The Hidden Job Market: How to Get Hired Before the Job Is Posted

 If you've ever found yourself spiraling down a late night rabbit hole of. What am I meant to do and why haven't I found it yet? And let's be honest, who hasn't? Then you're in the right place. I'm Theresa White, career Clarity expert and five times certified career coach, and I'm here to help you navigate the question of how to find a career that truly lights you up on career clarity.

Unlock. We're all about those light bulb moments. I'm talking to people who are still trying to figure out what they're meant to do, coaching them life to reach that magical, yes, this is it moment, and we'll also hear from those who've already found their dream careers and figure out exactly how they did it.

Whether you are looking for inspiration or actionable advice on finding a career you love, I've got you covered time to unlock some career clarity. Let's dive in.

  📍 📍 Welcome back to Career Clarity Unlocked. Today we're talking about one of those career skills that everyone says matters, but nobody really teaches you how to do it without it feeling awkward, and that obviously is networking. Because if you're honest, so many of us here, oh, you should go network. And we picture a room full of strangers, sweaty palms, and just seeing that one person who somehow looks confident, polished.

While all you are doing is just trying to remember your own name. But what's so important to know is that networking is not about being the loudest in the room or about having a perfect elevator pitch. Networking is really about being seen, and that is especially true if you are switching careers, if you are trying to start over in a new place, or if you feel like you have experience, but it isn't translating on paper.

So in this episode, we are getting super practical about how to build genuine connections, how to be in the room where they're hiring, even if you're not literally in the room. And how to stop networking from feeling like cringe and performative awkwardness, and instead start making it feel like a real, natural human conversation.

And I am so excited because today joining me is Reya Meda. She's a recruiter turned career and professional growth coach who has needed her mission to help job seekers, immigrants and professionals in transition land meaningful roles and build lasting careers. With experience in talent acquisition and hr, Sherea has guided thousands of individuals through the complex job search, LinkedIn optimization, and interview preparation journey.

She's passionate about helping people discover their impact, tell their story with confidence, and find the work culture where they truly thrive. Let's get into it.

 Welcome, Sharia. Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm super excited to be here. Oh, I can't wait for this conversation. And let's start at the very beginning. I'm so curious how your journey unfolded. And especially, was there ever a time where you felt invisible or overlooked in your career?

And is there anything that shifted for you there so that you did feel seen Again? Yeah, and that's such a great question, right? So, um, just a little backstory. I've been in states for around 10 years and I was a finance manager back in India. When I moved here, I decided to kind of switch careers and I did my MBA in marketing and leadership.

Maybe that was a little time when I felt a little unseen because I was talking a lot about like transferable skills. How do I bring everything about finance and what I did back in India to everything new, which is now recruiting, entrepreneurship, coaching. And then how do I, you know, how do I talk about like, my previous life to this current life that I was building?

So that was a little time when I definitely did feel unseen because I did not have a huge personal brand. I did not have a lot of professional experience that would directly connect with recruiting. Um, so what really, really worked well is one network working well with people because that way I was not just somebody or a candidate on paper or through my LinkedIn.

I was also right there in front of them. Um, sharing more about. The trends that I have, the kind of work that I have done, not just scope of work, but also the depth of my work. So I think that made it more like seen over a period of time and also, um. That shifted a lot of like who I want to be and who I am becoming in a very early, you know, career stages here in us.

So I think just creating that personal brand one and second, just being out there, having more conversations with people who are like, were, I would probably say like gold for me at, at the early ages. I love that you really lean in building. Building relationships and having conversations with people so that they get to know you.

Yeah. And you didn't start on the, you didn't have the perfect resume. Right? You were making a change location wise as well as career change wise. Yeah. In what way were you able to build that network or to build relationships? And there's so many times people are like, I don't even know how to start the conversation.

Yeah. Um, how did you open those doors when you first started? So first, I think it starts with the mindset. I was okay. Being uncomfortable. I was okay. Being in a room full of strangers or people who were intimidating because of their professional journey or because of how confident they were or because how they knew what they were doing versus me just finding it out.

Figuring it out, right. So I think it started with that piece first and then second. Just being in the room with people, right? Going without a goal sometimes as well, or going without sometimes a set of questions as well that, okay, this is what I'm gonna ask from these people. So one, finding the right networking rooms.

Networking opportunities either through my college, because I did my MB here, so I had like that huge circle in community already. Which I just had to tap on, but for somebody who doesn't have that college, not doing a degree here, I think the good thing is going on event pride, going on Luma or going on Meetup like sites like this and finding networking opportunities and just be there in the room right now.

When you go out there, you obviously have questions like, wait, what would I talk about? Right? What would I say when they ask, what am I doing? Because I'm switching careers. I don't know if I've been in a gap for so long, or I'm transitioning from being a program manager to a product manager. You don't always have to share everything about yourself for two minutes.

You can who you are and what brings you here, and then you can just listen in, lean in, and get more interested. There were so many things I didn't know about, , the US job market in the first six months when I came here. Versus what all I know, it's all through like listening and getting interested and asking great follow up questions.

So I would say just one, being in a room full of opportunities has helped to build that presence, that visibility, that personal brand. But then second, just being very uncomfortable and being in a room where you see opportunities just going in to just learn and maybe nothing more. I love that. And it's so brave.

It is so brave to go in a room, be uncomfortable, and be surrounded by people that you don't know. Yeah. And that you might be intimidated by and you go there anyway. Yeah. Yeah. And, and that, that actually helps us learn a lot more, right. Because if I am uncomfortable, I'm already one step ahead of everybody else who's uncomfortable and decided to not be in that room.

Right? So one step already time. Yeah. Second is just having those conversations. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Right. You'll probably fumble, you'll probably stammer, you'd probably make a fool of yourself. Maybe more chances of the other person remembering you because then you can just be like, Hey, remember I fumbled when I first met you?

