require advice and guidance around your job search, reach out to LUMS Careers via email at lumscareers@lancaster.ac.uk or book an appointment via CareersConnect with a Careers Coach!

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