You know that friend that seems to move from job to job seamlessly without a drawn out job search and blowing their confidence to shreds? You can do it too using the best-kept secrets in job searching.
I'm cutting right to the chase. Here are my 14 PROVEN job search strategies to get you out of your job and into a new, BETTER job in 90 days or less. These strategies take you from exploring what's next to accepting an offer, all with the goal of less stress and more [insert what you want out of your job - salary, flexibility, work from home, benefits, culture, etc. ].
Want even more how to's for each job search strategy below? You can download my FREE Ultimate Job Search Strategy Playbook: 14 Proven Strategies to Get a Better Job Faster. And definitely share it your friends who have been at their search for more than 3 months. It's time for a new approach!
1. Update Your LinkedIn Profile.
You have to start somewhere! This is an easy tip toe into the world of job searching AND completely necessary. Start by updating your LinkedIn profile with your current role and any other easy section updates to bring your profile to current day.
2. Get Organized.
When you're just starting your search, sure it's easy to keep a list of jobs of interest in your mind or remember to call that co-worker who's at a company you want to join. But once you get up and running on all cylinders, organization is key to minimizing time spent on your search and maximizing your network and the hidden job market (see #10 below).
Another benefit of getting organized is brainstorming contacts who can help you and writing them down. Out of sight, out of mind. We need them and you top of mind! (Again, see #10 below).
3. Deep Dive the Internet for Options.
I always tell my clients that there's one time in this process they should go down the deep dark whole that is the internet. Peruse all the job boards, look at all the LinkedIn profiles, read up on all the organizations and industries. Get educated on what's out there and what could be next.
4. Talk to People in the Role(s) You Think You Want.
Once you have an idea of what "next" looks like for you, connect with people who have that title or are in that field or industry. Doing a round of informational interview-like chats will get you the intel to know whether you want to proceed down this path and, if you do, the language you'll need to speak to get noticed when applying.
5. Commit to a Direction.
This is a big one! The wider you cast your net, the less effective you'll be. Open to anything? Then you can't ask anyone for specific help. Will do any job that's not your current job? Then you can't craft a compelling elevator pitch or convey your value in your resume.
Challenge yourself to pick a path. Two paths tops! Then stay the course and continue to get smart on that path. There will be time to reassess as you go (see #6 below).
6. Get a Support System.
The job search can be a doozy on your mental outlook. Silence, rejections, fear - every day brings a new set of mindset challenges and questioning yourself. Even writing a simple text can throw you into a spiral (you're not alone!). (This is a real thing! I even wrote about it and created 8 Job Search Affirmations to help job searchers stay open and positive throughout the job search.)
It's incredibly important to have a support system around. Cheerleaders, sounding boards, mentors, coaches, the whole team! By having different people you can go to for different areas of your job search, you'll have 360 degree support.
You want at least one person that you can be completely honest with and that person can be completely honest with you. You'll also want another person who can help you with the technical components of your search - how to optimize your LinkedIn profile (see #8) or how to write an outreach message that actually gets a response. These can be the same person, depending on your village or whether you hire a career coach. Either way, you'll want at least one other person that brings the fun and can let you escape the job search process when you need a break.
7. Craft Your Pitch.
Now that you got smart on where you're headed and committed to that direction, you're ready to craft your pitch. You'll need to be able to concisely convey what you do, how you do it, and the value you bring. Most importantly, all of this MUST be through the lens of what's important to the job you want.
Craft your pitch. Practice it out loud. Use it with your network. Iterate and repeat.
8. Optimize your LinkedIn Profile.
"But Heather, you already told me to update my LinkedIn Profile in #1!" Yes, but now we optimize!
It's time to take your pitch and position you for the job you want with a maxed out LinkedIn profile.
Watch out world! Because once you do the work to commit to a direction, you update your profile language to reflect where you're headed, and you fully optimize your profile, the job search is ON! You have the keys to reach out to anyone and everyone (see #10 below) and the confidence to put your value on display.
