By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Stop shouting into the black hole of online applications and start making companies compete for you. This shift from “Job Seeker” to “Job Shopper” is the ultimate career hack for anyone tired of the endless numbers game.
Timestamps
00:00 The “Numbers Game” Trap
00:45 Stop Being a Job Hunter
02:06 Define Your Destination
02:23 The Well-th Formula
02:58 People, Not Portals
03:43 Become a Consultant
04:12 The 90-Day Plan
04:33 Own Your Career
Welcome to Job Search TV on YouTube. Today, we are going to flip the script on job hunting. We’re going to talk about how to stop seeking a job and start shopping for one.
So, does this feel familiar? You’re feeling totally drained by your job search. You spend hours scrolling through job boards, sending out application after application, and nothing? It feels like shouting into a black hole. You’re not alone, and it’s an exhausting cycle that can make anyone feel defeated.
And look at this number. This is not an exaggeration. A lot of people send out over 800 applications just to get a single job offer.
I mean, that’s a strategy built purely on volume and hope. But what if I told you the job search isn’t actually a numbers game at all? So, if you’re working incredibly hard, but you’re not seeing the results you want, I want to be really clear about something. The problem isn’t your talent.
It’s not your experience, and it’s definitely not your work ethic. You don’t have to change who you are. You just need to change your approach.
And this right here is where we get to the core idea. It’s all about a fundamental shift in your identity. So, you have to ask yourself, are you a passive job seeker, kind of just hoping someone will pick you, or are you a proactive job shopper who’s actually in control? Believe me, this one shift in how you see yourself can change absolutely everything.
Let’s just break this down. On one hand, you have the job seeker. They feel busy, sure, but also exhausted, totally trapped in that endless cycle of applying online.
But the job shopper? They feel focused and in control. They know that just applying online is a slow road, so they treat interviews like a collaboration, not some high-stakes test. And the result? Well, the seeker might eventually land one job.
The shopper? They often end up with several offers to choose from. And there it is. That’s the whole philosophy in a nutshell.
Job shopping isn’t about you chasing companies. It’s about positioning yourself so well that companies start chasing you. It’s about making yourself so valuable that you get your pick of the best opportunities.
So, how do we actually do that? Well, to become a job shopper, you have to start by getting crystal clear on what you actually want. A great career never ever happens by accident. So many people are just so busy applying that they never take the time to really sharpen their focus.
But you gotta remember this. Clarity creates speed. And here’s a really practical tool to help you get there.
It’s called the Wealth Formula. It’s a simple but really powerful framework designed to help you figure out what a truly fulfilling career looks like for you. It’s all about making sure your next move is in perfect alignment with who you are.
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So the formula breaks down into three key parts. First, your values, what truly matters to you deep down. Second, your strengths, the things you are naturally great at.
And third, market demand, making sure there’s a real need out there for your skills. That sweet spot right in the middle, where all three of those intersect, that’s your career sweet spot. Okay, so once you have that clarity, the next step is to completely change your strategy.
Instead of pouring all your time and energy into those online job portals, you need to shift your focus to people. Let’s just be real for a second. Applying online is the slow way.
It’s basically like buying a lottery ticket and just hoping for the best. But building real, human relationships, you know, networking, that is the fast way. It’s the express lane that gets you noticed and puts your resume right on the top of the pile.
This means you have to change your scorecard. Stop counting how many applications you’ve sent out. Instead, start counting how many meaningful conversations you’ve had.
Every single one of those interactions is a huge step forward, opening doors that online portals just never will. All right, so you’ve done the work, you’ve networked, and you’ve got the interview. Now, this is where the job shopper mindset really gets to shine.
You’re not there to be interrogated. You’re there to collaborate. It’s time to shift your identity from candidate to consultant.
Seriously, think about your next interview. Are you walking into a room to be tested? Or are you walking in to consult on a business problem? When you see yourself as an equal partner who’s there to help them solve something, the entire dynamic just shifts. The interviewer stops being a judge and becomes a potential colleague.
A consultant doesn’t just sit there and answer questions. They ask their own strategic questions. They don’t just talk about their past accomplishments.
They focus on how they can solve the company’s future problems. I mean, imagine walking in and presenting a 90-day plan, showing you’re already thinking like you’re on the team. You’re not just a candidate anymore.
You’re a collaborator. And all of this brings us to what might be the single most important takeaway from this whole approach. It’s a fundamental truth about your professional life that can empower you for the rest of your career.
Just let that sink in for a second. A company owns your job. That job can be temporary.
It can change. It can disappear. But your career, that collection of skills, experiences, and relationships you’ve built, that belongs completely to you.
Being a job shopper is all about taking full ownership of your professional destiny. It’s about building a career so strong that you are never, ever at the mercy of a single job again.
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those things can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
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I’ve simplified my job hunting content at JobSearch.Community. By becoming an Insider, you get access to all my video courses, books and guides plus can ask questions and receive a response within 24 hours. Become an Insider+ member and you receive access to everything I’ve mentioned PLUS schedule 2 Zoom calls per month with me. Become an Insider Premium member and you’ll receive everything I’ve already mentioned PLUS we’ll do group or individual coaching.
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