If you're applying to a lot of jobs and getting confused about what you sent where, it might be time to get organized! Managing your job applications can help you:
Avoid missing a follow-up
Identify patterns in your applications
Stay motivated and confident
Both Notion and Excel can help you keep your job search organized - whether you're a technology expert using Notion or prefer the old school conventions of Excel. Here is how.
1. Why Track Your Applications
Tracking allows you to:
Be systematic and deliberate
Follow up at the right time
Track which companies have responded
Maintain the greatest level of stress-free job search
At Job Curators, we think tracking is best for every application—even the portfolio pieces!
2. What to Track in Your Job Search
No matter which tool you use, those columns or properties are essential to the tools:
3. How to Use Excel to Track Applications
🔹 Step-by-Step Setup:
Open a new Excel document.
Make headings for the categories specified above.
Utilize data validation and create dropdowns for status.
Use conditional formatting for deadlines.
Utilize filters for organization by date, company, or status.
🔹 Sample Status Options
Applied
Interview Scheduled
Offer Received
Rejected
Ghosted
Followed Up
🔹 Excel Benefits
Easy to customize
Completely open to all
Works offline
Structured thinkers will love it
4. How to Use Notion for Application Tracking
Notion allows you to track your search in a lively and visual way.
🔹 Steps for Setup:
Open a new Notion page.
Add a predefined view (Table, Board, or Database).
Create properties for all your application fields.
Tag your applications by status/job type.
Find your responses/track your interviews with a calendar view.
🔹 Why Notion is Powerful:
Multiple views: Table, Kanban (Board), Calendar
Rich text for (your) interview notes
Integrative with reminders
Mobile-friendly and easy to share
🔹 Example Notion Status Tags:
🟩 Applied
🟨 Interviewing
🟦 Offer
❌ Rejected
🔁 Follow-Up Needed
Job Curators offers free Notion templates designed for organized job seekers.
5. Job Tracking Best Practices
Update your tracking sheet daily or weekly
Use clear and consistent labels
Make sure to log every interaction, calls, emails, interviews
Always set reminders for follow-ups (i.e. Google Calendar or Notion)
Back up your tracking sheet once a week (especially Excel
6. When to Use Notion vs. Excel
❓FAQs
Q1: Do I need to track every job application?
Yes. Even tracking jobs with which you have doubtful feelings will help you prevent duplicates and manage your time.
Q2: Can I use Excel and Notion together?
Yes! Many job seekers enter all of their data in Excel, and use Notion to visually plan job applications and follow up reminders.
Q3: How should I remember to do my follow ups?
You can set calendar reminders on Notion, or manually sync your Excel Tracker with Google Calendar.
Q4: What if I apply to 50+ jobs?
Simply use filters in Excel, or the views in Notion. They will aid you in sorting through large test sets.
Q5: I would love that templates help! Can JobCurators help?
Yes, of course! JobCurators has downloadable Notion and Excel job-seeking templates.
Q6: How do I track jobs that I am applying to using Easy Apply on LinkedIn?
Make sure you record the job immediately in your tracker! Add a LinkedIn tag and status so that when you go back to your tracker you have to prevent duplicates.
Conclusion
Using Excel or Notion to track your job applications helps b