I'm doing a lot better now. How about you? Right. So that's a very good conversation starter as well, because you are okay. Um, being a little not perfect. Yeah. And that makes you stand out way more, you much more remember the people there that have personality or that are authentic than the people that are absolutely perfect and polished.

Right. And believe me, like if people are not loud about it, I would be loud about it, that I would a hundred percent reach out to somebody who's more authentic, more relatable than somebody who's not. Right. I would remember them more. I would wanna have a conversation with them more, because then there is no effort there, just, it's just a conversation.

I agree. I agree. Yes. Thank. now that I think so much has shifted or we all know so much has shifted through COVID. Yeah. Yeah. That so much of the networking moved from in-person to virtually. What is your take on that? Um, I feel like it's easy, especially. And maybe I'm overgeneralizing here, but for introverts to hide behind the screen and lean into the online networking, what is your take on virtual networking versus in-person networking?

Yeah, and that's a very good, very good point, right? Like, and, and I would generalize it with you as well, that, you know, introverts need that fuel or they need time to refresh from the social bonding, right? I would. Call myself like somewhere in middle with, you know, introvert and extrovert. Um, so there are two things that really work well in terms of virtual networking.

So is it better than in person? I wouldn't compare either. They're, they have pros and cons, right? Because with in person you need more time, you need more commitment, the way you dress up, the way you speak. Where I need to figure out dinner, I need to figure out family. Are the meetings everything, right? So it's a lot more commitment in person.

But if you're thinking about virtual, it's this easy, quick start. Right. But the good thing is , if you're going in any virtual networking or webinars, also for that matter where you're just learning, always keep your cameras on. Have name that suggests that, okay, who you are, right?

Sometimes I write like Ream Heta, and the Super Coach. That means the business, the work that I do, right? So people know that, okay, wait, I know Reya from somewhere, or I know the Super Coach from somewhere. So one, if you're there sitting virtually one that is your whole identity, your name, the way you show up, the way you, you know, show up on the video the way you are listening, leaning in.

So try being very active on that. And second, is it helpful, the virtual networking? Yes. It helps break that ice in your brain so you're not directly getting intimidated by the room full of strangers that we were talking about versus you're, you're in, you're getting intimidated step by step. And that's easier sometimes for a lot of us, right?

So. I would say yes, start with that. There are a lot of webinars that happen online. If you go find it again, like Meetup Luma Event Pride, even on LinkedIn, you would find a lot of these content creators just doing a lot of webinars to help you through your career, through your next step, through entrepreneurship.

Anything that you're looking for. That's a good room to be in. And even if you connect with two people, one-to-one through dms and be like, Hey, I see that you're in the same room that I am. I would love to connect and then I'll go and find you on LinkedIn. Right? Even if you get like two people and two good connections, um, to continue that conversation from that one hour of webinar, you solid.

You don't need to know all 500 people in that webinar. I agree. That's beautiful. A beautiful way to look at is, and the other way I also look at it is, who are the people that you wanna be in the room with and where are they? Are they on the webinar? Perfect. Go to that webinar. Are they meeting in person?

Get out of your comfort zone and yeah, go there. Even if it's so scary, right? As you said, the worst thing that, what's the really the worst thing that can happen is that you might be uncomfortable for a little bit. Yeah, you can leave if it, if it's really terrible, you can leave, but most of the time it turns out way better than we imagine, and we actually end up having great conversations and meeting people and it's so worth it to go out of our comfort zone.

Yeah. Yeah. And, and, and the good thing is you can always tag along with people right in the beginning, who's asking you to just go alone and like be the hero of everybody else's story and your own story. You can always tag along with friends, 20 minutes of conversation with them or with a group, and then 20 minutes you venture out and be like, okay, meet me again in 30 minutes so I don't feel I'm alone in the room.

Right. And I've done that when I was in college. Three or four of us will go into group in the beginning and then we will just spread out and be like, okay, meet here again in 30 minutes. So that was a very good space because then you are not feeling, you're not that intimidated. You know that if this is not your place, you can always come back to your smaller group, right?

That's, this is the best advice. Um, yes. Is it, is it also the worst advice? Probably yes. Because you could end up being with those three people for three hours. All I'm saying is give yourself room to experience things. Yeah. And maybe that's the first time you try it. You go with someone just so you feel safe.

And then I love the idea of like, okay, let's try it for 20 minutes. We'll split up for 20 minutes. There is a safe place to come back to. You know, there is someone you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you get more comfortable and at some point you won't need that other person anymore. You'll just. Be able to walk into the room and have those conversations.

Right, right. And and it would definitely, definitely happen when you would get like more comfortable because if you can do it for 30 minutes, you can always do it for three hours because then you just get comfortable in your own skin doing these things. It would not feel, wait, there is something very strange I'm doing, I've never done this before.

I agree, and it also helps so much once you go into job interviews to have that practice. Mm-hmm. You are practicing, talking about yourself, introducing yourself, having conversations with people that might be intimidating, asking good questions. All of that gonna pay off over and over when you actually walk into a job interview.

Absolutely. Because I think people are underestimating the whole idea of confidence building to experiences, right? More experiences you have more confidence you have, and that shows up in all spaces of your life. Mm-hmm. If I'm thinking, wait, I'm so confident in my professional experience, I don't have to worry about it.

No. It'll start showing up in other things as well, but that confidence would start. Bleeding in into other things, right? Yeah. So the same thing. If you're very confident in your personal space, in your semi-professional space, you'll automatically start getting confident in your professional space also.

And that's why we say like do everything with so much hurt that it doesn't feel like you're forcing yourself to do something. I always say curiosity is your best friend. Yeah. When you just lean into curiosity, like so many PE times, people are asking me what are the questions I should ask? And obviously there are some questions that can be helpful to have in your back pocket.

