Using the 5 x 5 x 5 Method to Network for a Job in Only 15 Minutes a Day

I'm calling on you for a 🆘 (Share Or Subscribe). It helps grow this nifty newsletter that includes a preview of remote jobs from my network, #RemoteJob searching tips, and #RemoteWork news every week.

What's the biggest problem with most online engagement?

It’s MINDLESS!

People spend so much time scrolling through content feeds that they could care less about. A mindset focused on intentional engagement during your job search flips the normal engagement patterns on its head.

Instead of aimlessly scrolling, we take specific measures to engage with content and communities that give us the greatest chance of connecting with our target personas and thus the stakeholders in us landing a remote job. We don't go on social media just to sit and waste time, and if we do fall into that habit, we catch ourselves, and course correct.

The 5 x 5 x 5 Method

The problem: Networking can seem like a HUGE undertaking, especially for a job search. Many of us wish we'd expanded our network before we needed to, but a lot of times it's just not the focus.

The solution: The 5 x 5 x 5 Method on LinkedIn. Your networking needs to be consistent, yet manageable. With 5x5x5, we take a small amount of effort each day, with targeted and intentional structure, and compound the effects over time.

Find a time during the day that you can segment about 15-30 minutes of focused energy. Make it the same time every day and block it in your calendar. The goal is consistency, not perfection. Then execute on the following steps.

Leave 5 Targeted (Thoughtful) Comments

• Target company social profiles, groups, people
• Focus on relevance, target personas, and intention
• Strong people in your network
• Others can see your comments, make them thoughtful
• Show off your expertise and be part of the conversation

Connect with 5 Targeted (Relevant) People

• Add people in relevant groups/communities you join (target personas)
• Search hashtags and add people talking about [keyword]
• Comment on interesting and relevant posts, immediately add them and ‘add note’
• Add those working at companies you’re interested in
• Add those doing the job you want to be doing, or those in a position to hire a job

Unfollow 5 Irrelevant People

• Your feed is a direct reflection of you
• Start unfollowing irrelevant people
• Taking out less relevant ‘fluff’ from your timeline can help you see the good stuff
• It will help your mental health
• Go with your gut, intuition right away when determining relevance

Some folks may not have enough people in their network to unfollow five people everyday. But many of us have built our network feeds over the course of years and have a plethora of irrelevant content in the feed. We've trained this beast ourselves! Remember, unfollowing doesn't mean you won't be connected, you just won't see the content that person posts.

The Result

• You’re no longer a stranger (subconscious programming) to your target personas
• You show off your expertise
• You create an “in” for the DM’s
• You get in the habit of networking and cleaning your feed
• You expand your ability to see other profiles, gain more weak ties

In the beginning, these tasks may take more than 5 minutes each. But day after day, as you start to get in the flow of how to do it quickly, you can get each "5" down to 5 minutes of effort, making it a 5 x 5 x 5 (by 5 minutes) Method!

There are so many incredible opportunities that will come from building your network. Beyond a job search, from a personal perspective - partners, friends, a significant other, can all come to you at some point because you know someone who knows someone. 

Video Version

If you're more visual and want a video explanation of this topic, check this out:

If you tell me that you don't have time to do this every day for the rest of your life, I'd ask you to show me your phone statistics to see how much you spend on social media already. Most people don't realize how many hours they spend each week on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and all these other sites. All I'm saying is replace 30 minutes of that, with this. You'll be better off. Try out the 5 x 5 x 5 method for even just a week! Let me know what kind of success you have. It can really be a life changer.

This week's newsletter is sponsored by Clipboard Health, a globally distributed remote-first company! They are hiring for all sorts of fully remote roles here. Shoot me a DM if any of them stand out to you!

Make sure to subscribe to this newsletter and share it with at least one friend who can gain value from it!

Preview of Exclusive Jobs this Week!

As always, enjoy this free preview of remote jobs directly from my network. By clicking on any of the jobs it will take you to the full job board, as well. Interested in applying for any of these jobs? Create a free profile in my Remote Talent Collective for a chance to be featured to companies in my network.

𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

• Data Analyst @ Audantic  (USA) ⭐️

𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞)

• Software Engineer @ Chainlink Labs (Anywhere) ⭐
• Agency Operations Manager @ The Email Marketers (Anywhere) ⭐
• Sales Manager @ Incscub (Anywhere) ⭐

𝐖𝐅𝐇 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

• Business Development Representative @ Rhumbix (USA) ⭐️

Work with The Remote Job Coach

Candidates Seeking Remote Employment

• Subscribe to this newsletter for weekly updates. I've got plenty of other free resources on my website, but sometimes free stuff doesn't cut it. Ready to invest in yourself with remote job coaching and finally land the remote job of your dreams? Check out my full list of services here.

Companies Seeking Remote Candidates

• Post on my exclusive job board (one post free per 30 days) or reach out for sponsorship and promotional opportunities. Check out the plans here and feel free to send me a DM if you're interested!