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Career Development Program · Week 10

Job Searching (Online)

This week you'll put LinkedIn and Indeed to work: searching smart, setting job alerts, and applying.

Download the workbook (PDF)

Searching online is a numbers game, but a focused one. The people who get hired fastest search a few specific job titles, apply early, tailor each application, and keep track of where they've applied.

By the end of this week you'll have job alerts running on both sites and your first applications logged in your tracker.

This week you’ll learn

  • How to search LinkedIn and Indeed with the right keywords and filters
  • How to set up job alerts on LinkedIn
  • How to apply, follow up, and spot job scams

This week’s lessons

Read each short lesson, then answer the questions in the worksheet below.

Lesson 1

Search tips

  • Use specific job titles, like "line cook," "warehouse associate" or "barista." Add "entry level" or "full-time" to narrow it down.
  • Add your location: your ZIP code, city, or Washington DC–Baltimore Area.
  • Use filters: date posted, job type, distance and experience level.
  • Save jobs you like so you can come back to them.
  • Follow companies on LinkedIn to see their openings first.
  • Apply early. Try to apply within 2–3 days of a posting.
Lesson 2

Set up a LinkedIn job alert

  1. Click Jobs (the briefcase icon).
  2. Search one job title and your location.
  3. Add filters like Date posted, Experience level and Job type.
  4. Switch the job alert toggle to On.
  5. Choose Daily, and email, app notification, or both.

To edit or delete: Jobs → Preferences → Job alerts. For Indeed alerts, see Week 8.

Lesson 3

Watch out for job scams

  • They ask you to pay for training, equipment or a background check.
  • They offer a job without an interview.
  • Pay sounds too good for the work.
  • They ask for your bank account or Social Security number before an offer.
  • They only communicate by text or a personal email.
  • The same posting keeps reappearing for months.

Not sure? Ask your coach before you share any personal information.

Lesson 4

Apply and follow up

  1. Read the job description closely. Note the key skills and tasks.
  2. Check your resume shows the experience, skills and certifications they ask for.
  3. Tailor your cover letter. Did you name the company and position? Say why you're interested and why you're a great fit?
  4. Answer every question in the application.
  5. Submit and log it in your tracker.
  6. Follow up about a week later if you haven't heard back.
Lesson 5

Follow-up email template

Subject: [Position title] application – [Your name]

Dear Hiring Manager (or Dear Mr./Ms. [Last name]),

My name is [your name], and on [date] I applied for the [position title] position at [company]. I'm very interested in the role and wanted to make sure you received my application. If you need any other information, please contact me at [email] or [phone].

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Lesson 6

Build a routine

Check your alerts each morning, apply to the best matches, and update your tracker.

Worksheet: My application tracker

These questions match the Week 10 worksheet in the workbook. You can type your answers into the PDF, write them by hand, or submit this form. Your coach sees what you submit online.

Download the workbook (PDF)

* Required

Section 1 — Your name

Staff match this form to your CDP record. Use the name we have on file.

Search smart on LinkedIn and Indeed

Search tips

• Use specific job titles, like "line cook," "warehouse associate" or "barista." Add "entry level" or "full-time" to narrow it down.

• Add your location: your ZIP code, city, or Washington DC–Baltimore Area.

• Use filters: date posted, job type, distance and experience level.

• Save jobs you like so you can come back to them.

• Follow companies on LinkedIn to see their openings first.

• Apply early. Try to apply within 2–3 days of a posting.

Set up a LinkedIn job alert

1. Click Jobs (the briefcase icon).

2. Search one job title and your location.

3. Add filters like Date posted, Experience level and Job type.

4. Switch the job alert toggle to On.

5. Choose Daily, and email, app notification, or both.

To edit or delete: Jobs → Preferences → Job alerts. For Indeed alerts, see Week 8.

Watch out for job scams

• They ask you to pay for training, equipment or a background check.

• They offer a job without an interview.

• Pay sounds too good for the work.

• They ask for your bank account or Social Security number before an offer.

• They only communicate by text or a personal email.

• The same posting keeps reappearing for months.

Not sure? Ask your coach before you share any personal information.

Review the lessons

Alerts and settings

Apply and follow up

1. Read the job description closely. Note the key skills and tasks.

2. Check your resume shows the experience, skills and certifications they ask for.

3. Tailor your cover letter. Did you name the company and position? Say why you're interested and why you're a great fit?

4. Answer every question in the application.

5. Submit and log it in your tracker.

6. Follow up about a week later if you haven't heard back.

Follow-up email template

Subject: [Position title] application – [Your name]

Dear Hiring Manager (or Dear Mr./Ms. [Last name]),

My name is [your name], and on [date] I applied for the [position title] position at [company]. I'm very interested in the role and wanted to make sure you received my application. If you need any other information, please contact me at [email] or [phone].

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Build a routine

Check your alerts each morning, apply to the best matches, and update your tracker.

Review the lessons

My application tracker

Date · Company · Job title · Where I found it · Follow-up date · Status

Thank you!

Thank you. Your Week 10 Job Searching (Online) work is in. Come back to the CDP page next week for Interview Preparation.