Attract Your Next Job Using These Tricks

What if you could sit back and let opportunities come to you?

This may sound unrealistic or improbable, but hear me out.

Responding to job postings may provide immediate gratification, But, the odds of getting a response are slim and the odds of landing a job are even slimmer.

In marketing, it's called pull marketing. Using SEO (search engine optimization), creating educational content, and building online an online reputation are used to draw customers to you. This strategy works as a magnet to lure in interested parties.

7 Things You Can Do To Attract Your Next Opportunity

1. Let Your Network Speak For You

Referrals are the number one source of new hires. In order to get referred for a job, people you know have to know what type of work you want to do next. This means you need to let your network know what you are looking for! Announce it and make it obvious. Unless you are covertly looking for a new job. Even if you are trying to keep your job search covert, there are still things you can do to let people know who you are and what you want to do next.

• Add your LinkedIn URL to your personal email signature
• Reach out to your closest contacts and let them know what you are looking for

2. Tap In To The Power of Your Personal Connections

Think about all the people you know and are friends with on Facebook. Do they know what you want to do next? You can add work information to your Facebook profile (For more tips on updating your Facebook profile for job search, read Prepare Your Facebook Profile For Job Search) Now you are ready to share status updates on Facebook that will help your personal network understand your career focus such as trending industry news or updates from companies you are interested in working for.

3. Step Up and Become Visible (Inside and Outside Your Organization)

The next time your employer asks for volunteers to tackle a project, don’t slink down in your seat—raise your hand! This is an easy way to get exposure within your organization and perhaps outside your organization. Look for professional associations, industry conferences or clubs to become involved with for extra exposure outside of your company! You never know who you'll meet!

4. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile needs to have all the right skills and keywords to convey you're qualified for your next role. From your headline to your interests, make sure you've used the right terminology and show measurable accomplishments. But don't stop there. Embed samples of your work under each job to show what you are capable of. You'll see ideas below.

5. Build An Online Portfolio or Personal Website

Employers say seeing a portfolio or samples of work is one thing that can help move a candidate forward in the process. Why not show your work? Here are things you can put in your online portfolio (and/or embed in your LinkedIn profile):

• Testimonials
• Presentation (use SlideShare)
• Process map
• Report or executive summary
• Project timeline, Gantt chart
• Infographic resume
• List of resources

6. Don’t Wait For The Interview To Prove You're Interested

Shoot a video. Do you feel you could prove you’re qualified for a job if you could get the interview? You can use video to explain your qualifications and interest in the job. Very few job seekers are using this media, which makes it a unique and memorable way to capture the employer’s attention.

Your video should explain why you are a good fit for the job and why you want to work for that employer. It doesn’t have to be long. In fact, most marketers recommend keeping videos under three minutes. Video may not be for everyone, but if you aren’t afraid of getting in front of the camera and have some basic video editing experience, then this format may give you an advantage.

7. Write and Speak On Topics You Care About

Writing or speaking about something you are interested in accomplishes several things:

• You showcase your expertise (and communication skills)
• More people know what you can do
• Your name is likely indexed via the internet and more likely to show up in search results

Shifting to a proactive job search feels empowering. You’re in control and creating the potential for opportunities to find you.