By Jessica Hernandez, CPBS, CDCS
Executive Resume Writing | Certified Personal Brand Strategist | LinkedIn Top Voice
Job boards seem like a logical start for a job hunt. But let's be real: shooting off applications online often leads to zero responses. It's not you; it's the process you're using. There’s a smarter way to go about your job search. After 16 years in the industry, helping hundreds of thousands of job seekers with their search here is what I would do if I were starting my job search today.
Step #1: LinkedIn. The first thing I would do is update my LinkedIn profile headline to match my target job title. I’d add 3 high-priority, hard-skill keywords that match the three most relevant to my target role. Then, I would craft an outcome-based personal branding statement that aligns with what my target employer values. (See a theme here?)
I prioritize LinkedIn because optimizing your profile for your target job title and the skills associated with it will increase your visibility with recruiters and attract them to your profile. This is a proactive step that yields gains while you work on other activities.
Step #2: Resume. My resume would undergo a significant overhaul. I'd place my target job title at the top, followed by three essential hard-skill keywords - most likely the same from my LinkedIn profile. However, I would adjust them as I applied to different roles and saw what different companies valued and needed.
The personal branding statement on my resume would match my target employer's values.
Step #3: Career Wins. To catch the eye of potential employers, I'd create a "Highlights" section in the top third of my resume. Here, I'd spotlight three major career achievements that perfectly match the needs of the role and my target employer.
I’d adjust these to be closely aligned with the needs of each employer as I applied to different roles. If you’re going after similar roles, likely, these may not need much adjusting. I’d always keep the most relevant in that section.
Step #4: Expand My Network. Connections matter. I'd immediately upload all my email contacts to LinkedIn and send connection requests to every person. This is the best way I know to grow your online network the fastest. When we did this for my husband last year when he launched his job search it quadrupled his network within 24 hours.
Step #5: Engage with Target Companies. Finding my top five target companies on LinkedIn would be a top priority. I'd follow their pages and actively engage by commenting on their posts and ads. This would spotlight my application whenever I apply for a job at their company.
Step #6: Find and Connect with Employees. For those companies where I'm not already connected, I'd carefully select three active LinkedIn members from their employee list. With personalized messages, I'd reach out to connect and aim to build meaningful relationships. I would do this by engaging with their posts on LinkedIn and leaving insightful and thoughtful comments.
Step #7: Open To Settings. I'd make sure my "Open to Opportunities" setting on LinkedIn is turned on and lists my target job titles. If I’m not searching confidentially, I’d add the green banner. While I’m in my settings I’d change my resume settings so that all recruiters can see my resume in their searches.
Step #8: Industry Recruiters. Specialized recruiters in my industry would be on my radar. I'd connect with ten industry-specific recruiters who could potentially open doors to relevant opportunities. I would start engaging with their posts on LinkedIn.
Step #9: Get the Word Out. I'd let my closest family and friends know about my job search, including the industry, role, and companies I'm targeting. I’d provide a brief explanation of what I do and how I add value to those companies so they would know what to keep in mind if they hear of anything.
Step #10: Build My Target Company List. Finally, I'd compile a list of my top 40 target companies. This proactive step would guide my outreach efforts and keep me focused on my career goals. I’d start following their Company pages on LinkedIn, engaging with their content, finding employees to connect with, and pinpointing the best person to reach out to for an informational interview.
Creating a list of 40 is hard. The first 5-10 tend to be the easiest, but then you start slowing down. I’d look at companies in my industry (Google and LinkedIn are perfect for research). I’d see who alumni of my college ended up working for, especially those in my field and local to my area.
I’d also look at competitors of my dream companies and add some of them to my list. I’d see who is actively posting jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed, as it would give me an idea of who in my industry is actively hiring right now. This would help build my list out to 40 companies. Then, I’d start systematically working my way through my list from the top down. Making connections, engaging, and scheduling informational interviews.
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