Instead of quickly applying for a job, take time to do the job search 2 step method.
How many times have you simply applied for a job and left your application in the hands of fate?
That’s kind of risky if you ask me.
But is there anything you can do to increase the odds that someone will actually review your resume?
Use The 2-Step Method
TBy using the 2-Step method you’ll not only stand apart from the other applicants, you’ll also gain the support of an inside contact. Here are the two steps.
Step One
The first step is easy. You know that drill.
You find a job online and modify your resume to showcase the most important qualifications you have for the job and send a thoughtfully crafted cover letter that explains why you want to work at that company (this requires you’ve done research and know more than the company’s name).
Step Two
This step is the one most people won’t do. Find someone who works inside that company (or used to work for them). It sounds simple but most job seekers find it time-consuming to implement and don’t do it.
Finding a strong ally, advocate, or informant inside the company with an opening will increase the odds of your resume getting reviewed. It is called an employee referral, and it is powerful.
Employee referrals are the top source of new hires and have been for a long time! (since at least 2012 CareerXroads source of hiring study )
This is why Step 2 is so important. You are leveraging the power of an inside contact to refer you.
The 2-Step In Reverse
If you have a target list of companies you are interested in, you can begin identifying people you know inside those target companies and reach out asking for a call to catch up. It doesn’t matter that their company doesn’t have any openings listed at the moment. Just touch base with the person you know. By making this contact with someone you know, and mentioning you are interested in their company, they are likely to keep you in the loop on new jobs or may even know about a future job that hasn’t been announced yet.
Use LinkedIn To Find Insiders
LinkedIn is the go-to source for finding inside connections. When you go to a company’s page on LinkedIn, see who works there and who you are connected to.
If your network is small, fewer than 100 connections on LinkedIn, finding first level connections is going to be more challenging*.
*It is important to remind you that your LinkedIn connections should mirror your real-life connections and I’m pretty sure you interacted with more than 100 other professionals over the past couple of years. But this isn’t just a number game. The strength of your relationship with your connection is equally important.
Beyond LinkedIn
Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, and Pinterest all draw different crowds and may enable you to tap into employees who work for the company you are applying to.
If you have accounts on any, search them all for the names of people you know or saw on the LinkedIn company page. You can also search the social network by company name only. If you have the same results I did, you will find some employees on one network you were unable to find on others.
In some instances, profiles are open and don’t require you to be connected/friends/followers to see what they are saying on that network.
We often overlook the fact that our friends and family may know people who can help us professionally. And don’t forget about Pinterest and Instagram. You don’t have to use them all… but it is good to know about them.
Did you know, you can follow someone on LinkedIn without connecting. Read The Difference Between Following and Connecting On LinkedIn. The benefit to you is that you can or could begin immediately building a relationship with company insiders without waiting for a personal introduction.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
