When looking for a job look first for the right people then the right job →

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"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.

Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés, and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.

Focus instead on connecting with people.

The power of being in front of people is to present the whole you – something a CV or résumé can't do.

I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one or having phone calls.

So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.

It took time. As I explained above, there were many 'dead ends,’ but ultimately, it led me to a role in a field I didn't even know existed.

More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.

I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But I had a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.

I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organization. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work and an interview for a full-time job.

If you're curious, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze; I stumbled through the questions and left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might have been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't, and I still got the job because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built.

Remember: people first, jobs second.

Why Passive Job Seekers have big advantages in finding jobs →

                                                                                              Bullseye on Passive Job Seeker

Before we proceed, some basic insights regarding active vs. passive job seekers. An active job seeker is someone who is either unemployed or unhappily employed and actively conducting a search for a new position. A passive job seeker is someone who is not actively looking to move companies, either because they’re happy in their current role or just because they haven’t thought about it.

You’re employed, so why should you start looking for a job now? If your skills are a good fit for the job you currently have, and if you, your employer, and your supervisor all see you as a long-term good fit, then you probably don’t need to answer this question, but that doesn’t mean that job options might not find you. If you see the need for a change coming, even if it is not for a while, then there are many very good reasons to start a passive job search now.

According to LinkedIn, 70% of the global workforce is made up of passive talent who are not actively job searching, and 87% of all the active and passive candidates are open to new job opportunities.

Employers assume if a job seeker is already employed, they must have the skills, experience, and drive to be employable. It is easier to find a job when you already have one, so allowing yourself to be open to new career possibilities without truly job searching is a talent worth developing. Employers will reach out for someone that they believe as a candidate would have the best job skills, experience, and knowledge, so it will be especially valuable to be sure your resume shows skills and strengths that match those asked for on the job listings in the areas that would be of interest.

An employer sometimes assumes that unemployed candidates are too eager and become skeptical of their experience and skills. The passion and excitement of those candidates can be misinterpreted as just needing a job rather than a genuine belief that a real contribution can be made.

A passive job search employee should be aware of their next job and should be sure they cover their bases.

 Continually look within your own company.

Even if you see jobs posted that you need to gain the qualifications fo, you will learn through the posting what you will need to add to your own profile and skills if those jobs catch your interest. Make sure your supervisor knows that you want to advance your career.


When not actively job searching, delete your old posted resumes.

The work you did to get your current job may still be out there, posted in various places. You want your current job to clearly show you in place. Take down your old resumes from online and job boards. If you have old resumes floating around cyberspace on job boards, now is the time to remove them.

Refresh your LinkedIn profile

A passive job search seeks to find the candidate. Whether you are actively job searching or doing so passively, build a solid LinkedIn profile and keep it updated. A great LinkedIn profile is the best means of “being found” in the job market.

Build your network when you do not need to.

Networking at social events, work gatherings, seminars, trade shows, or anywhere you might meet potential employers is an opportunity to build a professional network. Find ways to connect, retweet, follow, and interact with top talent using Facebook, Twitter, and other relevant social spaces.”

At company events, listen to the talk and buzz in the other departments regarding expansion plans. do whatever you can to connect, retweet, and interact with top talent via Facebook, Twitter, and other relevant social spaces.”

Informational interviews.

Seeking out informational interview opportunities to just learn while employed, learning new things yourself as well as things that can benefit your current employer. Again, look at your personalized list of network contacts and look up the companies online that you are interested in.

Pay it forward

Be active on LinkedIn and other social networks. Recognize accomplishments. Make positive comments. Keep your name in front of your followers and communicate with those already in your network when you see something of interest to them.