This section is for maintaining information about all the valuable contacts you will make. For each contact, you want to keep a business card or the equivalent - Name, Company, Address, Phone, Email, etc., and notes on who referred you, what you spoke about, dates you spoke, any referrals, recommendations or ideas they share with you, and an alert on when to follow up. Be sure to keep your contacts informed so you stay on their mind for any ideas they come up with after your conversation is over.
Contacts in my experience frequently share information that may lead you to the next contact or your next job. How to use your contacts effectively is explained in Chapter 8 - the chapter on job search.
Keeping track of your contacts seems like something you can do your computer, where the search function can readily be accessed. I also suggesting keeping notes in your binder so you can draw the link to who referred you to whom and what you learn at each step of the way. Either way you choose to organize will have essential information available when you need it. Keeping track of information is essential in your job search.
If you are talking in person to people you can organize the business cards people will be giving you. Business cards contain a ton of information! They are an easy way to capture what you need to get back in touch with someone you meet for coffee, on the soccer field, or on the golf course...
Buy of set of business card sheet protectors from any stationary store. Slip a few into your binder and as you receive cards from people, keep them here for easy access.
Your binder or data base allow you to keep detailed records. You are going to learn a lot about your field of interest and you don’t want to let anything that is important slip away.
Here is a Contact Form Template (p.28) ... use it as is or as a starting point to develop your own. This one will give some ideas about the types of information you want to record for each person you meet or call.
