How to Generate Job Search Leads

Stop Applying and Waiting—Use the 2-Step Method Instead It’s not enough to apply for a job and hope for the best. And mass-applying—whether manually or with an AI tool—won’t get you hired faster. Instead, use the 2-Step Method to stand out and gain an advantage. 🔹 Find a job → Find a contact 🔹 Find a contact → Find a job By taking this approach, you’ll not only differentiate yourself from other applicants but also gain the support of an insider who can help your resume get noticed. Step 1: Apply Strategically This part is straightforward. ✔ Find a job online. ✔ Tailor your resume to highlight your most relevant qualifications. ✔ Write a thoughtful cover letter that explains why you want to work at the company—this means doing real research beyond just knowing their name. Step 2: Find an Insider This is the step most job seekers skip—but it’s the game-changer. Find someone who currently works (or previously worked) at the company and reach out. Yes, it takes effort, but securing an internal advocate, ally or informant dramatically increases your chances of getting noticed. This is called an employee referral, and it’s one of the most powerful ways to land an interview. 💎 Reversing the 2-Step: Start with People, Then Find the Job 💎 If you have a list of target companies, begin by identifying people you know who work there. Reach out and reconnect—even if there’s no job opening at the moment. Why? ✔ They may know about a job before it’s posted. ✔ They could refer you when something opens up. ✔ They might introduce you to someone hiring elsewhere. Not everyone will respond, and not every lead will pan out—but what if just one does? That’s all it takes. Use LinkedIn to Find Insider Connections LinkedIn is the best tool for this. 📌 Visit a company’s LinkedIn page and see who works there. 📌 Check your connections—first-degree contacts are ideal, but second-degree can be valuable too. 📌 Use your college/university alumni network to find former classmates at your target companies. AI can’t replace human-to-human connection. And while this takes effort, the hard work can pay off. Try the 2-Step Method for a few weeks and see how it changes your job search.

🔎 Find Hidden Job Opportunities with LinkedIn Search 🔎 🚀 Don’t wait for job postings! Some of the best opportunities come from building relationships before roles even go live. Here’s how to leverage LinkedIn Search to get ahead and uncover those “hidden” jobs: 1️⃣ Use Boolean Search Combine keywords to focus your search. For example: “Marketing AND AI” to find marketers working in AI. “Product Manager NOT Junior” to filter out entry-level roles. “Software Engineer AND Hiring” to locate people hiring in your field or those open to referrals. 2️⃣ Apply Advanced Filters Looking for potential mentors, collaborators, or managers? Use filters like Location, Industry, and Experience to narrow down the right connections. 👉 Example: Searching “Sales Director AND Healthcare” with the “Location: Boston” filter helps you find senior leaders in your target area. 3️⃣ Expand Beyond Your Immediate Network Use LinkedIn’s search to find second-degree connections or people not actively posting but who could be key to your goals. 👉 Example: Look for “VP AND Engineering” to identify leaders in engineering who may not post often but could provide a referral or advice. 4️⃣ Try Job Title + “Hiring” Searches Sometimes the best leads come from individuals actively hiring. Use combinations like “Product Manager + Hiring” or “Software Engineer + Open to Referrals” to locate managers and recruiters seeking talent. 💡 Pro Tip: Experiment with different keywords and filter combinations to refine your results. LinkedIn search can be a powerful tool for proactively finding opportunities. What’s your favorite LinkedIn search trick? Share it below! 💬👇 #LinkedInSearch #HiddenJobs #NetworkingTips #CareerAdvancement #JobLeads

Your dream job isn't found—it's built. Here's how I did it (and you can too). 1/ Define your ideal role and company   ↳ Stop the endless scrolling through job boards.   ↳ Instead, get clear on what you want in your next role.   ↳ Research companies where you can add value.  Knowing what you want makes it easier to find the right fit. 2/ Optimize your online presence   ↳ Update your LinkedIn profile to highlight achievements and impact.   ↳ Tailor your portfolio to show your unique strengths.   ↳ Use storytelling to connect with hiring managers. Your online presence is your first impression—make it count. 3/ Network with intent   ↳ Connect with people at your target companies.   ↳ Join industry events, both online and offline.   ↳ Request informational interviews to learn about company culture. Networking isn’t just about who you know, but who knows you. 4/ Craft a personalized outreach strategy   ↳ Ditch the generic applications; tailor each one.   ↳ Write direct, engaging emails to hiring managers.   ↳ Highlight how you can solve specific problems for their team. Standing out means showing how you can bring value. 5/ Prepare for every step of the interview   ↳ Research the company’s products, challenges, and culture.   ↳ Practice telling your story with a focus on results.   ↳ Rehearse common interview questions and scenarios. Preparation turns anxiety into confidence. Takeaway: Landing your dream UX job isn’t a matter of luck; it’s about strategy, clarity, and action. TL;DR 1/ Define what you want and where you can add value.   2/ Polish your online presence to attract the right attention.   3/ Network to build meaningful connections.   4/ Personalize every job application and outreach.   5/ Prepare thoroughly for each interview stage. Comment below and let me know your biggest job search challenge. P.S. You wouldn’t trust a designer who doesn’t iterate—so why trust a job search that doesn’t evolve?

