Target Companies And Industries

Stop (only) applying for jobs. I'm serious. While everyone will help, here is what actually works: ✅ Spend that time building relationships with people at companies you want to work for. Here's the math no one talks about: 100 applications = 2-3 callbacks (if you're lucky) 10 genuine connections = 5-7 opportunities How do I know? Hiring and getting hired are very similar. So far, all my hires were referrals and introductions. All my clients came through the same. I've placed hundreds of designers. The ones who got hired fastest? They weren't the ones with the most applications. They were the ones who: → DMed designers at target companies about their work (I've hired people who did this at Miro) → Commented thoughtfully on posts from hiring managers → Asked for 15-minute coffee chats, not job talk at first → Built relationships BEFORE they needed them (that's the actual gold here) Real example from last week: The designer spent 3 months engaging with the design lead's content. When a role opened up? She got a DM: "We have something perfect for you." Never even posted publicly. Meanwhile, 847 other designers are fighting over the LinkedIn posting 👹 But here's the part no one teaches you — WHO to reach out to: ✓ Someone I aspire to get to know ✓ Someone's career I aspire to have ✓ Someone who works where I'd like to work ✓ Someone who may be going through similar challenges ✓ Someone I will have lots to talk about And here's how I prioritize companies and roles: First, I map out my network: → Find all my previous colleagues — where do they work now? → Find all open roles — what's relevant and what sounds like the best fit? → What can I see about those environments from JDs and career websites? This gives me a targeted list of: ✨ Companies where I already have warm connections ✨ Roles that actually match my skills ✨ Environments I'd thrive in (not just survive) Smart networking > no applications > successful hires. Every. Single. Time. The best jobs aren't advertised. They go to people already in the conversation. So stop being application #248. Start being the person they think of first. Your time is better spent building one real connection than sending 20 applications into the black hole. Trust me on this one. 💬 How did you get your last role: application or connection? Tell me and let's do some market research together ⬇️

I get a lot of DMs from people looking for jobs. I posted this last week, and I don't think enough people saw it. Here's my advice to ALL job seekers. First, don't apply to a job posting. It doesn't work. You are competing against 100s or 1,000s of other resumes. Being the few resumes that make it through recruiters & AI screeners is a long shot. Here's what I recommend instead: Run your job seeking process like a top 1% sales person. 1. Build a target companies list (aka ICP) Identify 30-50 companies / organizations that fit within your skill set, passion, industry, geography, etc. 2. Identify key people at each company Use Linkedin to find 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level connections, especially decision makers (VPs, Directors, C-level). A note from a CEO to a hiring manager like "Take a look at this person" is a huge leg up. 3. Get cell numbers, personal emails, & work emails Use free trials of tools like ZoomInfo, Apollo, Lusha, Rocketreach, Seamless Ai, Kaspr, Lead IQ, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, etc. Pay for a month if needed. 4. Craft killer cold outreach Write 3-5 cold email, DM, and call scripts. Test them outside of your ICP. Once you find a winner, go HAM on your list. Something like this: "Hey {name}, I'm Matt. I'll help 3x your retention if you give me a chance at this customer success director role. I was one of the first employees at SimpleCitizen (YC W16), which was acquired by Fragomen, the largest immigration law firm in the world. I led Customer Success there—we kept a 4.9+ TrustPilot rating the entire way. Here’s how I’ll drive impact at {company}: • {Tailored point 1} • {Tailored point 2} • {Tailored point 3}" Most won’t reply. But 10–20% will. And when they do, you’ll skip the resume pile entirely. Even recruiters won’t have that kind of pull.

