In recent months, major tech companies have lured top talent from rival companies with multimillion-dollar salaries and rumors of unprecedented sign-on bonuses. Big firms are fighting for talent from Apple, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and beyond, reportedly offering pay packages that resemble those of NBA stars. Meta has been aggressively poaching talent from its competitors in the race to dominate AI, luring Apple’s robotics chief earlier this month in a move that made headlines.
It’s news like this that makes workers ask themselves: “How can I get that to happen to me? (Even if I’m not a Silicon Valley CEO?)” Luckily, career experts say anyone can make themselves more poachable.
Lest anyone grinding out in a 9-to-5 with a slightly smaller salary than these Big Tech chiefs feels jealous, a reminder: “Tech is their own world,” Mark Anthony Dyson, career coach and founder of The Voice of Job Seekers, told Fast Company. That said, there’s no harm in taking some inspiration from these high-profile hires.
Here are just a few strategies to roll out if you’re hoping to catch the eyes of recruiters who can whisk you away to your dream job:
Be a thought leader
Visibility is key—for people to notice you, changing your LinkedIn profile photo to say “open to work” isn’t enough. You have to put yourself out there, experts say.
That means actively posting and sharing industry insights on LinkedIn, most importantly, but also speaking at events and media mentions, if applicable. Kait LeDonne, a personal branding expert, pointed to a survey that showed 64% of recruiters said that a candidate who’s a recognized thought leader in their industry is more likely to get a role than a candidate with the same exact credentials but a quieter presence.
“Create enough of a presence that you’re seen as an active industry thought leader,” LeDonne said. “You don’t need to be top of the industry, but you need to publish content [on LinkedIn] that shares more about your industry or influences your industry. For most people, two to three times a week is going to be just fine.”
Expand your skill set
The hard truth: “Today, it isn’t enough to just do your job,” said Kathy Caprino, a career leadership coach and author. She and other experts encourage professionals to actively seek out opportunities to learn new skills, both inside and outside their fields. And don’t be shy about sharing that education, whether it’s a yoga teacher training or an AI course.
Caprino recommended people list their new skills on their résumés and across their LinkedIn profiles: in their headline, “about” section, and under certifications. She also suggested people write a short post about how they’re using those skills, for extra visibility.
“If I see someone taking courses on Coursera or getting certified in something, that goes a long way,” added Bridget O’Neill, a career consultant and owner of the RE Consultancy. “It shows they’re continually active. That is a very poachable trait.”
Continued growth and education shows employers and recruiters that candidates are future-oriented. It also helps combat what O’Neill said is a red flag to her when looking at someone’s résumé or LinkedIn profile: stagnancy. “You can see it immediately,” she said. Some common mistakes? A résumé that’s not up-to-date or doesn’t list any skills or courses; a LinkedIn page with an old headshot, no background photo, or no engagement in the form of posting or sharing posts. She says missed opportunities like those show “no passion, interest, curiosity.”
Seek out your career idols
Find the people at the top of your field—the people whose jobs you want, or people at companies you want to work for—and connect with them in any way possible. Go to events they’re attending or hosting; join groups they’re involved in; send them an email to introduce yourself.
“Get to know those professionals whose career paths you want to emulate and get to know their work deeply,” Dyson said.
The goal is to get on their radar. Caprino encourages people to engage with career idols on LinkedIn, even if it’s as simple as resharing one of their posts. “It helps you get noticed,” she said. “Now this manager or director or CEO has a bit of a connection with you.”
Reach out to recruiters yourself
You can’t always wait for recruiters to slide into your DMs—sometimes you have to make the first move.
Caprino suggests people contact recruiters on their own to introduce themselves, and explain what they’re looking for in their next role. She encourages clients to write their dream job description and share it with recruiters as well as trusted colleagues and connections.
Get involved with industry groups
The American Institute of Graphic Arts. The Society for Human Resource Management. The National Association of Black Journalists. Women in Machine Learning. Whatever your field is, it likely has associated industry groups. Seek them out, both online and in person, if you want to advance your career, experts say. It’s a way to create more visibility for yourself and also get an early scoop on job opportunities.
“When people are leaving (their current jobs), one of the first places they go is to their industry organizations to say, ‘I’m moving from here to here, you’re the first to hear.’ That’s a smarter way of networking,” Dyson said.
That way, when the opportunity does come up, you’ll be top of mind—and one step closer to being poached.