Job search in 2025 isn’t about applying more. It’s about applying smarter. Most job seekers spend 90% of their time on the application… and almost no time on the approach. Here’s what actually works and how to do it step-by-step: 1️⃣ Find companies hiring… even if the role isn’t posted How to do it: 1. Go to LinkedIn → Search roles you want → Filter by “Past 30 days” → Note which companies are hiring frequently. 2. Search “hiring + your role” in the LinkedIn search bar → Sort by Posts → Find teams hiring unofficially. 3. Check the company’s Careers page weekly — many roles never reach LinkedIn. This helps you catch opportunities before they become competitive. 2️⃣ Reach out to people who recently joined the company How to do it: 1. Search: `Company → People → Joined within last 1 year`. Message them: “Hi, I saw you recently joined <Company>. How was your experience? Any tips for someone exploring roles there?” 2. Don’t ask for a referral first. Build context. Ask for insights. People who’ve just cleared the bar know exactly what matters. 3️⃣ Tailor your resume to the job, not your entire life story How to do it: 1. Copy the job description into a doc. 2. Highlight the skills, tools, and verbs they repeat (e.g., “optimize, automate, scale”). 3. Match your bullet points to those themes. 4. Remove anything not relevant to that specific role. A focused resume wins over a long resume. 4️⃣ Show proof of work How to do it: 1. Analysts → Share dashboards, SQL queries, case studies. 2. Product/Program → Share PRDs, Roadmaps, “Before→After” impact. 3. Tech → GitHub, small builds, open-source contributions. 4. Marketing → Campaign deck, portfolio, results screenshot. Hiring managers love evidence, not promises. 5️⃣ Treat job search as a pipeline, not chaos How to do it: 1. Track companies, contacts, resume versions, follow-ups in a simple sheet. 2. Set a weekly target: ✔ 10 quality reach-outs ✔ 2 resume tweaks ✔ 1 mock interview 3. Follow up after 5–7 days — most candidates never do. Consistency beats luck. Job search is no longer a numbers game. It’s a strategy game. If you’re job hunting right now, you’re not behind. You just need the right direction. Tell me which step you want me to break down even further, I’ll create a post for it. #jobsearch #careeradvice #careertips #resume #linkedin

A job search is not an application contest. It is a relationship campaign. A lot of people reach out to me for informational conversations. They are smart. Accomplished. Sometimes frustrated. Often unsure where to begin. They usually expect me to tell them how to improve their résumé or beat an applicant-tracking system. I tell them something different: Run your job search the same way a great seller runs a territory. Catch up with people in your network; not just when you need something. Not opening with, “Can you get me a job?” Just reconnecting. Listening. Learning what they are working on. Sharing what you are building. Looking for places where your paths might intersect again. Set up job alerts so the right opportunities come to you quickly, but know that often when a role is posted they already know who they are going to hire. Know your odds. Study the roles, organizations and leaders that genuinely interest you. Use AI to help you turn a page of thoughts into a brief, relevant message that gives the recipient an easy reason to respond. Not a generic résumé dump. A few thoughtful sentences that answer: Why this role? Why this leader? Why you? Why should you talk? The best opportunities rarely begin with: “Apply here.” They usually begin with: “You should talk to…” “I thought of you when…” “There may be something opening…” “Let me introduce you to…” Don't chase every job. Gravitate toward the people and leaders you want to work for and with. Understand what they are trying to build. Learn what problems they need someone to solve. Find the organizations where your strengths, experiences and values actually matter. Then earn a conversation. Here is the playbook I am sharing with the people I mentor: 1️⃣ Get clear about the work you want to do. 2️⃣ Build a focused list of roles, companies and leaders. 3️⃣ Set alerts so you see relevant openings immediately. 4️⃣ Reconnect with your network before asking for anything. 5️⃣ Use AI to research and sharpen your message—but make sure the humanity is still yours. 6️⃣ Keep the outreach brief, specific and easy to answer. 7️⃣ Ask for insight and conversation, not immediate sponsorship. 8️⃣ Follow up, add value and keep the relationship alive. 9️⃣ Track your activity the same way you would track a sales pipeline. 🔟 Do not wait for a posting to begin building the relationship. Who is one person you should reconnect with this week? For more stories like this—and my entire replicable playbook for winning with relationships, AI, LinkedIn and disciplined execution—check out Moneyball Sales. Links are in the first comment. All proceeds go to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. 🦊💙

