Imagine If You Could Only Sell to Those Who Issued an RFP. That's What Applying Only to Open Roles Is.

In sales, waiting only for RFPs (Requests for Proposal) would be career suicide. You'd miss 80% of deals. You'd watch competitors who built relationships early walk away with the best clients. You'd be reactive instead of strategic.

Sound familiar?

When you limit yourself to applying for posted jobs, you're essentially waiting for companies to issue their RFPs. You're competing with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of other people who saw the same posting. You're arriving late to a conversation that may have started months ago.

What Great Salespeople Know (That Job Seekers Don't)

The best salespeople don't wait. They identify potential customers and narrow down prospects based on the likelihood of a good match. They research. They understand needs. They reach out before the formal buying process begins.

Here's the secret: you can do exactly the same thing.

The AI Double-Edged Sword

Here's where it gets interesting—and a bit ironic.

AI tools have made it easier than ever to tailor applications. You can generate perfect cover letters in seconds. You can optimize your resume for any ATS. Sounds great, right?

The problem? Everyone is doing it now.

Companies receive floods of polished, AI-optimized applications that all sound eerily similar. So they respond by using AI to screen candidates. The result? Algorithms talking to algorithms. The human element—the thing that actually determines whether you'd thrive somewhere—gets lost entirely.

The Flexibility You're Missing

Here's something most job seekers don't realize: public companies are often required to post jobs—like issuing an RFP. But private companies? They have complete flexibility.

Many prefer to hire through referrals and direct outreach. It's faster. It's cheaper. It leads to better hires. When you reach out proactively to the right companies, you're not being pushy—you're actually meeting them where they prefer to operate.

The Mindset Shift

This isn't about being aggressive or pushy. It's about being strategic. It's about recognizing that you have value to offer, and the right companies would benefit from knowing about you—whether they've issued an "RFP" or not.

Think about it: when a great salesperson reaches out to you with something genuinely valuable, it doesn't feel intrusive. It feels helpful. The same is true when you approach companies thoughtfully, with clear understanding of who you are and what you bring.

Stop waiting for job postings like they're the only path forward. The best opportunities often come from conversations that started before anyone thought to post a position.

The question isn't whether you're qualified. It's whether you're visible to the right companies at the right time. And that's something you can control.