Thursday, January 17, 2013

Let the Job Search Begin!

Graduation keeps getting closer and closer (100 days and counting for me). As the end of April creeps toward me, the job search has begun. Job searches are time consuming and can be disastrous if not organized well. So when it came time to choose how I was going to organize mine, there was one obvious choice.

Now you can't read my blog or follow me on Twitter without realizing that I'm a huge fan of Evernote (and that's probably an understatement). So of course I am using this wonderful application to keep my job search organized. In this post I'm going to share my process, as well as some of the tips that I've picked up from my own Career Services Advisors at Pitt.

Let's start with the basics. We all have a resume. In fact, we all probably have multiple variations of our resume. As I've started collecting resumes for different applications, I keep them all in Evernote, so I have them all no matter where I am. I also keep a copy in Dropbox as well, just to be safe.

A lot of the job listings that you find will be online. You might decide to apply for something, and get a call for an interview months later. By that time, the listing may or may not still be on the company's website. Advisors have told me to be sure to print out the description and keep it in paper form. But as we all know, there's a better way. Using the Evernote Web Clipper, I clip the description into my Job Search Notebook. I'll then tag the note with the company. As I start to prepare my application, I add each document to that note.

Another recommendation made to me was to keep a spreadsheet with information pertaining to every application submitted. I am keeping all of this in Evernote as well. Here's a screenshot of my Job Application note. (For privacy, I've blurred out most of the information but I will explain it all)

1. Position: Pretty self explanatory but this is where I put the official position title that I'm applying for.
2. Company: Also self explanatory.
3. Link to Job Description: When I clip the job description into my Evernote account, I create a note link. I then paste that link into my table, so I can quickly reference the right document from anywhere.
4. Contact Person: Rather than listing someone's name and email here, I prefer to simply make their name a link to their email. This way, all I have to do is click on their name and Mail launches, with an email already addressed to them.
5. All Materials Submitted: Here I use check boxes, signifying that I have done everything necessary for the application. This makes it easy to glance at my table and see which applications I still need to work on.
6. Follow Up: It is always recommended to follow up after submitting a job application, whether that be with a phone call, an email, or a thank you note after an interview. No matter what form you choose,it can be a lot to keep track of. Using check boxes again, I've created a simple way to know who I've followed up with, and who I still need to contact.
7. Application Status: This is where I'm keeping my own information on my application. Some examples of statuses I have are: Haven't Submitted, Submitted, Phone Interview, etc. Some companies have a way to check your status online. Others you will have to wait to be contacted. Either way, it's a good idea to pay attention to where you are in terms of each application.
So whether you're looking for internships, grad schools, or jobs like me, the search can be a long and stressful process. Hopefully these tips will help you keep it all organized! And help me find that perfect job!

Have any questions? Want to share how you're organizing your job search? Comment below or find me on Twitter @OtterMC!

6 comments:

  1. Megan,

    Great combination of EN, Dropbox and pasting note links into your summary table. Good Luck on your search!

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  2. I am working with Mac Numbers. I can only link my "job description" with a "share URL". What do you mean with your "note link"? Something like evernote:///view/8634614/s78/a5bd795d-7552-41bb-a464???/ has no active function. Thank you very much for your share of your wonderful experience!

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  3. Hi again! I see I can create such "spreadsheet" in Evernote. The Note Link functions. Thank you again.

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  4. Thanks for sharing helpful job searching tips, Megan. Many people need to know about this, so they can track their status. For me, #7 was the most important. You need to keep a record of your applications, so that you won't be confused one employer for another if ever they called you up. Likewise, it will help you determine if you're being productive. It will help you notice if you're doing great with your applications.
    Kevin Burr @ Barracuda Staffing

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  5. Really Knowledgeable information shared on your blog. Find the Right Job with Happy Minds Job App technology now on your Android mobile.

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