It goes almost without saying that when you're looking for a job, you need to send out your resume. A lot. In fact, you've probably sent out your resume hundreds (in the current economy, maybe even thousands) of times. Indeed, with as many resumes and cover letters as you've sent out, it wouldn't be surprising if you've actually lost track of who's seen it and who hasn't, or even if you've submitted it to the same place twice, or forgotten to send it somewhere you thought would be a perfect fit. The fact of the matter is, being unorganized when you send out your resume can not only make hunting for jobs more stressful, it can actually cost you employment opportunities.

So the first thing you need to do is dust off your copy of Microsoft Excel. If you don't have Excel, you can download a program called Open Office, which is essentially a free Microsoft Office-clone, in which you can create, save, and read files in Microsoft formats. Creating a spreadsheet is going to be the easiest and most flexible way to keep track of your job hunting activities. Some things you might want to keep track of include the name of the business you applied to, the date on which your resume was sent, a contact name, a contact phone number, a contact e-mail address, and the business's web address. Now, not all of the companies you send your resume out to are going to provide you with this information. You'll probably have to do some research. But the point is to have at least two different ways of contacting the person in charge of hiring.

You'll also want to keep track of any subsequent information or communication—e-mails, phone calls, and even interviews--so be sure to leave room for that. It's true, this is a lot of information to keep track of. But it's information you should be keeping track of whether you use a spreadsheet or not, so at least this way, you don't have to keep all the info in your head.

The easiest way to build your spreadsheet is going to be going one by one. This is true if you're diligently searching for jobs and spending forty hours a week treating it like another job or if you spend your off hours searching for something new (assuming you currently have a job). Before you click “send” on the e-mail that has your resume attached or lick the stamp on the envelope with your resume enclosed, open your Excel document and make the proper notations.

If you're uncomfortable with using a computer, or using Microsoft Excel, well, it's time to take some computer classes. Most areas offer community computer classes, and they teach the Microsoft Office suite (including Excel) as well as various other basic computer skills (typing, using the internet). It's borderline impossible to get hired with no computer skills and unreasonable to expect anything else. So, keeping track of your resume mailings may even be a good way to practice those skills. And, if you're searching for a job full time, you can't really use the “no time” excuse to get out of learning something new.

After a week or two goes by, and you still haven't heard about your resume, don't be shy when it comes to sending an e-mail or making a phone call. Notice that I did not use plural verbs there. Send one e-mail, make one phone call, and do not nag. After another week or two goes by, you can contact them again; but bear in mind the fine line between persistent and annoying. The bonus of having kept all those records, however, is that you'll be able to know when it actually has been a week; you won't have to guess or rely on intuition tainted by desire for a new job. In addition, you'll be able to contact the correct person, rather than having to tree branch your way around the business or leave a message with somebody on the other side of the building. When it comes down to it, you'll have more information, and you'll be able to make better decisions.

Like staying organized in any other area of your life, getting started is going to be the hardest part. In fact, it's probably going to be a downright chore. But once you get into the flow, you'll find that not only is staying organized something that will help you in the long run, it'll be something that you simply can't live without. Hunting for a job without organizing what you're doing is like throwing a dart while blindfolded: You might hit, but your chances would be far greater if you could see what you're doing. Well, it's time to take the blindfold off.

Now that you have read about Keeping Track of your Resume, may we suggest that you take the next step and check out Resume Writing Guide. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the  ILostMyJob.com Book Store!

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