Ready to supercharge your job search? Join the waitlist for my LinkedIn Level Up Bootcamp to make the #1 career and job search platform bring that better job to you, faster and with less stress.
9. Tailor Your Resume.
Remember how you committed to a direction (#5 above)? Make sure your resume reflects that.
And then, EVERY TIME YOU APPLY ONLINE OR SHARE YOUR RESUME, make sure your resume reflects the position for which you're applying or what you know to be true about the person or organization you're sharing your resume with.
If you create a strong resume with value-screaming results, it should take you no more than 30 minutes to tailor for each application or pass along moving forward. Essential to this time allotment is (1) staying committed to a direction (see #5 above), (2) using intel from speaking with people in similar roles (see #4 above), and (3) crafting your pitch (see #7 above).
Not sure your resume is up to par (see #6 above)? Upload your resume here and I'll send you my thoughts in 48 hours or less.
10. Tap into the Hidden Job Market.
80% of jobs are filled before they are ever even posted. Let that sink in.
To get that better job faster, you absolutely need to tap into the hidden job market. Figure out what organizations interest you, what job you're going to do there, and then make contact.
You do this by letting your network know you're looking for a new job and, specifically, what you're looking for out of that new job.
You do this by connecting with new people and growing those relationship.
My ultimate tip: you do this by asking every contact to introduce you to one person.
11. Aim for Quality Not Quantity.
Applying for jobs is not a numbers game unless you just want any job. In which case, be prepared to be job searching in 12 months.
Getting the right next job for you means being highly selective about the jobs you pursue. By focusing on quality rather than quantity, you give yourself more room to craft a compelling pitch (see #7 above), tailor your resume (see #9 above), network and follow up (see #10 above), and get noticed by a hiring manager.
All with less stress!
12. Know Your Value and Maintain Your Mindset.
I'm trying to say, confidence is key. When you know what you're worth, what you do and don't want to do, and are ready to reach your goals, your confidence is unshakeable.
Blow to your ego by a recruiter who ghosted you? Ding to your confidence by an immediate rejection email? Maintaining your mindset - this is a PROCESS, not a race - will help you bounce back faster.
The goal is to be able to get to a place where you're as confident going into interviews as possible, because that's when the interview process gets fun. (Yes, interviewing can be not terrible.) More importantly, that's when your value is clear to your interviewer and your offer reflects your future potential. Aka a higher salary!
13. Understand Your Interviewer.
The other key to an interview that leads to an offer (beside #12 above) is truly understanding your interviewer's point of view and pain points.
If you know exactly what your interviewer is going through in their current seat and how it relates to the job you want, you can speak in a way that demonstrates you will solve or minimize those pain points. This directly equates to your value to your future employer. Which directly equates to the terms of your offer.
"But how do I know what they need?" Talk to people in that type of role at that company or a similar organization. Get smart on what that person is experiencing (see #4 above), then connect around that shared understanding.
14. Be Patient Yet Persistent.
A lack of response, rejection, or turning down an offer doesn't mean that pathway to a new job is dead in the water.
I don't believe in closed doors. Only doors that are closed for right now.
Job searching is not a "set it and forget it" activity. It takes regular touch points and remembering that there are humans on the other side of that computer. They have other deadlines, things going on at home, and are being pulled in multiple directions. Just like you.
So while they offered to help you or hosted a great interview, you likely are not #1 on their list everyday.
Be strategic in your follow up (see #2 above), stay top of mind, and don't give up. Engage with them on LinkedIn. Continue to look for more opportunities and apply to quality jobs (see #11 above). And remember...
Good things come to those who wait...but also who follow up. No one can job search for you. You are in control of what's next!
✨ Feeling more focused about how to accelerate your job search now but want to take it to the next level? Download my FREE Ultimate Job Search Strategy Playbook: 14 Proven Strategies to Get a Better Job Faster now. You'll find even more how to's and pro tips for each job search strategy in this post.
✨ Think you've been doing all of this and are still not getting the interviews and offers you want? Email me at heather@shatterandshine.com for 1:1 support.
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