Yeah. But the questions, the best questions are always what are you genuinely curious about? Yeah. Yeah. And I know that people ask like, Hey, how was your weekend? Why are you here in the networking? You don't have to ask all of that. One of the great questions can be, what is the greatest advice you've got in your career?

Right? Yeah. Or what you wished you knew five years ago when you started with that company, or what would you suggest to some, right. Or what would you suggest to somebody who's just starting up the career though I'm not, I have, I have 15 years of experience, but what would you suggest if I were to just start, uh, my job search, right?

Or just start looking into the next role, what would you suggest? And then people will be like, wait, that's such a great question. I haven't thought about that. So, um, and I love saying this. Always make the conversation value addition for both the parties, not just you. Yes. Right. Because if I'm not adding value to you, your conversation and your time, you would not want to continue.

You would not wanna remember me. You would not want to sit on another Zoom call and be like, wait, no bro, she only talks about herself. Right. I'm okay. Right. There needs to be something in you as well. And I think that's one of the biggest point in networking, that people forget that they just think that, wait, it's all about me.

Like, I need the job. I need a question. I have a question. Um, but in that conversation, there are two people and they need to be, they need to feel seen equally important, equally included in that conversation. So. That's a really good point, and I always give the advice that people love talking about themselves.

So when you ask questions like, what advice would you give to someone in my, in my position, what is something you wish you would've known? People love telling their story, sharing advice, and. A huge, huge, huge value add. That doesn't even seem like a value add, but if someone says, like if I would start over, the first thing I would do is take this course on Coursera or read this book, and then you go do it and come back to them and be like, I read the book.

It was really good. Thank you so much for recommending it. Love that you are adding so much. It makes them feel so good. It's a value add for them. They're like, oh wow, this person took. Action on the advice I gave them. Yeah. Yeah. And you know what I call this? I call this ego boost because when you're speaking.

With them about them. There's a quick ego boost and none of us can actually be saved from the charm of an ego boost. Right? If somebody would come and like, tell really good things about me and my work, or how they see me, my content, um, the, you know, the kind of person rather than building, I would be very quick in responding.

Fortunately, unfortunately. And I'll be like, thank you so much for the kind words, because I would feel that instant gratitude. Yes. Right? So that's an ego boost that always helps. In starting the conversation and of course maintaining the conversation and remembering, like you were saying, which is such a great point that now we have a conversation where I have also a value addition that, hey, she loved the book and wait, I love this part.

Which one is your favorite? Right. So, exactly. Yeah. And it keeps the conversation going. Absolutely. And which is, which is amazing. Yes. Oh, I love that. Switching from networking to tapping into your experience as a recruiter, and we already talked a lot about being in the room where they're hiring. Well, we talked a lot about being in the room, but I wanna wanna also talk about being in the room where they're hiring.

Hmm, hmm, hmm. What does that really mean when you talk about being in the room, where they're hiring, and how can people get there? Hmm. So one is taking brain space, right? That means. When I say being in the room where they're hiring, you don't have to be physically there. You have to be there in their brains, in their space and be like, wait, I met a candidate.

I saw a candidate. I heard about a candidate who was really good. Maybe we should speak with them. Right. So that's taking brain space. Right. And where does that brain space come from? One, your visibility. That means either your personal brand or how you're showing up in front of these leaders. Right. Could be from the networking event, could be from your social media profile, could be the kind of projects that you're building voluntarily and talking about it online.

One is definitely that brain space. Second is those connections that we were talking about that is that right? That means if I'm speaking with you and then right now you're not hiring, um, your company's acquired, but I'm still learning from you. We are talking about the books, we are talking about the networking events.

We are talking about the conferences, and then one of these months you have a rule open and you know that it's a product manager. Cher is a product manager. You'll be like, wait, I don't know much about your work. I know you're a product manager. This is a requirement that my team has. Do you think this is a good fit?

Let me know if you want and I can pass your resume along. Right. That's what I would call being there in the room when they're hiring. Because you are hiring, you are one of those people. And I'm in your brain. I'm taking that brain space because now you remember me. Correct. So why does that matter?

Because one, what you were talking about earlier, it's very authentic, right? I am not fabricating a relationship with you just to get that ference right? Right. You don't have to give me a favor. It's not a favor because now you know, wait, I've had spoken with her. She's pretty good. She'll be a good cultural fit.

I don't know if she's like a professional fit. You'll have to speak. With her about that. Right. You've still given me that way, which is very, very natural. Yeah. So is what I would say that being there in the hiring room. And third is always just speaking with more people about what do you do or like being out there, uh, with either your comments, with either your content, with either your posts that this is what I do, this is what I'm an expert in, and then all these people would put there on LinkedIn trying to find the next candidate.

Would already know that I know somebody. I read somebody talking about it. Let me go find them. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Yes. I love that you are thinking about being in the room where they're hiring, being in their brain. Yeah, it's huge. It's huge. Yeah. And also, yes, there might not be the perfect job open right now, but that doesn't mean a month from now.

And I'm actually curious from your recruiting experience, my background is in recruiting as well. Yeah. There were so, and you have such a big network with others, recruiters, at least in my time. Um, and they would. Often be the case where let's stay with the project manager, where you're hiring a project manager and you have like three amazing candidates.

Yeah. You can only hire one. Yeah. You talk to your recruiter friends and someone else is like, oh, I'm just posted the um, the project manager role for X, Y, and Z. And you're like, oh my God, I had two candidates you need to meet. Yeah. Yeah. And you never know where those conversations then will lead to. Yeah.

And I agree 100%. Right. So you've been in that space. I've been in that space. We always share great candidates, right? Yes. Yeah. And we, and, and this is for everybody. If you've ever heard that, Hey, if you see any role, just let me know. That means they already like you. That means they would, um, they would be the advocate of you inside the company.

