Job application tracker template

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The Excel file has a status dropdown, date columns, filters and a “How to use” sheet. The first row is an example to delete.

What to track, and why

Company and role

So you can tell applications apart when recruiters call.

Link to the advert

Adverts often disappear once a role closes. Keep the link, and the advert’s text if you can.

Pay (as advertised)

Useful when you compare offers or are asked about expectations.

Date applied

So you know when it’s time to follow up, and how long each employer takes.

Status

Saved, Applied, Interviewing, Offer, Rejected or Withdrawn, from a dropdown in the Excel version.

Next step and its date

The column that matters most: what you’re waiting for, or what you’ll do, and when.

Contact and notes

The recruiter’s name, what was said at each stage and anything to prepare.

How to keep a tracker working

1. Add a role the moment you find it worth applying for, as “Saved”. Not when you finally apply.
2. Never leave “Next step” empty. If you’re waiting, write what you’re waiting for and when you’ll chase.
3. Sort by the next step’s date each morning: it’s your to-do list.
4. Follow up once, politely, if two weeks pass without a reply.
5. Mark rejections too. Seeing which roles get replies tells you where to spend your time.

Questions