Who to keep track of during a job search
- Recruiters. Which roles they mentioned, what they said about timing and pay range, and when they said to check back.
- Hiring managers and interviewers. What they asked, what they cared about, and the thank-you you owe them.
- People who offered a referral or intro. Exactly what they offered, so you can follow up politely and thank them afterward.
- Informational interviews. The advice they gave and a reminder to tell them how it turned out.
- Former coworkers and managers. Your references and the people most likely to hear about openings first.
What to write down after each conversation
- Where you met or how you were introduced
- One or two specific things they said
- Anything you promised to send, and anything they offered
- When to follow up next
Application tracker vs personal CRM
| Spreadsheet or application tracker | BlackBook | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Roles, companies and application stages | The people you meet along the way |
| Conversation notes | A cramped cell or notes column | Notes and interaction history on each person’s page |
| Follow-up reminders | Only if you build them yourself | Reminders per person, with notifications |
| Who to reach out to next | Up to you to scan | Pulse suggests who to reach out to next from your notes, history and reminders |
| Account | Depends on the tool | No BlackBook account; data on your iPhone and in your own private iCloud |
A simple weekly routine
After every call or coffee, add the person with a line about what they said and set a reminder for your next step. Once a week, open Pulse and send two or three short check-ins to people who’ve gone quiet, and thank anyone who helped. When you land the role, let everyone who helped know. It’s the follow-up people remember most.
More on this: a networking follow-up app, how to follow up after a networking event, and a personal CRM spreadsheet alternative.
BlackBook facts
- Platform: iPhone, iOS 17.6 or later
- Price: free download; optional BlackBook Pro subscription (prices shown in the app)
- Free plan: 25 people, 2 notes per person, 30 days of interaction history
- Pro: optional subscription with VIP reminders and insights, relationship notes with tags, duplicate detection, BlackBook AI
- AI: on-device via Apple Intelligence (Pro, iOS 26, compatible iPhone)
- Privacy: data lives on your iPhone and in your private iCloud, no account, no ad SDKs, data never sold
- Developer: Preston Earnest / Earnestly Studios LLC
Frequently asked questions
Isn’t a spreadsheet enough for a job search?
A spreadsheet works well for tracking applications and stages. A personal CRM is for the people: what a recruiter told you, who offered an introduction, and a reminder to follow up. Many job seekers use both, a sheet for roles and BlackBook for relationships.
Is BlackBook an application tracker?
No. BlackBook doesn’t track job postings, application stages or resumes. It keeps notes, interaction history and reminders for the people you meet during your search, and Pulse suggests who to reach out to next.
How should I follow up after an informational interview?
Send a short thank-you within a day that mentions one specific thing they shared, then set a reminder to update them in a few weeks on what you did with their advice. Our guide on following through on promises has more ideas.
Is my data private?
BlackBook needs no account. Your people and notes live on your iPhone and in your own private iCloud, not on a BlackBook server. There are no ad SDKs, and your data is never sold.
Is BlackBook free?
BlackBook is free to download with a free plan of 25 people, two notes per person and 30 days of interaction history. BlackBook Pro is an optional subscription: in the US it’s $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, and the annual plan includes a 1-week free trial. Prices are shown in the app.
What iPhones does it run on?
BlackBook requires iOS 17.6 or later. On iOS 26 with a compatible iPhone, BlackBook Pro adds on-device Apple Intelligence features.
Keep your job search contacts warm. Start with 25 people.
BlackBook is free to download for iPhone (iOS 17.6+). Start with 25 people, no account needed.
Get BlackBook – Personal CRM