All you need is that advocacy. That means somebody calling. Your name, somebody remembering you, somebody um, ,, giving you favors inside the company, right? Yeah. And recruiters probably are your best friends if one, you were able to communicate your value, your experience really well.

Second, if you treated them nice and vice versa. Hundred percent. Right? Right. I mean, obviously like they can't treat you shit and then you expect them, you know, expect you can't be expected to treat them nice. But all I'm saying is if both the parties has treated each other nice, that's one. And second, if you were able to share your value and your experiences, they would definitely remember you.

And also share your profile with other recruiters, right? And absolutely rightly pointed there as well. And also I think if I like somebody. For whatever reasons, I can't hire them. Right. Um, I, the compensation is not matching. The offer is not matching. The, the start date is not matching. I will always keep them on my radar.

Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. How about keeping someone on the radar? And it goes both ways. And one piece of advice I often give is keep conversations going because we're all busy, right? No matter if it's a networking conversation or conversation with a recruiter, like even as a recruiter with the best intentions, you have this great candidate, you wanna keep them in mind, but then life gets busy.

It's nine months later, and you've talked to hundreds of other candidates. How would you recommend for this candidate to still be in your brain, to still be the person they think about nine months later? Right. And which is, um, amazing questions, right? And I'm so glad that you gave me a longer duration of like nine months rather than like two weeks.

So I would probably say, do not let them forget you in those nine months. If you, for whatever reasons you're not searching for a role right now, you have found another role, but you still see that person on LinkedIn. In the same company or switching companies as well, find reasons to just say a hello to them.

It could be that, hey, it has already been, almost been three months since last, last spoke with you. I've taken another job. I'm happy here. You know, I'm settled. I just wanna say a quick thank you again for making my experience so well in the interview, because I know that matters to me as a candidate. So.

Out of nowhere. I just wanted to say thank you. A lot of gratitude, right? So that way you're right there, right? Because again, it's not about you. It's so much more about them that , your conversation made that experience. Still remember you, right? Yeah. That's one. Second could be if you're still searching for a role and then you haven't taken any other company, and then you can always reach out after like a couple of months and be like, Hey, I know that we spoke a month earlier or on this date, and the conversation was pretty good, and no rules were open at that time.

I do see a bunch of roles open. Let me see if you're the right recruiter and if you're not, do you think you can make that connection? Because I know that you and I connected really well, so it, it felt. Comforting to just reach out to you, or it felt very familiar to just reach out to you first. Right?

Obviously, make it, um, semi-professional. Just don't go very personal with your words. Just make it semi-professional. Right? Third, I would say is if you're doing it like in nine months, that, wait, I'm very happily settled in the new company that I had, but there is a, um, there is a round of layoffs going on.

I don't feel safe. I want to reconnect and rekindle with other people again. I would just go ahead and send them a message saying that, hey, almost been like over three quarters that we last spoke. I just wanted to again, reach out and see if there are any roles open. Been like over a year. I have been in the new company, but I'm looking to switch again because of what, where the market is going, and I think.

The A, b, C company, let's say you look reaching out to Amazon and be like, Hey, Amazon has more opportunities, especially in this area, is what I see. Right. So give them special reason of why you are reaching out after nine months. Right, right. It can't be just plainly cat you because. One, don't make it only transactional, but second, if there is a transaction, there is a time sensitive transaction that you still want to do with them, do not delay.

Because then if they don't reply for a week, then you're gonna get be like, Hey, I still wanted to talk about the role. And then instantly I would know, wait, it wasn't about me. It was about the rule. True. Right? So include that in the email itself, if there is a time sensitive transaction involved in it.

That's actually a really good point if it there, if it is transactional, be honest about that. Yeah. Yeah. If it is a personal reach out, it's a personal reach out. Um, but don't try to hide that part. No. I mean, why I like all of us humans. Definitely needs something from each other. That's not a bad thing.

How you ask for it is where the whole confusion is. Yeah, you can and should always ask for help, right? But how you ask, do you feel privileged? Do you feel entitled for that help? Or are you actually requesting and being polite and being kind about it? Right? Because I remember, and you've been in that space there, so you, you would know that as well.

When people reach out to a recruiter and be like, Hey, why are you not replying to my message? Wait, what? Versus then, hey, I'm pretty sure you'll get like hundreds of these dms. I'm still waiting to hear back about the interview. I would love to close this. If you're not moving forward, just let me know, right?

So you don't have to have a hundred please or stories there. But the way you ask your tone, we can read as recruiters, right? And it's not fair. So again, you should, and you can always ask for help. How is where things changes? I agree. I agree. And it's also leaving the door open for the future. So even if you didn't get selected for that role, but your message was not professional or just some too direct is not a bad thing, but too direct with no context of just why didn't you respond to my message?

They don't want someone in the com company communicating that way with other employees. So they're not, is not gonna leave a good mark going in into the future. But if you write a kind, respectful message and you didn't get hired, that still is positive. You carry that positive impression into the future.

Right? And I think people are a little confused that professionalism start after you sign that offer. It doesn't. No, it doesn't. Just the minute you start having that conversation, the minute you write that application, your resume is the first piece of professionalism. I see. Yeah. Right. Your email is another very good window of how professional you are, your messages are, so when people feel that entitled to a response or entitled to a law of things.

With that wrong tone, it doesn't sit really well with the other person because they already know that, wait, can I actually take them in front of the interviewers if this is how they're gonna talk? It includes my credibility in it, so probably No. Right. Exactly. Yeah, there exactly. Yeah, and that's, I think people aren't actually aware of recruiters caring about their credibility.

'cause when I, as a recruiter send a candidate to the hiring manager, I wanna feel confident that this candidate is gonna do well, that the hiring manager is gonna like the candidate. Maybe they don't hire him, but at least the hiring manager doesn't come to me after the interview and be like, why did you send this person to me?

