The September hiring surge is well underway! September is when folks finally get back from summer vacations, and it's the final 3-month push before the holidays come again. Remember, the cold application pool is last priority these days, so let's focus on quality referrals. These are the tips my coach Lucy F Chen, who had hundreds of Product leader clients and charges $1000 per session while still having endless demand for her, had taught me.
My very own husband is currently looking for a new PM job. He started his job hunting two months ago, now already interviewing with 4 companies. All these four opportunities are through strong referrals.
#1 Make a list of your 5 biggest advocates in your life.
I'm not talking about weak referrals from folks you don't know well; this is using your network of people who are rooting for you. This is where you most likely will find your next job.
Maybe an old professor, your previous manager, an old colleague, or your uncle. Reach out to them, even if they’re not at your target companies or industries.
Ask them to introduce you to 3 more people to talk to. And repeat it again. Let your network build on itself.
Never let your leads dry out.
#2 Make your referral go the EXTRA mile.
Don't just get a generic referral (everyone is getting referrals these days), but have your referral send a note to the hiring manager afterwards why you’re a great fit for a role. You can also help them draft a few bullets to remove friction in their communication.
Or better yet, also ask them to intro you to the hiring manager. If they don’t know who it is, have them sleuth who it is in the company portal. You should get the hiring manager’s LinkedIn profile at the very least.
Your goal is to get someone to say "you have to interview Tianyu" right when a role opens up.
#3 Reach out directly to the decision-maker, e.g. the Head of Design, a Product Director or whatever function you’re targeting.
Follow up. If they don’t respond, try someone else on the team. Talk to them even if there isn’t a role open today. Build a relationship in case a role opens up down the road.
Even if they don't respond, several of my clients have had instances where after their outreach catches the eye of a decision-maker, they get an invitation to interview.
Want to discuss networking strategies? Book your free 15 minute intro session today!
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