Six Ways Your Job Search Is Like Dating

Getting apprehensive as you get dressed up, rehearsing the stories you want to tell, following up afterward hoping for a second chance, and getting hopeful for what the future might bring…searching for a job is a lot like dating, isn’t it?

It might seem like a strange comparison, but when you stop to think about it, dating and job hunting have a lot in common. From the initial search to putting your best self forward, both activities involve a lot of effort and a lot of searching for the right fit. But if all goes right, you might just find a bright future.

Numerous experts have made the same observations, and thinking of the similarities between the dating world and job-seeking can provide an interesting change in perspective. Embrace these dating-esque strategies and you just might find a new career to fall in love with.

Know what you want

Many people don’t like to admit it, but most people have a type when it comes to dating. Whether consciously or subconsciously, people are looking for a partner or partners that check certain boxes. Just as understanding your tastes matters in dating, knowing what you want in an employer partner is vital before you even start your search.

FlexJobs’ Kat Boogaard compares looking for a flexible work environment, room for growth, and a good salary to looking for a sense of humor or a shared passion with a prospective romantic partner. Identifying what traits are important to you before starting the search will make the journey much more fulfilling.

It’s also important to decide what level of commitment you want before searching. Maybe you want a casual fling with a new industry. Maybe you’re looking to settle down for the long term. You’ll want to decide before you swipe.

Know what you’re getting into

Speaking of swiping, the internet is a double-edged sword for both dating and job hunting. The ease of dating apps and online job boards means more potential for connection, but it also means you have a lot of competition. You’ll face much more rejection, and ghosting is common. You may have thought things went well with that cute marketing company, but you never hear from them again. It’s part of the search.

Just as you may have better luck if a friend fixes you up with a date, having a business connection will make the search important. Networking is the best wingman out there.

“Your coffee date doesn’t show up, an exciting person ghosts you, everyone is flaky, and you feel like a piece of meat. You must be job hunting.” –Arianne Cohen, Bloomberg

Make your best first impression

Once you’ve landed the date/interview, you want to put your best foot forward and make the best first impression possible. Dress your best, show up on time, don’t look at your phone, and be a good listener.

Beyond the basics, prior research is key. Via a 2021 Statista survey, 40% of people look up their date online, and 44% will search for their social media. This gives you a better idea of who you’re meeting and provides talking points. The same philosophy applies to job searching. Always research the organization beforehand. Not only with the information answer some of your early questions, but you’ll get a feel for the overall culture and see if you’re a good fit. You’ll have much more to talk about and be able to impress your date.

Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon stresses the importance of body language. Nonverbal queues play a major role in your interpersonal interactions. You can practice power poses to build confidence and really wow your interviewer.

“Whether it’s facial expressions, gestures or eye contact, non-verbal cues can make the difference between getting a job offer or being shown out the door.” – Caroline Castrillon

Be authentic, and don’t be desperate

Caroline also stresses the importance of being your authentic self. “If you can’t be yourself, then what’s the point?” Knowing what you want and doing prior research make it easy to recognize whether this is a good fit or not. You want a partner that shares your values, and you don’t want to settle for less than you deserve.

Don’t just take the first thing that comes along. Looking desperate is a turn-off in both the dating and professional worlds. Just as looks aren’t everything in dating, money isn’t the only trait that matters in job seeking. A bad fit may mean starting your search anew, but it’s better to come to that conclusion early on instead of having a messy breakup.

“Don’t talk about a job too early in the process of networking, that is like talking about what you want to name your children on the first date.” –Hannah Morgan

Don’t talk about your ex

Just as talking about your ex on the first date is a major red flag, bashing your previous employer is a major faux pas in an interview. Don’t do it.

Trust your gut

At the end of the search, you’ll have a lot of information at your disposal, but only you can decide whether you’ve found the right partner for you. It’s okay to be picky; if something doesn’t feel right despite looking good on paper, don’t be afraid to move on. You’re making a life-altering decision, and it’s okay to wait for the best fit.