BREAKING: The job market is cooling with hiring down 5.8% in March, according to LinkedIn's latest data. Worth noting: 62% of CEOs are now predicting a recession within six months, up from 48% just last month. Smart job seekers aren't panicking; they're strategizing. So, what does this mean for you if you're currently job searching or considering a move: 1️⃣ Target growing industries: Healthcare added 53,600 jobs last month, with social assistance adding 24,200 and retail trade gaining 23,700. Meanwhile, Utilities (+0.4%) and Holding Companies (+5.9%) were the only industries showing month-over-month hiring increases. 2️⃣ Develop future-proof skills: LinkedIn's report highlights several in demand skills plus I've added several employers value in uncertain times: • AI literacy and technology adaptation • Conflict mitigation and communication • Adaptability and agility • Data analysis capabilities • Cost management expertise • Supply chain knowledge (especially as tariffs impact operations) • Automation-related skills (as manufacturers focus on "more automation rollouts") Companies implementing AI are seeing 10% revenue increases—they need talent who can leverage these tools while demonstrating agility, which Aerotek's April report calls "the X factor that will give companies an edge." 3️⃣ Consider geography: The Sunbelt continues to outperform with Miami-Fort Lauderdale showing a 4.8% hiring boost and Phoenix maintaining strong numbers. Meanwhile, St. Louis (+4.2%) and Denver (+1.9%) are bright spots in other regions. If you've been searching for a while: Revisit how you present your skills: Highlight how you can help companies navigate uncertainty and control costs—top priorities as businesses prepare for potential downturn. Expand your industry targets: If you've been focusing on manufacturing (-10.3% YoY) or government (-17.3% YoY), consider how your transferable skills apply to healthcare, retail, or utilities. Consider contract roles: With economic uncertainty, many employers are shifting to flexible hiring strategies—these can be excellent foot-in-the-door opportunities. In every economic shift, there are still thousands of jobs being filled daily. Position yourself where growth is happening and showcase the skills employers need most right now. What strategies are working in your job search? Share them with me below. #LIPostingDayApril #Careers #LinkedInTopVoices

Struggling with the job search? Stop submitting dozens of online apps and crossing your fingers. Try this instead: Start by setting aside 2-3 days. Use that time to research the heck out of companies in your target industry. Learn about their products, customers, finances, people, and culture. You’ll cross a lot of places off your list — that’s a good thing! Work to narrow down the list until you have 15 companies you really love. Now focus 100% of your time and energy on those companies. Invest time creating highly personalized resumes and cover letters, then apply. Begin building relationships with potential referrals. Start with people you know — can anyone in your circle introduce you? Then message decision makers (hiring managers, potential peers) directly. Finally, think about how you can go above and beyond to show how much you want to work there. Can you share potential solutions to a challenge? Can you help identify a new opportunity? Can you perform a competitive analysis? Can you gather feedback on a new initiative? Package that up in a deck and lead with it (I call these Value Validation Projects). Moral of the story? Stop going 100 miles wide and one mile deep. Instead, choose a small set of companies you’re genuinely excited about and invest 100% in them.

Everyone’s saying “the job market is dead.” But that’s only half the story. [Read this if you're actively looking] Here’s the full picture: The job market isn’t dead - it’s just shifting. Context: According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are over 8.8 million open roles in America right now. But we only have 6.3 million unemployed workers to fill them. That’s a gap of 2.5 million+ roles. Some sectors are slowing. But others are quietly booming - and desperate for talent. Here are 5 sectors starved for workers right now (with links to startups hiring): 1. Healthcare → Arcadia: Healthtech and analytics platform (https://lnkd.in/gubDTqtG) → Benchling: Life sciences R&D cloud (https://lnkd.in/g6XHY9xY) → Color Health: Population-scale healthcare platform (https://lnkd.in/gqy3gjQN) 2. Cybersecurity → Immuta: Data access & security (https://lnkd.in/gD_5iKAf) → Castle.io: Account takeover protection (https://castle.io/about/) → Snyk: Developer-first security tooling (https://snyk.io/careers/) 3. Construction & InfraTech → Fieldwire: Construction management (https://lnkd.in/gjfCFVTc) → HOVER: 3D property data from photos (https://hover.to/careers) → BuildOps: Software for commercial contractors (https://lnkd.in/gE5dcjeQ) 4. Transportation & Logistics → Motive: Fleet management (https://lnkd.in/gU6JsxAB) → Zipline: Drone-based delivery (https://lnkd.in/gBPAxuYh) → Flexport: Global logistics platform (https://lnkd.in/gSkYPY4B) 5. Agriculture & FoodTech → Apeel Sciences: Extends produce shelf life (https://lnkd.in/gxXz6VJh) → FarmWise: Autonomous weeding robots (https://lnkd.in/gpME5Vhu) → Plenty: Vertical farming at scale (https://lnkd.in/g-RzWARj) They’re high-growth, high-demand, and hiring fast. If you’re currently job hunting, consider pivoting to one of these sectors. If you’re building skills, align with where the market is going. 🌿 Know someone struggling with their job search? Share this with them. 🟢 Access a list of 100+ startups actively hiring in these sectors here: https://lnkd.in/gX6G364e :)

