Job Search Planning Framework

Key takeaways

• —Weekly targets
• —Application tracking
• —Referral tracking
• —Interview preparation

Run your search like a project

An unstructured search feels busy but rarely compounds. Treating it like a project — with targets, tracking, and a weekly rhythm — turns scattered effort into steady progress you can actually measure and improve.

Set weekly targets

• —Define a realistic number of tailored applications per week (quality over volume).
• —Set a target for outreach and referral conversations.
• —Protect time blocks for applications, networking, and prep separately.

Track applications and referrals

• —Keep one tracker: company, role, date, status, contact, and next action.
• —Log every referral conversation and follow-up so nothing slips.
• —Review weekly — what's converting, where you're stalling.

Build interview prep into the plan

Don't start preparing only once an interview is booked. Keep a running set of stories and answers so each opportunity gets your best, not your most rushed.