I’ve been a hiring manager for over 20 years, and I can tell you that some of the most successful candidates I’ve interviewed are the ones that are well-organized and prepared.

Searching for a job can be a stressful and overwhelming process. You need to update your resume, write cover letters, apply to various positions, network with potential employers, prepare for interviews, and follow up with feedback. That’s a lot to keep track of. Add in the fact that ATS systems often determine if your application and resume are even seen by a hiring manager, and you’re left with a process that is time-consuming and can be very emotionally draining. Being organized can help you:

1. Save time and energy. By having a system to manage your job search activities, you can avoid wasting time on irrelevant or duplicate tasks. You can also avoid feeling frustrated or exhausted by having too many things on your mind at once.
2. Stay focused and motivated. By setting clear goals and priorities for your job search, you can keep track of your progress and achievements. You can also celebrate your wins and learn from your failures, which can boost your confidence and morale.
3. Make a good impression. By being organized, you can show potential employers that you are professional, reliable, and efficient. You can also demonstrate your attention to detail and your ability to handle multiple responsibilities.
4. Avoid missing opportunities. By being organized, you can ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines, appointments, or follow-ups. You can also keep track of the status of your applications and the feedback you receive, which can help you improve your chances of getting hired.

Before you start your search, even before you update your resume, you need to understand two things about yourself. What can you do and where do you want to do it? Let’s find out.

If you’d like to use excel for this and other exercises to come, you can download a copy here.

1. What skills do you have that you want to bring to a new job?

• Using a spreadsheet, piece of paper, notes app, email, whiteboard, or any other method you feel comfortable with, make a list of all your skills. Don’t worry about the order, don’t worry about duplication, don’t worry about how often you use that skill or want to use that skill. Write them all down. Don’t stop until you have at least 15-20 skills written down.
• Once you have that, rank them. Put a number beside them to identify which ones are your strongest skills and that you want to work with, 1 being your top skill and go down the list until you reach the weakest and least desirable to work in. If you’re working in a spreadsheet, sort them by rank in ascending order, with 1 being at the top.
• What are your top 5 skills? You have now identified the top 5 skills you want to use in your new job.

You can use a spreadsheet like this one to track your skills.

2. What industries/companies/roles do you want to focus on to find a new job?

• Again, using a spreadsheet, piece of paper, notes app, email, whiteboard, or any other method you feel comfortable with, make a list of all the industries/companies/roles you would like to work with.
• Just as you did with your skills, rank them. Put a number 1 beside your top pick, the 2, 3 and so on until you have them all ranked.
• If you’re working in a spreadsheet, sort them by rank in ascending order so that your top 5 choices are at the top.

You can use a spreadsheet like this one to track the industries you would like to work in.

You now have a list of skills and industries that you can combine to focus your job search on and tailor your resume for.

Next, you’ll focus on the job search. A list of online job boards and career websites can be found here.

Using your skills and industry lists, focus your searches on those areas. You’ll want to track each search so that you can stay organized and avoid duplicating your search efforts. This will also help you to see what combinations of the search are working best for you.

You can use a spreadsheet like this one to track your search results.

When you have 5 – 8 jobs that you want to apply for, it’s time to review your resume and make adjustments to highlight your relevant skills and experience.

Your job search is now organized. In the next instalment in this series, you’ll update your resume, write some cover letters and send out your applications.