# Track every application (and stop losing opportunities)

> Job searches fail quietly, a follow-up forgotten, a role applied to twice, a recruiter left hanging. A simple tracker fixes most of it.

_Category: Running your job search · Updated: 2026-10-15 · 2 min read_

Most job searches do not fail because of skill. They fail because of logistics: a follow-up that never went out, a role applied to twice, a recruiter who waited three weeks for a reply.

## Track the few states that matter

- **Saved**, interested, not applied.
- **Applied**, sent, waiting.
- **Interviewed**, at least one conversation happened.
- **Offered**, an offer is on the table.
- **Closed**, rejected, declined, or ghosted.

Record the **date** of every change. It is what lets you spot a company that has gone quiet, which is the first step in [following up without being annoying](/guides/how-to-follow-up-without-being-annoying).

## Include the roles you applied to elsewhere

Half your applications will not come from a job board. Track them anyway, in the same place. A single list of everything beats a perfect list of half.

## Follow up like a professional

A polite follow-up seven to ten days after applying is normal and welcome:

> Following up on my application for [role], happy to share anything else that helps.

## Watch the patterns

After a few weeks your tracker tells the truth. If twenty applications became one interview, the problem is targeting or the CV, start with [a CV built for remote roles](/guides/developer-cv-for-remote-roles). If interviews stall, it is storytelling and depth. You cannot fix what you are not measuring.

Your dashboard keeps all of this in one place, including offsite applications, and shows the whole flow at a glance.