Yeah. Like, what were you thinking? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, even if they're like technically super strong, who they are. Yeah. And how they are really matters in the whole dynamic of the team. And that's why we do so many interviews with so many stakeholders to plan. Obviously yes. The depth of your work, never questioning that, but also who you are with different people who you are in that pressure conversations, right?

Yes. So yeah, that's important. Exactly. Very important. Yeah. I wanna ask you one more question on the networking, and it's one I get all the time and I'm just so curious how you answer it's, and I'm sure you get it too. , Candidates looking for job seekers, looking for roles online and reaching out to people on LinkedIn and they're like, okay, I sent five LinkedIn dms, um, because I was interested in that company.

No one responded. Networking doesn't work. Hmm. Um, so again, it works, right? One is. What are you saying in that message? Are you just saying, hi, I am a data analyst. I see a role in your company. I need a, and waiting for that response. You probably will not get it right. I see. Just write the job id. Even if it's just 300 characters.

I'm still talking about the 300 characters connection request. Right. You can just write, I'm interested in JD this, I have five plus years of experience. I'm a great fit. Would love to talk more if you're open to give me a referral. So you're giving them some context there. So why now? Because if I know the JD and if I see your profile, I can actually compare, do I open this window of conversation or not?

Because once I accept that, you're gonna ask a hundred times, can you gimme a referral? Can you please give me a referral? Hey, why are you not responding? Hey, should I follow up? Here is my resume. Can you connect me with the recruiter? Nobody wants so much of responsibilities. Right. And then I know there are people, because must have happened with you, has happened with me many times where they would get you into that guilt trip that, Hey, you're in the company.

Why can't you just help somebody who needs help? What's the point of you being in the company? And I was like, right, wait, did I get employed here because I could help you? No. So you're feeling very entitled that I would help you. Right? So do people respond? Yes. Do people give reference? Yes. I know so many people who are very generous to it.

But when you reach out to them, you cannot be very entitled. You cannot be, wait, I deserve this, I need this, I want this. You have to give it to me. So one, um, give them more information in the 300 characters that you're reaching out. So give them the jd and because they can see your profile, they can figure it out.

If the JD is asking for seven years of experience, your profile only has three, they will probably not, not react to that, right? Yeah. But if the JD is asking for three years of experience, your profile kind of has to three years of experience, they could reach out to you. Right? That's one way. Second way to do is, I usually say that because referrals and job applications are time sensitive.

Try building that connection early on. That means get a list of companies or industries that you're interested in, 15, 20, 35, whatever that looks like, and start having conversations without that transaction. Teresa first? Yes. Right. Just connect with them that, Hey, I'm just broadening my network. Would love to have you in my connection.

I love the work that. Samsung does and would like to be in the circle. Right. Full stop. Nothing. People would just go and accept. It looks harmless. I don't care, would not reply to it. But at least that door has opened. So the next time you ask for a referral, it wouldn't look like your very first message.

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So do people respond? Yes. Does it matter how you message them? Yes. Does follow up matter? Yes, because life can happen. They are busy. Unfortunately, your job search is not their priority. So even if they read the message, they'll be like, okay, I'll reply tomorrow. Wait, this is not important.

I'll mark it unread, I'll star it. I'll see you tomorrow. Just go back and be like, Hey, a soft nudge. I know that it is crazy, but would you still be able to help me be very, very, very, very human in your messaging? Yes, in being very professional. We've forgotten to being human is what I feel sometimes there.

Yeah. I agree. And even now with ai, so many people have AI write their response and copy paste in there and it's taken all a human out of that conversation. Yeah. So many one-to-one messages. I I get, they don't have my name on it. Hi. I'm reaching out because, and I like, wait, I know you're using a template.

You could have been very polite to at least type my name. It's like literally six letters right there. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Only six letters, right? Yes. You could have just typed my name right there, but no, people are so busy doing that MAR application, which is great. Mars reach out, which is also great. I've forgotten the human connection in it completely.

Yeah. I was just thinking opposite with the ai, there'll be so much more human connection because now there is so much more time. I'm not crafting those templates. Charge B is helping me craft those templates. Now I have five extra minutes to just humanize it. Yes. That's all that I have to do. Yes. But I think people have just completely forgotten.

Yes. Yeah. If you just, whenever you send a message and you can just keep in mind that you are a human, and on the other end of that message is a human too. You're not talking to a computer. There is a human, and you can just put yourself in their shoes and think like, okay, if I were to be them, how would I react to receiving this message?

And if you puts a smile on your face, be like, oh yeah, that's a very sweet message. Yeah. Yes, send it if it's like, oh yeah, I guess this person sent me an iterated template mess, a templated message, and I would just put in the trash can. Yeah. And rewrite it. Right. And there are two more things I would say, and that is not related to networking, just getting their attention.

Right. One is talk about the content that they posted. Yeah. If they're posting about anything, then you can go in their dms and be like, Hey, I loved what you wrote about it. Um, my comments has more insights, but I just wanted to reach out personally and be like, thank you so much for, for crafting this and I know that you're sharing more of your experience and expertise.

But blah, blah, blah. And then you can add your experience and expertise in it as well, right? So one is you can engage with their content or you can send the same content, and that will be a good conversation starter. Second is if you're not connected with them, right? Because if you're not connected with them, you cannot send them any message, right?

That way. If you see them commenting somewhere. So for an example, you've commented on a third person's profile, right? I'm trying to stalk you and I'm trying to get attention that, wait, there is I like, you know, uh, I need to speak to you. We should sit together and do this. Right? Then I would go on your comment and re comment on that.

