Do It Yourself: No One Is Coming to Save You

The 1-Hour Playbook to Land a Job in 2025

Feeling stuck this holiday season? Between family gatherings and year-end stress, job searching might feel impossible—but now is the time to take charge and push forward. But if you’re serious about landing a role in 2025, action is the name of the game. No one is coming to save you, and no one will care more about your success than you do.

Here’s your daily 1-hour playbook to stay focused, take control, and make progress every single day.

1. Daily Job Boards (20 Minutes)

Start where the opportunities live. Commit to 20 minutes daily searching for roles that align with your goals. Focus on quality over quantity—tailor applications instead of sending generic resumes.

Top job boards to use:

1. LinkedIn

• Use advanced search filters to find roles tailored to your skills and location.
• Turn on “Job Alerts” to get notified when opportunities align with your interests.
• Action: Apply to at least 3 roles daily and identify 1 company to research further.

2. Indeed

• Set daily reminders for new postings in your field.
• Leverage the “One-Click Apply” feature for streamlined applications.
• Action: Save 2-3 jobs and customize your resume to match key job descriptions.

3. NextOp Candidate Portal (For Veterans)

If you’re a veteran or transitioning service member, the NextOp Candidate Portal connects you with employers ready to hire diverse military talent.

• Action: Log in daily, explore roles, and check in with your mentor.

2. Focused Networking (20 Minutes)

Networking isn’t about random connections; it’s about building intentional, strategic relationships that move you closer to your goals.

Step 1: Build Connections with People

Gary Vaynerchuk’s $1.80 LinkedIn Strategy is a powerful framework for engagement, which helped me envision and create, Engagement TTP (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures)—a structured method that ensures your efforts are intentional and targeted.

• 10 Comments on posts from your connections: Support, encourage, or add value.
• Ex: “Congrats on the new role! What advice would you share for someone looking to follow a similar path?” or “This is great insight—how have you seen this play out in your own team?”
• 10 Comments on posts from industry thought leaders or groups: Join conversations and stay visible.
• Ex. “I appreciate you sharing this—do you think this approach works for smaller organizations too?" or “Thank you for breaking this down so clearly. What are the biggest hurdles to implementing this?”
• 10 Bonus Interactions: These are your extra efforts that strengthen relationships: Engage with new connections, celebrate others, join in the conversations.
• Ex. “I loved your recent post on [topic]. Looking forward to following your work!” or “Well deserved—excited to see what’s next for you!”

Step 2: Engage with Companies

Want a company to notice you? Take these actions:

• Follow their LinkedIn pages.
• Click “I’m Interested” on their company page (it signals intent).
• Share or engage with their content (add thoughtful comments to highlight your interest).
• Action: Target 5 companies daily and engage with their page.

Why Engagement TTP? This structured approach ensures you’re building a network intentionally while demonstrating your value. For example, one veteran job seeker followed this exact framework, engaging daily with industry professionals and companies he admired. Within a month, he landed informational interviews with two target companies, which ultimately led to a job offer. This shows the power of focused, consistent engagement.

3. Refine and Learn (20 Minutes)

This step sharpens your tools and mindset for the job search.

1. Optimize Applications: Use tools like JobScan, SkillSyncer, or Best Military Resume to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly.
2. Learn Something New: Watch a quick video, take a LinkedIn Learning course, or review industry trends.
3. Reflect on Progress: Write down 1 small win from the day. Small wins build momentum.

Summary: The Daily 1-Hour Job Search Playbook

• 20 Minutes: Job Boards
• 20 Minutes: Focused Networking
• 20 Minutes: Refine and Learn

Final Thoughts

Success comes down to consistency. By following this daily 1-hour playbook, you’ll build momentum, connections, and opportunities, setting yourself up for success in 2025.

No one is coming to save you—but you’ve got everything you need to succeed. Take action today, and make it happen.

Are you ready?

P.S. For all my post 9/11 enlisted military and veteran readers if you need help the NextOp team can help and the best part is we will do it completely FREE! Register HERE.