Welcome to Career Essentials, where I share actionable insights and curated articles that will help accelerate your career and supercharge your job search.
Stop Limiting Your Search to Job Boards and Learn Where Employers Really Post
Where are you looking to find your next job?
If you spend all your time searching the job boards for openings, you may be missing out.
As you can see from the iHire data in the slides, not every job is posted on job boards.
Companies use many different channels to promote job openings so if you only look at one job board, you probably won’t see every opening.
Recdent data from iHire lists these as the
Top places employers promote jobs (besides job boards)
◾Referrals from current employees - 71.3%
◾Our company website/dedicated careers page on our website - 49.5%
◾Professional networking sites (e.g., LinkedIn) - 46.1%
◾Social media (e.g., Facebook, TikTok) - 43.5%
◾Alumni/school networks and career centers - 34.0%
And according to the iHire data,
Job seekers look here:
🔹General job boards - 78.5%
🔹Professional networking sites (e.g., LinkedIn) - 54.9%
🔹Industry-specific or niche job boards - 53.8%
Do you see the mismatch?
DIVERSIFY WHERE YOU LOOK
As you look at the many places employers promote job openings (and where few job seekers look) are:
💡Networking
💡Professional Associations
💡Alumni/School Networks/Career Centers
💡Print Ads (kind of surprising)
No two companies have the same strategies to promote openings. And it will vary depending on the type of job.
Look at these numbers and adjust where you look and spend less time only searching on job boards!
Here’s the link to the iHire State of Online Recruiting 2025
And here is the link to my LinkedIn post with slides.
🔎 JOB SEARCH
10 most valuable free resources I’ve ever created - Sarah Johnston
If you don’t follow Sarah on LinkedIn and get her newsletter, you are missing out on fabulous information that will help you in your job search! In this post, she lists her top 10 free resources. Sarah is committed to helping job seekers, she’s trustworthy, knowledgeable, and a wonderful human being!
Create Stand-Out Executive Resume Statements - Adrienne Tom, Career Impressions
I know last week I featured an article about not needing to always use metrics/numbers in your resume bullets. And now this week’s article highlights the power of numbers. It’s not one or the other, it’s both. Your resume bullets/value-enhanced resume statements, should have metrics whenever possible I want you to read this article to see exactly how you can craft success stories, especially if you are in a senior/leadership role.
🤝 NETWORKING
Do You Know These 9 Networking Secrets? - Mac Prichard
One reason people fear/despise networking is that they don’t know what to do. If you will be attending an event in the near future (or plan to), review these simple yet effective tips Mac learned from Eric Morgenstern, CEO of Morningstar Communications.
You don’t need to have loads of connections or the “perfect” profile. These are the things you need to focus on to ensure your profile will show up in search results done by recruiters!
🎓 RECENT GRADS
The best advice I ever gave a college student - Nick Corcodilis, Ask The Headhunter
I always enjoy reading Nick’s work! He has a unique and valuable perspective. And this post doesn’t disappoint. His unsolicited advice to a college senior:
“You will almost always be able to figure anything out simply because you’ve learned something crucial about yourself: You know how to figure things out. You know how to get things done.”
“You know what to do to be successful at almost anything you choose to do.”
There is hope for recent grads, if we help them see it!
There are things recent graduates can and should do on their own to prepare for work after graduation. This interview mentions some of the issues recent grads face: Fewer internships being offered, universities are lagging in what they teach, and embracing a life-long learner mentality. These are the key takeaways from this interview with Ryan Lufkin, vice president of global academic strategy at Instructure.
🔮 WORKFORCE
AI fluency is now the baseline for career security and growth - Marie Zimenoff
While this is targeted at career coaches to help their clients, it’s an important message for everyone!
Marie always has her finger on the pulse of trends and data. So how about this:
66% of hiring managers won't hire candidates without AI skills
If this got your attention, read what to do to highlight your AI skills!
💰 CAREER
Is HR there to protect me or the company? - Pamela Skillings
Both. But it’s important to know when HR is likely to support the company rather than you. This is a good overview and one I want everyone to understand!
💗 WELL-BEING
Self-Talk Is Destiny, and These 3 Words Matter Most - Psychology Today
Everyone needs a dose of self-confidence! Especially if you have been involved in a long-term job search. As fluffy as it sounds, we can reprogram our brains with positive self-affirmations. “At the heart of this dialogue are three of the most influential words in the English language: I, am, and can. Whatever you put after those words becomes a direct line of code in the operating system of your mind. Say it often enough, and it becomes who you believe you are.” Please, give it a try!
🚀 PRODUCTIVITY
Understanding Your Productivity Style: Why One System Never Works for Everyone - Deliberate Directions
Are you ready for your productivity to stop being a constant struggle and start feeling natural? Then read about these 4 productivity styles and adopt the one that will allow you to be more yourself! Are you The Prioritizer, The Planner, The Arranger, or The Visualizer?
EVENTS
If you’re updating your LinkedIn profile and hoping recruiters find you, you’re already behind. The best opportunities go to job seekers who know how to work LinkedIn, activate their network, and get in front of decision-makers.
This Power Session shows you:
One thing 99% of new job seekers never do
3 places in your LinkedIn profile to use skills
3 ways to maximize job search functionality
How to use LinkedIn’s AI job search
How to find and communicate with hiring managers
And why commenting is more powerful than posting!
Spots are limited! A replay will not be available.
🎀 SPECIAL OFFER
LinkedIn Profile Check Up PLUS
Pilot this new service offering with me and receive $50 off. You’ll receive a done-for-you profile plus a 1 hour walkthrough of your LinkedIn profile. Wouldn’t it be great to have a new profile going into the holiday season!?
In exchange, I’m asking for honest written testimonials and reviews.
Book Now and use coupon code: SALE50
Offer expires November 12, 2025.
JOB SEARCH VISUAL
🛑 ONLY DO THIS IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED 🛑
Why Announce Your Job Search in A Post?
When you post on any/every social channel that you are open to work you are sending a strategic marketing message about your personal brand.
Think of it as a targeted pitch that does two things:
1) Clearly communicates your professional value
2) Makes it easy for your network to help you
There are 4 simple steps:
📍 Specifically state the job titles and industries you are targeting. Plus key skills/qualifications
📢 Use A Clear CTA so people know how to help you
💎 Feature your UVP - who you help, what you do & how you do it uniquely
🌎 List city and work preference
Providing more detail is always better!
Follow me on Instagram
DID YOU MISS THESE
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
2,027 templates to choose from. Now there’s no excuse NOT to have a branded, professional-looking banner that serves as your personal billboard!
You don’t need graphic design skills or creativity. Just plug in your information and download exactly the right size image for your LinkedIn banner (header image).
