The system I use so I don't lose track of coffee chats and follow-ups during recruiting

Recruiting turned into chaos for me fast, so I put together a simple system that's kept it manageable. Sharing the method in case it helps someone else this season.

1. Log every coffee chat the same day: person, firm, what we actually talked about, and the one next step I owe them. If it only lives in my head, it's gone by chat #15.

2. Follow up within 24 hours with something specific from the conversation, not a generic thank-you. Then act on one piece of their advice and tell them I did. That's what turns a chat into a real relationship.

3. Keep a target-firm list with a reason each firm is on it and who I've spoken to at each, so I always know my next move instead of staring at a blank week.

4. Do interview prep alongside the networking, not after. Coffee chats lead to interviews faster than you expect, and cramming case and behavioral at the end is brutal.

5. Stay warm: a light touchpoint every few weeks so relationships don't go cold before the role opens.

The thing nobody tells you: follow-through matters more than talent here. Most of the leakage isn't bad conversations, it's forgotten follow-ups and notes you can't find in January.

How are the rest of you staying organized this season, spreadsheet, Notion, a CRM, something else? Curious what's actually working.