Thread by @BanjiAlo

A friend rang me after applying for 40+ jobs in 2 months with 0 contacts and 0 interviews

I got him 4 recruiter contacts, 3 interviews and 1 officer in 2 weeks

Here's what we tweaked:

#thread

He initially told me he was job hunting and would prefer to apply online

After reading his profile, I tried to discourage him, but he insisted on online applications.

I agreed but on a condition

I told him:

"If you don't get a job in 60 days, we will do it my way"

He agreed.

Deal.

Honestly, I knew he might struggle.

After 2 months of exhaustion, he allowed me to drive.

Here's what we did:

Mission 1:

I told him to write the names of every single person he can think of and where they work

We made a list of about 30 contacts

I asked him to reach out him all of them, letting them know he was looking for a job, his skillset and his preferred role(s)

He gladly did.

The same week, four of his contacts referred him to their organisation.

At least four recruiters rang him to establish initial contact

Win Number One

Mission 2:

I asked him to show me how he applies online.

Here's what he does:

- Finds a job online
- Submits application
- Done

I call this a wasted effort.

I told him to:

- Go online and find a role he likes
- Find someone who knows someone in that company
- Get referred by your connection (no mutual connection, no application)
- Contact the hiring manager to introduce yourself and ask 2-3 interesting questions about the role

- Add a cover letter to your application mentioning your mutual connection
- Apply
- Email the hiring manager confirming you have applied.
- Done

He had three interviews in two weeks

Win Number Two.

Eventually, he found a role via referral.

- Informal interview - 15 mins
- Immediate start

Here's why this technique works:

- Employers love referrals - it's very fast and low risk to them.

- Employers hire only those they like or someone EXTREMELY skilled

- Some online job ads are not genuine or out of date

- Some employers don't know they need someone until someone great shows up. You might be the person if you show up at the right time.

Lesson?

- Online application is not for everybody. Certainly not when you are not competitive enough

-Stop wasting your time applying online if you are not competitive

- Get referrals and use the back door.

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@AaronAkpuPhilip