Phase 4:

Networking + Job Hunting

Job Hunting


Job hunting has evolved in the digital age, and one of the most valuable tools in your job search toolkit is LinkedIn. In today's competitive job market, actively utilizing LinkedIn is paramount. It's not just a platform to showcase your professional experience, but a dynamic networking tool that can connect you with potential employers, mentors, and industry peers. To succeed in job hunting, you should optimize your LinkedIn profile, highlighting your skills, achievements, and career aspirations. Follow companies and individuals in your field, engage in industry-related discussions, and proactively reach out to connect with professionals who can provide valuable insights and potential job leads. LinkedIn's job search feature is also a powerful resource for identifying job openings and researching hiring companies. By using LinkedIn effectively, you can significantly enhance your job search efforts and increase your chances of landing the right opportunity.

When beginning your job search, you need to understand some core truths:

  • Headhunters are a great alternative if you’re ok with not getting the best deal possible'

    Headhunters primary role is to find roles for candidates, not necessarily to get the candidates the best deal possible. So, if your goal is to find a role and you are not too picky on the details then headhunters are the way to go.

  • Minimum requirements are cut and dry*

    This is a hit or miss. There are some roles that are very strict on minimum requirements and in the same token there are many roles that are willing to flex the minimum requirements if they feel the candidate is a great fit.

    So, our philosophy is always let the hiring manager tell you no. Apply for the role if you have at least hafl of the minimum requirements. Because you are already the underdog in this situation networking is going to be crucial to securing the role.

  • Cold applying to jobs does not work

    You have to remember that you are competing against hundreds of thousands of applicants on any given job posting. So the odds of standing out amongst those candidates are incredibly slim in this competitive job market. Make sure to always have a referral before applying to competitive roles— it will at least put your resume in a smaller more selective pool.

  • Networking is how you are going to land your next role

    Aside from preparation, networking is the most powerful tool when it comes to job hunting and securing your desired role. As mentioned above, cold applying is ineffective and to get your foot in the door often requires you to know someone who has the hiring manager’s ear.

    With that said, continue reading to learn more about networking effectively.

Networking:

To be successful networking you must not only reach out to people that you know but also people not in your circle.

The most effective way to meet new people is to attend networking events, conferences, and leveraging LinkedIn! Below are some tips to maximize LinkedIn to your advantage

  • The phrase 'it's not what you know, but who you know' is powerful and relevant.

Your goal is to develop and cultivate relationships that can lead to opportunities.

Networking has helped you in the past, and now you'll learn to build valuable relationships with both familiar and new people, enhancing your chances of success.

  • Ensure your LinkedIn and resume are well-prepared, as they'll be your first impression when contacting new connections.

This phase will teach you how to efficiently build and leverage your network for information and potential job opportunities

*This section is best viewed on a desktop

1. Find a job posting that you’re interested in applying for.

Lets use this one as an example:

2. First, look at the people that LinkedIn has already highlighted as a commonality

3. Navigate to the search bar and type in the role you are interested in

4. With the results, click on ‘people’

5. Once you have filtered on ‘people’, select ‘all filters’

6. Now that you have each of the filters open—filter people by commonalities

Example, if you served in the US Army then filter people who also served in the US Army or military in general. The goal is to find people with similar backgrounds/experiences as you so when you reach out the connection is more meaningful.

7. Once you re-filter the results, begin reaching out to the people that appeared in the results.

A sample message looks something like the following

*Remember, you are not reaching out to get a job or a referral— you are reaching out to seek guidance. If the conversation goes well then it usually leads to a referral and more!