Triangulate your career path
Those that triangulate get the hidden roles and make it all look easy. It's not, but building a triangle around your target can help.
Ever heard of someone saying “I was reached out to”, or “I got an offer I can’t refuse”, or perhaps “they created a role for me”.
Those people are masters at networking and triangulation. Triangulation is simply having more than one point of contact or ‘way’ into a company. Some people use this method when investigating an issue in a team or company, others might use it to solve a problem. We’re looking at it from the perspective of how to set you apart from others and, if done right, never had to hit up a job board again.
Triangulating your outreach when looking for a job is important because it increases your chances of standing out, building meaningful connections, and gaining insights into the company’s needs and culture.
Here's why this strategy works:
Multiple Perspectives and Insights
By reaching out to people in different roles or departments, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the company's challenges, priorities, and culture. This allows you to tailor your application and interview responses more effectively.
Increased Visibility
Multiple points of contact within the company increase your chances of being noticed. A strong recommendation or validation from several internal contacts can make you a standout candidate.
Understanding Organizational Dynamics
Companies often have internal nuances, like unofficial decision-makers or informal networks of influence. Triangulating your outreach helps you navigate these dynamics more strategically so when you are in negotiations, or start a role, you are better setup for success.
Building Trust and Credibility
When multiple people within the organization are aware of and endorse you, it reinforces your credibility as a candidate. Decision-makers are more likely to take you seriously when trusted colleagues vouch for you. Can you imagine if you are a hiring manager and you hear from not just one, not even two, but maybe three people or more across the company “this person is IT”, “I heard they are looking now”, or “they are a particularly valuable team member”.
Access to Hidden Opportunities
Not all job openings are publicly posted. By connecting with various people inside the company, you might learn about roles that are in development or under the radar. This is where the next level career magic really starts to happen.
Strengthening Your Narrative
Conversations with multiple insiders can provide valuable context for aligning your story with the company’s goals. This preparation makes you a more compelling candidate.
Practical Steps to Triangulate:
Leverage Referrals: Use mutual connections to introduce you to people in the company, creating warm introductions.
Engage With Recruiters or HR: Start with the official gatekeepers of the hiring process. Try to understand their particular role in the process, as there is a hierarchy of how it all works in each company.
Network With Team Members: Reach out to individuals in the department or team where you’d like to work to understand their challenges. Start engaging with their content on LinkedIn, see what events they are showing up for.
Contact Leadership: Build connections with decision-makers or influencers who can champion your application. This might take some time, or it might be easier than you think. This is where consistency can really pay off.
Triangulating outreach not only helps you break through the noise but also equips you with deeper insights to excel during interviews and position yourself as the perfect fit for the role.
It shows you understand how business gets done in companies - typically big projects and decisions go across departments, locations, and levels of seniority.
Triangulating shows you innately understand this and could position you better for a leadership role simply due to the fact that you achieving the triangulation shows you know how to operate in such an environment to get things done (like get yourself a job).