The Counter-intuitive Path to Your Next Recruiting Role
Everyone’s telling you to cast a wider net. Apply to more jobs. Upload your resume to more platforms. They’re wrong.
I’ve been watching recruiters approach job searching the same way they tell candidates not to: spray and pray. The irony would be funny if it weren’t so costly.
Here’s what nobody tells you: the best recruiters I know never apply to jobs through traditional channels. They’re too busy having coffee with hiring managers who reached out to them first.
Think about it like fishing. You could cast a thousand lines into an empty lake, or you could drop one line where you know the fish are biting. The mass application approach is fishing in an empty lake.
Instead, build your career like a garden. Every day, tend to it a little bit. Post something thoughtful on LinkedIn. Comment meaningfully on others’ posts. Reach out to one person in your network just to check in. These small actions compound over time.
The real magic happens when you shift from being a job seeker to becoming a known entity in your industry. This isn’t about gaming algorithms or keyword stuffing your resume. It’s about showing up consistently, adding value, and building real relationships.
When layoffs hit (and they always do at some point), you shouldn’t be starting from scratch. Your garden should already be flourishing. Your network should already be strong. Your expertise should already be visible.
But here’s the part that trips up even seasoned recruiters: you have to do this work when you don’t need it. The best time to build your professional ecosystem is when you’re employed and comfortable. Just like the best time to fix a roof is when the sun is shining.
The sustainable approach isn’t about working harder - it’s about working differently. Maintain a 40-hour week. Keep learning. Stay fresh. Remember that recruiting is what you do, not who you are.
Your career isn’t a sprint or even a marathon. It’s more like tending a garden that needs constant, thoughtful attention. Some days you plant, some days you prune, and some days you simply maintain. But you never stop tending.
This might feel slower than mass-applying to jobs. It is. But it’s also exponentially more effective. And isn’t that what we’re after?