You’ve sent out dozens of applications, spent hours polishing your résumé, and yet—nothing.
An inbox full of automated rejection emails with no responses or interviews. Does that sound familiar?
Job searching can be tough, especially without a clear plan. With thousands of candidates applying for the same roles, randomly submitting applications won’t get you hired.
A structured approach saves time, reduces stress, and increases your chances of landing the right job.
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a professional looking for a career change, this guide will help you stay organized, maximize your efforts, and secure the right job faster.
1. Establish Your Job Search Objectives and Quit Applying Blindly
Before you start applying for jobs, take a step back and clarify a few things:
· The industry, job function, and company size you’re targeting
For example: You want to apply for a senior marketing role at an MNC or a fresher role in the IT sector at a startup.
· Your non-negotiables (location, work-life balance, salary expectations, etc.
For example: You’re comfortable working night shifts, or you prefer a 9–5 job in Mumbai or Indore with a defined salary range in mind.
· Skills or experience you need to improve
For example: If you’re going into product marketing, you may need to familiarize yourself with AI tools. If you’re starting in sales, you should improve your negotiation skills.
Without a clear job search goal, you risk applying to roles that don’t align with your skills or career plans. In fact, 49% of job seekers apply for roles they aren’t qualified for, which often leads to unnecessary rejections.
A targeted approach helps you focus on quality over quantity, increasing your chances of success.
Need to stay ahead in the competitive job market? Here are some tips to help you prepared:
https://remarkhr.com/blogs/job-market-update-8-ultimate-tips-to-excel-in-a-competitive-workforce/
2. Create Your Own Job Applications Tracking System
Applying to multiple jobs without tracking their progress is a common mistake. Before you know it, you might apply to the same company twice or forget to follow up.
Use Google Sheets or Excel to track:
• Company names & website links
• Job roles applied for
• Application status (Interview scheduled, assessment sent, rejected, etc.)
• Recruiter/company contact details (Email, LinkedIn, phone number)
3. Create a Dedicated Job Search Email
To avoid missing interview emails, create a separate email account for job applications. This keeps all work-related communication in one place and maintains professionalism.
• Use an email format like firstname.lastname@gmail.com
• If needed, add a number in the email that is not your birth year for uniqueness
4. Set Up Job Alerts – Get Jobs Delivered to Your Inbox
Instead of manually searching for jobs every day, set up job alerts on best job portals of India:
• Remark
• Indeed
• Other Companies career pages
This is crucial because applying within the first 48 hours of a job posting makes you more likely to be shortlisted for an interview.
5. Make your Resume /CV- ATS-Friendly
Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before they reach recruiters. If your resume isn’t optimized, it may never be seen. Hiring managers spend only 6-7 seconds scanning a resume.
For an ATS-friendly format, you can follow the instructions as described here: https://remarkhr.com/blogs/how-to-build-an-ats-or-ai-friendly-resume/
6. Don’t Just Wait—Follow Up on Applications
If you haven’t heard back within 7 to 10 days, send a follow-up email to express your continued interest.
Example Follow-Up Email:
Subject: Follow-Up on [Job Title] Application – [Your Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name] / [HR Team],
I recently applied for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and wanted to check on the status of my application. I remain highly interested in this opportunity and would love to discuss how my skills align with your team’s needs. (You can describe some part from your cover letter here)
Please let me know if there are any updates. I look forward to your response.
(You can also attach your resume and cover letter with this email.)
Thank you and Best Regards,
[Your Name]
Most job seekers hesitate to follow up, but studies show that candidates who send follow-ups increase their interview chances by 22%.
Need to know more tips for Post interview follow-ups? Read this:
https://remarkhr.com/blogs/job-search-pro-tip-how-to-follow-up-after-an-interview/
To Wrap Up,
A well-organized job search can be the difference between months of frustration and landing a job faster.
By following these steps—defining clear goals, tracking applications, optimizing your resume, applying at the right time, and following up—you’ll stay ahead in the competitive 2025 job market.
If you want to make your job search even more efficient, Remark is here to help. Remark allows you to track applications, set reminders, and find opportunities—all in one place.
Start organizing and start applying to your dream job today!
Do you follow any other job search strategies? Share them with us in the comments below.
