Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
Speaking from anecdotal evidence, the average number of positions job seekers apply to per week is five. What if we were to increase the number to twenty five opportunities per week? I do not mean applying to jobs you are no longer qualified for or jobs that are an unreasonable stretch. But similar, relevant jobs to the ones you have just applied to.
Think of yourself as a salesperson. Treat each job opening that you find as a ‘lead’. You have found a company that has a job that is a fit for you. What about competitors to that organization? Most likely, they would have a similar role at their company as well- perhaps it is not vacant at the moment, but it is a lead nonetheless. The simplest example is a fast food chain. If fast food chain A needs cooks to run their business then it is safe to say fast food chain B does as well. Now think of organizations in your industry and the role you would play. Do this for every lead that you find.
Go to the websites of competing companies. See what job openings they have available. Go to Linkedin and find department managers at those companies. Find someone to introduce you to that person. The more quality leads that you pursue, the quicker your job search will be and the more opportunities you will have.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com