There are other ways to get a job besides applying for one. More doors can frequently be opened by adopting a proactive, inbound strategy—where you position yourself to draw opportunities to you—than by using traditional applications.

Opportunities will start to present themselves as your career develops, but you can begin to build this momentum before you’re actively looking for a job. Making it simpler for people to locate you, identify your potential, and get in touch with you when an appropriate opportunity presents itself is crucial. Remember that this is more of a long-term approach, so it should be developed gradually rather than expecting to see results right away.

Create a noticeable presence.

Rather than merely searching for job opportunities, position yourself so that the appropriate people will discover you. Will a hiring manager see a blank profile or a clear picture of your qualifications if they Google your name? It doesn’t have to be complicated; hiring managers, recruiters, and other industry professionals can find you with an updated LinkedIn profile or a basic personal website. Make sure your profile is in line with the positions you are aiming for by emphasizing your abilities, experience, and goals while incorporating pertinent keywords from job descriptions.

Look at the profiles of people who are a few steps ahead of you in your field—those whose careers you admire or whose roles you’re aiming for—if you’re not sure how to present yourself. Examine their tone, how they explain their work, and how they strike a balance between being modest and bragging about their accomplishments. The goal is to understand what makes a profile compelling, not to imitate them.

Display your work in public.

Sharing your work with the world is a great way to draw in opportunities. Showing off your work, whether through a blog, portfolio, or finished project, makes it simpler for prospective employers or partners to find you. It’s impossible to predict who might happen upon your work and find something that strikes a chord or leaves an impression. Here are some methods that are specific to this field:

• To show off your creativity and problem-solving abilities, a designer could create a public portfolio that includes mock-ups, freelance work, or even concept redesigns.
• In the tech industry, you can demonstrate your practical skills by developing tools for your community, building small apps, or contributing to open-source projects.
• You can show your interest and establish your expertise in policy or research by publishing your own analyses, starting a blog, or even interacting with seasoned researchers on social media platforms like Twitter.
• You could produce case studies of operations-related projects you’ve overseen, like streamlining systems, planning events, or enhancing workflows. For instance, you could write a blog post outlining the logistics, difficulties, and outcomes of a community event you organized and carried out.
• Maintaining a blog or regular newsletter can demonstrate your writing and communication skills by showcasing your ability to create interesting content, attract readers, and effectively convey ideas. It’s an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, offer perspectives on subjects that are important to you, and exhibit consistency and originality.

Opportunities won’t always present themselves when you share your work publicly, but there are other benefits as well. It keeps you in front of people who might recommend you for a position and makes it simpler to showcase your accomplishments when you meet new people. This is particularly helpful when submitting an application. Having a link to something that provides a genuine sense of who you are and what you can do could be the thing that makes you stand out and help you advance when hiring managers are going through hundreds of resumes. Additionally, if you are just starting out, consider what type of work you would like to do and how you could produce something that would demonstrate your ability to do it. Although this may still be a work in progress, the objective is to have some visible proof of your ability or initiative.