Oh yes, good one. Right? And then you'll be like, who is this? Because you will get a notification that somebody liked your comment and somebody commented on your comment. You're gonna be like, who's. A profile visibility, you would see me, and if you like me, you would probably, as soon as you come to my profile, you'll see the accept and reject because I've already given you a, , connection request.

You'll quickly be like, accept, and then we can have a conversation. Right. So get their attention. Yes. Yeah, a hundred percent. I wanna ask you the next question that we already answered in a lot of different ways, but I wanna ask it directly, um, because I heard you talking about helping people land jobs before they ever post it.

Yeah, yeah. We obviously talked a lot about networking, but what specifically do you recommend people do to land jobs before they ever posted? Um, so there are two things. Okay. One is I wanna talk about how all of these companies have, uh. Legal requirement to post all. Jobs out there. Right? Yeah. They cannot just internally fill it.

Even if they have an internal candidate, they have to post a job outside, even if it's just for one day. Okay. Yeah. That's one thing I wanted to clarify. Now, how do you get those jobs, or how do you get an opportunity even before it's posted or you know, right after it's posted, how to be that early applicant?

Mm-hmm. One is to know somebody from the company. Always the easiest way. Obviously we spoke about that, how to know these people, start connecting with them more. Have a list of the companies that you're very interested in. So you have a very structured niche down approach. Right? Um, second thing would be when you go in and start connecting with these hiring managers on LinkedIn in general, have like a at least 30 minutes kept aside every day to just go through everybody who has in hiring badge and then just go through that, right?

Because anybody who is in hiring badge definitely is hiring. At least for this week or for these days, and that way you are reaching to them faster. Third way is what I would suggest is again, if you don't have like anybody in the company, no connections whatsoever every day. Almost keep on checking the career websites.

Because like I'm saying, they're legally bound to post that, right? So even if they're not posting it on LinkedIn, it's not a sponsored or a promoted job, you would still see that on their career website. It might never come up because they would probably fill it internally or they don't want that many candidates.

They kind of have an idea of what kind of candidate they want, right? Yeah. So then you can just go to the career website. So I think it all comes down to when you're trying to be in that space where. Even if the role is not out there and somebody can think of you all, you can think of that role. It comes down that structured niche approach.

Because if you're thinking about a hundred companies, you can't go on a hundred companies website on an everyday basis, right? Mm-hmm. If I know 15 or 20 are these, these are my companies and I cannot lose an opportunity from this. Everyday I'll be okay going to their career website and quickly checking that.

Yes. Yeah. So that's what I would suggest. Like a niche structured approach. Yeah. And you can bookmark them and have just a folder with those bookmarks and it's gonna take 10 minutes or less to go through them. Yeah. And you can always have one tab open that says company career pages, because I think all mark rooms and everything, you can have like multiple tabs, multiple labels.

You can with one label, just create something which is called company, uh, career pages, and then you can. Have like 15 tabs open that you only open once in a day and then keep it aside. Yes. Question about quantity versus quality. When it comes to application, where do you fall? What is your recommendation?

Because especially now with ai, there's AI bots who auto apply for you to a thousand jobs a day. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm a very quantity and quality balanced person because I know a lot of time the quality will give you the, the interviews and the referrals, which even a hundred applications and the quality might not get you right.

But when I'm saying that I'm, I also know in this market you need quality and quantity, both. You cannot just do only with quality. So I would suggest when you're thinking of quality. Think of going through referrals. Think of knowing somebody internally. Think of updating your resume, yourself, reading through the job description and making sure you have the keywords that's quality.

Could be like a couple of applications a day, right? But when I'm thinking about quantity, I'm thinking about, I have a primary base resume. Everything gets applied through that, and I'm doing easy apply. I'm doing applications on LinkedIn. Even if it's a 60, 70% match, I'm not worried. I'm just doing it without reference.

Right. Because there are chances in both right now. Mm-hmm. I wouldn't go one over the other, but if I have to have to have to choose it, I'd probably do quality if I have a nine to five already, if I have like my hands full. And job search seems very, very, um, tricky. Then I would let AI do my quality applications.

Um, sorry. I'll let AI do my quantity applications and I'll still do my quality application, which can just be two, um, applications a day with a referral, with a tailored approach to the resume, with a tailored approach to trying to get it to the company through other way than just go application. I agree that there's definitely a place for quantity and quality.

My recommendation, and I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on it, is if you are a high match for a job, Hmm. Not personalizing it and doing the easy apply on LinkedIn can work well because you are just such a great fit for that role that the recruiter might be interested in you anyway. Yeah, even without the outreach, without a referral.

However, if you're trying to make a career pivot and you have transferable skills that you wanna communicate, my take on the auto apply is don't even bother because. It needs the human touch it, it needs that conversation for them to actually see the value that you bring. And you'll just, even if it's a short amount of time, you'll waste your time with the easy apply.

But I'm so curious to hear your take on that. Yeah, no, I, and I agree with you 100% that if you're doing the career transition that. The cold applications might not see a lot of response because then your title might not match the kind of work that you've done, which is your bullet points might not match.

ruiters are getting, which is: 1600

There could still be filters that will get you in front of that recruiter or true. A person who's scanning it. Right. But now again, if you are switching, if you're pivoting and I don't see a lot of transferable skills, even if I see your resume after filtration, I don't see a lot of transferable skills. I might not reach out.

Yeah. Right. So yes, having a referral, if you're career pivoting, if you have limited time, limited resources, um. Quality is always better. You just need someone very good who can refer you inside the company or where have a very good social media presence. And when I say social media, definitely not Twitter, definitely not TikTok, just social media means LinkedIn for job search.

Um, you definitely need like a very good presence there. So if I'm confused if I'm even looking at the referral, I'm looking at your quality application, I'm not sure. I will go to your LinkedIn and check a hundred percent, right? Yeah. So yeah, both. When you look at someone's LinkedIn profile, what's the first place you looked?

