Applying for jobs isn’t the only way to land one. Taking a proactive, inbound approach (where you position yourself in a way that attracts opportunities to come to you) can often open more doors than traditional applications.
As your career grows, opportunities will begin to come to you naturally, but you can start building this momentum early on, even before you’re actively job hunting. The key is to make it easier for others to find you, recognize your potential, and reach out when a relevant opportunity arises. Keep in mind, this is more of a long-term strategy, so it’s something to build gradually rather than something that will pay off immediately.
Build a visible presence
Instead of just hunting down job openings, set yourself up so the right people can find you. If a hiring manager Googles your name, will they see a blank profile or a clear picture of what you bring to the table? It doesn’t have to be elaborate—a simple personal website or an updated LinkedIn profile can help relevant people like recruiters, hiring managers, or industry professionals find you. Focus on showcasing your skills, experience, and aspirations—incorporating relevant keywords from job descriptions to ensure your profile aligns with the roles you’re targeting.
If you’re unsure how to present yourself, look at the profiles of people a few steps ahead in your field—those whose careers you admire or who have roles you’re aiming for. See how they describe their work, what tone they use, and how they balance humility with showcasing their achievements. This isn’t about copying them—it’s about learning what makes a profile compelling.
Show your work publicly
A great way to attract opportunities is by sharing your work publicly. Whether it’s a portfolio, a blog, or a project you’ve completed, showing what you’ve done makes it easier for potential employers or collaborators to find you. You really never know who might stumble across your work and see something that impresses or sticks with them. Here’s a few field-specific ways to approach this:
- In design, you could develop a public portfolio that showcases mock-ups, freelance projects, or even concept redesigns to demonstrate your creativity and problem-solving skills.
- In tech, building small apps, contributing to open-source projects, or creating tools for your community can highlight your practical abilities.
- In policy or research, publishing your own analyses, starting a blog, or even engaging with established researchers on sites like Twitter can help establish your expertise and demonstrate your interest.
- In operations, you could create case studies of projects you’ve managed, such as improving workflows, organizing events, or streamlining systems. For example, you might write a blog post about how you planned and executed a community event, detailing the logistics, challenges, and results.
- In writing/communications, keeping a blog or regular newsletter can showcase your ability to craft engaging content, build an audience, and communicate ideas effectively. It’s a chance to highlight your expertise, share insights on topics you care about, and demonstrate consistency and creativity.
Sharing your work publicly won’t always lead to opportunities falling into your lap, but it can be helpful in other ways too. It makes it easier to show off what you’ve done when you meet new people, and it keeps you on the radar of those who might refer you for a role. This is especially useful during the application process. When hiring managers are sorting through hundreds of resumes, having a link to something that gives a real sense of who you are and what you can do could be the thing that sets you apart and helps you move to the next stage. And, if you’re just starting out, try thinking about the kind of work you want to do and how you could create something that proves you could do it. This could be a work in progress, but the goal is to have some easy-to-see evidence of your competence or willingness to take initiative.
Early in his career, development economist Ranil Dissanayake started a blog to write about his experiences in politics and economics in Malawi. It gained a steady following and later evolved into a weekly newsletter that significantly boosted his career. In Ranil’s words,
Participate in communities
A great way to find and land opportunities is by spending time in spaces where interesting things are happening. That doesn’t mean forcing yourself into awkward networking events—it means finding communities where people in your field naturally connect.
Start by looking for places where people are already having conversations: Slack groups, Discord servers, LinkedIn groups, niche forums, or even email newsletters that host meetups. A quick search for “[your field] + community” can lead to group chats, online events, or even in-person gatherings. The key is to not just passively observe or lurk but make an effort to engage. Ask questions, contribute when you can, and be curious. People remember real enthusiasm more than polished elevator pitches.
