Job Search Tracker

The Job Search Progress Tracker is a tool for students seeking to use time effectively and keep track of their job search progress with intention and purpose.

The job search is made up of many nuanced components and we explore each within the Duke Career Development Process.

How to use this tracker

Know Yourself. Explore Options. Focus & Prepare. Take Action. Refine & Evaluate. Career Development Process. Duke Career Center.
  1. Download and review the entire resource (Select Interactive PDF below).
  2. Identify a goal number of hours per week based on your capacity.
    This will look different for everyone so determine what works for you, but remember to push yourself!
  3. Use our recommended time goals below to allocate time during your search.
    Please note: this model is only a suggestion and depending on your industry area, or where you are in the process, you may need to adjust your time allocation. For additional guidance, please schedule an appointment with a career advisor
  4. Work through each component every week and record your number of hours per week.
    Additionally record the total number of hours you have completed at the end of each month.
  5. Reflecting on your progress is an ongoing part of the process so write something about your reflection. Write within the interactive pdf or any other medium you choose to reflect on your experience.
link to download excel
=================Download Excel File===============

Recommended Time Goals Overall

Start with the total number of hours you can commit to each week.
Your goal hours will most likely vary by week and by component each week.

bar graph showing text below: 10% Professional Goal Setting 5% Self Care 10% Brand Development 10% Passive and Active Research 30% Networking 20% Applications 15% Interviewing

10% Professional Goal Setting
5% Self Care
10% Brand Development
10% Passive and Active Research
30% Networking
20% Applications
15% Interviewing

Explore values and identify themes in your interests, strengths and skills.
Reflect on the actions you have taken and what you have learned.

Professional Goal-Setting
We find discovering our values and aligning them with our goals can help to narrow down our options and be more calculated/effective in our search efforts. This takes time, constant refining, and adaptability. Allow yourself room to grow without setting multiple goals that take extended periods of time.

Self-Care
Taking time away from the search is often just as important as spending time searching! Make sure to include meaningful self-care into your search. Remember: Be kind to yourself and identify ways to boost your own health before you critique and evaluate. 

Explore values and identify themes in your interests, strengths and skills.
Identify patterns and narrow options by eliminating things that don't align with your life.
Reflect on the actions you have taken and what you have learned.

Brand Development
Knowledge of who you are, what you are looking for, and what makes you unique allows you to present yourself as reflective, confident, and ultimately as someone with a plan! Brand development occurs in numerous forms: feedback from helpful humans, extra credentials or online courses, and personal reflection to name a few.  

Research careers that align with your interests, strengths and circumstances.
Identify patterns and narrow options by eliminating things that don't align with your life.

Passive and Active Research
You want a balance between passive research (exploration by subscription on the frontend that continues to work for you–think listservs and other automated tools) and active research (ongoing exploration that you are conducting using a variety of mediums and tools). As opportunities present themselves, focus your time towards actively seeking out information about the industries and company you intend to work with. 

Networking
A helpful way of finding information that is not readily available to you–including career pathways, alternative job opportunities and names, company culture, daily schedules and more! What may start as a few helpful humans, may turn into direct insight into industries of interest or connections to opportunities. This endeavors, while time consuming, can be very fruitful. 

Identify patterns and narrow options by eliminating things that don't align with your life.
Take Action. Develop a plan around what steps you need to take and when you need to take them.

Application
Refers to the material and the application itself. Industries may have different requirements for application. Use time to focus and prepare your application materials (Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letters, Resume, Writing Samples, E-Portfolio, and Websites) as they pertain to your industry. This is also where tailoring needs to be done for your resume/cv and cover letters for your target places of employment.

Interviewing
Make sure to prepare for a variety of interview questions and styles. Utilizing the information you obtained through research and informational interviews as well as practicing situations, detailed stories, and talking about yourself can set you up for success. Allow for adequate time to prep and interview in order to not burden yourself with a crowded schedule.