If you're coming in that situation, you're like, I'm not quite sure if this candidate, if there's the transferable skills or not. You're landing on someone's LinkedIn profile. Where does your, where do you go first? I'll read the about section because that's where they cannot lie. Yeah, that's where the transferable skills come into being, like really fast.

Because then I would start with like if I'm a recruiter transitioning from finance manager, the first thing I would write, write it. Five years of experience as finance manager now to transitioning into recruiting, right? That's where I, I already know that. I'm still holding onto that identity really hard.

Yeah. Versus a professional with five plus years of experience in communicating stakeholder management, pipeline management, everything. And then I would talk about what transferable skills I'm building. Oh, I love that. Yes, a hundred percent. Yeah. And then the experience, obviously. Yeah. Yes. Letting go of that past identity is huge.

It is. It is, and I'm pretty sure it's all for all of us because somehow, unfortunately in this whole world, we attach our identity to the title that our companies have given or we have given to ourselves in the work that we do, right? Yeah. Anytime somebody asks like, Hey, what do you do? It's instantly that, Hey, I'm a coach.

No. What do you do? Just enjoy life. Right? Figuring out life, because I think we are attached to that identity, to let go of something and go into the next one. Always a journey. Yeah, a hundred percent. I so agree. Yeah. Yeah. For those professionals who wanna be really proactive, obviously having a really solid LinkedIn profile that communicates not just what you've done in the past, but what you want to be doing in the future.

Yeah. . But if these professionals wanna be even more proactive. Yeah. And they wanna identify companies that are, that might be hiring, there's no open positions that fit right now, but are there any signals that you are watching out for any strategies where you're like, okay, I think these are the companies that gonna have positions opening up in the next month or two.

Yeah, I would definitely suggest keep an eye out on the industry news in general because I think those companies talk about like a project coming up if we are opening a store somewhere or a conference is happening, right? If something bus biggest happening related to that company, there would definitely be some employment changes, right?

Doesn't have to be only hiring could be fighting as well, but there would be some changes that would be happening. So one, I would rely a little bit on the news. Two good things that would happen. One, you would get a lot of information and knowledge just in general from the news. And second, because you would have that knowledge and information, you'd also have more things to talk about when you get into an interview.

Right? So you, there's more knowledge right there. So first, as I'll go in the news could be Reddit, could be Google, could be Twitter. You just find more information there, right? Um, second is if you go to like, um, websites like Blind, um. There is so much more chat there, right? People are very open in talking about everything, , because it's all anonymous, right?

So you'll get more information from there also, because if you see like a layoff coming in, you don't wanna be a part of that company, right? Because you don't know if they're, if they're hiring to fire, or like if they're just hiring and then, you know, they might fire you later kind of. Um, third thing I would definitely look into is like, have connections in the company.

Don't just sit behind a computer screen and be like, wait, I applied 200. Uh, applications. I reached out to a hundred people. Nobody wants to talk. Right. Have deeper conversations and connections because see, if you and I have a good connection that is right for a month and we, we just talking like every 15 days, if you feel I'm worth it, you will connect me with your more connections.

Hundred percent. Right? Because your credibility isn't included in it. You would want to see versus stria is what is, is she even words to be introduced to somebody? Right. Exactly. That's how you build it. Now I understand what I'm talking about is a more long term perspective, right? And job search is sometimes very time sensitive, either because of financial reasons, because of visa, because of mental.

Right. Yeah. But all I'm saying is if you have one or two good, deeper connections in the industry, you would automatically start knowing more about the industry and what's coming next through them from them. So all three of them is what I would suggest. I love that. What do you think? Yeah. I also think that really speaks to don't drop your network that moment you have a new job.

Oh yeah, that's opposite, opposite probably the biggest mistakes people make. And it, I get it from a, like, I landed a job now I don't need to do all this extra work. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and I'm so glad that you said that. I, I add one more thing here. If you've got a job right. The minute you get a job, draft a template, I don't care.

Draft a template, reach out to everybody that you had a conversation during your job search and tell them that, hey, that one piece of advice that you gave me really helped in the interview and try personalizing that. So if I would sit with you and be like, there is a, that was such a great point that what is it?

You know, when you were talking about it's okay if you can't go in in-person networking, even start virtual. That was very helpful. So that. I really appreciate you giving me that advice. And now that I have a job at Salesforce, I wanted to reach out and say thank you. Couldn't have been possible without that one tip that you gave me.

Right. Boom. Wow. Right. I'm no, no more a , job seeker asking for a transactional conversation. I'm, I'm now a professional. Just where now we have a warmer connection and less transactional maybe. Yes. Yes. And there's not all of them. I love that. And it's not that you have to sit on your computer hours a day and network, but making 30 minutes a month, even blocking that on your calendar to reach out to five people you connected with over the last year to keep that conversation going.

Do it. Yeah. And also in the economic times we're in with all the uncertainty and unpredictability. The time to build your network is when you don't need a job. Yes. That's the time to network. And you I love that line. Yeah. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I got very excited. I love that line. When you said the time to build your network is when you don't need a job.

Love that. Yeah. Yes, a hundred percent. Yes. And you'll be so glad that you did that the moment you do need a job. Yeah. Yeah, because I think all the jobs that I have gotten therea is through the network that I've built. Like the last job that, that I had at Uber, somebody reached out to me on LinkedIn, um, the director of talent acquisition.

We had a very brief conversation. I got into the call like within literally seven days, I had an offer. I wasn't even looking. But better offered. I loved my manager. Like when I, when I spoke with her, I was like, wait, she's fabulous. I wanna work with her. Wow. And then she agreed, right that, wait, let's get you to the loop.

