The Easy Apply Button

In today's competitive job market, most recent graduates take the "spray and pray" approach—sending countless resumes into the void and hoping something sticks. The Easy-Apply button on LinkedIn has made this approach even more accessible. From my conversations with talent acquisition professionals, the button has created a lot of noise and made the market worse for everyone.

But what if there was a better way? I advise students and recent graduates to use the inbound job search method. An inbound job is a strategic approach inspired by inbound marketing principles that puts you in control of your career journey and allows you to tell your story. I have created a checklist to accompany this framework, which I use for my work. You can download it at the end of this post.

What is Inbound Job Search?

Just as inbound marketing attracts customers by creating valuable content and experiences, inbound job search is about attracting potential employers by demonstrating your value before they even post a job opening. Instead of constantly chasing opportunities, you create a professional presence that draws opportunities to you.

The Three Pillars of Inbound Job Search

1. Content Creation

Rather than just listing your skills on a resume, showcase them through:

• A professional blog discussing industry trends
• GitHub repositories demonstrating your coding projects
• LinkedIn articles sharing your insights
• Portfolio pieces that highlight your work
• YouTube tutorials teaching others in your field

2. Professional Experience Building

Create meaningful experiences that build trust with potential employers:

• Contributing to open-source projects
• Volunteering in roles related to your target industry
• Starting side projects that demonstrate initiative
• Participating in industry hackathons or competitions
• Building your own micro-projects that solve real problems
• You can also join your institution’s Econ Games team! See list of participating schools below.

3. Network Engagement

Drive meaningful connections within your industry:

• Engage thoughtfully in LinkedIn discussions
• Participate actively in professional Discord communities
• Attend and contribute to industry meetups
• Share insights and help others on professional platforms
• Build relationships through informational interviews
• At NKU? You can join my Research Lab. We meet every Friday from 12-1pm. Here is the Spring 2025 line up.

Why Inbound Job Search Works Better

Traditional outbound job search is like cold calling – the employee is in a power dynamic disadvantage. Inbound job search, on the other hand:

• Demonstrates initiative and creativity
• Shows rather than tells your capabilities
• Builds a professional reputation over time
• Creates a network that works for you
• Positions you as a thought leader in your field

Getting Started with Inbound Job Search

1. Identify Your Niche- Define the specific industry, role, or problem space where you want to make an impact.
2. Create Your Platform- Choose 1-2 primary channels (like LinkedIn and a personal blog) to showcase your work and thoughts.
3. Develop Your Content Strategy- Plan regular content that demonstrates your expertise and passion for your field.
4. Engage Consistently- Set aside weekly time to create content, engage with your network, and contribute to your community.
5. Track Your Impact- Monitor metrics like profile views, content engagement, and inbound opportunities.

The Long-Term Advantage

While traditional job searching might get you your next role, inbound job search builds a foundation for your entire career. You're not just finding a job; you're building a professional brand that will continue to create opportunities throughout your career.

Remember, yesterday was the best day to start building your professional presence, and today is the second-best day. By adopting an inbound job search strategy, you're not just looking for your next role but investing in your professional future.

Call to Action

Start small, but start today. Choose one platform, create one piece of content, or contribute to one project. The compound effect of these activities over time will create a professional presence that attracts opportunities rather than chasing them. Tag me on your post, I will stop by and share it. I can be found on socials “EconWithDrA”.

Here is my checklist to help you build your inbound job search strategy.

Dr. A's Checklist

13.8KB ? PDF file

Download

A document that provides a checklist for the inbound job search framework

Good luck and share this post with someone that would benefit from it.