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I’ve only ever gotten jobs from cold applications.
I have a great network, and have had plenty of referrals. But I’ve always had better luck with applying directly.
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Right, I’m saying that referrals haven’t worked for me. All my jobs came from me just applying without a ref.
Find 3-5 people on your LinkedIn with some pull that really like you and work for big companies…former VP of sales, a manager you liked but never got to work for, even a friend’s manager. Then go to that company’s website and find a job you want. Message that person on LinkedIn and say - hey, I noticed you’re at X company now…congrats. I saw XYZ job and was wondering if you’d introduce me to someone in that department. If they’re willing to make the connection and you’re qualified for the role, your odds of getting it shoot up significantly.
Tip 2: find a job you want, then go to your LinkedIn and search that company in the people section on LinkedIn. If you have a 1st connection (someone you know) then great, but if you have a 2nd connection, message that person and say - hey, Kyle, I am looking for a job at XYZ and noticed you know Emily who works there, would you introduce us?
Tip 3: find jobs that are promoted from companies you’ve never heard of and apply directly on their website. They probably don’t get many applications that way, so you might go to the middle or top of the pile simply by not going through LinkedIn
Networking. Every job for the last 40 years.
I haven't formally interviewed since my consulting days, but have changed jobs multiple times due to my professional relationships. Typically a previous leader will just reach out and ask if I'm open to something new.
Exactly. Job boards are corporate marketing or to cover HR decision that began long ago. Build your brand and make yourself known through networking. Sell yourself and in the meantime expand your certification list.
Networking via LinkedIn. Reach out to former colleagues, connect with recruiters at target companies and let them know you are interested. The personal connection is the difference between you and others.
I have found employment in the past through job boards, my network, friends, church, and former employers even calling me back. I’m always surprised at how hard it is to predict who will be the next employer. What I do try and control is my public persona on LinkedIn and keep posting positive messages. This way people can find me.
I have only ever gotten jobs from cold applications. I have had referrals here and there but they never amounted to anything.
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As a newer grad in 2024 and as a pivot from a wet lab with only a Bachelors into LS&H consulting at a T2, I only got any interview opportunities from networking aggressively through LinkedIn. Have a set template outreach message and ask for a video networking session with questions to ask about the firm, the work done, and give them your resume ask them to compare your own skills and experiences with what the job may require.
be proactively networking offline as well and I personally believe in this job market it’s near impossible to get any position without networking both in person or through LinkedIn
Do any cold applications work? I’d suggest networking if you want a job.
My first full time job many years ago was a cold apply via a classified ad in the newspaper (yes, I’m old!). Every job I have had since then has been from networking with people that I worked with. Some were simply a former coworker submitting my resume through a company portal to help find a job in another part of the company. Some were working directly with the people I know. On the other hand my wife, who is not in the tech industry, has gotten most of her jobs by coldly applying. She works in sales and customer service and is much better at interviewing and selling herself for a job than I am.
The majority have come through my network. When actively looking I used job boards like dice, indeed, career builder, LinkedIn but can only think of a few cases where I got something through them. That doesn’t mean I didn’t continue to try them. If I could find the hiring company through the job board I’d go directly to their website as most have a careers link to see if the job board posting was real (I found most were not) and then search their site for postings that matched my skill set. Having said that if there are a few companies where you would like to work I’d monitor their careers link on a regular basis. As for networking - on a regular basis I always made a point to keep in touch with colleagues that I enjoyed working with just to check in and see how they were doing. That way I wasn’t just contacting them when I needed something. Curious what kind of consulting you do, I worked with SAP for most of my career and got lots of work from previous clients. Good luck in your search, I think it’s a lot more difficult these days.
Was out of work for 1.5 years. Rarely ever got an interview from cold applying. Networking and referral is the way to go!
Search "hiring [your role]" on Linkedln (for me: "hiring solutions consultant" or "hiring public sector solutions")
Filter by "Past 24 hours" or "Past Week"
When I found a relevant post:
DM'd the poster directly with a
targeted message
Checked who reposted it (more people
to connect with!)
Followed up consistently
This approach led to my most viable opportunities.
Why it worked: You're reaching people who are actively hiring, not just posting jobs and forgetting about them. You're making a human connection, not just submitting an application into the void.