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Thu, Jul 3, 2008 16:47 EDT

Week 41: Tracking Your Job Search Efforts Critical to Your Success

Topic: Applications

Blog: CIO Job Search: A Real Life Chronicle

Current Rating: 5 Comments: 9

Keeping track of your efforts -- which companies and positions you've applied to, which ones are thru recruiters, your next scheduled follow-ups, etc -- is absolutely critical to your success, especially in today's market.

Simply logging your daily efforts is not enough. Like any good project plan, you need to be able to know what work is in process, what work and meetings are upcoming, what resources are already scheduled and promised, your priorities and timelines, and even who your contacts and constituents are. Your is the same; you need to track what applications have already been submitted and are in process; what tasks, interviews, networking meetings, and followups are upcoming; what documents and other commitments are due as promised; what your priorities are (and what they should be!); and who your recruiters, potential employer / contracting clients, and networking leads areKeeping track of all the details of one's job search efforts are as vital (if not more some) as any major project, and so staying organized and keeping everyone who calls you straight is not only critical, it’s a simple matter of professionalism and confidence. A paper and pencil system can work just as well as an elaborate electronic system (JibberJobber.com has an excellent online job search tracking system), as long as you keep track of the details using a project planning mentality. [I'll cover tracking your job search expenses in an upcoming post.]

Personally, I use a detailed spreadsheet with pages for Positions In Process (and On Hold), Positions Closed, and Websites. For each position on these lists I track dates, people, contact info, which specific documents I've sent them, next steps, etc. The later page lists all the websites I have my resume posted to, identified by category - Employer, Executive Recruiter, Staffing, Job Board, Specialized (eg, Military.com, CIO.com) - along with date last updated, account information, and what leads have resulted. One friend, David Krull, developed a very elaborate and detailed Excel and Access database system that rivals anything I’ve seen commercially! Another friend, April M. Williams, uses her PC to create her , which includes weekly status reports for herself and her constituents.

I also keep an electronic "Rolodex" of all my contacts, including how and when I met each person (or through whom), who they have introduced me to, any positions they have introduced me to, etc. For longer term relationships I also use elements of the Mackay 66 form (from Phil Wallner, founder of Provident Link) to track things like spouse and kids' names, birthdays and anniversaries, favorite beverages/foods/cigars/treats/books, etc.

Finally, I have been tracking the source of leads (Keeping Your Job Leads Pipeline Full). So far my multi-channel approach includes job boards, recruiters, employers, newspaper ads, job fairs, conferences/seminars, LinkedIn, and an "all other" catchall.

And now for a quick update on my own job search:

 
Fri, Jul 4, 2008 13:33 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: Jason Alba
Rating: 90

Mark, thanks for the plug on JibberJobber. I would have thought I could handle this all in a spreadsheet, but with all the networking and applying and information I was collecting, my spreadsheet quickly grew outdated.

And it was too linear.

One quick note, I recently posted about how to incorporate the Mackay 66 system into JibberJobber, which you can see here.

Again, thanks for the plug! It's been fun to watch your progress and pontifications.

Jason Alba
CEO and Founder, JibberJobber.com

 
Mon, Jul 7, 2008 11:31 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: April M. Williams
Rating: 90

Mark,

Tracking my long term goals as well as the supporting short term goals keeps me focused. I get the "Big Rocks" done when I prioritize my activities and focus on one thing at a time. At the end of the day I can enjoy my accomplishments and focus on tomorrows goals.

April M. Williams "Networking Goddess"

 
Mon, Jul 7, 2008 11:43 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: April M. Williams
Rating: 90

Mark,

Tracking my long term goals as well as the supporting short term goals keeps me focused. I get the "Big Rocks" done when I prioritize my activities and focus on one thing at a time. At the end of the day I can enjoy my accomplishments and focus on tomorrows goals.

April M. Williams "Networking Goddess"

 
Tue, Jul 8, 2008 16:41 EDT
Posted by: Mark Cummuta
Rating: 90

April,

That is exactly the point of using project planning skills and methodologies for a personal job search.

If you do all the small things, all the convenient, nagging things, they use up too much if not all of your time, leaving you frustrated at how little of the big things you accomplished each day. Do this for too long, and like any large project, you start falling behind and missing your targets.

But if instead, you plan out and prioritize your big things first, and set aside some time for lower priority tasks for later in the day (or during your lunch break), then your personal status report each day and each week shows some real accomplishments. Even more important, is then you are using the law of numbers to your benefit in your job search, and the truly critical metric of landing your next new job comes to fruition much sooner!

Thanks for your comment!

Mark Cummuta

 
Wed, Jul 9, 2008 17:34 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: Janet Smietana
Rating: 90

Mark,

I just landed a new position after a seven month search and acting on your advice in this column. Your formula for managing to an aggressive plan has kept my skills sharp and provided an impetus to self manage to a high performance level.

Especially looking forward to your Networking 201 coverage.

Janet Smietana

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