The Allora Job Search System For Applications & Networking That Gets Results
This is the job search system we use with our clients.
*This advice is specific to this market and we’ll update it when a change is warranted. In other markets when the volume of applications was not as high, the advice was to network for referrals and introductions before applying but that is not in the best interest of the candidate in the current market.
1. APPLY USING THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE
- Inboxes are at high volume now, apply before the inbox is closed then complete your networking strategies to request a referral from an employee that you are connected to on LinkedIn or another channel or ask someone you are connected to for an introduction to an employee at the company.
- Use the company website to apply for the job
- Not every team has their internal team and system organized to efficiently import applications from LinkedIn or other job boards (the layoffs in recruitment and talent acquisition over the past year have left many teams understaffed).
- In addition, when you use the company’s website to apply, the job ID number is typically in the url link which makes it easy for the person helping you to find it if they need it.
2. USE YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK FOR REFERRALS OR INTRODUCTIONS
- Strengthen and keep your network active by using it(react, comment and share posts you find valuable a few times a week).
- Write a short, direct message, and ask for help (our templates can guide you, subscribe to our email list and get the FREE PDF).
- You will ask employees at the company who are 1st connections of yours on LinkedIn for help with a referral for the job.
- When you only have employees that are 2nd connections of yours, you will find your shared connections and ask them for an introduction to the employee so your resume doesn’t get lost in the application inbox.
- To do this effectively:
- Go to the company LinkedIn profile page >
- Click the link to view all of their employees under the company name >
- Then select the 2nd connections filter (at the top of the page) and LI will show you all of your 2nd connections to that company >
- Under each 2nd connection LI will list your shared or mutual connections to that person >
- Select which shared or mutual connection(s) to send a message asking for their help with an introduction.
- To do this effectively:
- In every message include:
- The date you applied, the job title and link to the job post.
- A short pitch they can include in their introduction on your behalf, 1-2 small paragraphs: 1 – a summary of your relevant career experience, 2 – a specific career example that qualifies you for the interview.
- Do NOT waste anyone’s time using terms such as detail-oriented, hard working, good communicator, etc because you will not stand out from others and it will infer a lack of communication skills.
- Attach the resume you applied with.
- Help them help you by sending a message they can forward in one step with confidence to their connection.
- Subscribe to our email list to receive our free PDF templates and use our search tool at the top right corner of our website to search ‘template’ for more free templates you can use.
- If you need help personalizing your template(s), book a free session with one of our coaches and explore how our communications coaching can help you create a set of templates for your networking and that you can re-purpose for your interview prep for the near future and the next few years.
3. IF YOU HAVE NO 1st or 2nd CONNECTIONS, ASK YOUR CAREER COACH TO CHECK THEIR NETWORK
- The more active your network is the better that is for you but do not avoid asking your coach to help you. Your career coach should offer their network to help you with introductions to boost your application or to your target companies.
- If you are a recent graduate of a college, university, skills-based learning program, certificate program or course, internship or apprenticeship ask the professors, career counselors, instructors, etc to check their networks for any connections they can introduce you to to boost your applications to a target company and send them a professional message as we described above which they can include in their introduction message.
4. SEND A MESSAGE TO A COLD LEAD
- This is the final option but most often people are able to do step 2 or 3. You have nothing to lose. Message a recruiter, team member, or hiring manager and ask them to help you prevent your application from being overlooked in the inbox.
- Same as above, in every message should include:
- The date you applied, the job title and link to the job post
- A short pitch they can include in their introduction on your behalf, 1-2 small paragraphs: 1 – a summary of your relevant career experience; 2 – a specific career example that qualifies you for the interview.
- Do NOT waste anyone’s time using terms such as detail-oriented, hard working, good communicator, etc because you will not stand out from others and it will infer a lack of communication skills.
- Attach the resume you applied with.
- Help them help you by sending a message they can forward in one step with confidence to their connection.
- Subscribe to our email list to receive our free PDF templates and use our search tool at the top right corner of our website to search ‘template’ for more free templates you can use.
5. FOLLOW UP
- The reality is that you will not receive a reply to some or many of your messages (this depends on the strength of your network and how active they are on LinkedIn or in checking their email inbox if you message them there).
- Know this, accept it and do this anyway.
- Focus on the people that reply and are willing to help, that will fuel your momentum when you need a boost.
- It is not enough to send one message and do nothing more. Everyone has a different habit with their inboxes and for many people their job, and their life outside of work gets in the way of being current with their inbox. It could be something as simple as they recently spoke at an event or made an announcement that attracted many people to message them or they were on vacation recently and have not finished clearing their backlog.
- Have patience, we’re all human.
- We recommend this schedule:
- 1st message
- 2nd message ~3-5 weekdays later
- 3rd message 1 week later
- 4th and final message 1 week after that.
- Each message must include a statement that you understand they may not be actively working through this inbox but you are hoping that your follow up will return your message to the top. Ask that they update you whether or not they can help you and that you will understand if they cannot.
- Give people the benefit of the doubt.
6. MINDSET
- Keep your mindset as peaceful and as positive as you can throughout this process. It will not help your momentum or productivity if you get stuck in the mindset of resentment and anger, although it is completely justified to feel that way given how broken and productized the job search process has become but do your best to let the anger and negative thoughts come and go as quickly as you can.
- The job search process is an exercise in patience and it is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Have support from your career coach or people who have been through a recent job search and understand what you can control and what you can’t. Only share your frustrations with people who can empathize with you and try to avoid those who are lucky to have the ignorance of not yet having to experience how companies are managing their hiring processes.
Kelly Kugler
Kelly is the Founder of Allora Collective, a career manager with two decades of experience, and a relocation strategist for expats and digital nomads in the US, Europe, and LATAM. After creating talent programs for startups and global companies, including General Assembly, NFL, and Booking.com, she built Allora Collective. She manages the careers of individuals providing one-on-one coaching and partners with companies to customize workshops and coaching packages for their teams.
