When most people start looking for a job, they open a job board, find vacancies that match their qualifications, submit applications and wait. Then they do it again.

There is nothing wrong with applying for advertised positions. But if that is your entire job-search strategy, you're letting the market decide which opportunities you see.

A proactive job search works differently.

Instead of asking only, “Who is hiring?”, you begin asking:

“Where do I want to work, what can I contribute, and how can I get closer to that opportunity?”

That shift can change the way you approach your career.

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1. Identify where you want to work

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Start with organisations, not vacancies. Think about companies, institutions and businesses whose work genuinely interests you. Consider their industry, values, location, culture, reputation and opportunities for professional growth. Create a realistic list of organisations you would be interested in working with. You may find some aren't hiring today. That shouldn't automatically remove them from your list.

The absence of a vacancy does not mean the absence of an opportunity.

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2. Research before you approach

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Once you identify an organisation, learn about it. What does it do? Who are its customers? What markets does it operate in? What products or services does it provide? What challenges or changes is the organisation dealing with?

Look at its website, professional updates, recent activities and the people working there. This research helps you answer an important question: “Why this organisation?”

If you cannot answer that, you probably aren't ready to approach them.

Research also helps you identify where your skills might fit and what you may need to improve before making your approach.

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3. Build relationships before you need them

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Networking is often reduced to asking people for jobs. It shouldn't be. If you know someone who works in an organisation that interests you, ask about their experience. Ask what skills are valued there. Ask what they would recommend someone learn before trying to enter the organisation.

A conversation can give you information that no job advertisement will provide. Build relationships with former classmates, lecturers, colleagues, industry professionals and other people whose experience can help you understand the field you want to enter.

Don't approach every person thinking, “What can you do for me?” Sometimes the better question is: “What can I learn from you?”

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4. Learn how to make a professional approach

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If an organisation interests you, you don't always have to wait for a vacancy before making contact. You can introduce yourself professionally through LinkedIn, email, an event, a referral or another appropriate channel.

But avoid sending a generic message asking, “Do you have any jobs?”

Explain who you are, why the organisation interests you and where you believe your background could be relevant. You are not demanding an opportunity. You are starting a professional conversation.

That distinction matters.

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5. Make sure you are ready when the door opens

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Being proactive is not simply about contacting more people. It is also about becoming more prepared.

Review your CV. Build relevant skills. Work on projects. Improve your professional communication. Understand your industry. Practise explaining your experience and the value you can bring.

If someone asks: “What kind of opportunity are you looking for?”

You should be able to answer without hesitation. You don't need to have your entire career figured out. But you should have enough clarity to explain the direction you want to explore.

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Don't leave your career entirely to chance

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A proactive approach does not guarantee that every conversation will lead to an interview or that every organisation will respond.

It simply means you stop leaving your career entirely to chance.

Some opportunities will come through applications. Others may come through a conversation, a recommendation, a professional relationship or an organisation remembering you when a need arises.

So don't spend all your time asking: “Where are the jobs?”

Also ask: “Where do I want to be, who do I need to know, what do I need to learn, and what can I contribute?”

That is a more deliberate way to approach your career.

Don't just wait for the right opportunity to appear. Start positioning yourself for it.

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