9 free job application tracker templates

Record roles as soon as you find them, including positions you are still considering. Add the company, job title, location, salary range, application deadline, posting link, and where you found the role so you don’t lose promising opportunities across job boards, emails, and browser tabs.

Saving the key details also gives you something to refer back to if the employer changes or removes the original listing before an interview.

Give every opportunity a clear status, such as:

• Interested
• Preparing application
• Applied
• Interviewing
• Offer received
• Rejected
• Withdrawn

Update the status whenever something changes to get a quick overview of your active applications and highlight any that have stalled.

Record application deadlines, submission dates, assessments, interviews, and planned follow-ups. Add a next action for each opportunity, such as tailoring your CV, preparing questions, contacting a recruiter, or sending a thank-you email.

Review upcoming dates regularly so important tasks don’t get buried as you add more applications.

Tailoring your application can improve its relevance, but it also makes it harder to remember exactly what you sent to each potential employer. Note which CV, cover letter, portfolio, or supporting documents you submitted for every role.

Add links to the relevant files in Proton Drive and record any skills, experience, or achievements you emphasized. You can then refer back to the same points when preparing for an interview.

Record the names and contact details of recruiters, hiring managers, and interviewers for each role. Add the date of your last conversation, what was discussed, and whether you need to follow up.

Saving these details together gives you a clear history of each application, prevents duplicate messages, and gradually builds a useful contact list for your wider job search.

Record the full package, including salary, bonus, pension, healthcare, annual leave, working hours, remote or hybrid options, location, travel costs, equity, and any other benefits.

Putting the details side by side makes it easier to see which job gives you the best overall deal, rather than trying to compare everything from memory.

Look at salary ranges and benefits for similar roles in your industry and region before discussing an offer. Record the figures alongside your preferred salary and the overall package you would be willing to accept.

Having a realistic range in mind can help you explain what you are looking for and negotiate with greater confidence.

Set aside time each week to review your tracker, close opportunities that are no longer available, and check upcoming deadlines. Keeping it up to date gives you a clearer picture of how your job search is progressing.

Look for patterns in which roles lead to interviews, which sources produce the strongest opportunities, and whether particular versions of your CV receive more responses. Use what you learn to refine your applications and focus your time where it is most effective.