- Get referred by someone at the company. Referrals are the #1 most preferred method for hiring across all industries. Referrals are so trusted and valued that companies often pay employees lucrative bonuses to bring them qualified candidates. Make it a part of your job search strategy to always cross-reference EVERY job you apply to on LinkedIn to see if you have first or second degree connections. You will be surprised by how many people that you know, and how many people that they know. If you do have a connection, do not be shy about asking them for a referral, or at least insights into the position, why it's open, etc. If you don't ask, the answer is no.
- Use LinkedIn to identify and contact the hiring manager. Oftentimes, job descriptions will state the title of the person that the position reports to. This information is VERY valuable. If the description lists it, do an advanced search on LinkedIn for the person at the company with that job title. If you don’t know the exact title, do the search anyway and you may have to make an educated guess. Once you determine who the manager is, check their profile for their phone number or email address. If those aren’t available, send them an InMail through LinkedIn. The priority for contacting someone is by phone, then email, then InMail. Attach your résumé in your message and include a brief (one paragraph) message that focuses on your value and why you are a good fit for the role.
- Contact the recruiter who posted the job. If you’re unable to determine who the hiring manager is, your next option is to contact a recruiter or whoever posted the job. If the job is posted on LinkedIn, you can often see the profile of the person who posted it. Take advantage of this! It’s optional for employers to publish the information of the job poster, so if they publish it then you can assume that they are open to communications.