Strategic Job Hunting Starts Here: The LAMP Method Explained
April 18, 2025(Last edited on: October 9, 2025)
In a time of economic uncertainty, job hunting feels more challenging than ever. New graduates are struggling to land their first role. Experienced professionals fear layoffs. And those already laid off find themselves sending out hundreds—sometimes thousands—of applications, often with no response.
I've been there too. Despite tailoring my resume and applying widely, I felt stuck—disheartened by the silence.
That's when I reached out to my university's career coach. Instead of suggesting more applications, she gave me something much better: a strategy. A framework. A smarter way to approach job hunting. She introduced me to the Employer Research Method—also known as the LAMP Method from The 2-Hour Job Search.
The Employer Research Method, inspired by Steve Dalton’s The 2-Hour Job Search, helps you identify, prioritize, and understand your target companies—so every resume you send and every conversation you start is strategic.
It’s not about applying everywhere. It’s about applying intentionally.
Step 1: Build Your Target List
Start with 25–40 companies that genuinely interest you. Use sources like:
- Top employer lists (Forbes, Vault, Glassdoor )
- Companies that recruit at your university
- LinkedIn’s “See Alumni” tool
- Job boards like Indeed
- Industry award lists
Make sure to include a mix of large corporations and high-growth startups. And don’t forget competitors—if you like Amazon, check out Walmart, Shopify, or niche ecommerce players like FreshDirect.
Step 2: Prioritize Using the LAMP Method
LAMP stands for:
- L = List = Your pool of 30–40 companies
- A = Alumni=Whether alumni from your school work there (Y/N)
- M = Motivation = How much you want to work there (scale of 1–5)
- P = Posting = Whether the company is hiring roles you want (Y/N)
Put these into a spreadsheet. Then sort and score to find your top-priority employers.
The template looks like:
LAMP Template
| Company L: Your Pool of Companies | Alumni A: Alumni Working There? (Y/N) | Motivation M: Your Interest Level (1–5) | Posting P: Relevant Job Posted? (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company A | Y | 5 | Y |
| Company B | N | 4 | Y |
| Company C | Y | 3 | N |
| Company D | N | 2 | N |
| Company E | Y | 5 | N |
Step 3: Do Deep-Dive Research
For your top companies, look into:
- Company mission and values
- Products, services, and business model
- Recent news and strategic shifts
- Competitors and market trends
- Employee reviews on Glassdoor or Reddit
- Alumni you can contact for informational interviews
This method actually powers your resume, improves your networking, and helps you assess cultural fit.
If you're also stressed with applications, maybe it's time to try something different.
Maybe it’s your strategy that needs a reset.
Take a moment. Pause. And come back with fresh energy.
Strat with one step: make your list
Then score. Research. Connect.
Job search is a numbers game, but it is also a focus game.