Increase Your Job Search Luck

What sets successful job seekers apart from others? It’s usually not luck and chance.

Strategy, confidence, and motivation often play a big role in who gets hired.

Job seekers who land roles faster typically approach a job search with an ongoing intention of success and forgo the expectation that the market will come to them if they simply send out their resumes.

What exactly are successful job seekers doing that is so different?

They Don’t Stick to Application ‘Rules’

Some rules are made to be broken. On average, corporate job postings receive 250 applications per post and top talent gets scooped up in ~10 days. You have a short window to get your resume at the top of a high pile.

Circumnavigating the system increases your chance to make an internal connection and get your resume seen.

What can you do?

• Call and ask for the name and email address of the person hiring and follow up with them directly (if you find a posting online)
• Reach out to people who can potentially help (internal champions) at companies of interest and schedule an informational interview
• Connect with key team members or decision-makers on LinkedIn
• Leverage any existing internal contacts you already have – first or second degree – to ask for information, leads, or support

They Understand They Have Competition

You aren’t the only one out there looking for a new position and you may not be the most qualified person to do the job. Yet, it’s not always the most qualified person who gets the job.

Often, jobs are awarded to the person who sells themselves the best. Heading into a job search with an understanding of what other people are bringing to the table identifies what key value points you need to promote the most.

What can you do?

• Research positions, companies, and markets to gain a deeper understanding of needs and requirements
• Analyze people in your field or similar roles to see what shared skills they possess
• Zero in on your strengths to identify how you outshine colleagues AND look at your weaknesses to determine how you can strategize around them
• Leverage any internal connections you have at companies of interest and brief them on the above. Ask people to recommend you for open roles or keep you in mind for potential opportunities

They Don’t Have a “What’s In It For Me” Mindset

Yes, you want a job that is going to fulfill you and compensate you well. That much is obvious. When it comes to job search, however, your intent should be focused on ROI rather than WIIFM.

With a ROI – Return on Investment – mindset, you are focused on what you can do for the employer, which is what the company wants to know. Only after you have sold your value to the company should you begin to focus on what’s in it for you.

What can you do?

• Utilize the research you have collected about the position, company, and market to create key talking points for your resume and during interviews
• Ensure the first few interview rounds are focused on the employer and their needs; drive your value in conversations and identify what it is you can do for them in your first 90 days
• Save the compensation negotiation conversation for after you have fully shared your ROI and received an offer

They Create a Job Search Strategy Plan 

Many people say that landing a new job is a job in itself. Just like any job, a plan is needed in order to be effective at what you are doing. Keep yourself accountable with a  job search strategy plan that outlines specific actions, timelines, and follow-through.

Be intentional in your process to ensure you address each and every step.

What can you do?

• Clearly define your target, research organizations that fit that target, and identify who key contacts are
• Create an organized document that tracks progress. Include names, dates, actions, comments, and follow-up details
• Use the ‘work smarter, not harder’ mindset and looks for ways that you can utilize scripts, templates, and documents to your advantage (check out this job search kit, which is full of supporting resources)
• Be confident in your success!

Job search has very little to do with pure chance and luck. An individual’s focused actions and their ability to sell themselves as the problem solver is what gets people hired faster. If your job search has been stalling, take a step back and look at how you can tweak your approach to tackle it from a new perspective. Increase job search ‘luck’ with strategy, confidence, and motivation.