Hey friends,

Before we dive in, a quick update for everyone who entered the Sora app giveaway earlier this week. 

The Sora access giveaway is now closed! 

If you were one of the winners, I’ve already reached out personally.

As for today’s topic…

The Submit Button Is NOT The Finish Line.

For a long time my entire post application strategy was… waiting. 

And as you can probably guess, it wasn’t very successful.

However, it helped me realize that those 72 hours after applying was the perfect window for me to distinguish myself from other candidates.

So instead of waiting, I started asking myself: 

“What can I do right now to improve my chances?”

And after testing dozens of different strategies, here’s what I’ve found actually works:

P.S. Since this Email was starting to be a bit lengthy I’ve decided to only include 5 of the 10 total tips I’ve prepared for you.

But don’t worry, you can see all 10 tips plus a bit more of an in depth explanation for each of them on my YouTube channel. 

Click here to watch the video.

Most people never follow up or do it completely wrong. 

Within 24 hours of applying, send a short, professional thank-you message. Something like:

“Thank you for considering my application for the [role] position. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to [specific company goal or project].” 

Then, after a week or two, follow up again but don’t just “check in.” Add value. Share a relevant article, insight, or project that ties to the company’s work or recent news. 

Within the first 48 hours, start connecting with people who work at the company. Focus on 3–5 key individuals such as the hiring manager, department leads, or current employees in similar roles. 

Avoid generic connection requests. Instead, personalize them with a quick note: 

“Hi [Name], I recently applied for the [specific role] position and noticed your background in [area]. I’d love to connect and learn more about your experience at [company].”

Share a LinkedIn post that aligns with the role or industry. If you applied for a marketing role, post your thoughts on recent marketing trends. If it’s engineering, talk about a project or new technology that excites you.

The people reviewing your application often check your profile. Seeing a thoughtful post related to their field reinforces your expertise and interest. You’re showing, not telling, that you think like someone on their team.

Reach out to employees in similar roles or on the same team and ask for a short 10–15 minute chat. You can say something like:

“Hi [Name], I recently applied for the [role] position and I’d love to learn more about what it’s like to work on the [team]. Would you be open to a brief conversation?”

These quick chats can reveal valuable information about what the team values most, what challenges they face, and what kind of person thrives there. 

Don’t rely solely on email or messages. Stay visible by engaging thoughtfully with the company’s LinkedIn content. 

Comment on posts with insights that show real understanding of their work. And if employees share articles, respond meaningfully there too.

Aaaand… As I’ve said above, this is it for the Email version. You can see all 10 tips on my YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

A Quick Reality Check…

You don’t have to turn these tips into a full-time job.

Even doing just a few of these things after each application already puts you ahead of 90% of people.

Good luck and let me know how these strategies work for your job search!

-Megan