The document discusses how to stay organized during a job search using online tools. It recommends creating a detailed job search plan that maps out goals, skills, online presence and social media profiles. It also suggests organizing contacts and job applications using tools like Google Docs, JibberJobber, JobKatch, Evernote and Becomed to track progress and follow-ups. Maintaining documents, bookmarks and notes in these free or low-cost online tools can help alleviate stress in an otherwise chaotic job search process.

1. How to Stay Organized in Your Job
Search Using Online Tools
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com

2. Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com

3. Introduction
• If you’re currently job searching, you might be
frustrated or overwhelmed at the amount of time
it can take & the number of applications you
might have to fill out to land your next job
• Being organized – from your job search
documents, to timelines, to follow-up reminders
– can help alleviate some of the stress that goes
along with the job search
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 3

4. Introduction
• Here’s what we’ll cover today:
– Creating a job search plan
– Best practices of job search organization
– Free and low-cost online tools for organization in your job
search
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 4

5. Creating a Job Search Plan
• Think about it
– What are your goals?
– What type of job are you seeking?
– What skills, qualifications, expertise & education do you
have?
• Analyze your online presence
– Employers now search for candidates on social media & in
search engines
– Are your profiles and search results presenting you in the
best light?
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 5

6. Job Search Plan, Cont.
– Recommended resource: Vizibility is like a “Google Me”
button for career professionals
• Get your job search documents in shape
– Your cover letter & resume must be tailored to each
position & company
– Use action verbs & accomplishment stories to convey your
value to the employer
– You should also create business cards while job seeking
to keep in contact with helpful people throughout the
process
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 6

7. Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Join & engage in professional and social
networking communities
– Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, niche sites, etc.
– Join specific groups related to your skills & industry
– Provide value & share other’s content
– Completely fill in your biography, experience, skills &
interests
– Include relevant keywords in your profiles to help
employers find you
– Ask for recommendations to display on your profiles
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 7

8. Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Create an online portfolio
– Buy your domain name (www.firstnamelastname.com)
– Display your best work
– Include contact information
• Start blogging
– Choose a frequency for publishing & stick with it
– Share your posts on social media
– Write about recent industry news, issues & trends to
become a thought leader
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 8

9. Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Get found on Google
– Use search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to help
employers find you
– Links, keywords & tags are important in your website
design & blog posts
– Content should be relevant & updated often for Google to
display your website/blog as a top result
• Become an expert
– Blogging, social media & engagement in online groups can
help you position yourself as an expert in your field
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 9

10. Job Search Plan, Cont.
– Interact with other industry professionals & comment on
their content to increase your visibility
– Offer to guest blog on other’s blogs to share your expertise
with their audience
• Convert “prospects” into “leads”
– Provide a “call to action” on blog posts, e-newsletters,
eBooks, etc.
– Creativity goes a long way in standing out in today’s job
search
– Recommended resource: Hello There
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 10

11. Job Search Plan, Cont.
• Convert “leads” into “customers” once you’ve
landed an interview
– Do your research on the organization & hiring manager
– Be prepared to answer tough questions
– Ask good questions, for example:
• What brought you to [insert organization], and what
keeps you here?
• What’s your management style?
– Send a thank you note after your interview!
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 11

12. Best Practices of Organizing Your Job Search
• So, how can one keep track of countless
applications, companies & names?
• Check out these best practices for staying
organized:
– Write down/record everything
• Although you might feel like you’ll remember the details
of a conversation with a potential employer or the date
you applied for a specific job, you’re better off writing it
down for future reference
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 12

13. Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Bookmark helpful websites & blogs, along with specific job
listings & company sites
• Again, you might think you’ll remember these things –
but you’re better safe than sorry in a job search!
– Utilize your job search plan
• Map out your day with specific job search activities to
ensure you’re not neglecting any important aspect of
job searching
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 13

14. Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Keep your job search documents with you at all times
• You never know when you’ll meet someone who can
help you land a job
• Keep a stack of business cards handy to connect with
new networking contacts
• Don’t keep your resume and cover letter exclusively on
your home computer – save it to a flash drive, your
email account or a website such as Google Docs to
ensure you’ll always be able to access it
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 14

15. Organizing Your Job Search, Cont.
– Record dates, locations & names
• This will help when you go to follow-up to a job
application or after an interview
– Give yourself a break every once in a while
• A job search can easily be a full-time job – de-stress by
grabbing lunch with a friend, exercising or engaging in
a hobby
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 15

16. Free & Low-Cost Online Tools
• Google Docs
– Upload documents, spreadsheets, images & more
– Create documents, presentations & spreadsheets online
– Access your content anywhere you can log into your
Google account
– Organize your documents into collections & share them
with whomever you like
– Cost: Free
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 16

17. Online Tools, Cont.
• JibberJobber
– Personal relationship manager for your career
– Organize & manage your job search
– Track personal and professional relationships, target
companies & jobs you apply to
– Cost: Free, unless you’d like to upgrade to Silver
($5/month) or Premium ($9.95/month)
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 17

18. Online Tools, Cont.
• JobKatch
– Add job leads, identify key people, manage your events &
track your progress
– Keep track of job leads through a simple bookmark tool or
add them manually
– Import your existing networking contacts to see who can
help you in your job search
– Track your progress & receive reminders about follow-up
steps in the job search process
– Cost: Free
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 18

19. Online Tools, Cont.
• Evernote
– A tool to help you remember things using your computer,
phone & the Internet – your “digital personal assistant”
– Type a text note, snap a photo, grab a screenshot,
– Everything you capture is searchable
– You can add tags and organize notes into notebooks
– Sync your online account with your cell phone for
organization on-the-go
– Cost: Free, upgrade to Premium for $5/month for
additional storage, more versatility & support
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 19

20. Online Tools, Cont.
• Becomed
– Record your applications, resumes & cover letter
templates
– Track which job applications you sent, how far have they
have advanced, & next steps
– Set reminders & to do lists
– Cost: Free, or upgrade to Becomed Pro for $2.99/month
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 20

21. Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com

22. Thank you!
For more tips: blog.cachinko.com
Join us for our next job seeker webinar on:
May 31, 2011: Unemployed New Grads:
Alternatives to the Traditional Entry-Level Job
Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com