11 Job Search Strategies You Can Implement

When it comes to the job search, are you reactive and waiting to see when an opportunity opens up? Or are you proactive in generating leads and opportunities?

Be the latter because, as all job seekers know, a position does not just fall into your lap. You have to work for it. I know it is a struggle to find jobs on your own, which is why, with the help of the following strategies, you'll understand that there are multiple ways you can approach your job search. You can ask for help from other people. And that with the right connection and relationships, you will have many opportunities coming along your way. I recommend choosing 3 - 5 job strategies to implement.

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Implement multiple job saerch strategies to yield better and faster results."

1) Apply Online

With everything being done these days virtually, I know that many of you are applying for jobs online. You look at boards like Indeed or LinkedIn and wait for a callback. Over 90% of the job seekers I talk to rely on this strategy only, yet it yields less than a 3% chance of getting an interview. This approach alone is not the most effective. Now, a great way to make applying online effective is by thinking of ways on how you can increase your chances of getting an interview. You may try what I call the "back door" which involves a more human connection approach. So, in this case, you'll have to find out who is the higher manager, the recruiter, or whether there's someone you know to help increase your chances of getting the interview. Hence the strategies below.

2) Ask for Referrals

One of the things you can do is to ask for referrals. You can ask your friends or people who work in your preferred industry. Start asking and telling them what you're looking for and what you're interested in. You would highly benefit from this because studies show that you are more likely to get hired through a second level of connection. Studies also show that job seekers are five times more likely to get a job offer through a job referral. So, think of people who know you and have worked with you to reconnect with. This will certainly open many doors. Earlier this year, I had an executive-level client who reconnected with his former colleague to catch up and was referred for a job opportunity afterwards. He received the job offer shortly after even though he's based in Canada and the company is based in the U.S.

"Being courageous enough to ask for help is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength."

3) Connect with Executive or Agency Recruiters

This strategy is favourable for mid to senior-level professionals because they have a breadth of industry experience or expertise to connect with other external recruiters to present you with various opportunities. The types of companies you can contact are big-name recruiting firms, midsize, and independent recruiting firms. You should really connect with them to build a relationship. It is essential that you contact the right recruiters and choose those that can hire you in the industry and profession that you want. Do a search on LinkedIn or Google to find the right recruiters to network with. For example, I often recommend Martyn Bassett Associates that specializes in recruiting for sales, marketing and product management roles at tech startups. Some top executive search firms include Spencer Stuart, Heidrick and Struggles, Egon, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds. Keep in mind that recruiters don't work for you, they work for the employers. Their job is to find the best candidate for the role they recruiting for. So they may not have something for you when you reach out to them as it depends on what's available. But you can still nurture the relationship. I had a C-level client who applied this strategy last year and he received multiple job opportunities presented to him. In the end, he landed an incredible C-level opportunity in another province with over 6-figure salary increase!

4) Connect with Internal Recruiters at Your Target Companies

If you are targeting large companies, then this will work for you. Frequently, the internal recruiters are in charge of certain types of roles that they're recruiting for. So, finding a recruiter who works at your target company is an excellent way to have a conversation to let them know that you are interested in the company.

Now don't forget that when it comes to talking to recruiters, it's different from talking to your friends or industry professionals. You have to do more and put on your promotional or pitch hat. You'll need to sell yourself convincingly. You can tell them a story that shows you are interesting, inspiring, and impressive.

5) Connect with a Hiring Manager 

For greater and lasting impressions, you can contact hiring managers. This is one way of getting your foot in front of the door, especially for those who don't have the necessary industry or role-related experiences. You should have a conversation that can develop into a relationship that will showcase your potential. It would make an impression if you contacted them since it shows initiative and makes you stand out from your competition. Hiring managers are also easier to find in small to midsize companies while more difficult to find in larger companies. You'll take a guess and network your way in to find the right person to connect with.

6) Connect with Executives

Management level executives are the people whom I consider as influencers or decision-makers because they are the ones who identify that they need to hire people. This would be a great way for you to stand out and are preferable for those who are at the management executive level type of positions where there aren't that many openings. So, take a consultative approach where you start a conversation to understand business needs and challenges. Then share your point of view and experience in solving those types of problems. This way they can keep you in mind for future opportunities. If you also manage to build a strong relationship with them, they could be a great advocate for you. They could even promote you or put you in touch with the recruiting team. I had a very senior executive level client who used this strategy to network with executives in a different industry and uncovered the ideal opportunity for her at a top bank after nurturing the relationships for about a year. The job wasn't event posted online. This is what we call hidden job opportunities.

"You can uncover hidden job opportunities by investing your time in networking and nurturing relationships."

7) Connect with Industry Professionals 

You can contact industry professionals. You can start getting in touch with those at your peer level, where you can really just explore what it would be like working there. You can get to understand their day-to-day responsibilities, culture, management team, and more. This is a great way to have these exploratory and discovery meetings before talking to the potential high managers, also known as informational interviews.

8) Go to Virtual Job Fairs 

These days we can't actually go outside to job fairs, but thankfully there are those that happen virtually. This is more applicable for those who are more into the junior to mid-level professionals. You can find them if you do thorough research on the internet. For instance, you have the TorontoJobs.ca, which runs multiple virtual career conferences and job fairs. I recently spoke at their Virtual Tech Career Conference and Virtual Career Conferences. Here are my latest talks to help with your job search:

9) Go to Networking Events

A great example of networking events would be alumni events. You can easily build relationships there since you share something in common. You can also find relevant networking events on eventbrite.com or meetup.com to meet other like-minded professionals. It will be an opportunity for you to identify industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. Or see if there are networking events run by people in your network. For example, I've been running networking events for job seekers where they get to practice their elevator pitch and marketing soundbite and receive support from others. If you're interested in participating in the next one, join the waitlist.

10) Go to Industry Conferences

There are several huge conferences where you can gain insights in your preferred industry. This can apply virtually and you can meet a lot of professionals and tons of potential employers. Just do a search on Google and you'll find many upcoming conferences. For example, here's a list of conferences on eventbrite.ca.

11) Go to Information Sessions 

This is a great strategy for students or new grads. Info sessions will provide you with the opportunity to network with potential employers and build rapport. So, even though it is non-evaluative, it creates a great impression on a potential employer. Make sure to do your research on the internet because there are bound to be several info sessions held by organizations virtually, especially during the busy fall recruiting season. For example, BMO is running a North American Virtual Campus Tour this Fall. They'll be hosting BMO Insight Sessions, Recruiter Hangouts and events with various school clubs and associations.

Take all of these strategies into consideration, and you will see how it will make a difference with your job search. Grab every opportunity that comes your way, and you will see the fruit of your results!

Let me know in the comments which job search strategies you'll be implementing.

#jobsearch #strategy #networking #jobseekers #careers #professional development #gethired

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I'm Diana YK Chan. I'm a former Recruiter turned Speaker, Trainer and Career Coach at My Marketability. I help ambitious leaders and executives, like you, design the next chapter of your life and navigate transformational changes in your career by redefining what success means to you, unleashing your talents, and differentiating your unique brand value.

I’ve delivered speaking and training engagements to thousands of people and I’ve coached hundreds of clients 1-on-1 globally, from new grads to C-level, representing diverse industries and professions to change careers, land incredible opportunities, and increase their income significantly. My mission is to empower you to own your greatness with confidence so that you do amazing things and make a remarkable impact in this world.

Want to elevate your brand and advance your career? I invite you to visit www.mymarketability.com and subscribe to my list to receive exclusive career and job-search advice that I only share in email. You can opt-in to receive my 10-day job search mastery challenge.