The honest answer: a simple spreadsheet beats most apps. The structure is what matters.

What to track (columns)

  • Company
  • Role
  • Date Applied
  • Source (LinkedIn, Sorce, company site, referral)
  • Status (Applied / Rejected / Phone Screen / Onsite / Offer / Closed)
  • Follow-up Date (when to next ping)
  • Contact Name (recruiter or referrer)
  • Link to JD
  • Notes (anything specific — referral source, salary range, weird vibe, etc.)

That's the floor. Optional adds: salary range, location, fit notes, post-application research.

Template

Open a Google Sheet. Add the columns above. Fill in as you apply. Done.

For a download-ready version, search "job application tracker Google Sheets template" — there are dozens of free ones that fit this structure.

When to update

  • After a batch of applications (e.g. Sunday evening after a swipe session).
  • After every follow-up sent.
  • After every recruiter contact.
  • After every interview.

Don't update in real-time per application — batch it.

Status field — be honest

  • Applied — submitted, no response yet.
  • Followed up — sent a follow-up after 7-10 days.
  • Phone screen — recruiter screen scheduled or done.
  • Interview — first round and beyond.
  • Offer — offer extended.
  • Rejected — they said no.
  • Closed — you withdrew or the role is filled.

Track rejections — patterns tell you what to fix.

What the tracker shows you

After 50+ applications:

  • Application volume per week. Hitting 30+? Good. Below 10? Volume is your bottleneck.
  • Recruiter screen conversion rate. Below 5%? Resume or targeting is the problem.
  • Interview-to-offer rate. Below 20%? Interview prep is the gap.

When app trackers (Huntr, Teal) help

  • Auto-import from job boards.
  • Email integration that updates status automatically.
  • Visual kanban for project-management types.

If you want those features, our Sorce vs Teal comparison and Sorce vs Huntr comparison cover both.

What Sorce shows you

Sorce tracks every application you submit through it — date, status, role. Built into the swipe-and-apply flow. 40 free swipes a day; the tracker comes free.

For more: job tracker, how to follow up on a job application, how to check job application status.