Mediaboss Marketing

getty

Millennial entrepreneurs Jonathan Javier and Jerry Lee learned the hard way that the traditional career search process rarely works, particularly when youre searching in the ultra-competitive high tech company landscape. By the age of 25, theyd both landed offers (and worked for) tech giants Snapchat, Google, Cisco and Lucid even though they didnt graduate from any of the typical coveted target schools. They soon left corporate America to found career search consulting firm Wonsulting with a mission of turning underdogs into winners. Their programs are based on a carefully curated strategy that theyve used to help job seekers land those hard-to-get job offers.

Their techniques are based on the general premise that traditional application processes almost never work, and the smartest path to the job you want is through social media. During this particularly challenging job search market, they offer five specific steps for landing that lucrative dream job.

Their recommendations are based on what they call the 4-tiered job search strategyfocused on elevating candidates from applying amongst thousands to being referred by someone in the hiring organizations team or applying directly to the hiring manager (whom youve hopefully established some level of connection with already). With this ultimate goal in mind (which virtually anyone would agree would improve success odds dramatically), they offer five specific tips for landing a job in 2021.

Job Search Tip #1 - Develop an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Friendly Resume

The Jobscan article 8 Things You Need to Know About Applicant Tracking Systems explains that the vast majority of large (and even some smaller) companies use these systems to scan incoming resumes. The article explains, Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms. Wonsulting advises candidates to develop a resume that is specifically tailored to the job description and offers this template as an example of how each section should be defined. In an ideal world, a candidate would develop a warm connection with someone within the hiring organization and share their resume directly, but the ATS is such an important part of the process that skipping this step would be fools play. It's not that you should NEVER apply and optimize your resume - it's about focusing more time on networking, explains Lee.

Job Search Tip #2 Utilize LinkedIn Search Functions

Boasting over 760 million users (and 260 million active users) reportedly, LinkedIn is a powerhouse social media platform for job seekers, but Javier insists that many dont fully utilize its capabilities. One easy way to connect with people on LinkedIn in your dream company is utilizing the LinkedIn search functions specifically connecting with alumni from your university or organizations youre a part of, explains Javier. He advises candidates to filter their connections search by company of interest, their location and their alma mater to find specific contacts at their target company with whom they already have points of commonality. With this newly customized listing, job-seekers are now positioned to send personalized invitations to connect.

Job Search Tip #3 Send a Personalized Invitation to Connect

When sending invitations to connect, Javier warns against doing what everyone else doessending a connection request without a personalized note. By sending a personalized invitation, you stand out from the crowd, insists Javier. He advises job seekers to customize the content of the invitation based on the point of connection or commonality. For example, he suggests this type wording for sending an invitation to connect to an alumnus from your college.

Sample 1 - Hi (Name), hope youre well! I saw that you graduated from UC Riverside and currently work at Google as a Data Scientist. Id love to connect with a fellow Highlander!

Sample 2 - Hi (Name), hope youre well! I saw that you graduated from UC Riverside and currently work at Microsoft as a Product Manager. I also love your story about being a first-generation graduate coming from a POC background. Id love to connect with a fellow Highlander who shares a similar story!

He also recommends referencing articles or posts they may have written, shared interests or other points of commonality in your personalized invites. The key is finding genuine points of commonality or shared interest and using that as a basis for connecting.

Job Search Tip #4 Make The Ask

One of the benefits of focusing your energies on LinkedIn is that its viewed as a networking tool for business, and people often anticipate some sort of professional ask so dont be shy. After all, its not Tik Tok or Instagrampeople arent swapping recipes or posting kids cute dances (generally)so dont make the mistake of putting in all the effort of getting connected to the right people and then not asking for what you want. Have an ask, but do it during a coffee chat, suggests Javier. He encourages job-seekers to decide in advance what theyre really seekingwhether its mentorship, honest feedback on a company or a professional recommendationthen make that specific ask towards the end of the coffee chat.

Job Search Tip #5 Check-In and Stay Connected

As much as wed love to think that making a connection and maintaining or nurturing a connection are the same thing, theyre not. Dont make the mistake of going through all the effort of finding the right people to network with only to let that relationship die a slow, virtual death. The most important part of networking is staying connected with those who have helped you, insists Javier. Wonsulting even recommends using a spreadsheet (like this sample reach out sheet) to keep track of your outreachideally every three months per their recommendation.

With unprecedented unemployment levels, 2021 for many will be their time to pivot into a new role, company or even industry. Finding a new job in this ultra-competitive environment isnt just daunting but ridiculously stressful too. Indeed, the key to success may not be searching harder but instead searching smarter.

See original here:
No Application Necessary: 5 Tips For Using Social Media To Land A Job In 2021 - Forbes