Hot take: The traditional job search is dead.

The traditional approach to job search is dead.

I have applied to hundreds of applications and gotten no interviews.

The spray and pray approach of mass applying to hundreds of jobs and getting zero interviews is frustrating and demoralizing. If you are like most job seekers, this is your current experience.

But, what if I told you there was a different way?

It doesn’t matter whether you are a new immigrant, a fresh graduate, or an experienced professional looking for a new job. This approach works because it helps you optimize your time, so you can spend your energy on the things which move the needle for you in your job search.

It starts with market research.

To stand out in today’s competitive market, you need to align more closely with what the market wants. The best way to do that is to develop a thorough understanding of the job requirements and demonstrate a 90-100% fit for the role.

It is the same approach that I took when I moved to Canada 5 years ago. I started by sending out mass applications and got only 1 interview. I took a step back to analyze the job market, understood the required competencies for my roles, highlighted my transferable skills and aligned my previous job duties to align with the market, took additional certifications, and started networking actively. This strategic shift landed me my first 6-figure job in my field within 1 week.

I promise you - doing this will save you lots of time, effort, and tears so that you can focus on the things that matter and move the needle with your job search (building connections and increasing your visibility).

Do the upfront work to understand the market before you write your resume or send out a job application. Then, adapt and align your experience to what the market wants.

Let’s dive in.

Niche down - Get narrow on your target industries and companies.

A common trend in North America is that companies value both industry and domain experience. (I think it is wrong because I think that skills are directly transferable from one industry to another. Unfortunately, that decision is not up to you and I, and it’s important to adapt to the market we find ourselves).

• Identify your current industry experience: Start by narrowing down sectors and positions that you already have experience in - this is your competitive edge, and you should focus your attention on these industries. For example, if you worked in Banking, then your number 1 target industry should be the Financial industry.

• Identify adjacent industries: This includes industries that are adjacent to your current industries. Using the Banking example, adjacent industries would include insurance, financial technology, asset management companies, mortgage companies, etc.

• Identify your target companies: Look for companies within the target industries that you have outlined. Scour online lists, stock exchange listings, and directories to find companies within the target industry. Add them to a tracker or spreadsheet. Click here for my Notion company tracker.

Understand Market/Industry Requirements - Conduct a detailed search for the target role.

This step is crucial because job descriptions vary between organizations. Some organizations may use a different technology stack, tools, or process. Some companies want experience with certain tools, processes, while others want you to have experience working on certain types of projects.

• Focus on competencies, not just titles: Understand the underlying skills needed for the role, beyond what the title suggests. Gather 10-20 job descriptions from LinkedIn, Indeed, or other job boards, focusing only on your target industry and companies.

• Analyze job descriptions for competencies: Look for common requirements across job listings to understand what employers value. Identify the differences in requirements too.

• Write down the competencies: Use a spreadsheet to note down the core competence for each role you are interested in. Click here to get a skill inventory for a Project Manger role. This focused approach ensures you are tailoring your applications to meet the specific demands of your target market.

• Bonus Tip: Use this ChatGPT prompt to get it done faster. Simply enter the job descriptions into chat and ask it to analyze the job descriptions and give you the information.

Conduct a skills set mapping to identify your core competencies and address your gaps.

• Compare your skills with job requirements: Identify the skills that you currently have. For most people, you already possess the soft skills, so your emphasis should be on the hard skills, tools, and technologies. Add them to the skills inventory tracker.

• Understand the education and certification requirements: This will inform whether you need to take a certification or additional courses.

• Identify your skill set gaps and level of competence: Do an honest self-assessment and identify which skills you have, your transferable skills, and your skill gaps. Look at the frequency of demand to prioritize the skills you need to work on or develop further.

• Create a learning plan: Engage in courses, workshops, or self-study to acquire the necessary competencies. This step is vital in closing the gap between where you are and where you need to be to be considered a top candidate for your target roles.

Create a master resume.

Armed with your research, it's time to create a master resume.

A master resume is a detailed document that includes your entire professional history, skills, and accomplishments. It serves as a repository, which allows you to quickly tailor specific resumes for different job applications so you can stop customizing your resume for every position.

• Highlight these skills in your applications: Make sure to emphasize your current skills and transferable skills on your resume. Have an outcome-focused bullet point and statement for each competency you identified in the previous steps.

• Focus on value delivered: Go beyond your job duties to demonstrate the value you delivered. What were the key activities you performed? What technique did you use? What was the outcome? Include measurable outcomes using numbers and percentages.

• Stop customizing your resume for each position: You no longer have to write and rewrite your resume when you want to apply for a new job. Simply copy and paste from your master resume onto the resume you want to use to apply for the job, based on the job description. This should take you approximately 10 minutes.

Adjust Your Approach and Get Help

Stop trying to figure things out on your own - if it's not working, it might be time to get professional help. Adjust your approach based on the data you have. If you are not getting interviews, it likely means your resume is not optimized, or you are not applying early enough.

• Seek mentorship or coaching: Connect with professionals in your desired field for guidance and feedback or get a career coach.

• Utilize online resources and communities: Join forums, LinkedIn groups, or other platforms where you can learn from peers and experts.

• Stay flexible: Be willing to adapt your goals and methods as you learn more about the market and yourself.

Don’t skip the research and jump straight to write your resume. Remember, company needs vary, and while you might have been successful at your previous job, it doesn’t mean that the next company has the exact same problems to solve.

Redefine your job search and embrace a strategic mindset, and watch as doors you never knew existed begin to open for you.

If you need help with your job search and are ready to stop spinning your wheels, then book a 1:1 strategy session with me. We will work together to refine and execute your strategy and develop a clear roadmap, so that you can land more interviews and ultimately land your dream job.

Until next time,

Zainab

Remember, you are just one step away…