How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards

How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards In case you haven’t heard the rumor, the job boards don’t get you too far. Statistics say the likelihood of landing a job through a job board is only 1-2%. Yet, 95% of candidates use the job boards heavily, and unfortunately, exclusively. If clicking “apply” and “submit” a few dozen (or a few hundred) times is leaving you wondering why you’re not getting a response, one fix is to expand beyond the job boards. Here’s how to do it: Ask Your People â€" ALL Of Them! There’s a reason why people hate networking: most people only do it when they need to, and with that need comes a sense of desperation and begging â€" neither of which comes from a position of strength. Additionally, the concept of networking is so closely associated with the professional realm, that it’s easy to forget the natural network you already have, comprised of your family, friends, neighbors, religious community, service people you see regularly, and more. Post on social media your desire to advance your career, and start off in a way that’s fun and interesting. For example, “It’s time for me to step into Jane 2.0! That means a new job and career with an organization where I can contribute real value and use my full range of skills. I am targeting roles such as Senior Internal Communications Specialist or Global Communications Business Partner. My expertise spans market planning, competitive positioning, and marketing execution. I would like to get in from of Director-level marketing decision makers at companies in the San Francisco Bay area such as Bebe, Levi Strauss, and The North Face. Your helpful contacts and connections would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!” That type of posting got a Project Management Specialist hired in less than 30 days, because people commented directly on the post with specific information such as, “Speak to XYZ person, whose email is…” Additionally, people shared the post, so the candidate got help from people even beyond those he knew personally. Go The Direct Route Focus, then find. That’s the mantra to drive your job search forward. Be intentional about this. Where do you want to work? What industry interests you? What type of environment is it? Don’t resist answering these questions, even though they may seem hard, or even though you don’t really know. Here’s a way to kick-start your thinking: Google “best places to work” in your city, and explore the list. After you find something you like, Google their competitors. For example, you might like the company Method because they offer home cleaning solutions that come from natural ingredients â€" that’s a mission. But they’re not the only such company in the space. If you like what that mission, you could also look at Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, and California Baby. It may seem counterintuitive: focusing in on specific companies means you’re missing out on all these other opportunities, right? Not exactly. When you pursue a specific opportunity, if it doesn’t pan out, that opportunity is a dead end. However, elevate your “job search” into a “company search,” because if a specific opportunity there doesn’t pan out, you can still look at that same company â€" which you already like â€" for similar opportunities. Make Your Approach Landing a job doesn’t happen from your bedroom, where you’re hunched over the computer for half the day burning up the job boards. Getting the position you want happens from human-to-human contact. Advocate for yourself and your own best life by starting the conversation. Use LinkedIn to make your approach to the relevant decision maker. Don’t be basic. Don’t send the same message 100 times to 100 different HR people. Craft your messages on a case-by-case basis (yes, that means less than 100 per day!). Mention your interest in their organization, your expertise, and how you feel you can deliver immediate value. When you think about what you’re going to say to each person, it shows, and you’re more likely to warrant a response. There’s a specific 300-character email that jobseekers are using to get their message out. We walk through it word-for-word for you in our “new job” masterclass, “How To Get Hired In HALF The Time!” See exactly how people who used to be unemployed, but are now working, used this email message to get responses from relevant decision makers in 24-48 hours. Join us today.