How to Run a Smart Job Search:
A Quick Guide For Beginners
A smart job search is calm, focused, and repeatable.
I write about how you can:
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stop chasing every opportunity
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focus on actions that matter
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use your time and energy wisely
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stay consistent without burning out
This is not about grinding harder.
Don't do that to yourself.
Many people have some crazy ideas about what "job searching" means.Â
I research what transitioning teachers are saying all over the internet and the same beliefs pop up all over.
There are countless tales of people saying that:Â
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applying more will increase their chances
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networking is just "awkward and forced"
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being visible means being obnoxious, loud, or "braggy"
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grinding all the time means doing it right
Nope. Nope. Nope. Annnnd Nope.
A smart job search is purposeful. Focused.
Most importantly, it works for YOU.
The people who get hired faster do fewer things.
They target a small number of roles, reuse strong materials instead of starting over every single application, they follow clear routines, and they use custom GPTs to speed up the boring parts.
It really is that simple. I'm serious.
Go deeper here
The posts below break down job search actions that actually work.
You do not need to read everything.
Start with the one that feels most helpful right now.
Featured articles:
Each week, focus on three things:
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One role you are actively targeting
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One relationship you are building
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One piece of your message you are improving
If everything feels urgent, nothing is effective.
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Honestly, you can skip the rest of this and get the full process in one place.
That's exactly why I built the Career Change Accelerator™.
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All posts about running a job search
Exposure Therapy Should Be Your New Year's Resolution. >
How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself Without Babbling >
Elevate Your Career Change Out Of Teaching With This LinkedIn Optimization Guide [6 Proven Tips]Â >
The 8 Steps That Got Me Interviews >
The Summer Job Seeker's Daily Schedule >
The LinkedIn Fix That Got Alyssa 3x More Messages >
Want To Know Who's Hiring Right Now? Here's How To Find Them. >
Want to See New Jobs Before Everyone Else? Here’s How. >
5 of the Best Job Boards for Transitioning Teachers (Beyond LinkedIn & Indeed!)Â >
Stop Wasting Time: Make a To-Don’t List and Land That Job >
3 Moves in 30 Days to Double Your Chances Of Getting Hired >
4 LinkedIn Features That Will Change Your Job Search >
This Strategy Landed Kate 3 Interviews in One Week >
Get Ghosted? Do These 5 Things Then Move On. >
Recruiters Won't Respond. Now What? >
The 5-Minute Reset for When You're Too Drained to Focus on Your Career Change >
How To Stay On Track With An Overwhelming Career Change >
Master LinkedIn Networking in 7 Simple Steps >
How To Reach Out Without Being Annoying >
Decoding Job Descriptions for Transitioning Teachers >
Best articles on related topics
Leaving Teaching, On Purpose >
What Jobs You Can Do Instead >
How Hiring Actually Works Now >
How to Run a Smart Job Search >
What I’ve Learned From Doing This at Scale >
When you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
1. The Elevated Career Change Accelerator™: Join countless educators in my core program. It’s built for folks who want a clear path out of the classroom and into corporate roles without guessing, over-applying, or wasting months trying to piece things together. Inside, you’ll work through six focused modules that cover role selection, positioning your experience, resumes, LinkedIn, interviews, negotiation, and what actually matters once you’re hired. This is the same framework I’ve refined over a decade of making this move myself and helping others do it faster and smarter.
2. 1:1 Action Planning Session: If you want direct guidance, this is a focused working session. We’ll map out exactly where you’re headed, what roles make sense for you, and the next concrete steps to take. You’ll leave with a clear plan you can execute immediately, based on your background and constraints, not generic advice.
Either option is a strong move.
Both put you on my radar and into my corporate-ready pipeline. That matters because recruiters and hiring managers regularly reach out to me when they’re trying to fill roles and want candidates who are already vetted, positioned well, and realistic about the work. As a customer, you’re invited into that pipeline by default.
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