Create FOMO on, and DEMAND for, YOU! (or, an alternative to waiting for a job interview invitation)
There are no job search rules. Or at least there are very few of them. And the ones that exist probably need to be broken.
✅ It’s okay to be different – you are unique.
✅ It’s okay to think differently – you need to stand out.
✅ It’s okay to do things differently – you need to take a chance and shoot your shot.
You can do what nearly everyone else does, what you probably always do: Reactively apply for a publicly posted open position and then passively wait for an interview invitation. You can compete against others, on the employer’s terms. But that’s boring and time consuming.
There is an alternative with little downside and lots of upside.
Consider this: Invite representatives from the 10 – 15 companies on the entire planet that you’d be a good fit for (whether there is a job opening or not) to a virtual meet and greet with you – “Meet your next Director of Marketing.” Invite two people from each company, i.e. the hiring manager and someone from HR. Make sure everyone can see who else is invited (create some FOMO!).
The goal of this virtual meet and greet is manifold. Examples include:
For your target companies to meet and learn about you (accomplishments, ideas, personality, immediate value offered, values etc.). Familiarity reduces uncertainty.
For you to meet and learn about your target companies. Again, familiarity reduced uncertainty.
For you to get on the radar screen of these companies and stay top of mind (for a current or future opening).
Create FOMO on you. When you make visible who is invited to the meet and great, you generate interest and motivation for everyone to participate – lest they miss out on you.
Create demand for you. If you are effective in highlighting your awesomeness, you’ll increase the chance that one or more companies will want to seriously consider you as a current or future candidate. And the more demand for you, the more leverage you have.
Sounds like a crazy idea, right? Maybe it is. But crazy compared to what? The current job search process?!?!
If you’re not having success in your job search, maybe it’s time for you to flip the script and try something like the virtual meet and greet. The worst that can happen is that no one shows up. In that scenario, the only downside is the time lost setting up the meet and greet, which is minimal. But imagine a scenario in which a few company representatives did show up! Imagine the ability to have a conversation ON YOUR OWN TERMS with representatives from a few of your target companies!?!? Imagine CREATING DEMAND FOR YOU amongst these employers!
You don’t have to imagine it. You just need to set up the virtual meeting, send out the invitations, and start preparing to wow them.
What’s holding you back?
[This article was originally published on LinkedIn on 12/28/23: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/create-fomo-demand-you-alternative-waiting-job-bill-leonard-mhrm-aozme/?trackingId=ISbrIfQ0TQ2qevsJeSFrrA%3D%3D]