Passive Candidate Mentality

Let me use a dating analogy to illustrate my point.

Guess who tends to be the most attractive prospect(s)?

The one’s taken (in a relationship).

Funny thing is that spills over to the workplace too.

The definition of a passive candidate is: employed individuals not actively searching for a new job, but open to the right opportunity.

Basically in LinkedIn terms, you’re “open to work,” yet it’s only visible to recruiters.

Employers, face it. People are always side-eyeing better opportunities, it’s human nature.

But instead of that perspective, this post is aimed at you (the reader).

You might be completely fulfilled in your job (you’re definitely an outlier) and that’s great.

Yet this topic is about keeping your eyes open for opportunities in front of you.

So many people I talk to feel like they’re a career crossroad aka a dead-end job.

Granted the economy isn’t stellar right now, but don’t play the victim role by keeping your head buried in the sand.

If you’re employed, that’s attractive to recruiters.

Did you know that passive candidates represent 40% of the talent pool?

The ‘passive candidate mentality’ I’m asking you to consider is: network like you’re unemployed.

The best strategy for career advancement is to always chase, never think you’ve arrived.

I’m not saying anxiety-driven job search, but treating networking like a lifestyle, not a goal.

• If it’s a goal, once you land a new job you stop.

• If it’s a lifestyle, it’s something you continue to do regardless the situation.

I learned this the hard way when I first started my business.

My first big client I landed paid well and rested on my laurels (BIG mistake).

Once that contract ended I didn’t have more business lined up.

In retrospect what I should have done is kept networking throughout my contract so that when that one ended I had something lined up after.

Here’s some career time (and stress) saving advice: network like your life depends on it.

Because it does!

Re-connecting with someone you know and previously worked with is a WAY better use of your time than cold outreach.

Now if your network is limited, you have to build and strengthen it.

But if your contact base is large, follow up is worth more than outreach.

I’m not advocating for always being on the lookout and not being thankful or content with what you have.

Instead I’m challenging you to adopt a new career mindset that favors building on existing connections.

If you think about it, friends/former colleagues want to help you more than a stranger who just met you.

• As leader, it’s important that you’re constantly growing your support system.

• Those people inside your network are the ones who will pick you up when you’re down.

I find myself turning to those I know first and you should too.

The passive candidate mentality champions who you know more than what you know.

This is one of the side-door career strategies I push for, so if you’d like to hear more contact me here.

God Bless,

Scott

If you found this helpful and you’re looking to improve your soft skills as a leader, here are ways to work with me directly:

• 🗣 Hire me to speak at your company or next event (watch my speaking reel here)

• 🎤 Invite me to lead an interactive training workshop, remotely or in-person (depending on location)

• 🤝 Start 1:1 coaching with me as a new manager, current leader or executive (I once managed 30 people 1:1 weekly❗️)

Also, you can help me out by forwarding this to friends whom would benefit from it! Thank you!