Listen: 175: What to do INSTEAD of Applying to Jobs Online by Answer the Call | Christian Career Coaching

Takeaways

  • Prioritize Outreach Over Applications: Focus on generating conversations with potential employers rather than solely applying for jobs. This can increase your chances of being noticed.
  • Engage with Senior Leaders: Reach out to senior leaders, hiring managers, and recruiters before applying to jobs. This proactive approach can lead to direct invitations for interviews.
  • Utilize LinkedIn Effectively: Use LinkedIn’s search features to find individuals who are hiring for your desired role. Search for job titles and filter for those who mention hiring in their profiles.
  • Leverage Job Boards: After finding a job posting, identify the hiring manager by searching the company’s LinkedIn page. Send them a personalized message highlighting your relevant experience.
  • Join Professional Groups: Look for user groups related to your industry on platforms like Slack, Discord, or Facebook. Engage with members and seek referrals or job leads.
  • Reconnect with Personal Connections: Reach out to past colleagues, managers, or alumni from your university. Update them on your job search and ask for any connections or advice.
  • Connect with Random Leaders: Reach out to leaders in your desired field or at your dream companies. Use a respectful and genuine approach to ask for advice or express interest in potential opportunities.
  • Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: Ensure your LinkedIn profile is active and well-optimized. Engage with content, build connections, and showcase your expertise to enhance credibility.
  • Be Proactive and Persistent: Send out multiple outreach messages weekly, aiming for 5-10 per company. Consistency increases your chances of receiving responses.
  • Prepare for Conversations: When reaching out, be honest about your job search challenges and ask for insights on what makes a strong candidate in your field.

Outline

Introduction

  • Welcome back to another episode of Answer the Call
  • Focus on underutilized job search techniques
  • Goal: Reduce time to hire and number of applications

Importance of Networking

  • People hire those they know, like, and trust
  • Building rapport can happen through respectful outreach
  • Recruiters may overlook candidates in large applicant pools

Outreach vs. Traditional Applications

  • Encouragement to generate conversations through outreach
  • Benefits of reaching out to senior leaders, hiring managers, and recruiters before applying
  • Potential to skip formal application if a conversation leads to an interview

Reasons for Proactive Outreach

  • Teams may have candidates in mind before posting jobs
  • Proactive outreach can position you as a preferred candidate
  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”

Statistical Evidence

  • 63% of job seekers apply to over 337 jobs before landing one
  • Outreach increases chances of landing interviews by 4 to 10 times

Five Outreach Groups

  1. People Posting Jobs on LinkedIn

    • Search for desired roles and filter for hiring posts
    • Engage with hiring managers and employees posting job openings
  2. Contacts Associated with Desired Jobs

    • Use job descriptions to identify hiring managers
    • Reach out with a tailored message highlighting relevant experience
  3. User Groups for Desired Industry/Role

    • Join professional groups on platforms like Slack, LinkedIn, or Facebook
    • Engage with members and seek referrals
  4. Personal Connections

    • Reach out to past colleagues, managers, and alumni
    • Update them on job search and ask for connections or advice
  5. Random Leaders

    • Connect with leaders in desired companies or functions
    • Use a personalized message to seek advice and express interest

Tips for Effective Outreach

  • Optimize LinkedIn profile and increase connections
  • Be active on LinkedIn to enhance credibility
  • Personalize messages to show genuine interest and vulnerability

Conclusion

  • Importance of proactive outreach in job search
  • Encouragement to schedule a career strategy session for personalized guidance
  • Reminder of available resources at thecalledcareer.com

Call to Action

  • Visit thecalledcareer.com for free resources and coaching services
  • Join the program for comprehensive support in job search and career development