Read on Twitter
I applied to 300+ jobs in 2013.
Got rejected from all of them.
Two years later, I was in final rounds at Microsoft, Google, & Twitter.
The result?
An offer from Microsoft with a $70k+ raise.
Here’s a
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="collectie" aria-label="Emoji: collectie"> with the 9 steps I used to make it happen. ↓
Got rejected from all of them.
Two years later, I was in final rounds at Microsoft, Google, & Twitter.
The result?
An offer from Microsoft with a $70k+ raise.
Here’s a
1/ Understand Who Companies *Really* Hire
I used to think the most qualified candidate got the job.
That& #39;s not true.
Companies don& #39;t hire the most qualified candidate.
They hire the person they believe will deliver the most value.
My new goal?
Be that person.
I used to think the most qualified candidate got the job.
That& #39;s not true.
Companies don& #39;t hire the most qualified candidate.
They hire the person they believe will deliver the most value.
My new goal?
Be that person.
2/ Choose 15 Target Companies
To illustrate value, I had to narrow my focus.
I stopped applying to random jobs online.
Instead, I made a list of 15 target companies.
Then I aimed to learn everything I could about:
- Their goals
- Their challenges
- Their major initiatives
To illustrate value, I had to narrow my focus.
I stopped applying to random jobs online.
Instead, I made a list of 15 target companies.
Then I aimed to learn everything I could about:
- Their goals
- Their challenges
- Their major initiatives
3/ Find 150 Prospects
I knew I needed a referral.
An internal advocate would help me skip the line and maximize my value.
So I made a list of 10 contacts at each company.
I aimed for potential hiring managers and teammates.
10 contacts * 15 companies = 150 total contacts.
I knew I needed a referral.
An internal advocate would help me skip the line and maximize my value.
So I made a list of 10 contacts at each company.
I aimed for potential hiring managers and teammates.
10 contacts * 15 companies = 150 total contacts.
4/ Start Making Contact
I didn& #39;t ask for a referral up front.
I made my initial outreach about the other person:
- I engaged with their content
- Recognized career transitions
- Asked for advice and followed up with results
After a few touch points, I asked for a call.
I didn& #39;t ask for a referral up front.
I made my initial outreach about the other person:
- I engaged with their content
- Recognized career transitions
- Asked for advice and followed up with results
After a few touch points, I asked for a call.
5/ Identify Opportunities For Value
I used these calls to perform discovery.
I& #39;d ask my contacts about:
- Their journeys
- The biggest challenge their team is facing
- The six month goals for their team
I& #39;d look for any opportunity where I could illustrate tangible value.
I used these calls to perform discovery.
I& #39;d ask my contacts about:
- Their journeys
- The biggest challenge their team is facing
- The six month goals for their team
I& #39;d look for any opportunity where I could illustrate tangible value.
6/ Research, Research, Research
With my potential opportunity in hand, I& #39;d start researching.
My favorite tactics were:
- Surveying customers / prospects
- Performing competitive analyses
- Gathering credible industry data
Then I& #39;d prepare my pitch.
With my potential opportunity in hand, I& #39;d start researching.
My favorite tactics were:
- Surveying customers / prospects
- Performing competitive analyses
- Gathering credible industry data
Then I& #39;d prepare my pitch.
7/ Crafting A Pitch Deck
I packaged my pitch in a short slide deck:
I introduced the problem / opportunity.
I backed it up with industry data.
I shared 2-3 ideas or solutions with an execution plan.
Then I sent the deck to my contact and asked for a referral.
I packaged my pitch in a short slide deck:
I introduced the problem / opportunity.
I backed it up with industry data.
I shared 2-3 ideas or solutions with an execution plan.
Then I sent the deck to my contact and asked for a referral.
8/ Examples of Ideas
For Google, I created a personalized pitch strategy for a potential client.
For Twitter, I shared 5 ideas for monetizing their existing audience.
For Microsoft, I surveyed SMBs and turned the feedback into a strategy to help Microsoft Ads reach more SMBs.
For Google, I created a personalized pitch strategy for a potential client.
For Twitter, I shared 5 ideas for monetizing their existing audience.
For Microsoft, I surveyed SMBs and turned the feedback into a strategy to help Microsoft Ads reach more SMBs.
9/ Referral + Value = Opportunities
Now I was walking into interviews with 2 things:
1. A referral from an internal advocate
2. A clear, tangible illustration of my value that directly related to the company& #39;s goals
The focus was on that, not my non-traditional background.
Now I was walking into interviews with 2 things:
1. A referral from an internal advocate
2. A clear, tangible illustration of my value that directly related to the company& #39;s goals
The focus was on that, not my non-traditional background.
10/ Landing The Offer
At the end, Microsoft extended an offer.
I officially became a Partner Manager at Microsoft Ads.
That job took my total comp from $70k / year → $130k / year.
All without “traditional” experience and without applying online.
At the end, Microsoft extended an offer.
I officially became a Partner Manager at Microsoft Ads.
That job took my total comp from $70k / year → $130k / year.
All without “traditional” experience and without applying online.
11/ Want More Advice Like This?
Give me a follow!
I share highly actionable threads on job searching and careers every Friday.
Check out my podcast where I share job search tips in 10-15 minute episodes: https://cultivatedculture.com/podcast
Hopefully">https://cultivatedculture.com/podcast&q... we& #39;ll see you back here next weekhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤙" title="& #39;Bel me& #39;-handsymbool" aria-label="Emoji: & #39;Bel me& #39;-handsymbool">
Give me a follow!
I share highly actionable threads on job searching and careers every Friday.
Check out my podcast where I share job search tips in 10-15 minute episodes: https://cultivatedculture.com/podcast
Hopefully">https://cultivatedculture.com/podcast&q... we& #39;ll see you back here next week
