I use Slack everyday. I’m in about 10 different Slack groups: one for work, and public Slack groups around different themes, such as product management, women in tech, LGBTQ+, and growth. What’s amazed me is how these different Slack groups are such gold mines for job hunters.
I found my current job through the Women in Product Slack group. Janie Clarke, my now boss, posted the role and I quickly messaged her. We had a quick phone call about it, and she referred me internally. I got the job in less than two months after reaching out.
Finding Slack Groups
There are a number of open Slack groups, around different professions, interests, and more. Lists of Slack groups, such as Slacklist and this list on Medium, are useful which to join.
I’ve also found good ones via word-of-mouth, and Googling a profession or interest + “Slack group.”
Profile
Once in the Slack group, I updated my profile, so when I did reach out to a hiring manager or someone with a job, it was clear exactly who I was. In my profile, I have:
An updated headshot
A link to my LinkedIn or personal website
A headline (like “Product Manager”)
Contact information (email address at minimum)
Having this information made it easy for anyone to follow up with me directly. If someone wanted to learn more about me, they could check out my LinkedIn profile in one click.
Which channels to join
Slack groups often have channels for job opportunities, so joining the channel ensures that I don’t miss a new job. As soon as I saw a job I was interested in, I messaged the poster directly. Having my resume ready also helped, as it allowed the job poster to refer me quickly. Nowadays, I often share jobs from Indeed in these channels.
Many groups have local channels, such as #sf, #seattle, etc. These channels are prime for finding events to attend, as well as to meet folks in my location.
Channels around resume review are highly valuable, as I could share my resume and get quick feedback on what others in my profession thought of it.
Networking
Beyond just directly asking people about jobs I was interested in, I’ve also found these groups to be great for networking, sharing articles, and getting advice. By being active and helpful in the Slack, I found that people were more willing to refer me, since they were already familiar with how I thought.
Although I’m not looking for a job, I’m still active in many Slack groups and I strongly urge those in the job search to join and participate in ones that are relevant and interesting. At the very least, these groups connect job seekers to others in their professional group and help them feel less alone.
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