Managing Your Contacts and Applications

by Bailey Bifoss, LCS Graduate Fellow

Proactive, large-scale job searches – the kind required of every student in today’s market – must be well managed and organized. In the December 2011 issue of the Student Lawyer, Erin Binns writes about Managing Your Contacts and Applications, and provides tips on keeping track of your activities, progress and efforts to avoid costly errors and assess your path.

The most important part of managing your contacts and applications involves building an information tracking system that works for you and your activities. Spreadsheets are often the most effective tool for this because they can be easily updated. You can also create a multiple page spreadsheet that details job search activities in different geographical areas or practice areas. You can also use different pages to separate job applications from networking activities. Whatever format you choose for your tracking system, the following should always be included.

Once you have your format down, several pieces of key information should go on your list. You might start by identifying each lawyer you know by name and professional title. Also, don’t forget to include his or her contact information. Keep track of any information that might be important or useful when you meet with that person in the future – Personal information, leads that they provided to you, or documents that you shared with them, for example, can all be included.

Although taking this kind of organized stance toward networking requires a great deal of time and effort, succeeding can yield immense rewards in your job search. Check out the full text of this article here (membership required) or in LCS.