Are you (or your clients) targeting employers as part of their job search strategy? If not, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity!
Many people just browse job boards when they’re looking for a job. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the most effective way to find a job. Here’s why:
⏹️ Job boards don’t show you all the available jobs: They only show you jobs that are currently posted, and they don’t show you jobs that are hidden or that are only available to certain people.
⏹️ Job boards don’t help you find jobs that match your values and goals: They only show you jobs that match a title and are similar to the ones you’ve already applied for versus jobs that are a good fit for your career goals.
⏹️ Job boards don’t help you build relationships with employers: They don’t give you a chance to connect with real people, build your contacts, and learn more about their company culture.
💡 So, what should you do instead? Here are some Indirect Job Search Strategies that can help you increase your chances of success:
- ⭐ Identify your dream employers and start targeting them. *Search their websites for active job postings every 3 days.
- ⭐ Reach out to HR or the head of the department where you want to work. *Ask if they are accepting resumes. Be prepared to tell them what you do (your succinct Elevator Speech).
- ⭐ Find the person within these companies who is doing something like what you want to do and request an informational interview to learn more about this career. *This is not about you getting a job, but an opportunity to meet someone new, learn, and ask their advice about entering this career.
- ⭐ Let your close contacts know what you’re looking for and ask them to please reach out if they have any suggestions or contacts for you. *If they’re local, offer to take them out for a cup of coffee! p.s. I suggest including your close contacts in other regions—you never know!
- ⭐ Join relevant social media groups for these employers, follow them, and engage with their posts on LinkedIn. *So that you can research them, track their professional activity, learn about related news, and attend networking events. Knowing their recent events and activities will serve you well in any future communication or interview.
Go ahead, search job boards, but I encourage you to add these more strategic, focused tactics to your game plan!