13 Job Search Tactics to Find Open Positions
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
I know you know about answering job ads and networking to find job leads. Here are 13 more.
00:00 Intro
00:38 1-5
02:24 6-10
03:42 11-the end
Finding a job can definitely take creativity in today’s market. Traditional channels like job boards and networking are important, of course. But don’t be afraid to think creatively. This video is about tactics to cut uncover hidden opportunities.
I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. People hire me for no BS job search and career coaching globally, because I make the process so much easier around finding work, and a lot of other things as well.
So here are some ideas I have about ways that you can find job leads that could turn into your next job. And to be clear, you’re going to have to interview you’re going to have to perform on interviews, you’re going to have to know what you claim to know. But here are ways to get yourself in the door.
And the first one, of course, is attending conferences and events, even if they’re not specifically career-focused. Industry conferences are great places to build connections, and get knowledge about company plans. It’s also a place where you can learn about your field and stay current. Don’t neglect attending a conference or event.
Number two, searching patent databases to find businesses filing new patents in your field. Reach out, introduce yourself and ask about open roles.
Third, pitch yourself for gigs on freelance platforms like Upwork, or Fiverr, or freelancer to get your foot in the door at companies you admire. Sometimes these can convert into full-time job opportunities once they get to know you.
Volunteer with professional associations and nonprofits related to your industry, that can use your expertise. This will help expand your network and provide visibility. Next, contact the authors of relevant industry articles, papers or blogs to start a conversation. You might, as you talk with them, ask if they have open positions on their team. We’re not talking about this necessarily in the first five minutes of your conversation.
Next, look for companies recently funded by venture capital or angel investors. Fast growing startups often have lots of openings, but don’t always post them publicly. You might search for companies on wellfound.com That used to be called AngelList, but was rebranded as wellfound.com.
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Next, use the hashtag open to work on social, like Twitter and LinkedIn because people will sometimes post about available jobs at their organizations using that hashtag.
Next, attend local startup events and demo days to connect with emerging companies before they become . . . before they start their hiring. You can make recommendations to them, get to know the principals. It can be the gateway into an organization. Take online courses and certifications, in demand skills. Recruiters sometimes source companies for candidates directly from them. Consider informational interviews with companies you are interested in even if they don’t have current openings. So get on their radar for future roles.
11 Contact alumni from the school you graduated from. LinkedIn makes that very easy. 12 Tell everyone you know you’re looking for work and what you do. One of my favorite stories is one about a man who was looking for a job and his cleaning person overheard him and asked for a copy of the resume. I’ll spare you the lengthy story in between that request and the time he actually gave the resume. But what happened was, she was a person whose husband was the president of a bank and she did cleaning in order to remain humble and thus he got his job through the cleaning person. 13. Do some things to make yourself visible. Write an article about your expertise and share it with your network on LinkedIn. Become a good guest on podcasts related to your expertise. Find out find ways to get yourself better now. The magic question to always ask yourself is who knows about you and how can I get more people to do that so they’ll want to talk to me?
The key is staying proactive beyond just browsing job boards and job sites. Using some creative thinking and hustle, you can surface some terrific job leads and opportunities others may never hear about. Good luck.
I’m Jeff Altman. Visit my website, TheBigGameHunter.us. There’s a ton in the blog that can help you. Plus, if you have questions about your job search, you can schedule time for Trusted Advisor Services, where I answer questions with you. And if you need more help overall with your job search and want me as your ally in the process, you can schedule time for coaching with me so I can help you.
At the site, you can also find out about my video courses, books and guides. There’s a ton there to help in the blog. Go to the site; go exploring. Lastly, connect with me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter. My network tends to be a lot larger than most of yours. Connected with me will give you access to many, many more people. Have a terrific day and be great,
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those things can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2600 episodes.
Website: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us (schedule a paid coaching session, a free discovery call or ask questions using my Trusted Adviser Services)
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Courses: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
Books and Guides: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us/books
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