Phase 4: Networking + Job Hunting

Job Hunting:

When beginning your job search you need to understand some core truths:

Headhunters are a great alternative if you’re ok with not getting the best deal possible

Headhunters primary role is to find roles for candidates, not necessarily to get the candidates the best deal possible. So, if your goal is to find a role and you are not too picky on the details then headhunters are the way to go.

Minimum requirements are cut and dry*

This is a hit or miss. There are some roles that are very strict on minimum requirements and in the same token there are many roles that are willing to flex the minimum requirements if they feel the candidate is a great fit.

So, our philosophy is always let the hiring manager tell you no. Apply for the role if you have at least hafl of the minimum requirements. Because you are already the underdog in this situation networking is going to be crucial to securing the role.

NOTE: Job scams are on a rise. Be incredibly careful when clicking links and be weary when submitting personal information like your SSN. If a recruiter reaches out via LinkedIn or email we recommend doing research on that person as well as the company before furthering the conversation.

Cold applying to jobs does not work

You have to remember that you are competing against hundreds of thousands of applicants on any given job posting. So the odds of standing out amongst those candidates are incredibly slim in this competitive job market. Make sure to always have a referral before applying to competitive roles— it will at least put your resume in a smaller more selective pool.

Networking is how you are going to land your next role.

Aside from preparation, networking is the most powerful tool when it comes to job hunting and securing your desired role. As mentioned above, cold applying is ineffective and to get your foot in the door often requires you to know someone who has the hiring manager’s ear.

With that said, continue reading to learn more about networking effectively.

Networking:

To be successful networking you must not only reach out to people that you know but also strangers. The most effective way to meet new people is to attend networking events, conferences, and leveraging LinkedIn! Below are some tips to maximize LinkedIn to your advantage

  1. Find a job posting that you’re interested in applying for.

    Lets use this one as an example:

  2. First, look at the people that LinkedIn has already highlighted as a commonality.

  3. Go to the search bar and type in the role you are interested in

  4. With the results, click on people

  5. Once you have filter on ‘people’, select ‘all filters’

  6. Now that you have each of the filters open—filter people by commonalities.

    Example, if you served in the US Army then filter people who also served in the US Army or military in general. The goal is to find people with similar backgrounds/experiences as you so when you reach out the connection is more meaningful.

  7. Once you refilter the results, begin reaching out to the people that resulted. A sample message looks something like the following:

    *Remember, you are not reaching out to get a job or a referral— you are reaching out to seek guidance. If the conversation goes well then it usually leads to a referral and more!

  8. Always remember to follow up with people that took time out of their day to speak to you. Good luck!!

The phrase "it's not what you know, but who you know" holds significant power and relevance, even if we sometimes don't want to acknowledge it. While it's unlikely for someone to offer you a job on the spot, your objective in this phase is to acquire the skills to develop and cultivate relationships that can potentially lead to opportunities. You have previously utilized the power of networking to call in favors at another command or negotiate orders, and in this phase, you'll learn how to build valuable relationships with both familiar and new individuals, which will assist you in achieving success and getting your foot in the door. It's critical to have your LinkedIn and resume in order since the first impression others have of you will be based on these two items when you contact new individuals. During this phase, you'll learn how to efficiently construct and leverage your network to not just gain valuable information but also, hopefully, secure a role or job in a company.