Stop applying, start planting: The executive job paradox

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

EP 3089 Stop the crazy application cycle and shift your entire mindset. You must move from being a passive applicant looking for existing jobs to being a proactive connector creating opportunities

The unknown reason why you didn’t get the job

You know, when you get to the C-suite, the old rules of finding the next big move no longer apply. So today, we’re going to look at a strategy that pretty much throws the entire rulebook out the window. We’ll explore how to actually create your next opportunity, not by finding it, but by creating it.

Well, let’s start with a question that might hit home. You are at the top of your game. You are an executive, a senior operator.

So why does sending out resumes and filling out those endless online applications feel so pointless? In fact, for senior positions, the traditional job search model is no longer working. This brings us to what’s known as the C-suite job paradox. You know the feeling.

You have all this value, all this experience to offer, but the normal way of finding a new role doesn’t seem to realize that. This is so frustrating. You see, the bottom line is this.

At the executive level, you’re not just another resume in a pile of numbers. Real game-changing opportunities almost never get posted on job boards. They happen in conversations, are built on relationships, and are achieved through reputation.

Simply applying for jobs is not how you get the next big thing. So what do we do if we stop the crazy application cycle? Well, we changed our whole mindset. It’s time to stop applying and start planting.

This isn’t just a new strategy. It’s a completely different philosophy on how to manage your career. This really boils down to two completely different ways of thinking.

On the one hand, you have the applicants. They are reactive. They ask for help.

They look for jobs that already exist. But on the other side, you have the connectors. They are very proactive.

They make introductions, create opportunities, and actively shape the world around them. This is a huge shift from a taking mentality to a giving mentality. Okay, so the whole planting idea sounds great, but how do you actually do it? The main strategy, the engine behind the entire strategy, is to start thinking of introductions as your new form of currency.

The Lazy Professional’s Guide to Succeeding on LinkedIn

So what exactly does it mean to be a connector? This means you become someone who thoughtfully and proactively connects with other great people in your network, not because you want something now, but for their mutual benefit. You basically become the center of value for everyone else. If you take away one thing, let it be this mantra.

Let a warm introduction be your currency. You see, your value is not just what you know, or even who you know. This is someone you would like to contact.

When you give these introductions generously, they become your most valuable career assets. So how does this work in the real world? It’s a very simple four-step process. First, you find two people in your network who can actually help each other.

Second, you figure out why this is a win-win for both of them, and you’ll be crystal clear on that. Third, you need to make a warm and thoughtful introduction. Fourth, and this is the absolute most important part, you do this without expecting anything in return.

You just give. Now, when you start doing this consistently, you’re not just doing something. You are strategically building a strong long-term asset.

You’re building what’s called reputational capital. I hope you think so. Every valuable introduction you make is like a deposit into a special bank account.

This is not a financial account. This is a famous one. This reputational capital grows over time.

It is often more valuable than your resume. We’re not just talking about jobs here. Think bigger.

You’re connecting people to huge opportunities. You’re sharing important insights or introducing them to a challenging new perspective. You are inspiring game-changing partnerships.

Each of these is a high-value deposit in the bank of your reputation. So look at your strategic assets. Of course, you have your skills and your experience.

Prosperity Guide

That’s your foundation. This is a given. But your reputational capital is different.

It’s not static. This is a dynamic asset that you can actively grow every day simply by acting as a connector. So what’s the real return on all this effort? For all those carefully sown seeds? Well, the rewards are more than just one-for-one.

It’s much bigger than that. We’re talking 10x returns. 10 times.

Let’s understand this. The value you create for others doesn’t just come back to you. It amplifies back, creating a ripple effect that benefits you in ways you can’t predict.

This is the key part. The reputational capital you build as a generous connector will help you tenfold, not just tomorrow, but for many years to come. When you quietly look for new things, the network you have carefully built will activate for you, directly bringing you opportunities.

This leaves us with one last, very practical question. Forget about your own needs for a moment. Think about it now.

What two people in your network could you connect with for mutual benefit? Because the path to the next great opportunity might just start with a generous introduction.

Relevant