Most job seekers make this mistake: They jump straight into applying — and get filtered out before a human even sees their resume. Recruiters use multiple channels to find candidates - job posts, social media, networking, referrals, and sourcing tools. If you're only using a single-channel approach in your job search, it puts you at a disadvantage. Here's the system I've used in my own job search - based on 20 years of recruiting experience: Step 1: Build your recruiter magnet - Make sure your LinkedIn matches your resume. No contradictions - Showcase your work with links to your portfolio, GitHub, and relevant projects - Use a headline that signals what you do well - not just your current job title Step 2: Apply smart - Set job alerts on LinkedIn and Google - Apply within 8 hours of a posting going live - timing matters - Follow up directly with the hiring manager via LinkedIn DM and email Keep it short, relevant, and focused on why you're genuinely interested Step 3: Stay visible - Comment on posts from people at your target companies - Share 1–2 posts a week about what you’re learning, building, or thinking about - Connect with folks on the teams you’d want to join - Engage in Niche Communities: Go where the pros are. This could be a specific Slack or Discord community for their field (e.g., "Product-Led Alliance" for product managers, "DataTalks.Club" for data scientists), a professional association, or local meetups. Active, helpful participation there gets you noticed by senior people Step 4: Leverage weak ties (AKA - The Hidden Job Market) Everyone knows to ask close friends for help. The real magic is in "weak ties" — former colleagues, friends of friends, people you met once at an event. A quick "Hey, keeping an eye out for marketing roles and thought of your company" works. Step 5: Follow the Funding (follow the money): Sites like TechCrunch or Crunchbase announce new funding rounds. A newly funded company is almost always looking to hire. Reaching out right after a big announcement is a great way to get on their radar early. Something to add? Need help with any of the above? Drop a note in the comments! #jobsearchstrategy #recruitingtips #careerplaybook #jobhunting2025

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

A CFO came to me with one question: “Why isn’t LinkedIn bringing me opportunities?” I didn’t need more than 10 seconds to see why. Their profile read like a basic career chronology: past-focused, dense, full of jargon. It didn’t give anyone a reason to reach out today. Don’t approach LinkedIn as just a ‘resume-like’ database. Look at it more like a giant search engine. If you want it to bring you opportunities, your profile must be built for search, connection, and positioning. Start with these 4 checks: 1.     Headline: Does it project your next move, not just your current job title? Most executives leave their headline as “CFO at XYZ Corp.”, which doesn’t help them in searches. Instead, use a value-driven headline with appropriate keywords: Chief Financial Officer | Fortune 100 | $50B P&L Oversight | Drove 18% EBITDA Growth and $4B Free Cash Flow | Global M&A, Capital Markets, Digital Finance Transformation This makes you keyword-rich for search and gives readers a reason to click. 2.     About Section: Does it read like a compelling conversation starter, or like a dull corporate bio? The best About sections: * Lead with a hook that makes people want to read more. * Share the kind of leadership problems you solve. * Spotlight strong impacts and results. * Close with a clear invitation to connect. 3.     Top 5 Skills: These should never be random; instead, they should be strategically selected and aligned with the skills that your future employers are looking for. Choose keywords that match your target roles (e.g., “Mergers & Acquisitions,” “Financial Strategy,” “Organizational Transformation”). 4.     Experience Section: Are your results front and center? Are you providing enough context to appease and interest a reader? Replace generic “responsible for” statements with quantified impact: “Delivered $120M in cost savings through operational restructuring”. People scan profiles, and numbers and specifics stop the scroll. When you treat your LinkedIn profile as an active marketing asset, it begins generating warm leads even when you’re not online. A strong profile isn’t just a biography. It’s your 24/7 business development tool. 🔁 Share this to help someone who is due for a LinkedIn refresh. #LinkedIn #Jobsearch #ExecutiveSearch