While professionals compete intensely for positions in oversaturated markets, significant opportunities exist in industries experiencing critical talent shortages.   Three sectors currently offer exceptional employment prospects with minimal competition:   Skilled Trades: Far from outdated "blue collar" work, today's skilled trades represent "gold collar" opportunities.   Master electricians, specialized plumbers, and HVAC technicians command premium rates, often exceeding traditional white-collar salaries while enjoying strong job security and entrepreneurial potential.   Healthcare Support: The expanding healthcare sector requires extensive support infrastructure beyond physicians and nurses.   Medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, and healthcare coordinators offer stable career paths with advancement opportunities and meaningful work impact.   Cybersecurity & IT Support: Digital transformation has created urgent demand for cybersecurity specialists, help desk professionals, and network technicians.   These roles often provide excellent entry points into technology careers without requiring computer science degrees.   The strategic advantage lies in pursuing opportunities where market demand significantly outpaces candidate supply, rather than competing in oversaturated fields.   For professionals open to exploring alternative career paths, these industries offer immediate opportunities, competitive compensation, and long-term growth potential.   What other high-demand, low-competition industries have you observed in your market?   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #skilledtrades #healthcare #cybersecurity #careerstrategist

How I figured out exactly who I can reach on LinkedIn (and built a 2,000-person target list in 20 minutes): Last week I needed to scope a new market for notus: construction companies in DACH. I wanted clarity on who I'm trying to reach, whether they actually spend time on the platform, and how to get more touch points with them through content, ads, network expansion, and DMs So I opened LinkedIn Sales Nav and ran this process: 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 (𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲) Most people go straight to Lead Search. I did the opposite. I filtered for construction companies with €100M+ revenue in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. LinkedIn gave me around 700 relevant companies. I saved them all to an account list. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 I saved that general list first. Then created a second list filtering for companies showing buying indicators: → Department headcount = internal team composition → Growing X team (pick the function) = signal for certain offers → Job postings = active hiring (perfect if you're selling HR/recruitment) → Funding rounds = signals growth (great for selling to SaaS) 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 I took my saved company list, went back to Lead Search, and filtered for people working at those accounts. 12,000 people appeared. I added one more filter: "Posted on LinkedIn" in the last 30 days, which put me at around ±2000 people. It's the only filter we have to get closer to active users. I'd rather have a smaller list than a bunch of inactive accounts. I can always expand from there if needed. This gives me cleaner data to work with. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗦𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 ±2000 was the total. But I focused on decision-makers. So I ran more filters: → 300+ were Director level or above → 700+ sat in operations roles → 60% were based in Germany, 25% Austria, 15% Switzerland This helped me know exactly who I was writing for. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 Now comes the actual "outreach". I can do this manually or with a tool. I ran campaigns for the decision makers in Switzerland and decision makers in Austria/Germany, which let me A/B test acceptance rates across audiences. Swiss decision makers hit 27% acceptance rate → Austria and Germany only got 10%. Clear signal that my profile resonates better with Swiss executives. As these campaigns ran and my network grew with these target personas, I sprinkled in some niche-relevant content such as a construction case study with Hubert. Still tied to my core service, but showing I’ve operated in their world. The goal was to make sure they know I exist and start building the relationship. Next up will be running targeted thought leadership ads to this audience. Let's see how it goes. P.S. Want a vid walkthrough? Comment "TAM" and we’ll DM it to you.

