As 2019 comes to a close, it’s time to assess the health of your job search. This can be difficult. Most of us will automatically assume a job search is working only when it results in job offers, but there are other ways to measure a job search’s health. Here are three concrete goals you can pursue to ensure your job search stays healthy and efficient in 2020.

The 10/10/1 Rule

Roughly speaking, it takes about 10 applications to get an interview and about 10 interviews to get one job offer. This is a fast-and-loose rule subject to change by industry, location and level of experience, but for the most part, it’s a helpful reference tool for identifying possible areas for improvement.

At Starkloff, if a job seeker has submitted 30 applications but never gets an interview, we might look at the quality of their résumés and cover letters. If a job seeker has been on 11 interviews but hasn’t moved to the next round or gotten a job offer, we might focus on interview practice. If a job seeker is getting regular job interviews for their applications, including second and third-round interviews but hasn’t had more than 10, we wait and see if things improve.

There are a million different things that could affect whether or not a job interview leads to an offer. Most people don’t get the offer simply because the company interviewed someone else who would be a better fit for the role. As long as you’re getting a healthy amount of job interviews per applications, you can be confident that it’s just a matter of timing and the right fit. But you can increase your odds for success by following our next rule.

One Networking Opportunity a Week

This is a good goal to strive for when job searching. Despite advances in technology, face-to-face networking is still the primary way most people get jobs.

There are countless networking opportunities available to you. You can request lunch with someone currently in your network to get updated on industry topics. You can also request informational interviews with new contacts or attend a networking event. If you can’t easily leave your home, utilize Skype, Zoom, FaceTime or other video conferencing apps. Some companies even host online job fairs where you can connect directly with recruiters.

Anything that gets you out of your house and into the community is a good thing. Networking can happen anywhere, so be prepared. Have business cards and your elevator pitch ready to go. Practice casual conversations with your friends and family until you feel comfortable. Filling out online job applications is the least efficient way to get a job, so put as much of your energy into networking as possible. Which leads us to our last rule.

The 50/25/25 Rule

There are a lot of things to do to get a job, and it’s hard to know what to prioritize. We came up with this rule as a rough guideline to keep you focused. Like the 10/10/1 rule, this rule is simple:

Fifty percent of your job search time should be focused on building your network. This includes connecting with people on LinkedIn, attending networking events, attending informational interviews and following up on job leads.

Twenty-five percent of your time should be devoted to submitting job applications. Spend a good amount of time tailoring your résumé, drafting a cover letter, checking for errors and following the job application instructions very carefully.

Devote the last 25% of your time to volunteering, taking a class or working a part-time job. These are opportunities to not only network, but to improve your skill set and boost your résumé. It will also help keep your energy up because you will feel like you’re making forward progress.

By using the 10/10/1 rule, the 50/25/25 rule and aiming for one networking opportunity a week, you will be able to accurately gauge the health of your job search and make changes to increase your chances for success in 2020.