In 2012, I booked a one-way flight and moved to a new country with 

no job…
no place to live…
and zero network.

I was clueless about how to navigate the job market and find professional 9-5 work...

I applied to hundreds of jobs online. 

I attended networking events.

I volunteered. 

But nothing. 

No callbacks. 

Not even a rejection email. 

Then, in 2013 – after a year of retail jobs – I landed a part-time job at an executive recruitment firm via a referral. 

I made it my mission to learn as much as I could from the headhunters around me. 

Everything I’d been told about job searching, networking, how to write a résumé or negotiate a job offer was wrong. 

After 8 months, I was promoted to a full-time executive recruiter position. 

I learned the inner workings of the recruitment industry and what truly leads to a successful search. 

I saw why some candidates were unsuccessful and how others managed to make significant jumps in their careers. 

I’ve now spent 10+ years at executive search firms, leading internal recruitment teams at rapidly-growing, global tech companies valued over $1B+ and résumé writing for clients.  

In 2020, in response to the pandemic, I led the team that recruited over 430 doctors, nurses, clinical operations, and business staff in under 6 months to create the largest publicly accessible digital healthcare service across Canada. 

So far, I’ve seen over 20,000 résumés throughout my career and written and reviewed 800+ for clients. I've built a 100% remote business using corporate skills and now teach others how to do the same. 

For more information on 1:1 résumé support visit samstruan.com

Thanks for reading this far and nice to e-meet you 🤝

Sam

2 months ago, I posted the following 5 job search tips that helped Harini land more interviews (and eventually 4 offers!): 

1️⃣ Simplify your resume intro with my 3-step formula:

Bad intro (subjective):
↳ Proactive, results-driven recruitment leader with career-long record of talent ops and strategic stakeholder management. Adept at managing complex projects from design to implementation with an ability to set a long-term vision.

Factual intro (objective)
↳ 10 years across agency and in-house recruiting, leading internal talent teams across North America at startups and global tech firms with 60-2,000+ employees and up to $1.1B in revenue. 

Do this by answering 3 simple questions:

1) Years of experience?
2) Roles/responsibilities?
3) Types of organizations?(add headcount and revenue)

2️⃣ Your LinkedIn Headline is key to being found by recruiters.

Try my other 3-step formula: 

[Title/level] + [Industries] + [Value Statement] 

Example: 
Recruitment Manager | Talent Acquisition | Healthcare | Tech | 10 years | Led teams of up to 5 at global tech companies valued at $1B+

Avoid vague things like "looking for a new opportunity" or "Leader focused on business outcomes"

If you were searching for a microphone on Amazon you wouldn't search for: 
"Able to pick up sound with high-quality clarity"

You’d search for:
“Microphone Podcast/YouTube”

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 digital billboard.
Make sure it shows up in searches.

3️⃣ REACTIVATE your existing network by giving LinkedIn recommendations to former colleagues.

Many will offer to write you one in return.
Then, let them know you're looking.
Give before you ask.

4️⃣ Ask ChatGPT to list 20+ competitors to your last two companies.

You'll now have a target list of 40 companies where your background has high relevance. Next:

• Follow the company pages on Linkedin
• Find potential hiring managers and recruiters
• Connect with them BUT don't pitch them for an interview
• Post weekly about experiences in those sectors (content)
• Encourage engagement from industry folks
• Build relationships before making asks

5️⃣ Demonstrate expertise by writing on LinkedIn and amplify your voice. 

You could get 500+ impressions in a day but you can't apply to 500 jobs in a day. 

"How to get from A to B in XYZ industry"
"Use this template to make X easier"
"Here's a complex topic simplified"

The algorithm is powerful:

• Post complaints, you'll attract complainers. 
• Post solutions, and you'll attract people seeking solutions.

Good luck!
Sam

P.S. Need résumé help? I offer 1:1 review and rewriting sessions and have helped 220+ people this year. 

Visit samstruan.com for more info and testimonials

Sam Struan

Sr. Recruiter | Résumé Writer for 100K-500K+ Roles | ~10 years in recruitment | 800+ résumés rebuilt for clients – visit samstruan.com for testimonials

In this video, I show you my 3-step approach to creating a LinkedIn headline so you can be found by recruiters (and what to avoid): 

LinkedIn Headline 3-step formula: 

[Titles+level] + [Industries and/or Skills] + [Value Statement] 

Example: 

Recruitment Manager | Talent Acquisition | Healthcare | Tech | 10 years in recruitment – led teams of up to 5 at global tech companies valued at $1B+

This is for job seekers who are looking to optimize their headline with SEO keywords that are relevant to their target roles and industries. 

Good luck!
Sam

I once sent 6,000+ handwritten “lumpy mail” envelopes in the boldest recruitment campaign of my career: 

Why?
Because “lumpy mail” has a 100% open rate – people just can’t resist finding out what’s inside.

And I needed every advantage possible…

I had to hire hundreds of physicians for a national digital healthcare service, but:

∙ They weren’t on LinkedIn
∙ They didn’t use job boards
∙ They almost never applied for jobs

So I went old-school with direct mail.

I pulled physician data from the College of Physicians & Surgeons + CCFP sites, hired a contractor to scrape, clean and export the data. 

And then I picked up a pen.

My team and I hand-wrote and stuffed thousands of envelopes that each included:

∙ A recruiting advert (shout out to Devon for the creative)
∙ A “lumpy” branded band-aid case
∙ My business card

Here’s the cost breakdown: 

∙ Postcard + envelope – $0.82
∙ Band-aid holder – $0.81
∙ Business card – $0.20
∙ Paper clip – $0.04
∙ Glue/tape – $0.07
∙ Labour – $1.10
∙ Labels – $0.04
∙ Stamp – $1.90

Cost per envelope: $4.98

First month results (test sample):

∙ 900 campaigns sent
∙ 28 responses (3.1%)
∙ 15 interviews
∙ 4 hires

We projected 2–5+ hires per 900 mailers as more leads trickled in.

Cost per hire (vs $10,000+ via an agency):

2 hires → $2,241 each
3 hires → $1,494 each
4 hires → $1,120 each
5 hires → $896 each

It was unconventional.
It was time consuming.
And it absolutely worked.

We helped staff what became Canada’s largest publicly accessible digital healthcare service. Eventually, hundreds of calls came in. 

No other market recruited physicians like us. 
I got tapped to help the US team, then promoted and given a raise (thank you JM!).

Fast forward to now:

My core service is résumé writing.
But I miss recruiting.

The puzzle.
The strategy.
The challenge of reaching people no one else can.

I’m looking to set aside 5-10 hours/week for one or two part-time or ad-hoc recruiting projects.

If you’re:

∙ A founder, people leader, or hiring manager
∙ Struggling to fill a niche or dealing with retention issues
∙ Looking for help that doesn’t involve handing $20K to an agency

Reach out and we can setup a quick chat about options. 

Thanks!
Sam

If you're struggling to land interviews, here's one of my tips for 2025:

1. Communicate your economic value
2. Take it to the right buyers

I break it down in this YouTube video:

https://lnkd.in/eNK8ayxu

Open video: How to land more interviews in 2025 – my simple approach on youtube.com

How to land more interviews in 2025 – my simple approach

6 weeks ago, I shared my top 3 FREE job seeker resources that I created and a plea for help: 

I was making paella for the first time. 

First, here are the free resources: 

1️⃣ My "6-figure" résumé template.
The exact format I use for my own résumé and with clients. 11,000+ downloads so far:

https://lnkd.in/eba4h-RG

2️⃣ 30-Minute DIY Résumé Guide (YouTube)
A step-by-step walkthrough on how to build a 6-figure résumé from scratch:

https://lnkd.in/eqNaC7tT
(A subscribe would be greatly appreciated 🙏)

3️⃣ My 5-step salary negotiation framework
Used by clients to negotiate $5K–$50K+ in additional comp:

https://lnkd.in/e9fUb3BD

Second, here's the ingredient list for my paella: 

∙Chicken 
∙Pork (forgot to add)
∙Prawns
∙Paella seasoning (SpiceMasters)
∙Onion
∙Peas (forgot to add)
∙Garlic 
∙Tomatoes
∙Red pepper
∙Parsley
∙Rice

Overview: 
- I pan fried the chicken, skin down, before removing. 
- Cooked onions, garlic, pepper and tomatoes in the juices
- Added chicken back in
- Added chicken broth + spice mix
- Added rice
- Simmered for 18 minutes
- Added prawns for the last 4 minutes (too long, try 2 min)

Summary: 
- It turned out *okay* for my first try. 
- I opted for pork at the recommendation of someone from Spain (thank you)
- I forgot to add the peas and pork (wine was involved)
- I will keep trying and iterating

Honestly, I think it's a dish that will need a fair bit more practice for me. 

Sorry if my attempt offends anyone 😅

For my US Sales network, 4 National Account Managers jobs right here that pay $135,000 - $155,000 DOE. Plus, check out the other perks: 

🌿 Base salary will be between $135,000 - $155,000 depending on experience
🌿 20% bonus based on individual and company performance
🌿 401(k) with matching
🌿 $500/month car allowance
🌿 Comprehensive benefits package

Apply directly on the site like Lana has stated. 

Good luck!

Director of Talent Acquisition & P&C Business Partner for Sales // Top Forty under 40 winner

With our growth in the US, we have multiple openings for National Account Managers:

🌿 NAM Target/Walmart: Minneapolis/Bentonville
🌿 NAM Natural Channel: Arizona/Colorado/Texas
🌿 NAM Ahold/Weis/Market Basket: Massachusetts/Pennsylvania/ Connecticut
🌿 NAM Convenience Store: Central USA

What we have to offer:

🌿 Base salary will be between $135,000 - $155,000 depending on experience
🌿 20% bonus based on individual and company performance
🌿 401(k) with matching
🌿 $500/month car allowance
🌿 Comprehensive benefits package

Details and how to apply on www.naturespath.com

Open article: Nature's Path: Healthy Organic Breakfast and Snack Foods by naturespath.com

Nature's Path: Healthy Organic Breakfast and Snack Foods

Hey! Do I have any video editors in my network that use Riverside and can offer a 1:1 training/Q&A session?

I need help with some basics – I've given the software a try 3 separate times now. 

I hear it's good but so far my experience with it has been complete garbage for various reasons. 

I think I can turn it around with some direction. 

Please DM if you are a video editor with experience using Riverside and your rates. 

Thank you!

taplio

Sam Struan's Linkedin Analytics

Sam Struan

Performance ScoreSam Struan's LinkedIn Performance

What is Sam talking about?

Sam Struan's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Sam Struan's Linkedin Analytics

Sam Struan

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Sam Struan's LinkedIn Performance

What is Sam talking about?

Sam Struan's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Sam Struan's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreSam Struan's LinkedIn Performance

Sam Struan's Best Posts (last 30 days)