Wrap up

Dating and finding a career have a surprising amount in common. The search can be harrowing, but if you know what you want, do your homework, make a good first impression, and be yourself, you can find a situation you’re comfortable with.

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Stand Out Digitally With These LinkedIn Summary Tips

In any sort of persuasive speech, your attention-getter sets the tone of the entire performance. An engaging introduction reels your audience in, while a boring one sends them looking elsewhere. Imagine walking into a hotel lobby and finding it unpleasant. No matter how good your room may be, that initial entrance soured the experience.

Your LinkedIn profile is the same way. Using LinkedIn is vital for the modern job search, and your summary is your introduction to recruiters. The website itself declares the summary as one of the most important pieces of information you can describe.

“Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.” –LinkedIn

If you’re doing some spring cleaning with your profile, we’ll go teach you how to craft an exceptional summary that shows the real you.

Prioritize the first few sentences

If your summary is the introduction to your profile, the first few words are the introduction to your introduction. Laura Smith-Proulx reveals that your full summary isn’t immediately displayed until someone clicks on “see more” (on both mobile and desktop versions).

That means your summary needs to “pop” immediately to catch the eyes of the looker. You want to hook your audience immediately by getting directly into your brand and making your objective clear right away.

Use keywords

The modern job search is all about appeasing the search engine. Realizing this is the key to making sure you’ll show up in a recruiter’s search at all. To do that, LinkedIn experts recommend using keywords throughout your profile.

Executive resume writer Jessica Hernandez simply defines these keywords as “Keywords are a list of words and phrases that are related to your work—they are the words that a prospective employer would search for when trying to find someone like you.”

Find words relevant to your industry and use them often. This will make sure you show up in searches AND make it easier for a prospective employer to get an idea of what you’re all about. While you should use keywords, make sure to avoid making your profile a jumbled mess of jargon.

Showcase your personality

A recruiter isn’t just getting an automaton worker when they look at your profile; they are looking at a complex human being. At the end of the day, not only does a recruiter want a qualified worker, but they want someone that is a good cultural fit for the organization.

Because of the nature of LinkedIn, you still want to be professional, but don’t be afraid to let a little flair or humor out. If you followed the above advice, your audience will get a view of you as a worker and you as a person. Having this insight allows the reader to have a more detailed picture of how you will fit in with the company.

Find a format that works for you

In keeping with the above advice, you can craft the style of your summary in a manner that best describes you. There isn’t a single cookie-cutter approach to take. SocialTalent reminds us that the summary is your chance to tell your story as you see it. Just like in an elevator pitch, you’re using that short space to say who you are and what you bring to the table.

The Muse’s Aja Frost analyzes different strategies for telling that story, including the mission-based strategy, the personal strategy, the short-and-sweet summary, the blended summary, and the accomplishment summary. These five example methods allow you to decide what’s important for you and the best way to summarize yourself. All five are great starting points, and you can click the above link for more details.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn itself goes over 14 well-designed and radically different summary styles and provides reasons why they work. All 14 off an excellent place to start and can serve as a template for your own story. It’s all about finding the best way to represent you!

Avoid third-person

Your LinkedIn summary is a summary of you as a worker, told by you. This is a chance for you to be yourself, and ideally, you don’t talk in third person in real life. Avoid this common pitfall!

Example

Aja Frost provides us with a great example of a short, detailed summary that follows all of the above advice.

“I’m a sales rep dedicated to helping local Oklahoma City services businesses grow their customer base and decrease customer churn. I have 6 years of experience in local sales and I’ve consistently met and exceeded my quota throughout my career. Within the last year, I’ve topped our leaderboard six out of 10 months. On average, I close business 10% faster than my peers.”

Wrap up

If you aren’t using LinkedIn as part of your job search strategy, you need to do so immediately! And a successful LinkedIn summary is the welcome mat to the rest of your profile. Make sure it’s clear, direct, and a good summary of you, the writer. There isn’t one successful must-use template, so do some research and some tweaking and find what works for you!

