People have different opinions on how to approach the job search. There’s definitely no “right” way to do it, but there are definitely certain things you can do to not only improve your response rates, but to potentially earn more too. Some people submit online applications while others solely rely on referrals through their network. I used the latter strategy, but you can’t always get lucky, in fact you’ll only get lucky once or twice. The strategy I’d like to share isn’t based on luck. Instead it’s based on working hard AND smart. You’ll be casting a wider net than attempting one-offs, but you still have to be focused on what you want as in the type of company you want to work for. You’re not fishing with a spear, but rather casting a net towards a specific target (or a specific spot in the ocean). Trust me, the metaphor makes more sense once you learn the strategy. First, online job applications historically convert at a 2% success rate. That means for every 100 applications you fill out, you’ll only get 2 phone interviews. That’s not working smart, that’s just working hard. Job applications are just advertisements to gauge who’s interested in working for them. That doesn’t mean you have to complete the job app, just like you don’t always have to call the number on any other ad you see. You can email them, hit them up on social media, or just walk into their store. Second, there’s always a hiring manager. They can be working with a recruiter to help them, but at the end of the day they’re managing a funnel of potential prospects trying to find the right hire. The best hire. Much like sifting through dirt to find gold. Third, recruiters and hiring managers are constantly going through a high volume of applications that are majority low quality. That’s a lot of noise you’re competing with. How do you help yourself stand out? The strategy: 1. Determine your ICP Mostly known for “Ideal Customer Profile”, let’s call this your “Ideal Company Profile” for the purpose of the strategy. Traditionally in sales, ICP is used when determining the type of leads that should enter your sales funnel. That is, the customers that meet a general set of criteria that make them potential good fits for your product or service. Here is a set of criteria you can use for your ICP: