It’s no secret that job searching can be time-consuming and exhausting. With fierce competition and little room for error, it’s essential to optimize your job search. By using the right application tracking process, you can find job opportunities faster and organize them more easily. So, where do you start, and what are the best resources and tools to track your job search from A to Z?
What is a Job Application Tracking Spreadsheet?
A job application tracking spreadsheet is a simple tool that helps you stay organized, track your interviews, get hired, and manage all the offers you apply to. It’s an excellent way to keep track of your job search process and ensure you contact recruiters in a timely and appropriate manner. It’s also a great way to hold yourself accountable for your job search! A tool like Teal’s job application tracking spreadsheet will encourage you to carefully read job descriptions, take detailed notes, and continue following up with hiring managers for the positions that interest you the most.
How to Use a Job Application Tracking Spreadsheet?
To get started, you’ll want to create a job application tracking spreadsheet template in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. You’ll need to note down a few important fields in this template. Some of these fields should include:
- Position (with a link)
- Company name
- Company description
- Minimum and maximum salary
- Location
- Office requirements (hybrid, remote, on-site)
- Contact information for the recruitment team (including full name and LinkedIn profile if possible)
- Status
- Application date
- Follow-up date
- Notes
- Level of enthusiasm
From there, you’ll need to manually update the relevant information after each interaction with each company. We recommend incorporating reminders into your daily routine to help you stay on top of things and hold yourself accountable in your job search.
The Problem with a Job Application Tracking Spreadsheet
Using a job application tracking spreadsheet is a step in the right direction. However, there are much more efficient, productive, and advanced ways to track your job search. Additionally, job application tracking spreadsheets don’t account for the complete and modern interview experience. According to Indeed, the average time between the first interview and the final offer was 24 business days. With such a lengthy process, it’s imperative to use a more comprehensive tracking system that can assist candidates at every step of the interview.
Furthermore, more and more employers are also using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to sift through hundreds of applications. This allows companies to weed out underqualified candidates and people whose skills may not seem to match the requirements. For this reason, candidates should consider using tracking tools that also offer features to enhance their resume, cover letter, and application. We’ll discuss this further later on.
What to Use Instead of a Job Application Tracking Spreadsheet?
An excellent alternative to a job application tracking spreadsheet is a dedicated job application tracking tool. Good job application tracking tools can not only help you find a job in a single click but also work directly with you by providing tips, reminders, keyword analysis, and templates to ensure your success. In this article, we’ll focus on Teal Job Tracker and how you can use it to improve your job search and increase your chances of success.
How to Use Teal’s Job Application Tracker?
Teal’s Job Application Tracker is free and incredibly easy to use! Simply visit Teal’s Job Application Tracker and create an account. Installing the free Teal Chrome extension allows you to easily track and manage all your applications in one place. Once you’ve saved a job offer from the Chrome extension, you can view the job application tracking spreadsheet to analyze the job description, add notes about company names, contacts, and interview questions, and follow the suggested next steps provided by Teal that will guide you at every stage of your job search. These features are just the tip of the iceberg! Teal’s system is extremely comprehensive and will provide even more personalized assistance.
Instant Saving Feature of the Job Application Tracker
One of the most tedious aspects of the job search process is saving job offers in a user-friendly format. With a spreadsheet, you have to constantly switch between a job board website, your Google Drive account, and your Google Sheets pages. This can become frustrating and confusing. With Teal’s Chrome extension, once you find a job offer that interests you, you can instantly save it to your Teal account wherever you are, for easy access to the information of your new job search and to save you the hassle of switching between tools.
How Teal’s Job Application Tracker Can Help You Stand Out with Keyword Analysis
As mentioned earlier, more and more employers are using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline their selection processes. If your resume is not optimized, you might not be shortlisted for a position that you have all the required skills for. It is therefore crucial to know how to tailor your resume for each job posting. In fact, according to a study by The Ladders, recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume, so it’s crucial to ensure you have the right keywords in yours to stand out. That’s why it’s essential to include relevant ATS keywords in your cover letter and resume for each job description. When you open a saved offer with Teal, you can see the highlighted keywords you should include. Of course, there’s never a guarantee of getting an interview, but this step increases your chances of showing the recruiter that you’re a perfect match for the position.
How Teal’s Job Application Tracker Can Help You Track Your Application Process
When job hunting, too many people send applications without following up. They assume that the company isn’t interested in their cover letter and resume and move on. However, if you’re proactive and reach out to a recruiter or hiring manager, your determination can impress them. It’s also possible that they haven’t read your resume yet, and you’re standing out as someone genuinely interested in the role. Teal’s Job Application Tracker provides communication templates to use as a starting point for follow-up emails after applying for a job. Make sure to customize them based on the specific position.
With this tool at your disposal, you certainly don’t need a personal assistant for your job search. By using Teal’s Job Application Tracker, you can organize your job search process, know when it’s time to seize an opportunity, easily review the offers you’ve applied to, and stay up to date on what you need to do next. By setting up follow-up reminders, you don’t need to check a spreadsheet to know when to call or email – you’ll receive an automated reminder on the same day, right in your inbox.
Get Started Today with Teal
One of the top job search applications, the innovative Teal Job Application Tracker is a leading product on the market designed to help anyone in search of a new position. With Teal, you can stay efficient and organized while applying for jobs, keeping track of interview schedules, and following up with potential employers. Not only does Teal’s software save you time, but it also helps you stay on top of your applications to stand out from other job seekers. If you’re currently job searching or will be in the future, sign up for free on Teal today and start tracking your path to success.
