How should I organise the folders for my job search files?

Use one main job search folder with a small set of subfolders, so you can find any resume, cover letter or job advert in seconds.

A simple structure:

• "Master": your current editable resume source and latest general PDF.
• "Applications": one subfolder per job, named like "2026-10 Northfield Trading - Sales Coordinator".
• "Documents": certificates, transcripts and reference letters.
• "Archive": older resume versions you no longer use.

Inside each application folder, keep the exact resume PDF and cover letter you sent, plus a copy of the job advert. Store the whole folder somewhere backed up, such as your personal cloud storage, and keep a second copy offline. This takes a few minutes to set up and saves a lot of searching when an employer calls weeks later.