Keep a list of your qualifications and accomplishments.
Keep a list of your qualifications and accomplishments. This list should be updated and kept brief, but meaningful. You may want to include items such as:
- Your education history
- Any relevant skills you’ve acquired over the years
- Any job or internship experience you possess
- Why you would be a great fit for the job in question
Having this information ready to reference can make it much easier when it comes time to fill out an application or prepare for an interview. If you don’t have time to compile this information now, I suggest just keeping a running document in which you add any new accomplishments that might become useful later on down the road so they will be easily accessible when the time comes.
Take advantage of the calendar on your phone.
The built-in calendar in your smartphone is a handy tool for keeping track of important dates and taking notes. You can use it to organize your time into blocks (e.g., set aside at least one hour per week to relax) as well as set up alerts when you have an important project due. The ability to share calendars with colleagues is especially helpful if you’re working on group projects, since that way your coworkers can see the tasks you’ve assigned yourself and divide up the workload equally. If you don’t have a calendar on your phone, Google Calendar is a free option that works great on mobile devices and desktops alike.
Use a printer and paper to keep track of information.
Paper calendars and printers may seem like relics from the past, but you should consider using them for your job search. You can use a paper calendar to keep track of deadlines or any information you want to see at a glance. For example, you might note upcoming application deadlines in bold on your calendar or write out emails or phone calls you plan to make each week. Keep it somewhere visible so that it reminds you of your priorities, such as on the fridge or above your desk.
Printing important documents is another way to stay organized during the job hunt. Many businesses still require applicants to mail printed copies of resumes, cover letters and other materials instead of accepting electronic submissions. Plus, having these documents printed allows you to edit them without relying on computer software (or relying too much on its spell check feature). You can also write notes directly onto a printed resume if you have an interview coming up so that you don't forget any questions or talking points.
Keep contact information organized by putting it into your phone.
Many job-seekers fail to understand the importance of keeping their job search contact information organized. There are a few ways to do this—but you should always start by putting names, phone numbers, and email addresses into your phone.
Your phone's contacts app is likely the most convenient place for you to keep track of all this information. But don't just add the people who know about jobs. Add recruiters you talk with. Add HR professionals that screen resumes. Add hiring managers who conduct interviews.
Add everyone who helps your job search along, but make sure all those contacts are correct before adding them to the list!
Use a portfolio to bring important documents with you.
With a job search, you're always going to be shuffling around important documents—resumes, reference letters, business cards—and it's easy for them to get lost or mixed up in your bag. You can solve this problem with a portfolio. Portfolios are not only useful for keeping documents in order, they also give you an added air of professionalism if you have one that looks nice. To prepare yourself and impress during an interview, put together a neat portfolio that contains all the necessary documents for any potential job opportunity. This allows you to bring everything you'll need to an interview without having to scramble through piles of papers and folders when the time comes!
Have an extra resume printout in your portfolio for reference.
You should also have a hard copy of your resume to give out to new contacts. Although we live in a world where most employers will want you to submit your resume online, having an extra printout in your portfolio can be helpful.
If you are at a networking event or job fair and meet someone who offers to help, you’ll want to give them something they can refer back to. It doesn’t hurt for an employer or contact to have multiple copies of your resume on hand so that they can pass it along if the opportunity arises.
If you're meeting someone for coffee, organize all the documents on your laptop you want to show them ahead of time.
If you only have the chance to meet someone for coffee (with a job opportunity in mind or not), make sure to bring whatever documents, materials, or work you want to show them. For example, I always bring a folder containing my portfolio and extra copies of my résumé. You should also bring a pen and paper with you so that you can take notes about what you're discussing with your contact.
Write down any questions you have before an interview and bring them with you.
PREPARE QUESTIONS BEFORE AN INTERVIEW
You don’t have to be a detective going into an interview, but it might help to come prepared. Ask the recruiter any questions you might have before your scheduled interview. Then ask yourself some more: What do you want to know about this position? The company culture? The goals and expectations of the position? When you get to the actual interview, continue your line of questioning with any additional things you want to know about your interviewer and his or her experience at the company. You can also use these questions as writing prompts for thank-you notes later on.
It's pretty easy to stay organized when finding a job with these tips
I can tell that you're a busy person who wants to learn more about resume building, but your time is limited. If this is the case, I have some suggested solutions to help you land that dream job you've been striving for.
If you want to get ahead professionally, then it's vital that you set up an organized work routine. Make sure that everything in your life is well-planned and ready to go at a moment's notice; this will help retain excellent organizational skills while improving efficiency in your daily tasks. It doesn't take much time or effort on your part; simply plan out each day of the week and make adjustments as necessary! It doesn't matter how busy you are during the week if nothing gets done on Sunday unless there are no other plans for then (and if there are, then obviously don't sleep through them). If everything looks booked for Sunday, it's perfectly fine to still do something else; but when something does fall off the calendar (if no one calls or emails), please rebook so as not to disappoint anyone who might be waiting for a rescheduled appointment.
Here are some general tips:
- Make an agenda before every call with someone new: greeting them and getting their contact information
- Keep track of all meetings by listing all times, names of people involved, location where meeting will take place and what will be discussed
- Keep notes regarding phone conversations and write down questions before asking them
It may seem like busy people have very little time. But think about how long it takes for things to pile up over time? Every minute counts when trying to land a job or keep one once you find one—you need every minute available!