Like if you're interested, I let just. Um, it did come to the personal planning that I have, obviously on LinkedIn, but then also to just the conversation because when he reached out, I was not looking for a job. I could have absolutely happily ignored that message. Yeah. Right. But I was like, Hey, would love to not searching for a job, not looking to switch, but would love to understand what you have to offer.

That's, that was literally my message back to him. Right. So I loved what you just said, like absolutely loved it, that the best time to build a network is when you're not looking for a job. Yes. Yeah, and I always tell people like. Recruiters sometimes reach out to you on LinkedIn.

Yeah. For a job you're not interested or at a time you're not interested. Respond with kindness. Even if, if you're looking and you get, I hear that from people, like, I get annoyed because I only get these types of jobs offered, or people only reach out for these types of jobs. Write a friendly message back and be like, thank you so much for reaching out.

I really, really appreciate that you landed on my profile. This isn't quite the direction I'm heading into. Yeah. I'm looking to do A, B, and C for my next step because I wanna build on these transferable skills. Yeah. You know of any openings in that space. Yeah. Use those, use that outreach or the example you gave.

Beautiful. Even though you're not looking for a role, build that relationship. Yeah. Yeah, because you can always pass it on to somebody else. Like, I'm not looking for it right now. And I still have like a lot of recruiters reach out to me for jobs, right? Either on my, I have like maybe five voicemails sitting from this week, and then I have like a bunch of InMails sitting when I reply to them, I just say that, Hey.

I'm not looking for it right now though. I have like a couple of profiles that I can share with you if you're interested. They would be a very good fit. Right. And then I just share the profile with them. I don't make connections. It's not a forceful thing that you have to speak to somebody on my account, but these are the two people, at least they'll get visibility and they, you know, they might be interested.

Right. So you can always be the matchmaker, the network if you're not on the networking side right now. Right. Yeah. There's so many different ways off. Creating connections and building relationships. Yeah. Especially when it already lands in your inbox. Yeah. That you don't wanna pass up on. Yeah. And it's an easy way, and I understand.

And then when, when we are talking about all of these, I'm thinking as a professional, wait, I have a nine to five. Um, I have so much to do. Where do I have time to like sit and do this? Right? I would always remind, remember the time when you did not have a nine to five and you were just hoping for that one reply from somebody, right?

Yeah. Do not let the other person waiting for your reply. Yeah. Every day. If you don't have time to reply to 10 messages, start with two messages. Just just do the first two. Right. Then the next is next Two. You'll at least build in habit of not completely ignoring somebody, but at least giving the best with the time that you have in your hands.

Yes. Yeah. And you never know because the tables can turn so quickly. I just worked with a client and she actually landed a job, so there was a. Connection. The connection reached out to her for help and she responded and made an introduction. It didn't lead anywhere, but she helped that person. I think it was like five, six years later, the tables were turned and she asked him for help and he made the introduction at Atlanta to a job.

Yeah, there you go. Exactly. Just help people when you can. If you have the ability, take this two minutes to respond to a message and help because there'll be a day when you need the help and then you, one, build your network and two more people are gonna be open to helping you as well. Absolutely, and I surely wanna put it out there that networking is a long-term game.

It's a compounding effect. If we are thinking everything needs to have a result today or tomorrow, then you probably have wrong expectations from it. Yes, networking is definitely compounding and it definitely has a lot more results over a period of time. So you've gotta keep doing it consistently. That is such a perfect place to leave off.

Brea, thank you for sharing so much wisdom. Where can our listeners connect with you and learn more about your work? Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. I loved every bit of it. They can connect with me on LinkedIn. Coach Shta, um, coach. And then my first name and last name, same thing on my Instagram Coach Shta.

I also have a website, which is the Super Coach, that's the name of my business, where we have like amazing resources like templates. Um, we have interview documents. We have like a lot of resources. We have great eBooks on LinkedIn. A lot of things that we spoke about is there in that book and so much more.

So that's, those are the three places that they can actually find me. I love that. We're gonna make sure to link all of that in the show notes so it's easy for people to find you and you have to follow. Reya. I love your content. That's how we connected. Yay. Yay. Networking your content.

I'm like, oh my God, this person is amazing. I need to talk to her. And this brought us here today. So thank you so much for being here and sharing your wisdom with us. Absolutely. Thank you so much. An amazing, amazing discussion. Thanks, Teresa.

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And that's a wrap on today's episode of Career Clarity Unlocked. If this conversation gave you even just one moment of, oh yeah, I have been overcomplicating this, then I want you to remember, you do not need to be perfect. What you do need to do is be present consistent, and yes, you do need to be a little bit brave and confidence comes from repetition.

It does not come from waiting until you are ready or until you're perfect. And if this episode made you think, okay, I should network, but wait, I don't even know who to network with or what I actually want next. Or if you are in this place of thinking, yeah, I've built a successful career, but this can't be all there is.

But I also don't know what it is that would fill my cup. Then this is your sign. Join my Free Life Career Vision Board workshop. It is happening today, February 24th, and for the very last time this week, Thursday the 26th. It is a 90 minute workshop in which you'll get clear on what you're actually moving toward, not just what you're trying to escape from, and you'll walk away with a finished career vision board and a concrete direction that you can act on.

So if you're tired and feeling drained and wondering, what if I waste another year? I want you to register right now. I am hosting this live. It is free, and I'm even including a replay for you. The link to register is in the show notes, and of course, don't forget to join me again next week for another episode full of insights, inspiration, and actionable advice on finding a career you love because you shouldn't, and you don't have to settle.

Keep chasing what makes you come alive, and I'll see you back here next week on Career Clarity Unlocked.

 And that's a wrap for today's episode of Career Clarity Unlocked, if you feeling stuck in that. What's next? Spiral and are ready to finally break free. Let's chat. You can book your free career clarity call where we'll uncover what's really important to you. Tackle any obstacles holding you back and map out your best next step.

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