How to Get a Job Without Applying Online
I need to tell you about something that just happened with one of my clients that completely validates what I've been teaching for years now.
This person was out of work for 18 months. They applied to over 512 jobs online. And guess how many interviews they got from those applications?
Zero.
Not a single one.
But here's the incredible part: they just accepted a job offer with a 40% raise. And they got it by doing one thing differently. Something that had nothing to do with clicking "submit" on online applications.
If you're exhausted from the online application black hole, keep reading. What I'm about to share will change how you approach your entire job search.
The Hard Truth: Online Applications Don't Work Anymore
I've been coaching people for over 20 years, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the old playbook is broken. Applying online used to be a viable strategy. Today? It's where job searches go to die.
There's simply too much competition. Hundreds of people are applying for the same roles, and most applications never even make it to human eyes. The ATS (applicant tracking system) filters you out before anyone knows you exist.
And here's what makes it worse: people keep doing it because it's familiar. But familiar doesn't mean effective. You can keep doing the same thing and hoping for different results, or you can try what's actually working right now.
Networking Isn't the Answer Either
You've probably heard the old advice: "It's not what you know, it's who you know."
So you've been trying to network, right? You've been reaching out to former colleagues, asking for introductions, messaging total strangers on LinkedIn.
How's that going for you?
If you're like most job seekers right now, you're finding that networking has hit a wall. Your friends and former colleagues are trying to protect their own jobs in this uncertain market. They're not in a position to help. And strangers? They're not responding to your cold outreach.
Networking, as we used to know it, is largely dead.
Here's What Actually Works: Being Discovered
The game has changed completely. It's no longer about who you know. It's about who knows you.
Think about how you use social media. You scroll through your feed, and suddenly a video appears that feels like it was made specifically for you. You think, "Wow, how did this show up at exactly the right time?" It's not fate. It's the algorithm paying attention to your behavior and serving you the right content.
The same thing is happening on LinkedIn right now, and most job seekers have no idea.
LinkedIn has an algorithm called 360Brew that's designed to help recruiters discover candidates who fit the jobs they're trying to fill. When you post content related to your industry and skill set in the right way, you're feeding that algorithm. And when recruiters are searching for someone like you, your profile gets surfaced in their feed.
How My Client Got a 40% Raise in 17 Days
Let me tell you exactly what happened with the client I mentioned earlier.
After 18 months of frustration and 512 failed applications, they learned how to strategically post on LinkedIn. Not in a cringey, look-at-me kind of way. They simply started documenting their knowledge and expertise in their industry.
Within 17 days, a recruiter called. The recruiter had discovered their profile through LinkedIn's algorithm. That recruiter had a position that was never even posted online. It was one of those "hidden opportunities" everyone talks about, but nobody knows how to access.
My client interviewed, got the offer, and is now making 40% more than their previous role.
Seventeen days versus 18 months of spinning their wheels. That's the difference the right strategy makes.
You Need to Do Things Differently
Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Yes, the job market is tough right now. Yes, there are fewer opportunities than there were a few years ago.
But the real problem isn't the market. It's that you're still using outdated strategies that don't work anymore.
You can't keep applying online and expect different results. You have to be willing to do something different, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
Learn the Strategy That's Working Right Now
If you want to learn exactly how to leverage LinkedIn to get discovered by recruiters and access those hidden job opportunities, I've created something specifically for you.
I just hosted an Executive LinkedIn Bootcamp where I walked over 500 job seekers through this exact strategy. The recording is available now, and it comes with a complete workbook so you can implement everything immediately.
This isn't theory. This is what's working right now to help people land jobs faster—often with significant pay increases.
You deserve to get what you've worked so hard for in your career. But you have to be willing to stop doing what's familiar and start doing what's effective.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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