Reactive vs. Proactive Job Search Strategies

Popular Reactive vs. Proactive Job Search Strategies Don GoodmanJenna ArcandDecember 22, 2022

Man conducts a proactive job search strategy

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There are two kinds of job searches: reactive and proactive. Most people use reactive job search strategies, which means they look for job openings and then apply for the ones that interest them. So, when you send your resume to recruiters and respond to job board postings, you are really at the mercy of what comes up.

In a proactive job search, you pickthe companies and the jobs you are seeking. This way, you get the job that you chose and worked to get versus just hoping a good job comes your way through the recruiters and job boards.

Before you start your job search, make sure you have a well-optimized resume and LinkedIn profile, since employers will use these to see if you're a great candidate for the job. Once you've updated those, you're ready to begin your proactive job search.

Here are four key steps in a proactive job search...

1. Identify Which Companies Interest You Young woman writes something down while researching companies for her proactive job search

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There are a number of ways you can identify companies. Start by making a list of 10-20 companies that you think you would love to work for. This is your interview bucket list.

Talk to your friends and colleagues and see who they recommend as well. Note that LinkedIn has a very strong company search feature that can help. Go to LinkedIn, click on the search bar, and hit enter. Then select the "Companies" filter at the top of the page and search. If you find a company that might interest you, click on their profile and see if you're passionate about a product or service they provide, or their mission.

If you are, then you should probably add the company to your list.

2. Research The Companies Man researches companies for his proactive job search

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The next step in a proactive job search is to learn more about the organization and determine if it is a place you really want to work. There are a number of ways to do this. The first thing to do is to visit the company website and go to the "About Us" section. You can review the company history, products, and services, and make sure you check out the "News" and "Press Releases" sections to see the latest newsworthy events.

Make sure you look at their blog, too—if they have one—as it gives you a good idea of their areas of expertise and corporate culture. Also, check out all of their social media accounts to get a better idea of the company culture, and remember to follow them.

Also, there are a number of excellent tools like Glassdoor that provide anonymous reviews of thousands of companies, salaries being paid, reviews of the corporate culture, and evaluations of top executives. Sometimes they will even show you questions that are asked in an interview. It's a good idea to research companies on this site and on similar sites during your proactive job search.

3. Leverage Your Network Woman leverages her network during a proactive job search

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Go back to LinkedIn's company search capability and enter the name of the company that interests you. Note that when the listing comes up, it will tell you how many people in your network are employed there. This is a good place to start and you can reach out to these people for assistance.

Tip: People respond much better when they are asked for advice versus being asked to help someone get a job.

A good message to send to your connections on LinkedIn might be: "I am looking at XYZ as a potential employer and was wondering if you could tell me about the corporate culture there?" You can also send this type of message to your extended network.

4. Reach Out To Hiring Managers Father conducts a proactive job search

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Now that you have identified companies that interest you, it is time to identify people who work there. Again, LinkedIn is a great tool here.

Start by identifying the hiring manager and staff in the area you wish to join. Look for people who would be your peers and their managers.

Now see what LinkedIn Groups they've joined. This is important because if you join the same group, you can now communicate with them for free without updating your LinkedIn account.

Look to see if they have participated in any group discussions. This is a great way to enter the conversation and start showcasing your expertise. And remember to keep your comments upbeat, positive, and professional.

Do the same for Twitter. Select the contact button under their profile and see if they have a Twitter handle. Follow them and see what kinds of tweets they have put out. Again, a terrific way to join the conversation.

Now look to see if you have people in your LinkedIn contacts that can provide an introduction to them. Ask what they know about the company and if they recommend them as a potential employer. Ask them what they think is the best way to get introduced.

Note that you did not ask them to introduce you, but rather you asked them for advice on how to get introduced. You're not asking for a favor.

Finally, reach out to the hiring manager. Make sure you have a good 30-second elevator pitch that briefly describes your background and value proposition. And remember that people hire people they like so try to build rapport.

A proactive job search takes discipline so set weekly goals for yourself. The benefit is you will end up in a job that you chose instead of in one you got through happenstance.

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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8 Ways You're Being SHUT OUT Of The Hiring Process1-hour workshop to help job seekers figure out what's getting them tossed from the hiring processCover Letter 3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS Jenna ArcandSeptember 28, 2022 Work It Daily's live event "3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS"

Work It Daily's live event "3 Tips For Overcoming Your Biggest Job Search FEARS"

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In today's competitive job market, it's so important that you keep learning and growing. But you know what? Time is scarce. It is hard enough to get the job done each day let alone plan for the next step in your career. But, if your career is a priority, it is critical to find ways to learn and grow so that you can continue to advance your career and develop your skills.

If you are looking for a promotion or raise, you're going to have to prove you can add more value. The best way to do this is to continually feed your career with skills and knowledge that show you are worth the raise and promotion.

Here are five ways to develop your skills at work and advance your career.

How Can You Develop Your Skills & Knowledge At Work?

If you want to develop your skills and knowledge at work, try getting (and being) a mentor, raise your hand for new challenges, read and look for problems to solve, make friends in other departments (networking is always important!), and find internal learning opportunities.

What Is The Best Way To Develop A Skill?

The best way to develop a skill at work is to make it a goal and work toward that goal a little bit every day. Consistency is key. Incorporate learning into your daily life by doing the following:

1. Get A Mentor & Be A Mentor Two women mentoring each other at work

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Having a mentor at work is crucial to attaining new skills and knowledge. A good mentor will help you solve some of the challenges and roadblocks you face. The best mentors will help you figure out the next steps that work for you and help guide you over hurdles that sit squarely in your blind spot.

