Whether you have applied in person, by fax, email or through a networking contact, be sure to put it on a list. Staying organized is essential in tracking and following up your job search.

This list should contain the following information:

• date of application
• company name
• contact name (if available)
• job title
• wage (if known)
• date that you will follow up the application

Many employers do not move as quickly in their hiring process as you’d imagine.  So what do you do if a month has passed and you receive a phone call from the employer and you don’t have them on the list? The employer will not be overly impressed if you have to ask them what the job is or any other details of the position. Conversely, if you respond quickly and knowledgeably to the call, the first impression you make will be a good one.

Maintaining an accurate list of your applications will also assist you in organizing your follow-up. It’s important to remember that following up to an application will greatly increase your chance of getting the interview. Not many people do follow-up, so if you make it a regular part of your job search, both you and your application are going to stand out.

When you apply for a position in person, you have the perfect opportunity to ask for the name of the person you have handed your resume to. If this is not the hiring person, ask for that person’s name and add it to your list. This will make it much easier to reach that person directly when you do follow up, either in person or by phone.

Another benefit of keeping an accurate list of your applications is that you will have it handy for any agency or program you apply for that requires evidence of your job search.

Staying organized is a critical part of your job search and it will go a long way in helping you to track your progress and make changes to your overall plan as you view your results.