Make a resume. Create a cover letter. Apply online. Go to a networking event. Clean up the drunk prom photos from Facebook. Make a spiffy resume online. Practice mock interviews for 1 hour in your Pajamas.
That’s what everyone does. If you have a strong set of skills that are in demand then the bare minimum might work. But you’re still competing with a lot of people.
There’s a lot more you can do. Here are 28 examples:
10x your LinkedIn
- Download the LinkedIn App and constantly connect with a ton of people while you are commuting or sitting on the toilet. This will increase your 1st and 2nd degree connections, so you are never more than a couple of links away from the hiring manager you want to contact (and can then use the function “ask to be introduced” and don’t have to pay for inmails). This is called building your network.
- Post articles frequently on LinkedIn, share answers/comments in forums around the industry you’re interested in. Do this daily.
- Invest in a high quality LinkedIn photo.
- Contact hiring managers directly and bypass recruiters.
- Ask for recommendations and endorsements on LinkedIn.
- Generously endorse others and give them recommendations.
- Use Hunter Chrome or another extension to find emails on Linkedin that way you save money on InMails.
- Don’t be afraid to message the CEO, VPs and Directors directly with your resume. When you message 10 people someone will get back to you.
10x your Networking
- Wear red clothes to increase your perceived dominance in the crowd. In one study football players wearing red consistently outperformed their teammates on the field. It will give you a competitive edge.
- Go the gym before networking so you feel fresh and don’t drink coffee that makes you jittery.
- Reach out to people before the networking event and plan to meet them there, that way you avoid the awkwardness of standing around.
- Prepare conversation topics and questions around current events, industry trends.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for a job.
- Focus on quality, not quantity. Building a deep relationship with 1 person is more valuable than talking to 20 people on a surface level.
- Follow up with an email, share something (always give) and then ask to meet them again — always include an action point. Never send a meaningless follow up like “it was nice meeting.”
10x your Application
- Send a resume in the form of a Potato via post. They can’t ignore you.
- Pick up the phone and call the recruiter, call the company, and don’t rely on emails. People get too many emails nowadays.
- Create a presentation or slide deck with your ideas, strategy, and pitch on how you plan to contribute to the company the first 90 days. They can’t ignore you.
- Have recommendation letters prepared and ready to go.
10x your Interview Skills
- Use story-telling when answering questions. Storytelling can create a neural-coupling effect between two people, meaning your brain waves are actually in sync.
- Leave your ego at the door.
- Mirror the body language of your interviewer.
- Explain exactly how you are going to make an impact. Impact = save or make the company money.
- Listen more than you speak.
- Prepare 10–15 smart questions. A smart question is one that you can’t Google.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about your weaknesses openly. It shows your humility.
- Quality over quantity. Have 5 relevant examples you’d like to share with them in detail, rather than having 25 surface level responses.
- Send a handwritten thank you note after every person you meet.
Good luck!