The RAP Method: Why great job hunters don't just apply for jobs

Most people hunt for jobs in one way. They wait for a vacancy, submit an application and hope for the best. I have done it many times. You send out the application and it seems to disappear into a void. The application abyss. In media (and I would argue much more broadly too), that approach is unlikely to produce consistent results for those reasons. Recruitment is often handled by people doing another job, and that means the process can be inefficient and unprofessional. And of course, many opportunities are filled before they are ever advertised, while others go to candidates someone already knows or has recommended.

When I speak to clients, I tell them how they need to split the job hunt into three. Between 70 and 80 percent of jobs get filled through the referral network. This might still be after a job is advertised, but it means being in the conversation of people doing the hiring. Effectively, if you are just applying for jobs through the traditional application process, you are putting 100 percent of your effort into only a fraction of what is available.

The referral network doesn't (just) mean nepotism, it means that if a job becomes available, that the hirer knows of you and of your interest already. This can be done through networking or by contacting people directly. That's why I recommend the RAP Method, which means being Reactive, Active and Proactive.

Apart from being a catchy way to remember, what does this actually mean?

R - Reactive

This is where most people expend 100% of their effort. Reactive means responding to opportunities that already exist.

So that's:

• Applying for advertised jobs through email and portals

• Responding to recruiter messages

• Completing application forms

• Tailoring your CV (to some degree, see this blog for more) and writing cover letters

  
  

The problem?

Everyone else can see those jobs too. A single journalism vacancy can attract hundreds of applicants. You have seen those LinkedIn adverts where within a few hours 100 people have applied. Whilst I would treat those stats with scepticism, it shows why being reactive should not be your entire strategy.

Think of it as joining the race after everyone else has already lined up.

A - Active

This is about building relationships with people. People you know and new contacts. That dreaded word; networking.

Examples:

• Reconnecting with former colleagues

• Meeting people for coffee

• Attending networking events

• Following editors and producers on LinkedIn

• Commenting thoughtfully on industry posts (especially on LinkedIn)

• Joining journalism and broadcasting groups

• Asking for introductions

The aim is not to ask for a job, it is to become someone people remember when opportunities arise. People hire people they know. People recommend people they trust. So when you are networking and having those coffee conversations, make yourself memorable. Have a story to tell and be interested in the person and the content they oversee.That way they will remember you and have you in mind when something comes up.

P - Proactive

This is where many candidates gain a genuine advantage. Instead of waiting for vacancies, you create conversations before they exist. When you start out this could be offering to help for free, if you have the time. This is a grey area for many of us because you need to avoid being exploited. But offering to help someone can lead to them realising they need to pay for this work. You can also do this later in your career BUT many of us cannot afford to work for 'free' and I tend to discourage offering your services without a fee, if you have a good level of experience.

Examples:

• Contacting production companies, charities, organisations you admire

• Sending a speculative CV

• Pitching story ideas

• Asking to shadow a producer

• Offering freelance availability

• Introducing yourself to hiring managers

• Use your portfolio to demonstrate your skills

Some companies don't even realise they need you until you contact them. I have highlighted freelancing for a reason. The best way to get that foot in the door to a permanent job, is by freelancing and showing what you can do and your real value. There are hundreds of freelance shifts in media each day, but they are rarely advertised. That is why you must be active and proactive, in order to find them.