How to Get a Job When No One Is Hiring I’ve never gotten a job by applying for one. Not once. Every opportunity I’ve ever had came through people — not postings. When the market slows and no one’s hiring, your network becomes everything. Here’s how to get noticed when everyone else is getting ignored: 1. Request informational interviews — not job interviews. Reach out directly to company leaders or people you admire. Tell them you’re not asking for a job; you just want to learn about their industry. Come prepared with thoughtful topics — ask about emerging trends, new technologies, shifting customer behaviors, or how their company is adapting. Then listen more than you talk. People remember curiosity. 2. Position yourself like a brand, not an applicant. Update your LinkedIn headline to reflect what you do, not just your title. Post your thoughts on industry trends, share lessons you’ve learned, and show how you think. Visibility builds credibility. 3. Engage with the companies you want to work for. Follow their pages. Comment meaningfully on leadership posts. Offer perspective that adds value to the conversation — not just “great post.” 4. Go where your future coworkers already are. Attend regional user groups, conferences, and community events in your field. If you want a job in sales, show up at your local Salesforce.com user group and start connecting with people who live and breathe that world. The best opportunities are often found in conversations, not job boards. 5. Build something visible. Don’t wait for permission to prove your value. Create a mini project that shows your skills — a prototype, a personal site, a content series, or even a process improvement idea for your target industry. When hiring freezes lift, the person who’s been building will always stand out over the one who’s been waiting. 6. Create an industry survey. This is one of the smartest ways to meet potential employers without asking for a job. Build a simple survey about trends, challenges, or innovations in your space — then reach out to leaders and companies to participate. After collecting responses, turn the data into a short white paper and send it back to everyone who contributed. You’ll have hit them twice — once for input and again with value. Plus, you can post the survey and results on LinkedIn to position yourself as someone who understands the industry. And if nothing clicks? Start your own company. Because sometimes the best way to get a job is to create one. #entrepreneurs #founders #b2bsaas #hiring

Today I hosted the first office hours to support colleagues affected by the recent #MicrosoftLayoffs. We had a small group, but folks had similar questions about approaching job search. I wanted to share how I've broken this down and have been executing it as a project. In my case, I have to execute it as a time-bound project because of my unique situation. I hope this helps everyone navigating these moments of crisis and self-reflection. The Facts: 🚫 Direct application is flawed. Most likely AI is triaging & filtering resumes. If you're on a visa, the chances are even lower. Less than 1% of my direct applications resulted in recruiter conversations. ✅ Referrals have higher chances of success. No guarantee for conversion, but at least your resume gets reviewed by a human. The Strategies: 1️⃣ Build a pipeline. Target companies you want to work for, companies that are hiring, or organizations with relevant roles. Cast a wider net to create your top-of-funnel. Set Google alerts and company-specific alerts so you know when new positions open up. 2️⃣ Don't apply directly. Find a connection who can refer you. If you don't have a connection in the company, find someone who might know someone in the org. Be relentless, frugal, and resourceful. Your efforts here will result in lead conversion. Stronger the connection and recommendation, higher the chances of conversion. My conversion rate at this step was 25%. 3️⃣ Treat your Resume, LinkedIn, GitHub, or Portfolio as marketing content. Update and polish them to be the best representation of your experience and what you offer to prospective hiring managers. Leverage AI to craft, review, and SEO optimize your materials. I'll write another post about this, but the key point is that your content leads to conversion at their first call. 4️⃣ Recruiters are your partners. Treat them with respect and explain what roles you're looking for. Treat this call as your first interview, bring your best foot forward and explain what you offer as a candidate. You're in human hands now, and they can help you find the right opportunities. Most genuinely want to help you land your dream job. Once you're here, chances of interviews are high. 5️⃣ Hiring Manager informational is the first formal interview in most organizations. This is your most important conversation in the interview loop. Most hiring managers make high-level triage decisions in that first interview. Ask questions about the role and acquire intel about the position, it helps you prepare for the full interview loops. 6️⃣ Do your research. Every organization is different and they're looking for different traits. If you've reached here, make it count, customize your research. I will create a more detailed post about interview prep and the mindset. There are drop-offs at step of this funnel. Stay relentless and resolute. Lean in on family and friends for support in the moments rejection and low morale. #JobSearch #CareerTransition #Networking