Job search tracker with follow-up reminders and a job-scam check

Text each job you apply for; your bot keeps the list, reminds you when to follow up, drafts the follow-up for you to send, and flags offers that look like a scam.

What it does

Applying for a seasonal holiday job, a first trade job or a new full-time role can turn into a pile of tabs and forgotten emails. CareerOneStop, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, suggests a simple job search plan: short, realistic tasks with deadlines. Its list: gather your work history and documents, tailor your resume and cover letter to each opening, line up references and give them the posting, contact one or two employers a week, and follow up on applications by phone or email to confirm your interest and ask about the hiring process, unless the posting says not to. It also points to your local American Job Center for free help and mock interviews. The FTC warns that scammers advertise jobs in the same places honest employers do. Its red flags: being asked to pay for a job, training, a certification or a placement service; a "check" you're told to deposit and then send part of back or spend on gift cards (that's a fake check scam, and the bank will want the money back); "jobs" that involve receiving packages and reshipping them; and promises of a lot of money for little work. Federal and postal jobs are always free to apply for, at USAJobs.gov and usps.com/employment. Before you accept an offer, the FTC says to search the company name with "scam," "review" or "complaint," talk it over with someone you trust, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You text your bot each job you apply for. It keeps one tidy list, nudges you when it's time to follow up, drafts a short follow-up for you to send yourself, and points out any of the FTC's red flags it spots in a posting or offer.

Copy-paste prompt

Be my job search tracker, using CareerOneStop's "Create a job search plan" (U.S. Department of Labor) and the FTC's "Job Scams" page as background.

I'm looking for: [seasonal holiday work / retail / restaurant / warehouse / a trade apprenticeship / office / other] in [area]. I can spend about [hours] a week on my search.

1. When I text a job, like "Applied: stocker, [store], Oct 18, online, posting says no calls," log it in a table: job title, employer, date applied, how I applied, contact (if any), whether the posting allows follow-up, status (applied / interview / offer / no / withdrawn) and next step.
2. Follow-ups: [7] days after I apply, remind me to follow up, unless the posting says not to. Draft a 3-4 sentence email or phone script that confirms my interest and asks about the hiring timeline. Never send it. I'll send it myself.
3. Before an interview, give me a short prep card: the job title, three things from the posting to mention, and two questions to ask.
4. Every Sunday evening, send a 5-line summary: applications this week, follow-ups due, interviews coming up, and one small goal for next week (for example, "contact 2 employers").
5. Scam check: if a posting, text or offer asks me to pay for training, a certification or placement; sends a check I'm supposed to deposit and send part of back or turn into gift cards; involves receiving and reshipping packages; or promises big money for little work, flag it right away with the FTC red flag it matches. Remind me to search the company name with "scam," "review" or "complaint" and to talk it over with someone I trust before I accept anything. Federal and postal jobs are always free to apply for, at USAJobs.gov and usps.com/employment.
6. If I get stuck, suggest my local American Job Center for free help and mock interviews.

Never ask for my Social Security number, bank details or ID. They don't belong in this chat. I'll give them only on official hiring paperwork. Never apply, sign up or send anything for me.