#GHC19 Avoiding the Black Hole: Creating a Winning Job Search Strategy
Session summary: How do you compete with a broken application process? Evidence shows that high volume, inefficient screening processes, and the existing skills gap all result in candidates being overlooked and having a bad experience. This session is designed to empower job seekers in their search and arm them with strategies they can utilize to stand out and navigate a challenging landscape.
Speaker: Ariel Lopez
Ariel is a career coach, entrepreneur, and public speaker with an expertise in digital media and technology. She’s the Founder and CEO of Knac, a hiring platform that’s reinventing how people apply and prepare for jobs. Her motto is to help people find career happiness and live their best lives.
What will you learn:
The session promises to arm you with the tools to avoid the black hole and land a job successfully, viz-a-viz:
- Develop a new job search strategy
- Learn about the application process from a recruiter's perspective
- Learn about different opportunities in the tech space
Part I — Avoiding the black hole:
What is the black hole: Imagine a circle, let’s call that the “recruiter’s resume inbox” and your resume lies outside of that! :(
So, how do you avoid the black hole?
- Follow up on every application you send
- Find a recruiter/team member or referral to connect with
- Use LinkedIn to find the job poster / second degree connections and reach out.
- This might be old school but call the company, if necessary
- If you cant find an email, use Google or a tool like Sellhack
Build your list
Make your Top 10
(What are the top companies you want to work for?)
Find people that work there
(Go to LinkedIn — Do an advanced search )
Conduct Informational Interviews
(Reach out to industry professional to get the real scoop on what it’s like to work there)
Figure out what’s needed to become a Master
(Based on your findings, create a game plan to find your dream job)
When to apply
Monday through Thursday (AM) : Apply for jobs
Monday through Thursday (PM): Work on your skills/prospects
Friday AM: Follow up applications from that week
Don’t apply to 100 jobs but craft thoughtful applications for the roles that you want to really want.
Make opportunistic sends: Do your research; find opportunity where you can explain to recruiters on why they should hire you
After funding/Merger acquisitions: Did the company get a major funding? They will perhaps open up new positions and might be a good time to apply to that company.
Seasonal: Summer and holidays are not a good time to apply for jobs. Just like you, recruiters are perhaps also enjoying their time off.
Sample outreach email
Here is a snapshot of a sample email template that you can use for your outreach
Part II — In the mind of the Recruiters
What are the recruiters dealing with?
- Overwhelmed
- Trained to pattern match: Make sure you have the right keywords because they are trained to judge based on keywords.
- Using lots of tools: LinkedIn, Indeed, GlassDoor looking for talent.
- Trained to say No: Yes, they have about 30 seconds to look at your resume and they are trained to dismiss resumes that don’t impress them.
How should you get ahead?
Follow up on everything
- after every call
- after every interview
- after every meeting
- after 3–5 business days [Be aggressive and follow up once they have had a chance to know you]
Research Targets on All channels
- follow their Twitter
- comment on LinkedIn
- read their press page
Find a referral
- at events/conferences
- use current network
- alumni/members of organizations you are part of
- build relationships
Showcase your skills
- use specific examples
- make your own website
- post on github, dribble etc.
- be creative
10 questions to ask in every interview
Part III — opportunities in tech
A few high-growth opportunities
A lot of roles that are available today don’t really need to know how to code. This is in particular useful for people who are looking to transition from sales or consulting jobs. For example:
Product management
Data Analytics
User Experience
Digital Marketing
What do I search for?
Depending on your skills and interests, there’s a tech job for you.
Here are a few things to look for the next time you’re searching on LinkedIn or any other job site.
Field: Sales
Keywords: Account Executive, Account Coordinator, Business Development Manager
Field: Product
Positions: Product Manager, Producer, Program Manager, Business Analyst
Field: Human Resources
Positions: Human resources manager, recruiter, talent acquisition specialist
Q/A
- What if a recruiter reaches out to you but you aren’t looking actively?
A: Always talk to them and build the relationship. Don’t pass those opportunity to talk to them. It might come in handy later.
On the other hand, recruiters who send you spam emails can be ignored. You want to follow up with people who understand you and your skills.
