Six Ways to Amplify Your Job Search

Alright, let’s cut through the usual crap about "perseverance" and "networking" you've been force-fed like stale airplane peanuts. You want atypical advice? Buckle up.

First off, your resume. Stop polishing that thing like it’s the Hope Diamond. It’s not. It’s a ticket to a lottery where the odds aren’t in your favor. So what to do? Become a stalker. No, don’t actually lurk outside offices in a trench coat. But you need to cyber-stalk companies you want to work for. Know them better than they know themselves. Financials, culture, the CEO’s breakfast habits – whatever. When you get in front of someone, and you will, you need to speak their language, fluently.

Next, create content. Yes, you heard me. In a digital world, content is king, queen, and the drunken court jester that can't be ignored. Start a blog, make a video, get on the damn TikTok if you have to. Show your thinking, work, and value in living color. Become the signal in a sea of noise. When employers search for you – and they will – make sure they find someone who knows their stuff cold.

Third, go on the offensive. Everyone’s playing defense, trying not to fumble the ball. Screw that. Go full blitz. Reach out directly to the people who would be your peers. Skip HR. HR is where dreams go to die. Connect with the doers, the movers – they're the ones who will actually appreciate what you bring to the table. Offer ideas, insights, something of value in your communication. Don't ask for a job; ask for advice, or better, offer a solution to a problem they didn't know they had.

Fourth, be a wolf, not a sheep. What do I mean? Don’t follow the job postings like they’re a shepherd. Carve your own path. Look at industries on the brink of disruption – telehealth, fintech, edtech. These industries need fresh meat, and you're on the menu. Make them understand why they can't live without you, why you’re the missing piece in their puzzle.

Now, let’s talk about interviews. The usual advice? Be yourself. That’s BS. Be the best version of yourself, but also be the person they need. Mirror their culture, their energy. If they’re all business, you’re Gordon Gekko. If they’re chill, you’re The Dude. Adapt. Show them you belong there before you even get the job.

Lastly, embrace the side hustle. Got a skill? Monetize it. Freelance, consult, sell beaded necklaces on Etsy if that’s your thing. It shows initiative and fills the gaps in your resume. Plus, it could turn into the real deal.

In conclusion, job searching is a grueling, soul-sucking rite of passage. But if you're smart – and I mean wolf-smart, not sheep-smart – you’ll see the matrix for what it is: a game. Play it better than anyone else. Out-think, out-hustle, and out-work. The job you land may not even be the one that was posted, but the one you convinced them they needed to create.

Boom. That’s how you do a job search.

Brian Fink is the author of Talk Tech To Me. He takes on the stress and strain of complex technology concepts and simplifies them for the modern recruiter. Fink’s impassioned wit and humor tackle the highs and lows of technical recruiting with a unique perspective — a perspective intended to help you find, engage, and partner with professionals.