No one has infinite time. Whether working or not, job seekers need to use their time wisely. That is why it is essential to understand all the ways employers find candidates for their jobs. Believe it or not, it isn't solely through job postings.

Recruiters have many ways to find candidates. Good recruiters are using many different avenues to find candidates that are the right fit. You need to be aware of all of them. That way, you can be a savvy job seeker and diversify your job search activities in a way that gives you a chance to be found by employers.

But you want to do this wisely.

Here are ten common activities recruiters might use to find candidates and our suggestions on effectively and efficiently taking advantage of them.

Hosting Events 

Traditional recruitment events, such as job fairs or career expos, come to mind in this category. However, depending on the employer, hosting events could include informational sessions, meet-and-greets, workshops, and online events.

If you are in a job search, and these are available to you, this is how you could use them for your job search.

• You could network with recruiters and other professionals in your industry. Prepare a brief elevator pitch introducing yourself, your skills, and your career goals.

• Attend any informational sessions or workshops that are part of the event. These can provide valuable insights into industry trends, skill requirements, and hiring expectations.

• If the event allows job seekers to present or showcase their skills, take advantage of it. This could include participating in a career fair, submitting a portfolio, or engaging in a pitch session.

Using Recruitment Agencies

When an organization has difficulty filling a role or wants its search to be quiet, it will outsource finding candidates to a recruitment agency. The agencies will be paid a fee for locating and qualifying candidates for specific roles. Depending on your targeted role and industry, working with recruitment agencies is another way to diversify your job search.

Here is how you can best work with recruitment agencies:

• Recruitment agencies often specialize in specific industries or job sectors. Identify agencies that focus on your field of interest or expertise. These agencies are more likely to have opportunities relevant to your job search.

• Establish and maintain relationships with recruiters from reputable agencies. These connections can give you access to a broader range of job opportunities and valuable career advice.

• Stay informed about job openings through the agency's website, job boards, or email notifications. Recruitment agencies often have access to exclusive job opportunities, giving you a competitive edge in your job search.

Career Pages

Many employers want job seekers to understand what working at the organization is like. You may find your targeted organizations have very robust career pages, with loads of information about the company, the culture, and what it is like working there, even as far as specific roles or departments. You may also find video that gives you an idea of what the facilities look like and the people that work there. Also, the career page should have posted all the company openings, and you may be able to set up job alerts.

If you see the organization has a career page, you should do the following:

• Understand Company Culture and Values:

• Regularly monitor the career page for updates and new job opportunities. 

• Use this information on the career page to assess whether the company aligns with your professional goals and personal values. There is no sense in applying if you and the organization are not aligned.

• Analyze the information provided on the career page to tailor your resume, cover letter, and other application materials. Highlight the skills and experiences that align with the company's expectations and values.

• A well-structured career page often outlines the company's mission, vision, and key priorities. Use this information to prepare thoughtful questions for interviews that demonstrate your understanding of the company's goals.

Candidate Sourcing

Sourcing is when an organization proactively looks for candidates that meet the job requirements. A Recruiter or dedicated Sourcer looks through social media, websites, and databases to find qualified candidates and see if they are interested in applying.

To best take advantage of these efforts is to make yourself easily found. You can do this by the following:

• Ensure that your professional profiles on platforms like LinkedIn are complete and up-to-date. Use a professional photo, create a compelling headline, and provide a detailed summary of your skills and experiences. Make sure you incorporate relevant keywords for the role(s) you want.

• Clearly show relevant skills and achievements on your online profiles. Recruiters often use specific skills and achievements as search criteria when sourcing candidates.

• Actively engage with recruiters and hiring managers on professional networking platforms. Follow companies you're interested in, participate in relevant groups, and share industry-related content.

• Ensure that your public social media profiles present a positive and professional image.

Marketplaces

Marketplaces are any entity that brings employers and job seekers together. The common ones you would think of are job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor for a broad range of jobs and niche job boards for specific industries or professions. Here are a few strategies to get the most out of these marketplaces:

• Build a comprehensive and targeted profile on the job board. Include relevant information about your skills, experiences, and achievements. Use keywords specific to your industry to improve the visibility of your profile.

• Take advantage of job alert features on job boards. Create customized alerts based on your preferred job title, industry, location, and other relevant criteria. This allows you to receive notifications when new job opportunities matching your preferences are posted.

• Keep your resume updated on the job board. When employers look at resumes, they will first look at the most recent ones submitted. Periodically update yours so it shows higher in the search.

• Instead of applying to every available job, focus on positions closely matching your skills and career goals. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each application, showcasing how your background aligns with the job requirements.

• Some job boards offer additional resources such as career advice, resume-building tools, and interview tips. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your job search skills.

Employer Branding

Many employers spend significant time and money ensuring the public, especially job seekers, understand their employment brand. Like personal branding, employer branding is about the perception of the employer when one hears the name. This can include the company culture, values and mission, the employee value proposition (benefits and rewards), the work environment, and many other important employee aspects.

When an employer is actively promoting their employer brand, job seekers can take these actions to help in their job search.

