We’ve been visiting family this week in Dublin. But mostly… catching the Taylor Swift Eras show.

Other than Taylor, it’s been non-stop schlepping to playgrounds and beaches. All in a bid to keep the kids happy and entertained.

We’ve found spending time outside is the best cure for this. It only takes 7 episodes of Super Kitties before brain cells melt. Then, tantrums ensue.

Overall, the biggest surprise is that international travel with the family can be relatively easy: 

• Money. We have bank accounts in Ireland. Even if you don’t, credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and a debit card with no ATM fees make access to money easy (we use Chase Sapphire and Charles Schwab, respectively).
• Getting around: Google Maps handles all our public transport logistics.
• Cell phones. We used to rely on wifi or pay $10/day/phone on roaming charges. Now we can purchase eSIM cards for €20/month.

Question: I’m always on the lookout for good family travel tips. What’s your favorite? 🛫

Today in 5 minutes or less, I’m covering a handful of the burning questions I recently answered for the Land A Remote Job (LARJ) community.

Plus, the best links and resources on remote work. You’ll learn:

• 📊 The 4 “job search levers” to land your next remote job and grow your career
• 🙈 Applies for 493 jobs since getting laid off (don’t do this)
• 📈 Remote job opportunities surge in Singapore

Burning Questions About The Job Search – Answered

All my clients get access to the LARJ community. This is our Whatsapp group where anyone can ask questions about their remote job search.

We cover career strategy, resume feedback, new open roles, and everything in between.

Let’s jump in:

How can I find more open roles? 

Here’s an alternative strategy that works well.

Instead of just using LinkedIn jobs, find open roles in LinkedIn posts by browsing your feed. Or even better: use LinkedIn search. Use this query:

Then filter the post down to:

This will help find people who are advertising and actively hiring for specific roles

What a client said:

When is it too late to apply for a job?  

Here’s an example:

This job was posted a week ago, and says it has 66 applicants.

Is it still worth it to apply?

My rule of thumb: 2 weeks. After that, if you’re applying through the front door, I’d move on.

Like I said, this is just a rule of thumb. There are nuances to consider here:

1. Can you get a referral? If yes, apply.
2. Can you connect directly to the hiring manager (HM)? If yes, apply. 
3. How good is the company/role fit? If 10 out of 10, then apply.

Are informational interviews just about getting the referral?

I’ll reach out to a person and they’ll be receptive of chatting. But the call gets scheduled for a week later, sometimes longer. When we finally chat and I can ask for a referral, it’s too late because the hiring process passed. I still want to meet them! It’d just be helpful to get the referral sooner.

I’ve noticed the value of the informational interview changes depending on your career stage:

The earlier in your career, the more valuable the referral. So prioritize getting it.

Later in your career, (when you have more leverage in demonstrated results, brand, and network) informational interviews are less about getting the referral. It’s about genuinely evaluating the company as a place you want to work.

So how you use informational interviews will evolve as your career matures.

Should I create a personal website/portfolio? 

Creating a website and portfolio is a great long-term play. It builds brand and goodwill with little downside.

But it’s also not going to lead to opportunities right away. So if you’re deep in your search, prioritize applying and landing referrals. If you still have time after that, work on your website/portfolio.

It’s similar to my recommended approach to creating a video resume. Cool to do. But do the basics first.

I got ghosted. What should I do?

My rule of thumb: treat everyone with grace. Everyone gets one pass.

Things come up. That’s life.

If it happens again, then it’s a habit. If it’s a habit, it’s not a company or person I want to build a professional relationship with.

Here’s the script I use to check in with someone who ghosted me:

That’s it for this week.

What other burning questions do you have about your job search? Hit reply and let me know – I’ll answer as many as possible in the next newsletter.

That’s a wrap. See you next week 👋