Here's something we see all the time.
Someone on a team resigns. Their manager now has a role to fill, and going out to market right now is slow and hard work. So before an ad goes up, they ask around. "I used to work with someone really good. Let me give them a call."
A lot of roles get filled through conversations like that, and never make it to a job board.
The people who put your name forward
The people most likely to recommend you are the ones who enjoyed working with you. They don't need to be in your field. A former colleague might still be close to a CEO or CTO you both worked with years ago, and one conversation often leads to the next.
A simple way to start:
- Write down 15 people you've worked with who liked working with you.
- Reach out to a few each week. A short message or a coffee is enough.
- Keep a note of who you spoke to and what came of it.
Most of these conversations won't lead anywhere straight away. Some will come back a few weeks later, often when you least expect it.
Three more tips from this week
Give your LinkedIn profile time. If you've recently updated your profile, it can take a little while to start showing up in searches. You can check how it's going on your profile page, just under your name: profile views, post impressions and search appearances.
Track what you send, not only what comes back. Keep a simple record of what you're doing: messages sent, catch ups booked, applications made. Put the results next to it. After a few weeks you'll see what's working and where your time is best spent.
Prep before networking events. Have a few talking points ready about your experience and what you're looking for. One of our members uploaded her resume to Interview Pro and asked it for talking points before an industry event. She also practised out loud with it and found that really helped.
One last thought
We've started taking a different route home on purpose. Our brain pushes back straight away ("but we always turn right"), and that's the point. Doing small things differently makes bigger changes feel less daunting.
A job search asks for a lot of new habits at once: new tools, new conversations, putting yourself out there. It's normal to feel uncomfortable at the start, and it gets easier once it becomes routine.
Who are the first three names on your list? Hit reply and let us know, we'd love to hear.
Warmly,
Emma and Bianca
People & Purpose
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