The Challenge We're Solving Today
You’ve heard this before: “You need a referral to get the job.”
So you ask people for help.
Message folks on LinkedIn, and wait.
But… no replies. No interviews.
Meanwhile, that random job you applied to online?
You're about to hear back from them.
What’s going on?
Why This Matters to You
Referrals used to be the best way to get noticed. But things are changing.
Today, companies use faster tools, focus more on skills, and try to hire from many different backgrounds.
Waiting for a referral is slowing you down.
Now, to be fair, referrals do still matter when you’re applying for higher-level roles (think director or executive level). At those stages, trust, relationships, and reputation start to carry more weight.
But for most roles, especially when you're transitioning careers, what matters more is how clearly you show your value.
If you’re spending hours messaging people and hearing nothing, it's okay. It's not just you.
Common Solutions and Why They Might Not Work
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Asking strangers for referrals
It can feel forced, and they might ignore your message. -
Waiting to apply until someone helps you
That can take too long. Jobs move fast. -
Getting a referral from someone who doesn’t know your skills
If the person can’t speak clearly about you, the referral probably won't help.
At the same time, cold applications, when done the right way, are working.
A Better Approach for You
Instead of chasing referrals, focus on sending proper cold applications.
This means:
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Writing a resume that matches the job closely (use this blog post)
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Updating your LinkedIn to match what the company wants (use this guide)
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Sending in your application early (within the first week of the job posting)
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Following up with a message that shows how you can help
Referrals are still nice, but they’re not the only way in.
Today, hiring managers pay attention when you show how you can help them right now. (Seriously, use those two links above. It's free.)
Summary
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Referrals don’t work as well as they used to
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Cold applications absolutely work if you do them right
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Focus on showing your value clearly
Your Next Steps
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Find 5 companies hiring this week
(I've compiled them for you! Click the big pink image below) -
Update your resume and LinkedIn to match what they need
(I've included two links for you above! They're free. Use em'.) -
Apply early
P.s.
When you want to land your next role without needing someone to refer you, my Career Change Accelerator™. will show you all the steps that actually work in today’s job market. Best part- you can get through it in a dedicated weekend.
Steph Yesil
Find me on LinkedIn, Get My Career Change Kit,
Book a 60-Min Strategy Call
