30 days to the job you love - Day 9

With 200,000+ tech layoffs in 2023 and more being let go in early 2024, it is easy to get discouraged. Personally, I have many friends who were and are affected. For those whom I worked with, I am grateful that our paths crossed.

For 30 days, I will post a tip each day to encourage you and give you some suggestions on how to stay motivated during your job search.

Day 9

Many years ago, I had an opportunity to attend an EntreLeadership conference hosted by Dave Ramsey. At the start of the event, Dave stood on the stage, holding up a $100 dollar bill and asked the audience who would want to have the cash and two VIP tickets to his next event. While a thousand hands raised up, only one woman ran up to the stage and grabbed it. This taught me a valuable lesson - if you want something, you have to go get it.

Applying for a job is similar. A recent recruiter shared with me that a senior VP position requiring decades of experience, an engineering degree, an MBA, and global business experience received over 500 resumes in just three days. The odds of being selected for an interview and the position were 1 in a thousand - more difficult than getting into Harvard University. For other less senior positions, the odds are even lower. So, if you want to increase your chances of landing your dream job, just sending in your resume or simply applying online isn't enough.

Here are some tips that can help you stand out from the crowd:

1. Reach out to the hiring recruiter directly and explain why you think you are the best candidate for the job. Share why you are excited about the company and the posted position. Follow up to remind them of your application and ask for the interview. Even if you don’t hear back, thank them for their time. Finally, if you know of any other candidate that may qualify for the same position, offer to connect them with the other candidate. Adding value to others, even when you aren't considered for the position, can go a long way.

2. Use LinkedIn to see who in your network works at the company you are interested in and ask for an introduction. This can help get your resume in front of the hiring manager faster.

3. Attend networking events. Even if you don't feel like it, attending industry events can help you stay up-to-date on industry trends and meet new people. Building relationships and adding value to others can lead to new opportunities. Sometimes, we have to do the things we don’t feel like doing so that we can get the opportunity to do what we feel like doing.

Reaching out and taking initiatives can be daunting, especially when the response isn't what we hoped for. But, as John F. Kennedy said, "There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction." It's important to remember that the reward of putting yourself out there is worth any discomfort or discouragement you may feel. Keep pushing forward and taking those chances to land the job you deserve.