Networking Outside the Box: My Job Search Journey sans LinkedIn

Hi Coder,

I am so happy to share that I received a job offer! I am extremely proud of myself, but I must admit that it took a lot of effort. I spent about four months applying tirelessly for jobs. While I believe I did a great job organizing myself for the job hunt and the interviews, there are many things I wish I had done differently. Despite receiving a job offer, I feel a bit frustrated about certain aspects of my approach.

In this article, I want to share my experience of landing a job without using LinkedIn. It is indeed possible, and I actually found it more beneficial than applying through job boards. So, without further ado, let's dive into the dos and don'ts of job searching.

If It's Easy to Apply, Don't Apply

As I mentioned earlier, I secured a job offer without the aid of platforms. I stopped applying through LinkedIn, Indeed, and even company websites because it proved unproductive. Often, I would receive no response or an automated email stating that "they decided to move forward with another candidate." Recruiters get hundreds of applications daily, and even with a strong CV and the necessary skills, you might go unnoticed simply because of the sheer volume of applicants.

In my case, I opted to use LinkedIn Premium for two months to get a clearer picture of the competition I faced in job applications. I found out I was competing against over 200 candidates for a single position. Many of these candidates held a bachelor's degree, just like me, and some even had higher educational qualifications. It seemed almost impossible for me to stand out from the crowd. Simply clicking the "Easy Apply" button is not enough to land an interview let alone a job.

As a side note, LinkedIn allowed me to use the paid version of the platform for free, which provided great insight and was definitely worth it for quantifying my efforts and knowing where to direct my energy. With over 200 people applying for the same job as me, I'd have a 0.5% chance of getting the job, way less than any prestigious university such as Harvard or Stanford

So my advice is straightforward: if it's too easy to apply, reconsider. Hundreds of others are likely doing the same, and the goal is to secure an interview where you can showcase your skills. Simply clicking that button and waiting is unlikely to yield an interview. If anything, you'll find yourself (just like I did) discouraged by the number of rejections.

Ask a Group of Friends Before Aimlessly Applying on LinkedIn

Recently I came across this post

Eighty percent of jobs are not posted on any platforms! Most positions are filled by individuals known to the recruiter, manager, or company, or by those who come recommended. While this might seem like nepotism, in reality, companies are looking for qualities such as reliability, predictability, and competence in potential employees. When filling a role, managers trust that people in their circle —who possess the aforementioned qualities— also have similar profiles. Therefore, they are more inclined to interview these individuals first, as they likely resemble the kind of people they are used to working with.

Sometimes it might feel pointless to discuss job hunting with friends, but it can actually be effective if you ask the right questions. When it comes to finding a job, don't settle for simple 'yes' or 'no' answers; instead, ask open-ended questions. This is a good example:

"Hey Juan, I am a software developer with three years of experience in the agricultural industry. Who do you know that can help me find a job in this field?"

The difference between asking "Do you know someone?" and "Who do you know?" is significant. The former allows the person to easily say no, which is often the default response due to busyness or reluctance to help. The latter, however, leaves no room for a simple yes or no answer because it asks for something specific. This approach can be more effective in getting a concrete response.

In fact, I landed this job through one of my contacts. He forwarded my resume along with a brief overview of my background and how I could contribute to the team. This led to an initial intro interview, followed by a technical interview, among others. I still had to go through the entire interview process just like any other candidate, but my goal was to land the interview, not to be hired through pure nepotism.

Write Cold Emails

In the previous post, Rosa highlighted something crucial: opportunistically applying. Companies, like many entities in the world, are constantly evolving. People leave, new jobs emerge, and needs arise, and you can leverage this. Sending cold emails to recruiters or managers is an excellent way to demonstrate your understanding of a company’s needs and your willingness to fill those gaps. In fact, this reflects positively on you, showing that you have thoroughly researched the company and are prepared to contribute effectively.

Sending cold emails led to responses from three companies and secured me two interviews. Crafting these emails requires a lot of effort, but they yield much better results than LinkedIn applications.

Conclusion

LinkedIn is a fantastic platform, and I use it almost every day. It's excellent for gathering data,learning about companies, specific people, and jobs. However, it's not very effective for applying for jobs. While recruiters frequently use it to find candidates, I've found that it's not as beneficial for candidates seeking jobs unless they are directly approached. In my experience, LinkedIn hasn't yielded significant results as an applicant. However, reaching out to hiring managers and recruiters directly, plus leveraging my network of friends, has proven effective. This approach has definitely paid off—I'm living proof of that!

Resources:

Tips for Effective Professional Networking

How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search