Recruiter Networking for Jobs

The job market has changed. What worked a few years ago doesn't work anymore. If you've been job searching for 3+ months with no real results? You need a new system. And if you want to win in today's market? That system better be focused on networking and referrals. Here's how we do it with our clients: 1. Make a list of 15 target companies These are companies you should intentionally choose because they align with your values, growth trajectory, and ideal culture. 2. Research the heck out of your target companies. Listen to earnings calls, read articles, find interviews with execs, & survey customers. 3. Use LinkedIn to find contacts who can refer you into your target role. Aim for someone who might be the hiring manager or a peer if you were hired. Find 150 contacts minimum (10 people at each company). 4. Use a tool like Mailscoop to find the emails for your contacts. Reach out to them and set up a conversation. Use the conversation to learn about things like: • Their team’s biggest challenge • Current initiatives • Goals for the next 12 months 5. Combine the info from your research and conversations to create a Value Validation Project (VVP). Think of a VVP as a pitch deck where you provide solutions to a problem, ideas around an initiative, or help with a challenge. It should be relevant and aligned to the work you’d be doing in that new role. 6. Send the VVP back to the contacts you had convos with and ask if those solutions aligned with their expectations for X role. 7. Rinse, repeat, and watch the referrals flow in!

Job seekers- you are spending too much time on job boards. Do this instead: Use the 90/10 rule- you should only be spending 10% of your time scrolling through job boards. Spend 90% of the time on results driven activity. Things like: 👉 Reach out to people in your personal and professional network. Send an email with a few bullet points on your ideal next step and ask if they know of anything or anyone they can connect you with. People want to help people. 👉 Create a target list of companies you think you’d like to work for. Minimum of 25 companies to start. 👉 From there- jump on their website and see if there are any openings that are of interest. If there is, go ahead and apply but do not leave your fate to an ATS where your resume probably won’t see the light of day. Skip the next step and go to the following. 👉 It’s not super likely they will have something perfect posted so move to the next step… 👉 Next hop on LinkedIn and search for functional line leaders in those orgs. Connect with them AND send them an email expressing your interest in the company and would love a quick intro call (if you applied already-let them know). Preface it with even though they may not have anything right now, you’d love to make the connection should something open in the future (if they are a company of interest now, they likely will later….also if you make an impression, they may create a role!) 👉 They may not make time for it now- that’s ok. Send a follow up email (a short one!) with a few bullet points of your accomplishments and ideal next step. Attach your resume. Important- make sure you ask them to send your info to any one in their network that may have an interest. Keep expanding your list as you go through this exercise. Most reverse the 90/10 and spend 90% of their time on the blackhole of job boards. They then get frustrated/exhausted and lose hope because it’s not yielding results. Change your methods and see the difference. #jobseekers #advice #proactivesearch

Y'all, the hidden job market does in fact exist. It's just not quite what you think it is. The false claim: "80% of jobs are never posted, they're filled on the hidden job market." The reality of what hiring on the "hidden job market" looks like (all REAL examples where either I was hired, or I did the hiring): - someone applied for a job and was a runner up in January; when the same opening came up in March, the team went back and extended an offer instead of reposting the same job. - someone was declined for a position after several stages because their technical skills weren't quite strong enough, but the team felt that were the role at a lower level, they would be perfect; the team decided to hire the person into an upcoming lower level role rather than posting this role. - personally, I've been hired twice on the "hidden job market"; in both cases, I was a silver medalist for a position, and in one case, they were able to extend an alternate offer for a role they were planning to hire in a few months on the spot while declining me for the position. In the other, they reached out a few months later with another role and fast tracked me through the interview process though the role was also posted. Here's the common thread in all these examples: jobs were posted, people applied for those posted jobs, and interview processes happened. If you want to be tapped for jobs on the "hidden job market": 1. Apply for jobs you're qualified for, leveraging networks where you can. 2. Show up strong at every stage so you're someone they're excited to hire and keep in mind. 3. Stay engaged afterwards. If you're declined, be gracious, thank them for their time, ask for feedback, make sure that you show yourself as someone who is still interested, understanding, etc. This will strengthen the relationship and increase your chances of them remembering you well and circling back. 4. Check back in occasionally - this helps keep you top of mind. I promise this works, I hired someone back in March who did just this, and I just emailed someone on Friday in part because they checked in periodically so I knew they were likely still interested and they were the first person I thought of! Finally, remember that the 80% number is crap. It's a number that was tossed out in the 1970's in the book "What Color is your Parachute" at a time when most jobs WERE filled by word of mouth since the internet and job boards weren't really a thing (though even then, there was no citation/evidence of the number). A lot has changed in 50 years, and outside of executive roles, you can expect that relevant jobs will be posted, and the hires will more than likely be people who submitted a cold application. That said, networking is still a big help. While most jobs (60-80% at most companies) are filled by cold applications, referrals and personal connections certainly increase chances of landing interviews. But the job you land with that networking is one that will be posted.

