How to review your job search progress after 1 month and 6 months

Searching for a job can be a challenging and time-consuming process. There are vacancies to find, applications to keep track of, and interviews to prepare for. With all of that on your mind, you can easily lose track of your progress and direction. That’s why it’s essential to review your job search every once in a while, recognise how far you’ve come, and refocus on where you want to go.

What are the benefits of reviewing your job search progress?

Reviewing your job search has a whole host of benefits. Regularly checking back over your progress means that you are:

• aware of your own preferences and needs
• aware of opportunities and trends in the job market and your industry
• more confident and prepared for job applications and interviews

It can also help you to stay motivated and focused on your job search goals.

When should you review your job search progress?

You can examine your job search progress at any time, but there are two key milestones when a review is especially useful. These are after one month and at the six month point.

  After 1 month

At this point, you’re not far into your job search so it’s easy to make adjustments. It’s also a good time to look back and assess how organised your search has been so far and what you’ve achieved.

Here are six questions that can be useful at the one month point:

• How many applications have you sent and how many responses have you received?
• How many interviews have you attended and how did they go?
• How do you feel about your CV, cover letter, and online profile?
• Are you using the right job boards and social media platforms to find and apply for jobs?
• Are you networking effectively and reaching out to potential employers and contacts?
• Are you following up with your applications and interviews?

If you haven’t already set up a record of your job applications, this is the ideal time to do so. Love them or hate them, Excel spreadsheets are an ideal way to keep track of applications, responses, and interviews. But spreadsheets aren’t the only way to track your progress, so find a method that suits your needs and preferences.

Have you set yourself any job search goals yet? If not, read How SMART goals can improve your job search.

  At 6 months

By this time, you’re fully versed with how to find vacancies, write cover letters, and answer interview questions. Reviewing your job search progress up to this point can clarify the type of job and working conditions you want, help you hone your application and interview skills, and refresh your enthusiasm for landing that job.

Here are six questions you can ask yourself at this point:

• How many job offers have you received and how do they match your expectations and preferences?
• How have your skills, knowledge, and experience improved or changed since you started your job search?
• How have your career goals and interests evolved or shifted over time?
• How have the industry and the job market changed in the past 6 months?
• Are you still passionate and motivated about your job search and career path?
• Does your CV need to be updated because you, your experience, or your aspirations have changed?

Based on your answers, you can review what you’ve achieved and the challenges you’ve faced to decide whether you should change your direction or strategy. You can also update your CV, cover letter, and online presence to reflect your current situation and goals. It may prove useful to ask for advice from mentors, career coaches, or contacts who are involved in the industry you’re interested in.

Wrapping it up

One aspect of finding a job that few people think about is the level of change you’ll face. That might be change in the type of job you want, changes in who you are, or even changes in the job market. That’s why it’s important to review your job search on a regular basis to stay focused on the right job, the right strategy, and the right goals. The one month and six month points are ideal times to carry out this review and change course if you need to.