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With the internet, it’s easy to come
across the same job ad more than once.
To avoid sending multiple applications to an employer or just to keep
from being overwhelmed, it’s important to stay organized. Here are a few tips to simplify the process
and help land you the perfect job.
Be prepared. Most employers require a few basic
documents. A résumé and cover letters
are pretty common. Make sure you have
updated these documents and save them in a new file that is easy to
remember. Make sure you have another set
of eyes read these documents and critique them.
You don’t want a silly typo to give an employer a reason not to continue
with your application. Also, make sure
you have letters of recommendation and contact information for references saved
in this folder as well.
Establish a schedule. To get the ball rolling, you’ll need to spend
time hunting. Block out time each day or
week to collect openings, applications, requirements, and deadlines. If applications use paper filing, keep a
folder system of applications, arranging them by due date. Create targets that you want to accomplish
whether you want to spend that block of time focusing on one search engine,
filling out applications or attending a networking event. Setting a time limit with a particular goal
in mind will keep you focused and help you accomplish more.
Create a tracking table. An easy system to use is a calendar that you
can access on multiple devices such as Google calendar and create an Excel
spreadsheet. Record what date you
applied with a company, listing the employer, position, and the contact
person. Schedule a date for a week later
to follow-up if you haven’t heard from the person. Use this to keep track of your interview
dates as well. After an interview, be
sure to have a section in your table to mark off whether or not you’ve sent a
thank you note, and schedule a date to follow-up after your interview. Use colors to help code where in the process
you are with an employer and to keep the process bright and fun.
Apply technology. There are many new apps and programs – some
free – that you can use to help you stay organized. For instance, Resunate has a basic
program that’s free, which will help better your résumé. Or, to keep the stacks
of business cards you’ll receive from being lost in the washing machine or
scattered all over the place, try Evernote to keep
them organized.
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Until Next Time,
Jenny L. Maxey
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