Amazing mentors will be the people who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. They will give you the real feedback you need to fill in your blind spots that put you in a position to advance.

Mentors are important to advancing your career. They can expose you to new experiences and points of view.

In addition to finding a good mentor, consider finding a good protégé as well. In many cases, taking that next step in your career means you may have to manage people. The best way to practice is to become a mentor to someone else.

When you become a mentor, you pay your learnings forward to others to help them advance as well. You learn a lot about motivating people and teaching them new skills when you can also act as a mentor at work.

2. Raise Your Hand For New Challenges Man takes on a challenge at work to develop new skills

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When you see new opportunities to learn new skills, go for it. If there is something in the company you want to learn to do and you see an opportunity to learn those skills in a special project or a new assignment, make the grab.

Do a little extra when it's required to learn those new skills that you need to advance. Remember, it's not aggressive to reach for a new opportunity. It is helpful, useful, and valuable.

People who progress in their careers find ways to elegantly make grabs for new learning opportunities.

When a new project comes up and it aligns with the skills you're looking to obtain, raise that hand. Let your manager or HR team know that you want to learn some new skills or gain new, more advanced experience. Be clear on what you can offer to the project and get involved.

3. Read, Read, Read & Look For Problems To Solve Professional man looks for problems to solve at his company

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Sometimes there are not a lot of grabs to make. We understand that. We recommend that you start reading everything you can about your industry and your field.

Study everything there is to know about your company and its competitors. Know the company goals and unique selling points of your company like the back of your hand. Become an expert in these things and be able to talk about them. Think about some solutions to the company's chief challenges.

Honestly, when someone on my team comes to me with a solution, they stand out.

When there are not many special projects to make a grab for, you can develop and pitch your own special project by knowing what challenges you can solve for the company. This way, you learn new skills and stand out because you've taken the time to solve a company problem.

4. Make Friends (Network) In Other Departments Group of professionals network to develop new skills

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Many times, new skills are outside your department or area of influence and responsibility. To overcome this, think about networking internally.

Get to know people in other divisions, other offices, and on other teams. Be curious about their department. Learn everything you can about their job and their skills. Find out how they got those skills and see how you might be able to chip in over there in your spare time to develop those skills you want to use to grow your career.

5. Find The Learning Opportunities Internally

The last one is one I always forget about.

Many companies have some sort of internal learning system. Go talk to your benefits team. Find out about training opportunities available to you. Learn about any tuition reimbursement benefits you may have. Talk with your HR team about what you want to learn and how it can help the company.

Developing new skills doesn't have to mean going back to school in the evenings. Sometimes the skills you're looking for are right in front of you. It's a matter of knowing what you want to learn and finding ways to develop those skills while you are at work. After all, if you want to achieve career success, you have to work on your career just as much as you work in it!

If you're struggling to develop your skills and grow your career, we can help.

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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Man writes a cover letter that asks for the job interview

Is there one thing you can say in a cover letter that will guarantee it accomplishes its purpose? Absolutely!

A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume and to yourself as a candidate for employment. It's the place to show your interest in the position, and make a personal connection between who you are and why you're a great fit for the opportunity.

Showing your interest and passion for the company is important in the cover letter. However, saying this ONE thing is almost an ultimate guarantee you'll get the interview.

Ask For It Woman writes a cover letter that asks for the job interview

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You know that old saying, "Ask and you shall receive"? It's true. It may sound like common sense and obvious advice, but how many times have you sent a cover letter with your resume and not asked for the interview? It's easy to do!

Should You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter?

You may be hesitant to ask for an interview in your cover letter (or might just forget to do so) but you absolutely should. It shows confidence and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

How Do You Ask For An Interview In A Cover Letter? Man helps his friend with her cover letter and job search

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In the closing paragraph of your cover letter, all you need to do is ask the employer for an interview. Statistics have indicated job seekers who ask for the interview in their cover letters are twice as likely to get the interview.

Below, we give you several examples that you can modify and use in your own cover letter.

Examples Of How To Ask For A Job Interview In Your Cover Letter Job seeker writes a cover letter

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Ending #1

I'm excited about the Director of Sales position with XYZ Widgets and would love the opportunity to meet in person to further discuss my experience and the value I can offer you as your next Director of Sales. Please call me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.

Ending #2

I would love a personal interview at your earliest convenience to further discuss my credentials with you. I can be reached at 555.555.5555 and will follow up as well to make sure you've received my information.

Ending #3

Thank you for your time reviewing my resume. I welcome the opportunity to discuss in a personal interview my qualifications and fit for the position. Feel free to reach me at 555.555.5555 at your earliest convenience.

Ending #4

Thank you for your time and consideration. I'd love the opportunity to further discuss the position and my experience with you. Please reach out to me at 555.555.5555 to schedule an interview.

Remember: you can ask for the interview with any wording you're comfortable with, whether that's with more direct language or not. The key thing is to close your cover letter by asking for the interview.

A cover letter is your chance to connect with an employer and explain your passion for what they do and how you believe you can help them achieve their goals as a company. If you do all that and ask for the job interview at the end of your cover letter, you'll be much more likely to get a call from the hiring manager.

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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J.T. O'Donnell reflects on lessons professionals can learn from athletes.

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Reactive vs. Proactive Job Search Strategies

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