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Your Job Search Needs This: A Contact Tracking Plan

Date

November 15, 2024

In this article, I’ll share valuable insights on creating a contact tracking plan, inspired by personal experiences and conversations with inspiring individuals in Hong Kong’s competitive job market.

In Hong Kong, finding a job is challenging. As a French job seeker who’s been here for four months, I’ve applied to over 150 jobs with minimal response. I’ve spoken to inspiring people who, when they first arrived, applied to over 1,000 roles without any results. It became clear: networking is essential.

With only a 2% chance of being hired through online applications, most successful candidates use a different approach: building relationships and leveraging their network. (check the article 💡Stand Out in HK’s Job Market: Top Tips for Success by Austin Belcak to learn more about it). That’s why I’ve created FastTrack Jobs HK!

Here’s how creating a contact tracking plan can elevate your networking strategy and help you land your next opportunity ⬇️

1. Why You Need a Contact Tracking Plan

Networking is powerful, but it can also be overwhelming. Between events, coffee chats, and LinkedIn connections, you meet many people, but how do you keep track of everyone and their potential to help your job search?

A contact tracking plan helps you:

Stay organized: Record who you’ve met, when, and what you discussed.
Leverage relationships: Quickly identify who to contact when you find a job opening at their company.
Maintain relationships: Follow up consistently so your connections remember you when opportunities arise.

Think of it as a roadmap for your networking journey—it ensures no contact gets lost along the way.

What you can do now:

Reflect on recent networking interactions and list key contacts to track.

Choose a tool to organize your contacts (spreadsheet, Airtable, or Notion).

Schedule time each week to update and review your contact tracker.

2. What to Include in Your Contact Tracker

Your contact tracker doesn’t have to be fancy—it just needs to work for you. Here are the essentials:

Name and LinkedIn profile link: Quickly access their contact details.
Priority level:

A (High Priority): Key contacts you need to follow up with regularly.
B (Medium Priority): Important contacts but less urgent.
C (Low Priority): Occasional connections or potential leads.

Follow-up date: When to reconnect.
Last contact date: To track your communication history.
Company and role: Understand their professional context.
Where you met: Networking event, referral, LinkedIn, etc.
Referred by: Acknowledge mutual connections.
Notes: Key points from your conversation, like interests or advice they shared.
Type of help expected: Internal referral, industry insights, or mentorship.

💡 Pro Tip: Start simple and refine your tracker as you go. Avoid overloading it with unnecessary details—focus on what’s actionable.

What you can do now:

Create a basic spreadsheet or Notion database with these fields.

Organize your existing contacts into priority levels (A, B, or C).

Add new contacts weekly as you meet them.

3. How to Maintain Your Contact Tracker

A great network isn’t built overnight—it requires consistent effort. Use your tracker to schedule follow-ups and nurture relationships over time.

Set up a follow-up schedule:

Monthly: Check in with high-priority (A) contacts.
Quarterly: Reconnect with medium-priority (B) contacts.
Opportunistically: Engage with contacts when you see relevant LinkedIn posts or news updates.

What you can do now:

Add reminders in your calendar to reconnect with key contacts (or just use your column “follow-up date” if it’s enough for you)

Dedicate 30 minutes weekly to follow up with people in your week

4. How to Use Your Contact Tracker Effectively

Offer Value Before Asking for Help

Networking is a two-way street. Provide value to your contacts to build trust and reciprocity:

Share industry news or events they might find useful.
Introduce them to someone in your network who could benefit them.
Show gratitude by updating them on how their advice has helped you.

Keep Interactions Personalized

Avoid generic messages—make your outreach meaningful by referencing:

Topics from your last conversation.
Recent updates about their company or industry.

Example message:

💬 “Hi Alex, I noticed your company just expanded its APAC operations—congratulations! It reminded me of our conversation about growth strategies. Let me know if there’s any way I can support you.”

What you can do now:

Write personalized follow-up messages to 2-3 contacts this week.

Share a relevant article or event with someone in your tracker.

Use your tracker to remind yourself of personal details before reaching out.

5. Track Your Progress

Your contact tracker isn’t just for organization—it’s also a tool to measure your networking success.

Add a section to track outcomes:

Results obtained: Referrals, interviews, introductions.
Effective strategies: What type of outreach worked best?
Networking ROI: How many opportunities came from your efforts?

What you can do now:

Create a column in your tracker to note results.

Reflect weekly on what’s working and adjust your strategy.

Celebrate small wins, like a new introduction or helpful advice.

Key Takeaways 📝

A contact tracking plan is essential: It keeps your network organized and actionable.
Start simple: Focus on key details and build as you go.
Consistency is key: Follow up regularly to maintain meaningful relationships.
Offer value first: Build trust before asking for help.
Track your progress: Evaluate your efforts and refine your approach.

By creating and maintaining a contact tracking plan, you’ll turn your network into a powerful tool for job hunting. Remember, your network is your net worth—start tracking today and take control of your job search in Hong Kong! 🌟