Customization Guide — Developer Job Search Tracker

Adapt this system to your specific job search situation, whether you're casually browsing or in an active search sprint.

Search Mode Configurations

Casual Browsing (Passive Search)

• Use "Interested" status heavily — bookmark roles without applying
• Check the board weekly, not daily
• Focus on the Companies database — build your target list over time
• Disable notifications on the Contacts database

Active Search Sprint (Full-Time Job Hunting)

• Daily standup with yourself: review the pipeline board, check follow-ups
• Set Follow Up Date on every contact after each interaction
• Use the Interview Calendar as your primary view
• Track time invested per application in the Notes field

Internal Transfer Search

• Simplify the pipeline: Interested → Applied → Interview → Offer → Accepted
• Replace "Company" with "Team/Department"
• Remove salary negotiation fields (or keep for internal equity discussions)
• Add "Current Manager Informed" checkbox

Customizing the Status Pipeline

For Entry-Level / New Grad

Bookmarked → Applied → OA (Online Assessment) → Phone Screen → Technical → Final Round → Offer → Accepted / Rejected

Add an "Online Assessment" status for companies that use HackerRank/CodeSignal screening.

For Senior / Staff Level

Interested → Intro Call → Technical Deep Dive → System Design → Team Interviews → Hiring Committee → Offer → Negotiating → Accepted

Add "Hiring Committee" for companies with committee-based decisions.

For Contract / Freelance

Lead → Proposal Sent → Interview → Negotiating Rate → Contract Signed → Active → Completed

Replace salary fields with: Hourly Rate, Weekly Hours, Contract Duration, Total Contract Value.

Adding Custom Properties

Useful for Tracking Patterns

Useful for Multi-Offer Decisions

Privacy & Sharing

If You're Currently Employed

• Keep this workspace private (don't share with anyone)
• Use Notion's "Lock page" feature on sensitive pages
• Don't access your job search tracker on work devices/network
• Use generic calendar event names for interviews ("Personal appointment")

If You Want an Accountability Partner

• Share the pipeline board view only (not salary details)
• Use Notion's "Share" feature with "Can view" permission
• Create a separate "Public Pipeline" view that hides compensation data

Archiving a Completed Search

When you've accepted an offer:

1. Move all non-accepted applications to "Rejected" or "Withdrawn"

2. Export your data: Notion → ... menu → Export → CSV (for your records)

3. Create an "Archive" section and move all databases under it

4. Keep the Company Research — it's valuable for future searches

5. Write a final journal entry reflecting on what you learned

*Your job search system should reduce stress, not add to it. Customize until it feels natural.*