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

You don’t need to attend awkward networking events to build connections. Here are 10 ways to network online (from your couch) to land your dream job, mentorship or just to stay in touch: 1. Start with warm calls, not cold DMs Reaching out to strangers is intimidating. So, begin with people you already admire or respect: past colleagues, old classmates, mentors, or anyone you’ve gotten value from. Reach out, share your goals, ask for advice, or simply reconnect. — 2. Build (or join) a 3-6 person mastermind Invite people you admire to check in monthly or quarterly. Ask 3 simple questions in each meeting: • What’s your biggest win? • What’s your biggest challenge? • How can we help each other? This becomes your personal board of advisors, and their networks become yours, too. — 3. Make intros within your own network Instead of always trying to add new people, try connecting two people you already know. It builds goodwill, and often sparks reciprocity. Some of my best opportunities came from introductions I made first. — 4. Be the tortoise, not the hare Strong networks aren’t built in a week. They come from consistency, trust, and staying top of mind. Check in. Celebrate small wins. Be helpful, even without asking for anything.  — 5. Send snail mail Want to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn messages? Send a handwritten card or even a fun comic with a note. The person will always remember your “extra” effort. — 6. Elevate the interaction • Only chatted with someone online? Try a call. • Had a few calls? Try a Zoom meeting. • Know them over Zoom? Meet up in person. Each upgrade strengthens the connection. — 7. Pick one platform to dominate Instead of being everywhere, go deep somewhere. For example, if it’s LinkedIn: • Endorse people • Write thoughtful comments • Share niche insights your network actually values   This depth pays off more than shallow visibility. — 8. Curate, don’t just connect Curate the best insights, tools, or articles in your niche, and share them regularly. You’ll become a trusted source people keep coming back or referring to. — 9. Do something fun together Shared activities build bonds. This could be as simple as playing a game, joining a sweepstakes, or co-hosting a webinar.  People remember who made them feel something. — 10. Swipe right (yes, really) Apps like Shapr or Invitly are designed for warm outreach — you match with people who want to meet others. It’s cold networking without the awkwardness. Networking isn’t about pitching. It’s about planting seeds. Start with one person. Reach out. Reconnect.  Then keep showing up, helping others, and making connections that count.

Every opportunity that changed my life came from a relationship (not a resume). 6 tips to build a network that actually works for you: 1/ Check In Without Needing Anything ↳ Send "how are you?" texts more often than "can you help me?" emails. ↳ People forget what you said, but they remember that you stayed in touch. 2/ Give Before You Get ↳ The best networkers give help more often than they ask for it. ↳ Share opportunities, make introductions, send useful articles. 3/ Start Building Today ↳ The worst time to build relationships is when you desperately need them. ↳ Your next job won't come from a blind job app. It'll come from someone you know. 4/ Make It Personal ↳ Remember birthdays, kids' names, their big wins. ↳ One genuine conversation beats 100 business cards. 5/ Stay Consistent ↳ Set reminders to reach out quarterly. ↳ Small efforts compound into strong connections. 6/ Be The Connector ↳ Introduce people who should know each other. ↳ Become known as someone who helps others win. The net worth of your network compounds faster than your 401(k). Every promotion, every opportunity, every breakthrough... They all started with a relationship. Your dream job is one conversation away. But that conversation only happens if you've been nurturing relationships all along. Start today. Text someone you haven't talked to in months. Not because you need something. Just because relationships are your most valuable career asset. What's your favorite way to network? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

How to get noticed by recruiters on LinkedIn in 2025 ⬇️ LinkedIn has evolved far beyond a job board, it's now a powerful platform for professional visibility where the right strategy can have recruiters approaching you instead of the other way around. After years of recruiting executives across industries, here's what actually catches our attention: 1. Treat your profile as your professional brand: Your profile is often our first impression of you. Ensure it showcases not just what you do, but the value you bring: • A clear, professional headshot (increases profile views by 14x) • A headline that sells your expertise and value proposition • An "About" section that tells your professional story, highlighting key achievements and measurable impact • Experience descriptions that emphasize results, not just responsibilities 2. Follow companies you want to work for: • Many don't realize that recruiters can see who's engaging with company content. When you consistently interact with a company's posts, your name becomes familiar to their talent acquisition team. 3. Connect with decision-makers and teams: • Don't just follow company pages, connect with the humans behind them: • Identify and connect with hiring managers in your target department • Engage meaningfully with content from employees at your target companies • Comment thoughtfully on their professional milestones These connections create warm pathways to opportunities before they're broadly advertised. 4. Consider LinkedIn Premium if budget allows: • While not essential, Premium offers advantages: • InMail credits to message recruiters directly • Enhanced profile visibility in searches • Insights on who's viewing your profile That said, strategic engagement can still get you noticed without this investment. 5. Create content, don't just consume it: • The LinkedIn algorithm favors creators, start sharing your: • Professional accomplishments and learnings • Industry insights with your unique perspective • Thoughtful comments on trending topics in your field Consistent content creation positions you as engaged and knowledgeable in your space. The most successful job seekers approach LinkedIn as a relationship-building platform rather than just a job board. Start implementing these strategies consistently, and you'll likely find opportunities coming to you rather than always hunting for them. Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #linkedinoptimization #recruitertips

