Embrace Courage, Stop Waiting
In the grand casino of life, where everyone’s jostling for that golden ticket to success, let’s have a real talk: the tired old playbook of blindly shooting applications into the void?
It’s about as effective as a water pistol at a five-alarm blaze. If you’ve been spending your nights tossing CVs into the black hole of corporate HR systems, it’s time for a tactical pivot. I’m here to serve up a dose of objective truth: Stop applying, and start networking.
You see, in our hyper-digital age, we’ve been lulled into the mirage of algorithms, thinking that if we just hit ‘apply’ enough times, the job roulette wheel will eventually land on our number. But here’s the unsavory reality: behind every “easy apply” button, there’s an overburdened HR rep, drowning in a tsunami of indistinguishable resumes. Yours, my friend, is just another drop in that ocean. The odds? Not in your favor.
Now, I’m not saying you toss your resume into the wind and hope for the best. No. But what I am saying is that the real currency isn’t found in the sterile format of a resume, but in the dynamic, messy, and utterly human arena of relationships. It’s that old adage — it’s not what you know, but who you know — and it’s aged better than a bottle of ’82 Bordeaux.
Why? Because humans, not algorithms, make hiring decisions. And humans? We’re creatures of emotion, bias, and connection. We lean towards the familiar, the recommended, and the trusted. It’s the primal software running in our cerebrum, built over millennia of evolution. We’re wired to listen to the tribe, to the folks in our circle. So, become part of the damn circle.
Networking. Now, I can sense the collective eye-roll. “Networking? That schmoozy, fake-smiling, business-card-slinging dance?” Well, yeah, if you’re doing it wrong. True networking isn’t about how many LinkedIn connections you amass, or how many hands you shake at a mixer. It’s about forging genuine relationships, based on shared interests, mutual respect, and value exchange. Think of it less as “networking” and more as “building your tribe.”
Start by identifying the players in your desired field. Who are the movers and shakers? The disruptors? The unsung heroes? Once you’ve got your list, engage. But don’t just barge in with a “Can I pick your brain?” Nobody has time for a brain-picking session over tepid coffee. Instead, find ways to add value. Share an insightful article, offer feedback on a project, volunteer at events they’re speaking at. Become a blip on their radar by being insightful, interesting, and, above all, genuine.
Join communities related to your field. Attend events, webinars, workshops. Don’t just show up, but participate. Ask questions, offer insights. Remember, the goal isn’t just to be seen, but to be remembered. And how do you do that? By being authentic, by showcasing your expertise without shoving it down anyone’s throat, and by fostering genuine relationships, not just transactional exchanges.
Rejection? Expect it. Embrace it. Each “no” gets you one step closer to a “yes.” More importantly, every rejection is a conversation starter, a chance to get feedback, to iterate, to improve. And when that “yes” finally comes? It’ll be sweeter, more meaningful, because it wasn’t handed to you — it was earned.
To wrap this up, let me be clear: I’m not advocating for you to abandon your job applications completely. In certain contexts, they’re a necessary evil. But don’t let them be your primary strategy. In the game of career advancement, relationships are the secret sauce, the unfair advantage. They open doors that no resume, however polished, can.
So, the next time you find yourself on the brink of hitting that “apply” button for the hundredth time, take a pause. Ask yourself: “Is there someone I can reach out to? A relationship I can foster?” Because, in the end, your network isn’t just about job leads; it’s your career safety net, your sounding board, your tribe.
Bottom line? Break out of the application abyss. Dive into the vibrant, chaotic, rewarding world of networking. Because your next big opportunity? It’s just a conversation away.
Brian Fink is the author of Talk Tech To Me. He takes on the stress and strain of complex technology concepts and simplifies them for the modern recruiter. Fink’s impassioned wit and humor tackle the highs and lows of technical recruiting with a unique perspective — a perspective intended to help you find, engage, and partner with professionals.
