The short answer
Download the tracker as a spreadsheet, or print the sheet, and add a row every time you apply. Write the closing date, what you sent and a follow-up date. Check it once a week. Nothing you write here is sent to us or stored online.
Free resource
The Application Tracker
Two ways to use it. Neither needs an email address, and nothing is sent to us.
The CSV opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers. Save it somewhere only you can see: it will hold names and contact details.
| Job title | Employer | Where I found it | Closing date | Date applied | What I sent | Contact | Next step | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
If the buttons above don’t work on your device, you can download the blank spreadsheet directly. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers. The first row is a made-up example: delete it once you’ve seen how it works.
What each column is for
| Column | What to write | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | The company or organisation | So you know who’s who when they call |
| Job title | Exactly as advertised | Interviewers expect you to know which role you applied for |
| Where I found it | The website, agency or person | Shows which sources work for you |
| Link or reference | The advert link or reference number | Adverts disappear after the closing date; save the link, and ideally a copy of the text |
| Closing date | The deadline | So nothing slips |
| Date applied | The day you sent it | Tells you when it’s reasonable to follow up |
| What I sent | CV, cover letter, form, which version | So you can reread it before an interview |
| Contact name | Who to write to | For follow-ups and thank-yous |
| Reply or update | Any response, including none yet | One glance shows where things stand |
| Interview date and time | If you get one | Cross-check against the invitation |
| Next step | What you’re waiting for or doing | Keeps the search moving |
| Follow-up date | When to chase if you’ve heard nothing | One polite follow-up, then move on |
| Notes | Anything else | Questions to ask, travel, pay, impressions |
How to use it each week
- Add a row the day you apply. It takes thirty seconds and saves a lot of guessing later.
- Save the advert. Copy the text into the notes or a document. The National Careers Service also suggests keeping a copy of your form answers, because you’ll want them before an interview.
- Once a week, sort by follow-up date. Send any follow-ups due (there’s a template in our email templates).
- Look for patterns. If one kind of job or one source keeps getting replies, do more of that.
Keep it private
Your tracker will hold names, dates and maybe contact details. Keep it on your own device or your own account. Don’t put your passwords, bank details or National Insurance number in it.
Try
Set up your tracker
Your answers are saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us.
In short
- One row per application, added the day you apply.
- Save the advert and what you sent.
- Set a follow-up date and check the tracker weekly.
- Keep it on your own device; it never comes to us.
Sources and further reading
- Application form advice National Careers Service
Checked against these sources on 14 November 2026. Rules and rates change: if something here looks out of date, tell us at hello@cvbuffed.com. How we check our guidance.