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Three Keys To A Rewarding Informational Interview

The key to a successful interview is preparation. Your skills and experience level don’t mean much if you go into an interview without doing your homework. Researching the company, the industry, and conducting a mock interview are all beneficial, but if you really want to do a deep dive, consider conducting an informational interview.

An informational interview isn’t the same as a job interview. Rather, it is an informal meeting or conversation with someone in your target industry/company to get a deep dive into that line of work. Indeed found a host of potential benefits of this type of interview, including:

  • Learning how to research or screen careers, positions or employers
  • Preparing for future job interviews
  • Learning how to ask direct and follow-up questions
  • Increasing network contacts
  • Learning steps to pursue a potential career
  • Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses for a potential role

An informational interview gets you something you can’t find from an online resource: a real person’s experiences and advice. If you think your job search could benefit from an informational interview or you’re looking to move into a new industry, we’ve done a little information gathering ourselves to help. Learn how to prepare for and conduct the most efficient fact-finding mission with these tenets.

Find the right contact

You’ve recognized that an informational interview will be advantageous, but where to start? Whether you’re a network novice or seasoned web-builder, chances are you can start with your own inner circle. If you already know someone in the industry or at your target company, excellent! Send them a message. If no one you know fits the bill, look to your friends, family, and professional contacts to see if they know a good fit. They may know the right person to assist and can introduce you.

If your network comes up empty, a good old-fashioned cold call (but actually email or direct message) can help! Look for someone in that company on LinkedIn or try searching in an alumni or professional group. LiveCarrer suggests being sincere and considerate when asking for a conversation. Remember, you’re asking this person for a favor. Be upfront and direct with your request. Make it clear you’re asking for help, but don’t ask for a job. You’re looking for information, and you’re hoping to learn from this person’s experience.

Pre-research research

While the purpose of your interview is to gain knowledge, you can’t go into an informational interview completely clueless. Compile enough background information to sound credible. You want this informational interview to support the information you’re able to find on your own, and merely asking someone the basics you could easily find online is a waste of both parties’ time. Mac Prichard suggests coming up with one clear objective you’d like to gain from the conversation and tailoring your preparation to it.

“What’s the #1 thing I can learn from this connection to help me on my career path?” -Mac Prichard

As Jennifer Winter of The Muse reminds, your contact is taking time out of their day to talk with you free of charge. Respect their time by doing your homework beforehand. Research their history and find common ground with them. Not only will you look prepared and professional, but they’ll feel honored you’re familiar with their work. A bit of flattery is always nice.

Ask useful questions

An informational interview shouldn’t be long—maybe about 15-30 minutes at most. You want to get as much useful info as possible, so it’s important to maximize your time by asking great questions. Have a specific list of questions prepared beforehand and keep them organized.

Harvard Business Review cited author Dorie Clark, who suggested approaching the interview like a journalist. “Gently probe through curiosity, then listen.” You don’t want to feel like a cross-examiner or be pushy. You’re asking the questions, but let your contact determine how they answer. You’re there for their expertise, so whatever they choose to answer with is probably what they view as important information.

The Balance Careers’ Alison Doyle has a magnificent list of questions you can ask your contact, divided into occupational and functional questions. A blend of both will give you a superb look at both the big picture aspects of the role and what the day-to-day looks like.

Wrap up

An informational interview can be an invaluable tool to assist in your job search, especially if you’re breaking into a new industry. These conversations are a great way to use the network you’ve created to get insider information you wouldn’t find in traditional research. Remember to find the right contact, do your homework beforehand, and make the most of your limited time by asking useful questions. There are so many resources out there for networking and learning about your chosen industry. Don’t be afraid to use them!

