For hiring managers, when it comes time to hire for their company most focus on a ‘Bullseye” approach to hiring. It’s important for you as a Job Seeker to understand that Bullseye approach when you are going to be starting a job search.
What is the Bullseye Approach? Picture a dart board, or target; hiring managers would love to “throw a dart and hit a bullseye” i.e. pick up the phone and make one phone call or send one email and find the perfect candidate for a vacancy in their department. Who would they look to call in that one call? Typically, it’s someone they’ve worked with in the past. That candidate is a known commodity. If a hiring manager can’t find someone that they have worked with, then they might look to the next outer ring, which is someone they know, even if they haven’t worked with them- someone in their inner professional network.
If the hiring manager still hasn’t found that perfect fit, then they might look outside that inner ring, and ask their network if they know of anyone who could do the job they need – which is asking for referrals. Still no luck in hiring their perfect candidate? Then typically hiring managers will go find a qualified candidate. Most of the time this will be done by searching for someone on LinkedIn or other social media tools using specific keywords to find the skillset they need. Haven’t hired anyone yet? The next candidate they may consider is someone who has reached out directly to them, expressing an interest in joining the team. If a hiring manager still hasn’t found a fit for their opening, then they will look to candidates who’ve applied online for their vacancy.
Why is this important for you to understand if you’re starting a job search of your own?
I believe that if you are a job seeker looking for a new role, then your energy and effort should mirror that of the hiring manager and spend more time on the bullseye and inner rings mentioned above. Most candidates I speak with focus their efforts on applying for jobs online (the outermost ring) and not making any progress with those applications. I’ll hear the statement “I’ve applied to 100 jobs last week and have not heard from one of them.” This might be due to them being screened out by A.I. tools, but many times it’s simply because a hiring manager has already identified a qualified candidate on an “inner ring” of their target.
So how do you focus your efforts correctly? Think about the inner rings of the bullseye mentioned and start there with your job search. Who have you enjoyed working with in the past? Are they still at that firm? Or have they moved on to another firm that might be a target company for you in your search. Who else do you know at your target company? Can someone at a firm make a personal introduction with you and the hiring manager at this firm? Do you know anyone that knows anyone at your target company? We call these warm introductions. This is where professional networking is key in order for you to meet someone personally.
After spending your time here, if you still haven’t landed your dream job; then focus on being found by hiring managers who are searching for your skillset. Does your LinkedIn reflect the skills and keywords that one might look up in order to find you? Does your profile show that you’re qualified for the types of positions you’re applying for? Lastly, when you’re applying for roles you see posted online, are you applying smartly? This means you are customizing your resume keywords to match the job description. Example: The job description is asking for someone that has experience in both state and federal filings, make sure your resume clearly states state and federal filings. Attempt to reach out to a real person to express your interest in the opening. Customize a cover letter for each role you apply to.
Using this targeted approach to your job search should lead you to hitting that bullseye, which will land you your dream job! Good luck and please let me know how it goes.
