Land Your Next Job with 5 Out-of-the-Box Strategies

Job hunting is time consuming, stressful, and tedious - and that’s during normal times. Job hunting during a pandemic? That’s next level.

As millions of new job seekers have entered the market over the last seven months, it has become increasingly difficult to stand out in a saturated environment - even with extensive skills, experience, and an above-average resume. 

To get results, job seekers need to think about their search differently, which could mean stepping outside their comfort zone - and past traditional job search methods. 

Below are five out-of-the-box strategies to help you stand out in your search - and ultimately land your next job.

1. Reach out to executives via email

It may be counterintuitive, but the higher you go up in the chain at a company, the more likely you are to get a response. 

Why? Executives feel the pain of unfinished projects and unfilled positions most acutely. This awareness drives them to take action. Can you solve their problem (i.e. - ease their pain)? Yes? Demonstrate how and they’ll often respond.

And while executives might be busy, they got to where they are by being efficient with their time. Consider how responsive billionaire businessman Mark Cuban is over email or the late Steve Jobs. 

To properly approach executives, create a list of companies where you would like to work. Find the right executive(s) from each company such as the CEO, CFO, or COO and their email address.

If unavailable on LinkedIn, search for their email through online tools like Twitter’s advanced search or Hunter.io. 

When drafting an email to an executive, show that you understand a key issue. Then highlight key results from past positions and how it applies to their situation. This approach will get you much farther than simply asking if they’re hiring or sending a copy of your resume. 

Keep trying, even if you don’t get a response after the first email. Persistence can pay off. Take one small business owner who contacted Marcus Lemonis, CEO of the Camping World and star of The Profit, via email. He sent 380 emails before securing a meeting and funding. I probably wouldn’t advise going that far - but don’t give up after one email.

2. Write and publish quality content  

Whether it’s via your own blog, Medium, or LinkedIn, writing is an effective way of establishing yourself as a subject matter expert. 

Content can attract potential recruiters/hiring managers. But at a minimum, the visibility can pay off when recruiters and hiring managers are researching your candidacy for a role. Well-written articles can help you stand out from competitors.

To come up with ideas, search company blogs. Read articles written by thought leaders in your industry. Brainstorm articles that you’re uniquely qualified to write. 

Example of compelling LinkedIn content

For example, if you’re a sales manager - you might write about how to create the perfect cold email. Or if you’re a project manager, you might write an article about being a successful PM in a remote setting. 

Articles don’t have to be long to be effective. It’s more important that your ideas are coherent and demonstrate a point of view. Read your work aloud to catch mistakes and have a friend read before publishing. Focus on the quality of content and share your unique perspective or experience to shine as a thought leader. 

3. Engage with individuals and groups on social media

Social media (my personal favorites are Twitter and LinkedIn) can be powerful tools for connecting with leaders in your field. By interacting on these platforms, you can show your work and experience in an organic way and catch the eye of recruiters and hiring managers. 

I’m a strong advocate for developing relationships through Twitter. The platform makes it easy to access almost anyone within an organization. Users tend to be responsive and you can quickly build a following. LinkedIn is another great option, as you can easily comment and engage with content.

To get started on Twitter, follow thought leaders and companies within your field. On LinkedIn, join relevant groups that align with your skills. Spend at least one hour per week engaging with professionals on these platforms. 

The best way to engage is to answer questions, ask for advice, and participate in conversations. Instead of selling your skills or throwing your resume around, be authentic in your approach and seek to help others. By adding true value, you could catch the eye of a recruiter and others within a company. 

Hint: 73% of millennials found their last position through social media. You’re more likely to see shared job postings the more active you are on social media platforms. 

4. Offer to complete a job audition

Most executives have nagging projects they would like to take off their plate. Offering to complete one of these projects as a “job audition” demonstrates your aptitude as a potential employee, while setting you apart from other job seekers.

Approach the hiring manager or a company executive. Ask if they have a project that you could help with (free of charge). Provide examples and details of projects you’ve successfully completed in the past and the steps you took.  

For example, maybe the executive has to write an article for a major publication. If you’re searching for a position in content marketing, you could offer to write the piece.

Job auditions shouldn’t take more than 2-3 hours to complete. To avoid having your time/skills taken advantage of, you may have to negotiate a realistic project. But this strategy helps you get a solid footing with the company and gives you an inside look at company operations. 

5. Consult a professional resume writing service

This strategy might seem self-serving coming from someone who runs a professional resume writing service. But the fact is, most professionals are not experienced resume writers. Nor should they be, as they only update their resumes when applying for jobs.

Professional resume writers are experienced in creating documents that catch the attention of hiring managers. In fact, some of the most powerful, experienced executives turn to resume writers to help give them an edge in the job marketplace.

While utilizing a resume writing service is an investment, job seekers with professionally written resumes find jobs at a 35% higher rate than those who go about it on their own.

I’d love to continue the conversation with your feedback/input…

What unique strategies or steps have you taken to get hired for a job?

If you’re on the hiring side, what are some of the best strategies you’ve seen that helped an applicant get hired?