Job searching can feel like gloom and doom—but I want you to focus on a different rhyming word instead: BLOOM. Yesterday, I attended the North Carolina Museum of Art's Annual Art in Bloom opening day. I was inspired by the stunning floral arrangements on display, and I left feeling hopeful—reminded that growth happens when you nurture what’s already there. That got me thinking about how career growth works the same way. Here’s a framework you can use to keep momentum during a challenging job search along with some free job search resources: B.L.O.O.M. B – Brainpower your career Before you dive into a job search, the thought work comes first. Jumping straight into applications without a plan is like trying to navigate a new city without a map—you might get somewhere, but it won’t be efficient or strategic. 1. Build your target company list Use tools like Crunchbase and LinkedIn to identify companies that align with your career goals, values, and desired growth trajectory. Look beyond obvious names—consider companies that are scaling, have strong leadership, or are in industries where your expertise is in high demand. 2. Identify decision-makers Once you have your list, use platforms like Hunter and TheOrg to find the right contacts—executives, hiring managers, or functional leaders—so you know exactly who to connect with. 3. Leverage your centers of influence Think about mentors, colleagues, and past collaborators who can help open doors. Share your target company list with them and ask for introductions or guidance. Strategic referrals often get you further than cold outreach alone. L – Leverage your strengths Focus on what you do best. Make sure your resume, LinkedIn, and interviews highlight your unique value—not just a laundry list of responsibilities. See comment section for a resource on how to build out result rich resume bullet points. O – Optimize your brand Your personal brand is more than your resume. Share thought leadership, highlight achievements, and make it clear why you’re the right person for the roles you want. See comments for a white paper on how to write a LinkedIn profile. O – Organized strategy Treat your search like a project. Track applications, follow-ups, and networking opportunities. Small, consistent actions add up faster than sporadic bursts of activity. M – Move forward with confidence Job searches can be slow and unpredictable. Keep taking action, stay visible, and don’t let setbacks shake your belief in your skills and potential. Make daily and weekly outreach goals. **You should not be measuring how many jobs you are applying to each day. Instead, focus on decision-maker conversations.*** When you approach your career like this, you’re not just surviving the search—you’re planting seeds for growth and opportunity, and eventually, you bloom. 🌸

🎮 The 20x1 Gap in Entry-Level Gaming Roles (and what to do) According to our data at Amir Satvat's Games Community, the most comprehensive source tracking gaming jobs worldwide, there is only a 6% over 12 months success rate for applicants to open entry-level roles in the games industry. Many of you ask me, “Where is the opposite happening? Where are there far more jobs than candidates?” If your goal is stable, well-paying employment, here are some sectors worth looking at, with data as of 2025. 🎯 Cybersecurity There is a global shortfall of roughly 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals in 2025. In the U.S. alone, there are over 457,000 open cybersecurity jobs, with not nearly enough trained professionals to fill them. 🩺 Healthcare (Nursing and Allied Roles) The U.S. is projected to be short over 500,000 registered nurses by the end of 2025. Allied health roles like surgical technicians and medical assistants also face critical shortages. In 2024, there were over 6 million openings in middle-skill healthcare roles, with 72 percent going unfilled. 🛠️ Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing The U.S. continues to report over 500,000 unfilled jobs in manufacturing and the skilled trades. This is driven by a wave of retirements and a lack of incoming young talent. 📊 Finance and Accounting Unemployment in finance and accounting remains exceptionally low, in many roles, under 2 percent. 🤖 AI and Data Infrastructure AI job postings grew by 21 percent globally between 2023 and 2024 and remain strong in 2025. AI operations, prompt engineering, and data infrastructure support roles are surging. Many don’t require traditional CS degrees and can be accessed through microcredentials or apprenticeships. Many people's eyes glaze over when they see lists like these. But I’m very serious. I will keep bringing this up. Because the truth is, for many young people, even making it to the second or third ring of their job preference, let alone the dream job in the center, is growing harder, no matter how passionate they are. I'm not saying any of these paths must be yours. But I am saying that doing this kind of exercise, mapping supply and demand and finding a viable way to support yourself, is a healthy and responsible thing to do. And one we don’t talk about nearly enough. You never have to stop aiming your arrow at the dream. But the truth is, some may not reach it, and that doesn’t diminish the worth of the journey. While you work toward what you hope for, it’s okay, and often necessary, to find something that supports you along the way. If that path offers fair wages, room to grow, and some stability, it’s not giving up. It’s caring for yourself and making a responsible, thoughtful choice. We need to stop treating these decisions as failures or signs of lacking passion. In reality, they’re thoughtful, praiseworthy, and deeply pragmatic steps forward.

This hidden LinkedIn tab can reveal the hiring plans of companies quietly expanding—yet many job seekers overlook it. Here’s how: 1️⃣ Search for your target company on LinkedIn 2️⃣ Go to “Insights” or “People” tab 3️⃣ Check for: - 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀: Have they recently onboarded team members in your field? - 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Are certain departments expanding? - 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 - Have they hired more talent acquisition professionals recently? Bonus tip: Companies often expand their teams after major developments. Look for signs like: • Big product launches • New service rollouts • Major funding rounds Use Crunchbase or Google alerts to track these announcements. Stop waiting for job alerts. Take control of your job search today!