Some employers keep applications active for as little as sixty days, or as long as six months. This means that as other positions become available, they re-evaluate the applications that they already have on hand during the hiring process. The person who was second choice for the last position you filled may still be looking for a job and you may now have the opportunity to hire him.

There may be provisions in your state that require you to post an ad or announcement each time you have an opening. If this is the case, you can still go back to the applications that you already have on file as long as they are considered active. It's important to maintain a consistent policy. If you keep applications active for ninety days, maintain this until you formally change your policy. Once an application becomes inactive, repeat job seekers should be asked to fill out a new one for subsequent positions.

You may find it helpful to set up an applicant log in Excel or a similar program. Indicate the person's name, the date they applied, and for which position they applied. Next time you have an opening, you'll have quick access to the names of the people who were recently interested in the position. Keep the applications filed in alphabetical order and you can pull them out by name instead of going through each one and looking for people interested in that particular position.

An applicant log will also let you see if someone is showing a continued interest in your company by applying every few months. It will give you an idea of peak months when people are most likely to apply for jobs, and which positions most people are looking for.