• Make an effort to understand this employer before you apply. Visit their career pages, social media profiles, and any employer review sites to gain insights into their values, culture, and reputation as an employer.

• Customize your resume, cover letter, and other application materials to align with the employer brand. Use language and examples that resonate with the company's culture and values, showcasing how your skills and experiences make you a good fit.

• Follow the company and its recruiters on social media platforms. Engage with their posts, share relevant content, and participate in conversations. This demonstrates your genuine interest in the company and its values.

Applicant Tracking Systems

According to JobScan, over 98.8% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS, while 66% of large companies and even 35% of small organizations use them. Organizations invest thousands of dollars in this software. As a job seeker, it makes sense to understand how they work and how you can use them to your advantage.

• To ensure your resume gets rated highly, tailor it to be ATS-friendly. Use keywords relevant to the job description and incorporate skills mentioned in the posting.

• Avoid using complex or overly stylized resume templates that may confuse the ATS. Stick to standard fonts and headings to ensure proper parsing of your resume's content.

• Different ATS systems may have varying capabilities and preferences. While you may not know the specific ATS a company uses, you can generally follow best practices that work across most systems. For example:

• Use standard section headings like "Work Experience" and "Education."

• Submit your resume in a widely accepted format, such as PDF or Word.

• Avoid graphics, images, or unique formatting that the ATS might not easily process.

Community Building

Recruiters want to build communities to connect with people who share common interests or work in similar fields. For example, let's say a recruiter works for a tech company. They might create an online community where people who like technology and programming can join. By doing this, the recruiter can talk to these people, share information about job opportunities, and build relationships with potential candidates. This way, when there's a job opening, the recruiter already knows people who might be a good fit and can reach out to them.

As a job seeker, you can take advantage of this by:

• Actively participate in the communities or groups created by your target employers. This could be on social media platforms, forums, or other channels. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute meaningful insights related to your industry or the employer's field.

• Many organizations have Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These are employee-led organizations that support those with common characteristics, whether gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation, lifestyle, or interest. These organizations often have activities within their communities that non-employees can participate in. Connecting with current employees provides valuable insights into the company culture, work environment, and potential job opportunities.

Referrals

Referrals from present employees, past employees, clients, vendors, or suppliers are highly sought-after sources of candidates for job openings. If someone known and trusted refers a candidate, there is a belief that the candidate possesses the necessary skills, qualifications, and cultural fit for the organization. Often, this means a fast-tracked screening process with the recruitment staff.

So, how can you use referrals to your advantage?

• Actively build and nurture a professional network both online and offline. Connect with colleagues, former classmates, and industry professionals. A strong network provides more opportunities for potential referrals.

• Let your network know that you are actively seeking new opportunities. Expressing your interest in a particular industry, company, or role can prompt your connections to consider referring you if they come across suitable openings.

• Attend industry events, conferences, and networking meetups. These events provide opportunities to meet new people and expand your network. Personal connections made at such events may be more willing to refer you based on your in-person interactions.

Pipelining

Pipelining refers to building and maintaining a pool or pipeline of potential candidates for future job openings. This involves building and maintaining relationships with qualified individuals, even when there are no immediate job opportunities, to create a readily available talent pool when positions become available.

If employers are spending time and effort pipelining potential candidates, you can take advantage of this by:

• Actively connect with recruiters on platforms like LinkedIn. Send personalized connection requests, express your interest in their organization, and inquire about upcoming opportunities. Establish those connections now so that you will be thought of for future roles.

• Attend industry-specific networking events, conferences, and webinars. These gatherings often attract recruiters who are actively building talent pipelines. Engage with recruiters and other professionals to make connections and express your interest in potential opportunities.

• Clearly express your long-term interest in a company or industry. When engaging with recruiters, communicate that you want to be part of their talent pipeline for future opportunities. This proactive approach can ensure that you are considered when suitable roles arise.

And here is a bonus #11.

Job Posting

Most job seekers think of job postings first when it comes to a job search, but I have it last since there are so many other activities that the recruitment team focuses on besides job posting when looking for qualified applicants. That doesn't mean that you should ignore job postings. There are several ways you, as a job seeker, can make your job search more efficient regarding employer job postings.

• I advise all job seekers to focus their job search on specific industries, roles, and companies that align with their skills, interests, and career goals. A targeted approach allows you to streamline your efforts; you will avoid applying to jobs you have little chance of getting or little desire to do.

• Set up job alerts on various job boards. Receive notifications for new job postings that match your criteria. This allows you to stay informed about relevant opportunities in real time.

• Tailor your resume for each application by emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. Use keywords from the job description to align your resume with the position's specific requirements. This increases the likelihood of ranking highly in automated applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Conclusion

Understanding how employers find candidates isn't just a piece of the job search puzzle; it should be a crucial part of your strategy. Time is a valuable resource; it is crucial to be smart about where and how you invest it. I've covered ten tactics plus a bonus one that recruiters use, and now you can better streamline your job search. Remember, efficiency is the name of the game. Focus on industries and roles that match your skills, set up job alerts, tailor your resume, and dive into the job market strategically. You will have a distinct advantage over your competition.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.