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Learn How To Hack Into The Hidden Job Market

Applying for jobs can often feel like screaming into a hurricane. You may be putting dozens of applications out a week with little success, especially if you’re looking for entry-level jobs. The volume method of sending dozens of applications on easy-apply job boards has a very low chance of success. At some point, you’ll need to change your strategy.

If you’ve hit a lull in your search, it’s time to learn about the hidden job market. You may be unfamiliar with this term, or you may have heard it without context. This isn’t a black market-type version of Indeed but rather a networking strategy. At its core, the hidden job market refers to jobs that aren’t publicly posted on job boards or a company’s website.

Through some sleuthing, we’ve exposed the mysteries of the hidden job market and how to access it yourself.

What is the hidden job market?

The idea at the center of the hidden job market may seem odd. Why wouldn’t a company openly advertise a job to get the best candidate pool possible?

There are actually lots of good reasons to keep a job opening quiet, as revealed by The Balance Career’s Alison Doyle. Current employees have a good understanding of what it takes to succeed in certain roles, and their referrals can carry greater weight. This leads to a company only looking for referrals. Or maybe the employer has a reason for keeping the position a secret, such as a new branch opening that isn’t yet public.

“Historically, the hidden job market was about unadvertised jobs. Fast forward to 2020, and you’ll find that the process is still about getting to hiring managers and recruiters early in the process, ideally, before the job is posted or engaging with that employer as soon as a listing goes up.” -Hannah Morgan

LinkedIn’s Andrew Seaman says there isn’t a lot of hard data on the size of the hidden market. Polled recruiters were split on the percentage of jobs that never made it to the open market. Some openings never made public include some of the highest-ranking spots in an organization, as those coveted jobs often have a shortlist of candidates. Another reason to keep the opening hidden is if it’s to fill an internal replacement.

Many of these jobs may become public after some time, but tapping into the hidden market early can get you a leg up on the competition.

How to access the hidden market

Getting a head start on your rival applicants is crucial, but how can access this hidden market? Ultimately, it’s a matter of networking.

Forbes cited Job Search Strategist Hannah Morgan, who said, “People typically are good at looking for jobs on the search boards but not through relationships. When you are actively networking and being strategic, you will be more successful.”

Using social media is key, as LinkedIn and Twitter are great places to connect with people, but Morgan says not to sleep on Facebook, as people still spend a lot of time on it. Having a well-rounded and consistently updated social media portfolio is the best start.

Building your LinkedIn network is one of the best ways to tap into the market, thanks to the ease of access in growing your network and keeping in touch with your contacts. Your contacts may look to you before a job is public without you even looking, or they might pass your name off to a recruiter in the know.

Networking can be intimidating, but social media makes it much more accessible. FlexJobs contributor Jessica Howington recommends taking the leap and sending “cold messages” to employees at companies you’re interested in. You certainly don’t want to open by asking for a job, but these connections can be great for informational interviews and learning more about the company, industry, or job title. And when a job opens up, you may be one of the first to find out.

If you don’t have a specific company in mind, Indeed recommends joining networking groups, professional organizations, alumni associations, and signing up for job alerts. And there’s always volunteering, an underrated resume builder and networking tool.

“Companies in the industry may reach out to associations before posting openings publicly. These professional organizations also offer events to build your network with industry peers or alumni who work for your desired companies. These relationships can provide advice for your search and potentially connect you to hidden opportunities.” – Indeed

Wrap up

Many job seekers get locked into one way of applying for jobs, and being aware that there’s an entire hidden world of jobs out there for the taking is a major eye-opener. Being one of the first to apply for a new job is a way to separate yourself from your peers, and by building a strong network you may get that chance. Keep building your network and learning more about your chosen industry, and the hidden market will be wide open!

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Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch

You know the thing about the elevator business? It has its ups and downs!

Speaking of elevators and business, whether you’re a job seeker, a salesperson, an entrepreneur with a great idea, or simply trying to get a leg up on your career, it pays to perfect your elevator pitch.

