How Do You Measure Job Search Activity?

Waiting for a job offer to materialise can be a frustrating time. Especially when the initial rush of job search adrenaline subsides. Deciding to measure job search activity is a good way of keeping track of your efforts.

You gave that early wave of applications your all, with little to show for it. When there is no immediate success, it seems that no matter what you do, your future is not in your hands anymore. It feels like you are a passive pawn in the great job search game. 

The right person may see your application. You may get lucky…. Or you may not.

You adopt a fatalistic attitude. Keep applying for jobs and see what comes back.

That is the only thing that you measure: how many interviews have you got coming up? 

On the one hand, this is a sensible metric. On the other hand, it can be soul-destroying if you go for days without a new interview invite. There must be other ways of measuring your job search activity to keep you motivated and on the right track, right?

Measure activity

Of course. Like any marketing funnel, you can measure job search activity in many ways.

What you put in dictates what you get out. Understanding the types of activity that lead to desired outcomes is the key to efficiency. 

Maybe you are finding that social media referrals are working well for you. Are you spending countless hours filling in online applications with no joy? Is 30 minutes spent tailoring your CV and cover letter for each role worth doing? Are you travelling to meetings and events that are just not worth the effort? How long are you spending on social media, and what are you doing there?

If you try to dig deeper into how you spend your job search time, you will likely come up with some interesting conclusions about what works for you.

Certain activities are worth measuring for every job seeker (interviews, applications, recruiter conversations, tailored social messages), but plenty of others will be specific to each person. Some people may see value in measuring how much exercise they get each week, while others might wish to measure the engagement on their socials (this can pay off if done with intent).

Work out what is productive for your job search, and give yourself a pat on the back when you manage to do these things regularly. Consistency is key.

The last tip is to share what you measure with someone close to you. This accountability will give you an extra boost of motivation. They can check up on you, encourage you, and remind you that you are on the right path.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).