Student Job Tracker

A full-stack web application designed to help students organize and track their job search process effectively.

Project Overview

Student Job Tracker is a comprehensive solution for students navigating the job market. It provides tools to manage job applications, track interview progress, and visualize job search metrics through an intuitive interface.

Repository Structure

This repository contains both frontend and backend components:

student-job-tracker/
├── Frontend/     # React application
└── Backend/      # Express API server

Frontend

Technology Stack

• Framework: React 19 with TypeScript
• UI/Styling: Tailwind CSS 4
• Build Tool: Vite 6
• Authentication: Clerk
• Routing: React Router 7
• Icons: Lucide React
• State Management: React's built-in hooks

Key Features

• Responsive Dashboard: Visual representation of application statistics
• Application Management: Add, edit, and delete job applications
• Status Tracking: Monitor progress from application to offer
• User Authentication: Secure login and registration via Clerk
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Optimized for all device sizes

Setup Instructions

1. Navigate to the Frontend directory:

   cd Frontend

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Create a .env file with your Clerk publishable key:

   VITE_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=your_clerk_publishable_key
   VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:3000
   

4. Start the development server:

   npm run dev

5. Access the application at http://localhost:5173

Backend

Technology Stack

• Runtime: Node.js
• Framework: Express.js 5
• Database: MongoDB with Mongoose ODM
• Authentication: Custom middleware (with userId query parameter)
• API: RESTful architecture
• Development: Nodemon for hot reloading

API Endpoints

Method	Endpoint	Description	Auth Required
GET	/jobs	Retrieve all job applications for a user	Yes (userId)
POST	/jobs	Create a new job application	Yes (userId)
PUT	/jobs/:id	Update an existing job application	Yes (userId)
DELETE	/jobs/:id	Delete a job application	Yes (userId)

Data Models

Job Application Schema:

• Company name
• Position/Role
• Application status (Applied, Interview, Offer, Rejected)
• Application date
• Notes
• User ID (for association)
• Additional metadata

Setup Instructions

1. Navigate to the Backend directory:

   cd Backend

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Create a .env file with the following variables:

   PORT=3000
   MONGO_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/job-tracker
   

4. Start the development server:

   npm start

5. The API will be available at http://localhost:3000

Development Workflow

Frontend Development

cd Frontend
npm run dev     # Start development server
npm run build   # Build for production
npm run lint    # Run linting
npm run preview # Preview production build

Backend Development

cd Backend
npm start       # Start server with nodemon for auto-reloading

Deployment

Frontend Deployment

The React application can be deployed to services like Vercel, Netlify, or any static hosting provider:

1. Build the application:

   cd Frontend
   npm run build

2. Deploy the contents of the dist directory

Backend Deployment

The Express API can be deployed to services like Heroku, Railway, or any Node.js hosting provider:

1. Ensure environment variables are properly set in your hosting platform
2. Deploy the Backend directory

Future Enhancements

• Enhanced authentication with JWT
• Email notifications for application status changes
• Interview scheduling and calendar integration
• Resume and cover letter management
• Company research notes and contacts tracking

Contributors

• Milan Dey

---

This project was created to help students streamline their job search process and increase their chances of landing their dream job.