What’s an elevator pitch? Thryv’s Derkia Thomas perfectly summarizes the concept as “a 30-second succinct, compelling summary of your business or product. It should include your successes, unique qualities and your target market.” The term comes from a hypothetical situation where you’re sharing an elevator ride with a CEO or someone equally important and you only have the short elevator ride to introduce yourself and what you can offer.

In a world of 280-character messages, having a clear, concise summary of what you can offer is crucial to garner interest and sell yourself, regardless of what you’re seeking from your audience. The exact time and content of your elevator pitch may vary, but all successful pitches feature the following elements.

Previous research

Before your step foot in the metaphorical elevator, you’ll want to carefully craft your pitch based on relevant research. Understand your industry and your audience. At its core, your pitch should look to examine what your audience needs and how you can uniquely address that need. Business News Daily’s Marisa Sanfilippo uses the example of a gardening company.

“”We’re a gardening company, and we sell pots and plants,” but so do all the other gardening companies. Before crafting your elevator pitch, dig into the details of your products and services. Consider what is unique about your product and what sets your business apart from the competition. Perhaps, for instance, you sell rare heirloom plants and handmade pots from local artists. It is these details that will make your prospects want to know more about your business.” -Marisa Sanfilippo

Being able to find the right niche is the core tenet of how to sell yourself as the answer.

A good introduction

You know what would be devastating? Delivering a successful elevator pitch that garners attention only to be forgotten because the listener didn’t know who you are or how to reach you! Your first impression is the key to starting strong, so open with a polite greeting, your full name, and a summary of what you do.

Nexxt’s Madison Green recommends giving the listener a business card if possible (for an in-person conversation). Not only does this contain all of your relevant information, but a business card can be passed along. Even if the listener doesn’t currently need your services, someone else might, and they can pass the card along.

A clear objective

The timing of your elevator pitch will be concise, roughly 30-60 seconds. In that short amount of time, it would help if your listener knew your objective. MasterClass describes the importance of choosing one goal thusly:

“If you’re trying to sell a product and explain your new small business venture and include your own biography, chances are you’ll end up with a muddled and ineffective pitch. The perfect elevator pitch has a limited scope and is crafted around a single venture or business.”

Whether a quick introduction, one small aspect of your idea you’d like to express, or a quick summary of what you can offer, base your pitch around one idea.

Conciseness

Remember where the term “elevator pitch” derives from. Unless the elevator breaks down, in which case your problems are much bigger than your pitch, you’ll have a short amount of time to deliver your pitch. Thirty seconds is a good base time, but up to a minute isn’t unrealistic. If your pitch is written, it should be a few sentences at most.

A call to action

Any persuasive speech should end with a call to action, and an elevator pitch is no exception. There’s a reason you chose to deliver this pitch instead of talking about the weather or the latest blockbuster sports news. This is the reason we created a clear objective for our pitch—now we can work that into our call to action.

For a short conversation like an elevator pitch, the action may be as simple as setting up a longer follow-up conversation. You’ve said who you are, what you can do, and how you can help their needs. Now it’s time to put the ball in their court.

Lots of practice

Not everyone is comfortable with public speaking or networking, but practice and patience are the keys. The more your practice your pitch, the more natural and comfortable you’ll be, and you’ll get a good sense of timing.

Derkia Thomas points out three elevator pitch delivery “killers”, including speaking too quickly, rambling on, and appearing disinterested. Practice is the key to working these kinks out of your pitch. With a limited time to deliver your pitch, you may speak too quickly to try to overcompensate, but if you focus on the important factors, you’ll set yourself up for success. And don’t be afraid to try timing yourself!

Wrap up

Elevator pitches are versatile and can serve you in many circumstances, and you can have multiple pitches for multiple scenarios. It always pays to be able to provide a clear, concise summary of who you are and what you can do. Being able to describe yourself in this way can build confidence over time, as well. If you follow these tenets, your elevator pitch experience should be filled with far more ups than downs!

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