How To Be The First To Get An Interview
How do you get an interview before others even know there is a job opening? Well, in many ways, hiring managers are very similar to job hunters. When an opening happens, they want to fill it as quickly, painlessly, and cheaply as possible. Sounds familiar right? You want to find a job as quickly, painlessly, and cheaply as possible.
Most employers approach recruiting like this.
The first thing they do is to take a look at who in the organization they could promote into the position (internal promotions).
Next, they ask employees and people they know about who could be a good fit. It may not be someone the hiring manager knows, but at least it will be coming with some degree of security. No one is going to suggest their sister-in-law who can never seem to hold a job.
Still no luck? Many will turn to the internet, use search engines, LinkedIn, and look at professional associations. They won’t get any direct recommendations, but at least they haven’t spent any money yet either.
Next they may place a job listing on the company website.
If all those methods fail, they’ll spend some money. They most likely will put a job listing on a few job boards or pay to read a few resumes.
And if after all that, still nothing? They may reach out to a third-party recruiter or look at some of the unsolicited resumes that have been sent in the past.
The Problem
Most likely you’ll perform many of these same steps as a job hunter. The problem? The things most job seekers do first are last on this list. And the things you most likely would do last are what employers do first. It’s a natural thing. You want it painless and quick, same as the employer. It’s just painless and quick are opposite for the two of you. The items that are first on the employers’ list require more effort from you, so you naturally do them last if ever at all.
What does this mean for you? If the employer is successful in their first few steps and you never do the activities in those steps, then you never find each other. And if other employers find success in those early steps as well, you may find yourself unemployed for a very long time.
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What Can You Do To Put Yourself In An Employer’s First Steps?
Create an online identity that will make you easier for employers to find. Have a LinkedIn profile that is complete. Create content that is relevant to the job you want, showcases your personality, and highlights your expertise. Don’t just talk about politics and pop culture. I once had a client who did a Makeover Monday using BI tools and every Monday showed off his finance knowledge. He ended up switching industries and earning $80,000 more per year, partly because his Makeover Monday got him noticed. If you want to know more about what he did, grab some time here and I’ll share with you.
Visit job boards. When a job listing looks promising, don’t just fire off your resume. Research the company. Do you know anyone there? What can you learn about the company and its problems? Who in the company has the power to hire and how can you reach that person directly? How can you bypass the people who only send resumes?
Sign up with LinkedIn. This is THE premier business networking site. Everyone should sign up with LinkedIn the same day they get their driver’s license. The glue that binds all human relationships together is the cumulative weight of common experience. This is true regardless of whether it is your spouse, friend, brother, or even an email buddy you meet on the internet that you’ve never seen face-to-face. I’ve met many people on LinkedIn that I now consider close allies, many I’ve never even met in person. With LinkedIn, you’re likely to meet people with whom you’ll interact with for many years to come, and the longer your history, the greater the ties that bind you together.
Research companies in your area that are involved in industries that interest you. Find out what their needs are through online research and speaking with people inside those companies. Check sites like Glass Door and LinkedIn. Find out what problems the company faces and think of how you might help solve them. Identify the person with the power to hire you and approach that person as someone who can solve his or her problems, not a suppliant in need of a favor.
Look for opportunities that are on the hidden job market. Determine what a company’s problems are and how you can solve them. If you can identify their problems and show you can solve them, many smart managers will create a position for you. The best way to do this is by talking to people at the company as well as those who work for their competitors. Before launching Optim, I found every job for the past decade this way. People made a job for me because they knew they could bet on me to solve their problems. Can people bet on you? Show them!
