Leverage your network when job searching

For many, the first instinct when looking for a job is to hit the job boards. This could be an effective strategy in a candidate driven market. What we have certainly noticed is that the coin has flipped in the last two years to be more of an employer's market. They now hold the bargaining power and it's really impacting the confidence of even the most accomplished candidates. I personally find it really heart breaking and half my role these days is similar to a motivational coach for my candidates who I know are brilliant but struggling to gain momentum in their job search efforts.

My advice is often to leverage your network.

Ofcourse, continue to apply for your dream companies whether you know people there or not but balance this out by reconnecting with people you know. You want to maximise occasions where you are getting to the 'top of the pile' when it comes to hiring manager CV reviews as a employee referral or appearing on a shortlist of a trusted recruiter.

Beyond this, there are a number of network channels you can tap into. Your objective through these interactions is to keep your network updated with your situation and they will likely tell you what's happening with theirs. Through these simple discussions you may identify job opportunities that may not even be advertised yet. This is a very common story among candidates at this time.

Your networking doesn't need to be limited to hiring managers, it could be anyone able to influence the recruitment process within an organisation. You may find some champions for you along the way who can help vouch for you.

Past colleagues, alumni groups, and industry groups/events can also provide you with great insights into who is hiring. Yes, this requires time investment, but it is always worthwhile. You may not hear about relevant jobs but the very least you will feel better connected with your industry and it will keep you front of mind among your peers.

And finally, recruiters both internal and external. You need to work with both effectively. A recruiter's role is not to be your order taker when you say "find me a job" (I actually get this very often). Their role is to find the best possible candidate for their client or hiring manager. Especially in a market where it is job short, applicant rich, they will be even more particular about who they allow to advance so read JD's intently and be prepared to articulate what value you can bring to the specific job at hand.

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