Build An Effective Job Search System
If you are currently job searching and working hard in your search, make sure you are also working smart.
One of the easiest things you can do to level up your job search is to set up systems to track your data and outcomes in your search.
If you are not doing this yet, it's worth pausing your search to set up the right systems and processes.
Data is king, so minimally start tracking these parts of your job search.
Track these on a weekly basis:
Companies and roles applied to
Number of new applications sent out every week
Target prospect’s name and contact info
Date of last outreach to prospects
Dates you need to send follow-ups
Interview stage/status
How many interviews you have at every stage per week
Notes about any kind of feedback or responses you are getting
This is easy to implement and will immediately improve your outcomes.
You'll be more informed about what's working and what might need adjustment in your process.
Level up your job search:
Set up a CRM style tracking sheet via Excel, Google Sheets, Notion, Airtable, or another similar tool.
Get systematic and targeted about your application and outreach process.
Apply in a higher volume (30-50 new touchpoints per week minimum).
Track your activities and outcomes daily and weekly.
Know your conversion rates between interview stages.
Analyze and evaluate what's working and double down on it.
Pinpoint trends in feedback to improve your approach and interview skills.
Rinse and repeat.
Be more data-driven so you can better diagnose what is happening in your job search.
Many job seekers can't tell me exactly how many jobs they've applied to or what their conversion rates are (aka what percentage of time they convert to the next step). No bueno.
If you don't know what needs improvement in your job search, how will you know where to focus your energy?
For example, if you aren't converting to a certain stage of the process you always want to look at what you are doing in the stage right before. 🔑
Not booking interviews? Examine your resume, LinkedIn, and application strategy.
Not getting past the recruiter calls? Focus on improving your interview responses for recruiters.
Not getting offers? Drill into your on-site interview performance.
You must ruthlessly self-analyze to get the best results in your job search.
Learn to get obsessed with your own process and interview performance and iterate based on data.
What YOU do in the job search is the only thing you can control.
Tracking is curative because it raises awareness in your brain about what you are doing.
Treat your job search like a new product you are trying to sell (hint: you are the product), and track what activities lead to a sale. 💎
That's the ☕️.
