Why most application trackers get abandoned
Most job-application trackers die in week two because they ask for too much. A tracker only works if updating it takes seconds, so track the few fields that change what you do next - and nothing else.
The six fields worth tracking
Company and role. The link to the original posting (postings disappear - save it). The date you applied. The version of your resume you sent. The current stage. The next action and its date.
That last field is the one that matters most. A tracker is not a diary of the past; it is a list of what you owe each opportunity next.
Stages that match reality
Keep stages few and honest: Evaluating (deciding whether to apply), Submitted, Interviewing, Offer, Closed. 'Closed' covers rejections and roles you withdrew from - keeping them visible stops you re-applying blindly and shows you which kinds of roles respond.
A follow-up rhythm
Ghosting is common - Fortune reported in March 2026 that 53% of job seekers had been ghosted by an employer in the past year. Don't read silence as a verdict. A reasonable rhythm: one polite follow-up about a week after applying if you have a contact, and a thank-you within a day of every interview.
After two unanswered follow-ups, move the role to Closed and spend the energy on new, well-matched applications.
Spreadsheet or tool?
A spreadsheet with the six fields above is enough for a focused search. A dedicated tool starts to pay off when it removes typing: capturing postings automatically, remembering which resume you sent, and logging stage changes for you.
Jobefi's pipeline is built this way: every role it finds is saved with its posting link and the tailored resume generated for it, one click marks a role as submitted, and every change is timestamped in your activity log.