Understanding the Job Market

When it comes to job searching, the landscape isn’t what many of us were taught to expect. Success lies in rethinking your approach and embracing strategies that align with today’s dynamic job market.

The Hidden Job Market

Most of us believe job searching works like this:

1. Wait until you’re sure what you want to do—or until you’re miserable in your current role.
2. Apply to as many online postings as possible.
3. Write a stellar resume and cover letter.
4. Land your dream job.

In reality, it’s much more nuanced:

1. Uncover who you are, what you want, and why.
2. Invest in building skills and experiences.
3. Research industries, roles, and companies.
4. Build and leverage relationships.
5. Focus on connecting with people with the right skills—not just titles.
6. Seek referrals.
7. Customize your resume for specific roles (cover letters are often unnecessary).
8. Take the first step in your career journey.

The key takeaway? The "spray and pray" approach—applying to every job posting you find—doesn’t work for job seekers or Business Development Representatives (BDRs).

Stop Spraying & Praying

Imagine applying to 100 jobs on a site like Indeed without researching the companies or tailoring your applications. This approach isn’t strategic and leads to frustration. Instead, treat your job search as if you were a BDR prospecting for leads: research, engage, and follow up with intent.

How to Be a BDR for Your Career

Succeeding in today’s job market requires you to BYOB: Be Your Own BDR. Here’s how:

1. Research, Research, Research

Understanding your prospects—whether they’re potential employers or sales leads—is critical. At RE:WORK Training, we categorize research into two key areas:

Asking Around:

• Connect with “experts” who know more about the roles or skills you’re interested in. These might be people currently in the job you want, those who’ve moved on from it, or individuals excelling in skills you’d like to develop (like strong LinkedIn networking).

Looking Around:

• Use free resources to deepen your knowledge. Sites like BuiltIn, HubSpot, and RepVue offer invaluable insights into industries, jobs, and companies.

2. Engage With People Who Can Help

Connections can help you “skip the line” into roles you’re eyeing. This means engaging with individuals who are already where you want to be. Initiate informational interviews to:

• Learn about their career journeys.
• Understand what it’s like to work at specific companies.
• Identify any upskilling or certifications you might need.
• Practice interviewing without the pressure of a formal job interview.

Think of this as targeted prospecting. The more strategic your outreach, the better your results.

3. Follow Up Like a Pro

In both sales and job searching, one touchpoint isn’t enough. Many prospects won’t respond to your initial outreach, so you’ll need to follow up with persistence and tact.

Strong Follow-Up Strategies Include:

• Sending a thank-you message within 24 hours of an informational interview. Reference something specific from your conversation to make it personal.
• Engaging with their LinkedIn posts—like, comment, and share to stay visible.
• Periodically checking in to update them on your job search progress and keep the connection warm.

The modern job market is all about leveraging relationships, doing your homework, and consistently following up. When you BYOB—Be Your Own BDR—you set yourself up for success by taking a proactive and informed approach to your career journey.

This newsletter is brought to you thanks to a strategic partnership and investment from Docusign.