As a career coach, I often get asked about the best strategies for landing a job. I’ll be honest: I don’t encourage my clients to rely heavily on job boards. They aren’t as effective as most people think. Instead, I have them take a more proactive and personal approach that yields much better results—job shopping.

What Is Job Shopping?

Job shopping is about creating a bucket list of companies you would love to work for. Where would you like to interview? What types of companies align with your values, interests, and career goals? Once you’ve identified these companies, it’s time to research them deeply.

The key here is to ask yourself:

Why do I think this company is awesome?What draws me to this organization?What stands out about its culture, its mission, or the work the company does?

Once you understand this, you can craft a compelling narrative that speaks to your enthusiasm and why you would be a perfect fit.

Make Them Know You Exist

Here’s where job shopping becomes powerful. Instead of waiting passively on job boards, you go directly to these companies. You reach out to people within the organization, introduce yourself, and express why you’re passionate about working there. In most cases, this is done through networking—finding someone who can help you connect with the hiring manager.

Think about how much more effective this approach is. Instead of submitting your resume alongside hundreds of others, you’re making a personal connection. You’re standing out and showing initiative. It’s an active approach, and it’s much more rewarding both in the short term and the long run.

Negotiating After You’ve Landed The Interview

Now, let’s fast forward. You’ve landed the interview and impressed them enough to get an offer. But what if the salary isn’t quite what you had in mind? Let’s talk about negotiating.

First, always check if negotiation is even on the table. Sometimes, companies will be clear upfront: “This is what we offer, and it’s not open to negotiation.” If that’s the case, it’s essential to respect that. But if there’s room for negotiation, or if they’ve given you a salary range, you can absolutely make your case for more.

This is where creating a job matching matrix comes into play. A job matching matrix allows you to align the responsibilities of the role with your skills, experience, and the value you bring. When you present this, you’re not just asking for more money—you’re showing why you’re worth it. It’s a strategic, data-driven way to negotiate effectively.

Ready To Learn More?

If you’re serious about learning techniques like job shopping, back-channeling, and salary negotiation, I’ve got an offer for you. You can grab a 7-day free trial at Work It DAILY, where we offer courses, coaching, and a community to support you throughout your job search.

Get access to unlimited support and coaching, and learn at your own pace—anytime, anywhere.

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Good luck! Go get ’em.

Work It Daily