209. Find Your Fit, Find Your Focus - Catalyze Your Career

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How to turn curiosity, clarity, and AI into your most powerful job search tools.

Job search isn’t just about landing your next role—it’s about understanding who you are and how you want to show up in the world. According to Andrew Seaman, Senior Managing Editor for Jobs and Career Development at LinkedIn, that process begins with curiosity, not certainty. “People assume they need to apply to dozens of jobs with a perfect résumé,” he explains. “But the best applications are rooted in self-awareness and strategy—not spray-and-pray.”

Instead of rushing to the next opportunity, Seaman encourages job seekers to slow down, ask better questions, and prioritize conversations over checklists. From informational interviews to profile updates, clarity is key—knowing what you want and telling a story that shows why you’re the right fit.
With tools like LinkedIn’s Job Match and natural-language job search, candidates can now assess how they align with a role—and where they can grow. “It’s not just about being qualified,” Seaman says. “It’s about showing the value you bring.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Seaman joins host Matt Abrahams for our Catalyze Your Career miniseries to share how to job search with intention. Using Matt’s “Four I’s” framework—identifying, investigating, initiating contact, and interviewing—they explore how strategic storytelling, thoughtful networking, and AI tools can help you stand out in a crowded market.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:05) - What’s Changing in Job Search
(03:49) - Identifying Roles with Curiosity
(06:49) - Investigating Companies & Roles
(08:13) - Initiating Contact Effectively
(11:29) - Crafting a Strong Narrative
(12:41) - How Job Match Can Help
(16:01) - Strategic vs. Shotgun Approach
(21:00) - Best Career Advice Received
(21:56) - Career Regrets & Lessons
(23:25) - Conclusion

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This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn. Dare to discover what’s next. Explore your job potential at LinkedIn.
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Transcript

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0:00.0	Searching for a job shouldn't feel like a full-time job, but for many of us, it does.
0:07.0	Between figuring out if you're qualified and wondering if anyone else is reading your application, the process can feel broken.
0:14.0	LinkedIn is changing that, helping you explore better opportunities without the usual frustration.
0:20.0	LinkedIn is reimagining the job search experience to help you confidently navigate your next move.
0:26.6	I use LinkedIn regularly, and I've seen how it's personalized insights can help all of us discover opportunities
0:32.6	aligned with our skills and career goals.
0:36.6	This year, LinkedIn is rolling out new AI-powered job search tools that go beyond keyword
0:41.4	matching.
0:42.4	They actually understand your intent and suggest roles tailored to your strengths.
0:47.4	One feature I'm excited about is job match, which shows how well a job aligns with your
0:52.0	background and gives you actionable next steps.
0:55.6	Dare to discover what's next.
0:57.4	Explore your job potential at LinkedIn.com slash jobs.
1:01.6	That's LinkedIn.com slash jobs.
1:08.6	Advancements in AI are not only revolutionizing work, they're shaping careers and opening up new possibilities.
1:16.3	My name is Matt Abraham's, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
1:21.7	Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast.
1:25.5	Today I'm excited to once again be joined by Andrew Seaman,
1:29.4	senior managing editor for jobs and career development at LinkedIn. Andrew joined me in episode
1:34.3	151. Andrew oversees a team of journalists and editors at LinkedIn who are focused on helping
1:40.0	people navigate work and life. Through his Get Hired podcast, which he has kindly had me on a few times,
1:46.9	he and his team helped thousands of people get jobs and advance careers. Welcome back, Andrew. It is
	...

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