"The most foundational step in every search today, I've come to believe, is deciding on an overarching strategy that will determine everything else you do. Given the extraordinary volume of applications that are clogging up the market, do you adapt by applying to as many jobs as humanly possible? Or do you go the opposite way and focus all your energy on a very small number of your dream jobs?"
"I hesitate to give advice in a market where even the perfect approach won't guarantee success. Even if you're struggling - pretty much everyone who's looking right now is - it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. But I've spent a lot of time thinking through this dilemma over the last two years, talking to dozens of experts and job seekers. Here's where I've landed."
"Assuming I'm catching you at the beginning of your job search, start with the precision approach. To make this work, you have to do the one thing everyone hates: network. Tell everyone you know you're looking. Call up old colleagues; comb through your alumni network; mention your search to friends of friends. Ask them if they know if their companies are hiring, what they think about working there, and if they know anyone else who's hiring."
The white-collar job market is highly competitive, with an average applicant facing roughly a 0.4% chance of landing a role. Job seekers must choose between a volume approach—submitting many applications—and a precision approach—targeting a few dream roles. The recommended initial tactic is precision: prioritize networking by telling contacts, calling former colleagues, using alumni networks, and asking friends for referrals. When personal contacts run out, reach out directly to people at target companies while accepting that many cold messages will be ignored. No strategy guarantees success, but strategic choice should guide the search.
Read at Business Insider
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