Lists to Organize Your Job Search

Job searching is a full-time job.” That’s what they say. But for most STEM women, it’s not realistic. You’re already:  • Balancing work, home, and a mental load  • Recovering from burnout or a layoff  • Trying to stay confident despite rejection You don’t need more effort.  You need better systems. Here’s the truth: Job seekers who systematize their search are 40% more likely to land roles in under 90 days. (And they save hours every week.) 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟯 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽: 1/ Visibility System  ↳ Pre-schedule LinkedIn posts 1x/week  ↳ Comment daily on 3 relevant industry leaders  ↳ Spend 15 minutes/week optimizing your profile Goal: Be top-of-mind before roles are posted. 2/ Application Tracker System  ↳ Track roles applied, dates, and follow-up deadlines  ↳ Tag job types, locations, and networking status  ↳ Color-code outreach so you focus where it matters Goal: Reduce wasted effort and see what’s working. 3/ Outreach & Follow-Up System  ↳ Create 3 personalized templates:  • 1 for hiring managers  • 1 for referrals  • 1 for check-ins  ↳ Block 2 slots per week for cold outreach Goal: Build momentum, not burnout. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about building repeatable habits that work for your life, not against it. What’s one system you’ve built (or need) to stay consistent during your job search? Let’s make this process smarter—not heavier.

Combat an inconsistent job search with a structured plan that outlines daily and weekly job search activities. Below is an example of what a week of job search activities could look like. From this list, you should schedule activities for each day of the week. 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 1: 1. Create a LAMP list (target employer list of 40 employers, using Steve Dalton’s method from his book The 2-Hour Job Search). (75 minutes) 2. Identify two starter contacts for each of your Top Five target companies on your LAMP list. (20 minutes) 3. Identify outreach method for 10 starter contacts: LinkedIn InMail, direct email, LinkedIn invitation, or social media. (20 minutes) 4. Contact 10 starter contacts with 6-point email requesting an informational meeting, using Steve Dalton’s 6-point email formula from The 2-Hour Job Search. (20 minutes) 5. Track your outreach efforts and note when you emailed the contact. Set a reminder to follow up in 3 days. (10 minutes) 6. Research company and individual for the informational meeting. (15 minutes) Informational meeting. (30 minutes) 7. Follow-up.(5-10 minutes) 8. Informational meeting. (30 minutes) 9. Update resume and cover letter. (60 minutes) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐑𝐎𝐈 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. What high-ROI activities are on your weekly schedule?

If you're on your #Job or #Internship search, you NEED to have an organizational strategy. It's a nonnegotiable. And no, you're not going to mentally earmark every role you apply to, so let's talk about what you can do to stay on track. ✅ Create a folder in your inbox for all automatic replies This is probably the lowest effort but an incredibly helpful way to keep track of your applications. This works well if you're using the same email address for all positions (I've definitely swapped a university email address for my personal on more occasions than one). ✅ Use a spreadsheet (template or self-made) There are great templates out there, like one from The Muse that I've been using, modifying, and recommending FOREVER (if it's not broken, why fix it?). You may like your own process, though, so creating a spreadsheet from scratch is also a great option. I like to make sure I include when I applied, any contact info I have, and any back-and-forth communication that happens throughout the application & interviewing process. ✅ Incorporate a software or digital tool into your tracking process Resources like Teal and CareerShift are awesome (Teal's Chrome extension is *chef's kiss*) if you want to take the traditional spreadsheet method to the next level. I use these tools in tandem with spreadsheet tracking for my own (weird) piece of mind. ✅ Write it down or create a tracker on a physical material Do you vision board or journal? Why not get creative with a job or internship application tracker, too? Writing it down has never done me wrong before, and I prepare for interviews almost exclusively by handwriting in a journal and mapping my responses. What's your favorite way to stay organized during the application process? What am I missing? 🤔

A disorganized job search is costing you interviews. Keeping track of all the details is hard. And the anxiety you're feeling around it is probably making it harder. The key? Break down your job search into tasks, KPIs, and deadlines. Here's how: 1️⃣ Create a spreadsheet (or use mine, see below)  ↳ Build a target employer list of 30–50 companies.  ↳ Save career page URLs in a spreadsheet  ↳ Check every page 3X a week ↳ Applicants in the first 96 hours are 8X more likely to land interviews. 2️⃣ Keep track of 4 KEY actions  ↳ Log dates of applications and follow-ups  ↳ Note connections with people at your target companies  ↳ Do deep research into target companies  ↳ Prepare for interviews 3️⃣ Break the actions into small tasks  ↳ Tailor and update your resume for 1 job  ↳ Reach out to 1 new connection  ↳ Make 1 application  ↳ Practice your "Tell me about yourself" answer for 30 minutes 4️⃣ Use time blocking to stay motivated  ↳ Block and protect time on your calendar for each activity  ↳ Keep up tasks, even when you've got interviews  ↳ Check off daily tasks when completed  ↳ Share your calendar with others for accountability I’ve created a Job Search Project Tracker to make this easy. Get it here: https://lnkd.in/g6GW2NvK How do you keep your job search organized so nothing falls through the cracks? 🎉You've got this, and I've got you!🎉 ♻️ Share this to help others stay organized 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for job search support 🗨️ Need a change? DM me to chat!