How do people actually find jobs—especially good, impactful ones?
There’s a ton of career advice out there… some helpful, some outdated, and some outright contradictory. It’s hard to know where to start, especially if you’re early in your career. That’s why we created this guide: to nail down the basics of job hunting and provide actionable advice on how to approach it.
For those who already have a general sense of the kind of work you want to do and how it aligns with your values, this guide will help you navigate the job search process step by step. We’ll cover everything from identifying opportunities to crafting strong applications, tackling interviews, and negotiating offers.
If you’re still exploring career paths or thinking through the social impact of different options, we recommend starting with our career guide first. But if you’re ready to land your next role, let’s dive in.
onsider a wide range of options. Your ideal role might have a different name or exist in a field you haven’t considered.
- Job titles vary across companies, searching based on skills and responsibilities (rather than past job titles) can reveal new opportunities.
- Reverse-search companies and organizations you admire, checking their career pages—instead of just job boards—to discover unexpected roles that align with your skills and discover what kinds of positions exist.
- Job boards are a useful starting point, but the best strategy combines broad exploration with proactive networking and research. Keeping an open mind can lead to a job that’s an even better fit than the one you originally envisioned.
Build a network you’ll actually use. Networking is less about collecting contacts and more about building meaningful relationships that can open doors in unexpected ways.
- Instead of forcing awkward interactions, focus on connecting authentically with people whose work you admire, starting with those you already know.
- Show up in spaces where interesting conversations happen, whether that’s industry events or online communities, and don’t be afraid to reach out with thoughtful, specific messages.
- Seek advice rather than jobs, ask for introductions when relevant, and make sure to actually leverage your network when looking for opportunities.
Attract opportunities. Instead of just applying to jobs, you can position yourself in a way that attracts opportunities to come to you.
- Build a visible presence through an updated LinkedIn, a personal website, or public projects to help people get a more concrete idea of who you are and what you can do.
- Engage in communities—whether through Slack groups, mentorship programs, or events—to expand your network in a natural way.
- If you’re a student or recent grad, use that status to connect with professionals through research, clubs, or conferences.
Approach job applications as both a numbers game and a strategic process. Focus on roles that genuinely match your skills and experience, and create thoughtful, tailored applications without overthinking every detail.
- Avoid the extremes of mass-applying with generic resumes or spending excessive time on just a few applications.
- Many seemingly competitive jobs receive a high volume of unqualified or incomplete applications, meaning the real competition is smaller than it appears.
- Don’t limit yourself—applying for stretch roles can open doors to exciting opportunities that push your career forward.
Think like a hiring manager. Hiring managers review dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications, so make it easy for them to see your value.
- Keep your resume clear, scannable, and tailored to the job description, focusing on real impact rather than just responsibilities. Since many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS), use simple formatting and relevant keywords.
- Consider your cover letter as your chance to connect the dots between your experience and the role—be specific, concise, and authentic. Anticipate and address any concerns, like career transitions or resume gaps, to remove doubts upfront.
- View the interview process as a two-way conversation to reduce nerves, practice answers aloud beforehand, and be sure to explain your reasoning in your responses.
Negotiate your job offer before accepting. This is a normal part of the hiring process, and showing enthusiasm can enhance the employer’s perception of you.
- Research salary ranges for similar roles and ask the employer for their salary range first.
- Focus on your needs rather than justifying why you deserve a higher salary, and leverage any other offers if you have them.
- If you have multiple offers, take a structured approach to assessing their potential impact with the SELF framework—while weighing practical considerations like salary and work-life balance.
Remember that it’s a journey. Job hunting can be frustrating, especially when applications don’t lead to interviews, so focus on progress rather than perfection.
- Keep in mind that rejection is often about competition, not your abilities, and imposter syndrome is super common—even among experienced professionals.
- Regularly refine your strategy to improve your chances of finding the right role while staying aligned with your values. If you’re not getting interviews, seek feedback from trusted people and adjust your approach.
- Balance quality and quantity to avoid burnout. While tailoring applications increases your chances, over-investing in each one can be exhausting—especially if rejection stings more as a result.
- Treat applications as experiments, putting in thoughtful effort without over-attaching to any single outcome. It can be a long process but each application will get you closer to the right role for you.