🚀 This is how I landed interviews at LinkedIn and The New York Times with referrals from my secondary network I saw open roles at LinkedIn and The New York Times (NYT), but didn’t know anyone directly working in those teams. What most people do: 💬 Send cold DMs asking for referrals directly. But I took a different approach—I reached out to people I already knew and asked if they knew anyone in those companies or teams. 🔗 New York Times: When I saw an opening at NYT, I reached out to my ex-manager at The Washington Post. Since she had worked with people at NYT, there was a high chance she knew someone. She did. She connected me with them and sent a stellar intro message. I got a referral from her network, which led to an interview. 🔗 LinkedIn: I found a role at LinkedIn in a team I had no connections with. Instead of cold DMing, I reached out to a VP I had built a strong relationship with. He knew the hiring manager and put in a good word for me. The result? I got an interview! 💡 In 2024, I learned you can leverage your secondary network to get amazing opportunities. But remember—only ask for this kind of favor if you’ve built a strong relationship and the person can vouch for your work. Next time you see an open role and don’t know anyone at the company, ask your connections if they know someone there. Don’t just ask for a referral—ask if they can introduce you to the right person. #career #network #tips #jobsearch #earlycareer #students

That "Easy Apply" button on LinkedIn might be holding you back more than you realize. After two decades of placing C-suite talent, I've watched countless qualified executives disappear into the black hole of automated applications. Meanwhile, the executives who secure premium roles are rarely clicking that deceptively convenient button. Here's why direct networking outperforms digital applications every time: 🎯 When you apply through automated systems, your meticulously crafted resume competes with hundreds of others in an algorithm-driven screening process. 🎯 At the executive level, your unique value proposition gets diluted to keywords and bullet points. 🎯 Instead, focus on building meaningful connections with decision-makers. A warm introduction from a trusted contact carries exponentially more weight than even the most polished application. 🎯 Remember: by the time an executive position appears on LinkedIn, informal conversations about potential candidates have likely already begun. 🎯 The most valuable opportunities often exist in the hidden job market - positions filled through recommendations before they're ever publicly posted. By nurturing your professional network, you position yourself to be considered for roles that the "Easy Apply" crowd will never even see. Your executive experience deserves a more sophisticated approach than a convenience button designed for volume recruiting. Invest your time where it truly delivers results: in conversations, not applications. What's been your experience with executive job searching? Has networking opened doors that applications couldn't? #ExecutiveCareers #Careers #NetworkingStrategy #HiddenJobMarket

Marsha was in her 50s and hoping to make a career pivot. "Have I got chance?" she asked me. I'll tell you what I told her: Ageism in the job market is real. But, if you are prepared, you can overcome the obstacles. It had been years since she'd applied or interviewed for a job. We worked together on her resume, LinkedIn, networking, and interviewing to package her for the job she wanted. When she called to say she'd gotten an offer for a great new job in pharma, with a 30% pay increase, I was jumping up & down!! I want to be clear that this was not easy. It took a lot of focus. Here is the multi-pronged approach we worked on together: 🎯 Resume Strategy: ↳ Focus on impact ("Delivered $2M in savings" vs "25 years of experience") ↳ Go back no more than 15 years  ↳ Highlight current technical skills, leave off old ones ↳ Take the graduation year off all degrees ↳ Contact info should include only city, state (no street address) ↳ Ditch the AOL, and hotmail email addresses; they date you 🌐Networking Strategy: ↳ Reconnect with former colleagues & give them an update ↳ Practice talking about your skills and abilities ↳ Speak to others who've successfully overcome the age barrier ↳ Make sure your LinkedIn profile follows best practices ↳ Work toward 500+ connections ↳ Post and comment on LinkedIn weekly 🏢 Employer Strategy: ↳ Target 40-50 companies with age-diverse cultures ↳ Talk to people in similar roles & ask about key skills ↳ Ask HR/recruiters about their hiring process ↳ Follow each employer on social media to learn priorities 💡 Interview Strategy: ↳ Lead with energy and genuine interest ↳ Show you've done your research with deep preparation ↳ Be ready with stories that include cross-generational work ↳ Share examples of your adaptability and growth mindset ↳ Talk about new skills you've built and show you're on top of trends ↳ Communicate your experience working with diverse people 🤵🏼Personal Strategy: ↳ Take additional courses & certifications to keep your skills fresh ↳ Stay current in your field with podcasts and social media ↳ Make reasonable adjustments to your appearance ↳ Clothes should fit well and be current, but not "trendy" ↳ Avoid language that "dates" you (ask a trusted younger friend) Remember: You're not "overqualified" You have battle-tested wisdom. That, along with these strategies, will set you up as a strong candidate! ♻ Repost to help people who are facing ageism in their job search 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more strategic career insights