The #1 Mistake Job Seekers Make
Most job seekers make the same mistake: they spend all their energy applying online and hoping that HR will notice them.
Here’s the hard truth: HR isn’t your first stop.
HR screens applicants after a hiring manager or department head has already defined what they are looking for. By the time HR is involved, the position is often half-filled by referrals or internal recommendations.
The real key?
👉 Go directly to people with the authority to hire you, or influence the decision. That means managers, directors, and team leads.
When you connect with the people who actually know the work, you’re no longer just “applicant #127.” You become a real person in their professional world.
This isn’t about bypassing HR. It’s about making sure someone on the inside knows you before your resume ever hits the system.
👉 My short guide, How to Get a Job Without Applying Online, walks you through this process step by step, including who to contact and what to say. I wrote this because I’ve seen too many job seekers stuck in the online black hole.
📘 Available now on Gumroad: https://proactivejobseeker.gumroad.com/l/xjcorz
Subscribe for future insights and for more proactive job search strategies. I am a job search success strategist with 40 years of experience helping job seekers, career changers, and transitioning military members navigate the job market with confidence. As the founder of The Proactive Job Seeker, I provide practical tools and clear guidance that help individuals take control of their careers. I have developed and delivered job search programs and workshops for career schools and workforce initiatives across the U.S., with a long track record of improving placement outcomes. I share my insights through articles and eBooks focused on real-world solutions.
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