Job Search Strategies for Frictional Unemployment

If I Was Job Searching in 2025, I'd Skip Everything Except These 3 Strategies: 1. Text your last 5 managers this: "I'm exploring new opportunities. Who's the best person you've hired recently?" Not for a job. For an introduction to someone killing it in your field. Because that person knows who's actually hiring for real roles, not posting ghost jobs. 2. Comment on posts from leaders building things you care about. But not "Great post!" garbage. Add something useful. Share a relevant article. Ask a specific question about their approach. Do this for 30 days before you ever mention you're looking. One founder told me: "I hired someone who'd been thoughtfully engaging with my content for months. When they finally said they were job searching, I created a role for them." 3. Find 10 people who have the job you want. Message them this: "I saw you moved from [Company A] to [Company B]. What made you pick them?" People love talking about good decisions they've made. And their answer tells you exactly what that company values in hiring. Last week, someone used this approach and discovered the company they were targeting had a hiring freeze - but their competitor was staffing up a whole new team. Saved them 6 weeks of dead-end applications. The old playbook - spray and pray applications, keyword-stuffed resumes, LinkedIn Easy Apply - that's what everyone else is doing. While they're applying to 100 jobs and hearing nothing, you'll have 10 warm conversations with people who can actually hire you. Your network isn't just who you know. It's who they know. And at Twill, we've built our entire business on this truth. The best opportunities aren't posted. They're passed between people who trust each other. #JobSearch #Hiring #CareerAdvice

A job seeker came to me after 3.5 months of job searching with the following data: 180 applications submitted 12 screenings 1 referral 5 interviews 1 final round 0 offers After reviewing the data, I found that their job search was actually performing well in some areas but had key bottlenecks: - Strong application-to-screening rate Their resume and portfolio were doing well, getting them past the initial stage. - Good screening-to-interview rate Their performance in behavioral and situational questions was above average. - Weak interview-to-final round conversion  This indicated a struggle with: Technical rounds – Not demonstrating enough depth in core skills. Alignment with job descriptions – Answers weren’t tailored to the company’s needs. Surface-level responses – Not showcasing impact or real-world application of skills. The plan to improve: If I were coaching them, I’d focus on three key strategies: 𝟭) 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 Develop an interview strategy to explain technical and soft skills in-depth. Relate answers directly to the job description and company goals for higher impact. Use structured responses like the STAR method, but emphasize impact and problem-solving. 𝟮) 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 Daily practice of technical questions tailored to their target roles. Mock interviews to simulate real-world scenarios. Feedback loops to refine and improve responses. 𝟯) 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 Increase outreach to professionals in their industry. Leverage networking and informational interviews to gain more referrals. Prioritize companies where referrals hold more weight. Key Points: ✔️ Data-driven job search analysis helps pinpoint areas that need improvement. ✔️ Fixing interview bottlenecks is often the key to securing more final rounds and offers. ✔️ Referrals still matter even in markets where they aren’t as strong as in the US or Canada. ✔️ Daily practice and structured preparation make a big difference in interview performance. By focusing on these areas, They could significantly increase their final round conversions and land a job faster. Have questions about your job search or how to break into data roles? Drop them in the comments, or send me a message. Let's get you to your next role! ------------------------ ➕Follow Jaret André  for more daily data job search tips.

If you've sent out 200+ applications in the past six months and all you've heard is silence, it's not bad luck ~ it’s a sign you need to change your approach! I’ve had clients come to me after blasting out hundreds of resumes with zero results, and my advice is always the same: stop relying on job boards alone and start diversifying your strategy!! Here’s what I’ve seen work and what I'm recommending: 1. Build real connections (this is the game-changer). Most jobs are filled through referrals or internal hires. If you’re not networking, you’re competing against hundreds (or thousands) of applicants. Instead: - Reach out to hiring managers directly. - Talk to employees at companies you admire. - Join industry Slack groups, Discords, and networking events. Many Slack communities have exclusive job postings and hiring managers actively looking for talent. 2. Make LinkedIn work for you. I’ve seen candidates land jobs just by being active. If you’re only applying but never posting, commenting, or optimizing your profile, you’re invisible. Show up and engage ~ hiring managers are watching! 3. Pitch yourself. One of my clients landed a role by cold-emailing a hiring manager with actionable ideas to improve their marketing. (Note that you must do this strategically or it will backfire and you might come off as a know-it-all!) Sometimes, the best jobs aren’t even listed until the right person makes a case for them. 4. Look beyond LinkedIn & job boards. So many great opportunities exist outside the usual platforms. Depending on your industry, check out: AngelList – startups Wellfound – tech We Work Remotely – fully remote jobs Behance / Dribbble / CreativeMornings – creative roles 5. Get expert guidance. If your job search feels like a black hole, you don’t have to figure it out alone. A career coach (like me!) can help you fine-tune your strategy, craft outreach messages, and unlock hidden job opportunities so you're not stuck in the endless cycle of online applications. Bottom line? If what you're doing isn’t working, let’s build a strategy that does!

When you’re unemployed, your job search is your job. But most job seekers don’t treat it that way. They: ❌ Scroll job boards aimlessly ❌ Send out mass applications with no strategy ❌ Wait (and wait) for a response that never comes Sound familiar? Here’s a better approach: → Create a job search schedule (just like a work schedule) A simple framework: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM → Research companies & roles 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM → Apply to 3-5 quality jobs 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM → Network: Engage on LinkedIn, send personalized messages 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM → Break (yes, take breaks!) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM → Skill-building: Learn, upskill, take a free course 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM → Follow-ups: Check applications, send thank-you notes 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM → Interview prep & practice Stick to this, and you’ll: ✔️ Stay productive ✔️ Reduce job search stress ✔️ See real progress The job search is a full-time role. Approach it like one. (P.S. Know someone looking for a job? Share this with them!)