Job Boards Are Overrated: This Is What Works

Most job seekers take the same approach with little to no results: apply to as many roles as possible on job board sites like LinkedIn and Indeed. It's the classic "spray and pray" method, and if you're reading this, chances are you've tried it yourself.?

But here's the million-dollar question: if everyone is doing this same approach, why would it work better for you?

As a career coach who helps teachers transition into new fields, I've seen countless job seekers fall into this trap. And let me tell you, it rarely works. In fact, it often leads to frustration, discouragement, and a whole lot of wasted time.?

But don't worry – there's a better way, and I'm here to show you how.

The Job Board Conundrum

Let's start with the research. A 2022 study by Cox Media found that:

• 88% of job applications come from online job boards
• Only 29% of actual hires originate from these platforms

That means the remaining 11% of applications result in 71% of hires. Talk about playing the odds!

So when you only apply to jobs on job boards, you can easily become super discouraged and even depressed because you aren't getting any traction. I see this over and over again.?

You think it's your fault or you’re deficient in something. You might spend hours tailoring resumes, writing cover letters, and submitting non-stop applications, but you are only met with silence or generic rejection emails.

The truth is, it's not you – it's the approach.

The odds are completely against you when blindly applying to jobs on job boards. It's like trying to win the lottery by buying 100 tickets every day. Sure, someone has to win eventually, but the chances of it being you are still slim to none.

My Journey from Teacher to Googler

This is the same experience I had when I was attempting to leave teaching.I was a disillusioned English teacher, feeling stuck and yearning for change. Little did I know that a chance encounter with someone at Starbucks would lead me to land a job at Google (yes, that Google!).

Here's what happened:

1. I was working on my laptop at Starbucks looking at jobs online.
2. A friendly woman sat next to me, and I couldn't help but notice her outfit.
3. I complimented her shirt – it had this really cool business casual tropical feel, and the color combo with her pants was spot on.
4. We chatted about life, coffee, and eventually, our jobs.
5. I shared that I was a teacher trying to transition into a role outside of higher-ed.
6. Turns out, she was a Google recruiter with an unlisted technical instructional design? position.
7. She got the hiring team excited about me.
8. Four interviews and one take-home assignment later – I got the job!

Now, you might be thinking, "That's just a random thing that happened to you. Lightning doesn't strike twice!" But here's the thing – it does. Let me tell you about my friend Brittney.

Brittney was at a wedding, making small talk with the bride's mom. As they chatted about careers, Brittney mentioned her background in education and how she was looking for a career outside of education. The bride's mom lit up – she worked on the exam writing team for K-12 standardized tests at the California Department of Education (CDE). Brittney had no idea these types of roles even existed!

As luck would have it, a position had just opened up on the team. A few months later, with that connection's support, Brittney landed the role at the CDE.

These stories might sound like pure chance, but there's actually a method to the madness. I've developed techniques I share with my clients on how to expedite this process so you don't have to blindly sit by waiting for these serendipitous opportunities to happen to you. If you want to learn more, check out my website for details.

People Hire People, Not Resumes

At our core, we're all seeking genuine human interaction. It's how we grow, learn, and yes – land amazing jobs. When you build real relationships based on shared interests and experiences, people naturally want to help you succeed.

Research backs this up. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that humans are hardwired to build connections with each other. We're social creatures, and our brains release oxytocin – often called the "bonding hormone" – when we engage in positive social interactions.

Moreover, storytelling has been a fundamental part of human communication for thousands of years. A 2018 study in the journal Nature Communications found that storytelling is a powerful way to foster social cooperation and teaching. When we share stories, we're not just exchanging information – we're building emotional connections.

This is why networking, when done right, is so powerful when job searching. It's not about collecting business cards at networking events. It's about tapping into our innate human desire to connect, share experiences, and help one another.

The AI Resume Trap

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But what about all those AI tools that optimize my resume? Surely they can give me an edge!" Actually not as much as you might think. If everyone's using the same tools, no one stands out. When coupled with applying to generic job boards, you're just another drop in an oversaturated ocean.

Yes, generative AI like Claude and ChatGPT are incredible tools for many things. But be cautious about using them to rewrite or adjust your resume. Here's why:

Language models, while impressive, have a finite amount of language data to draw from. For example, GPT-4o, one of the largest language models, was trained on about 45 terabytes of text data. That's a lot, but it's still limited.

When thousands of job seekers input similar types of information (like "adjust resume for marketing manager position"), the AI will likely produce similar results for everyone.

A recent article in Harvard Business Review titled "AI for Résumés Is Bad for Candidates and Companies" highlights this issue. The author argues that AI-optimized resumes can actually hinder the hiring process by making candidates seem more similar and potentially obscuring unique qualities that could make someone stand out.

Remember, the goal isn't to sound like everyone else – it's to showcase what makes you uniquely qualified and interesting.

Networking Reimagined

So, if job boards and AI-optimized resumes aren't the answer, what is? It's time to reimagine networking.

Forget the outdated image of suits exchanging business cards. Modern networking is about being genuinely curious and building authentic connections. Here's how to do it right:

1. Reach out to people in roles or companies you're interested in (even if there's no open position)
2. Ask about their experiences and insights
3. Focus on learning, not just "getting something"
4. Remember: People help those they know and like

But here's a word of caution: authenticity is key.?

LinkedIn and other career coaches sometimes provide templates for how to format messages to people on LinkedIn. While these can be helpful as examples, don't use them verbatim. You need to rewrite in your own words.

Let me share a personal example. A few months ago, I was hiring for a people manager role on my team. Every day, I would get 4-5 LinkedIn messages using the same template:

"Hi Keith, I just read an article you wrote on XXX, and it intrigued me. Also, I see you are hiring for a role as a XXX. I have XX years of experience and with my background I have done XXX (list of job responsibilities at other places that were exactly what was listed on the job description). Would you be open to a 15 min chat about my experience and explore the role? Thanks!"

Want to know how many of these I replied to? Zero. They were so inauthentic and put a bad taste in my mouth. I don't hire people who are generic, just like everyone else. I hire people because of their uniqueness.

How to Show Curiosity and Authenticity

The key to successful job hunting isn't about gaming the system – it's about tapping into your natural curiosity and being your authentic self. When you approach networking with a genuine desire to learn and connect, amazing opportunities have a way of finding you.

Remember my Starbucks story? That life-changing conversation started with a simple, genuine compliment. You never know where a real interaction might lead!

But how do you cultivate this curiosity and authenticity? Here are some tips:

1. Follow your interests: Reach out to people doing work that genuinely excites you. Your enthusiasm will naturally shine through.
2. Ask thoughtful questions: Instead of focusing on job openings, ask about their career journey, challenges they've faced, or insights they've gained.
3. Share your story: Don't be afraid to talk about your background and aspirations. Vulnerability can create strong connections.
4. Be open to unexpected paths: Sometimes the best opportunities come from fields or roles you hadn't considered before.
5. Follow up meaningfully: If someone shares a resource or insight, actually use it and let them know how it helped you.
6. Offer value where you can: Maybe you have a skill or perspective that could be helpful to them. Networking should be a two-way street.

Your Action Plan

Are you ready to ditch the job boards and start building authentic connections?

I created a tool called The Secret Job Search Blueprint, which will help you develop your own unique strategy to land a job in the way most others don't.

>>> Download the blueprint now <<<

The job market might be challenging, but with the right approach, you can stand out from the crowd and find a role that truly excites you. It's time to stop playing the odds and start creating your own opportunities. Good luck, and happy networking!