Such great advice - this is so helpful! For outreach (either following up on an application or reaching out when there are no relevant roles), what do you think about messaging on LinkedIn vs email?
This came in so handy as an undergraduate student. Thank you so much for taking the time to generously compile these tips and their respective screenshots - I will look back to your article as a handbook as I pursue and apply for internship and job opportunities.
This is great sadly I despiceeee linkedin, its truly pure hell but I know either I get a job by being super social (not me), or yeah corporate girl linkedin😔 hate the creative field cuz you need mostly the social part many luckily dont have linkedin
Such good tips! The tell me about yourself question is guaranteed but so many people never answer it well. My answer used to be pretty mediocre but about a year or two ago I wrote out my “0-20 story” that I answer with every time no matter who is asking. I get into unique details about my life before age 20 that shaped me into the person I am today and it’s typically received really well. Everyone has a story that made them who they are, and this is a great place to share it!
I love that. The question can be annoying but it’s such a good opportunity to pitch yourself at the very start of the interview and get someone really excited about you.
Such great advice- thank you for sharing! I’ve been in marketing for about 8 years now, and was recently laid off. I’ve worked exclusively in the wine & spirits industry, but I’m hoping to pivot to a new industry (with no traction yet). I will definitely be implementing these suggestions!
Good luck with everything and let me know if I can be helpful! I'm sure your wine and spirits experience will bring a lot of value to the right brand, no matter the industry.
Wow such insightful and specific advice. Again, I find your articles resonate across a number of fields and disciplines! I’m not in the world of marketing, but I do have my own company, and I wish new candidates would implement these techniques! It’s tough to be on the hiring side as well!!
Thank you so much for all the effort in putting this together; its so hard trying to find a job as a recent graduate but these tips really led me in the right direction!!
This is sort of wild, but 7 works more often than people think.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how to land a role for which your skills transfer, but which is still being seen as a big “pivot.” In other words, how to turn your unique experience into a reason for them to hire you, rather than a reason not to. People are risk-averse. If they see you as an outsider, they’re inclined to hire the “safer” person, who has held the same role elsewhere. Even if you’d be a great hire, and even if the other candidate is not as strong. People seem to repeatedly seek out what they know. I find that the more you try to push back on this, the worse it is. I try to lean into it, but then find I’m just affirming their bias for them. There has to be a sweet spot. I think a lot of people are in this situation.
This is a very astute observation. In my experience, new startups and inexperienced founders are more likely to take a risk on someone, often because they don't even fully understand the business challenges yet and therefore, what they'll need in a hire. For job seekers looking for something different, I think you'll have better luck with smaller startups than large companies. That said, I'm biased because that's been my personal experience. What do you think?
“Now, brainstorm an idea or make something relevant to the role to share with the hiring manager.”
This is great advice. A creative team at our agency got hired with no experience (one was a medical illustrator) this way. They knew our founder loved weird, disruptive stunts and so dressed up as FedEx drivers to deliver their resume directly to him.
That won’t work on everyone, to your point you have to research your audience. But the principle of “show me what you can do” is so true.
That's genius! I've always loved projects in an interview process for this exact reason, but sometimes you need the show-and-tell moment upfront to get your foot in the door.
This is such an interesting post to me because I'm trying to move into marketing (I think). I want to do experiential marketing/producing and have 8 years working in events. As a freelancer, I feel like no one know what to do with my resume because it seems like I hate commitment. But I don't. I only get hired as a contractor usually. I'll try directly messaging people. Thanks!
Super interesting! It could help to get ahead of the question about your freelance/consulting experience by putting a statement at the top of your resume. Then, you can reinforce that message and explain why you’re looking for a FT role (and why you’d be great) in an outreach email to the hiring manager.
Such great advice - this is so helpful! For outreach (either following up on an application or reaching out when there are no relevant roles), what do you think about messaging on LinkedIn vs email?
I think LinkedIn is easier to ignore than email but do whatever you can! :)
Thank you so much!
Great advice here!
Perfect timing!
OOOOH good luck! I'm here if I can be helpful xo
I’ll definitely be messaging you soon;)
So helpful! Just used this thank you template for a big interview I had today. 🤞🤞🤞
Yay!!! Crossing my fingers for you!
This came in so handy as an undergraduate student. Thank you so much for taking the time to generously compile these tips and their respective screenshots - I will look back to your article as a handbook as I pursue and apply for internship and job opportunities.
I'm so glad! Good luck with your search — send me a message if I can be of further help.
This is great sadly I despiceeee linkedin, its truly pure hell but I know either I get a job by being super social (not me), or yeah corporate girl linkedin😔 hate the creative field cuz you need mostly the social part many luckily dont have linkedin
Such good tips! The tell me about yourself question is guaranteed but so many people never answer it well. My answer used to be pretty mediocre but about a year or two ago I wrote out my “0-20 story” that I answer with every time no matter who is asking. I get into unique details about my life before age 20 that shaped me into the person I am today and it’s typically received really well. Everyone has a story that made them who they are, and this is a great place to share it!
I love that. The question can be annoying but it’s such a good opportunity to pitch yourself at the very start of the interview and get someone really excited about you.
Such great advice- thank you for sharing! I’ve been in marketing for about 8 years now, and was recently laid off. I’ve worked exclusively in the wine & spirits industry, but I’m hoping to pivot to a new industry (with no traction yet). I will definitely be implementing these suggestions!
Good luck with everything and let me know if I can be helpful! I'm sure your wine and spirits experience will bring a lot of value to the right brand, no matter the industry.
Yes to shooting your shot, and yes to a handwritten thank you note. More of this!
This was the definition of helpful as an unemployed marketing girly! Thanks Kate! 👏🏼
I'm so glad! Good luck with the job search and let me know if I can help with anything else.
Wow such insightful and specific advice. Again, I find your articles resonate across a number of fields and disciplines! I’m not in the world of marketing, but I do have my own company, and I wish new candidates would implement these techniques! It’s tough to be on the hiring side as well!!
Thank you so much for all the effort in putting this together; its so hard trying to find a job as a recent graduate but these tips really led me in the right direction!!
Esther, I’m so happy to hear that! I know it’s a weird time in the job market — I hope these tips helps
This is so insightful, thank you
Thank you for reading! <3
This is sort of wild, but 7 works more often than people think.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how to land a role for which your skills transfer, but which is still being seen as a big “pivot.” In other words, how to turn your unique experience into a reason for them to hire you, rather than a reason not to. People are risk-averse. If they see you as an outsider, they’re inclined to hire the “safer” person, who has held the same role elsewhere. Even if you’d be a great hire, and even if the other candidate is not as strong. People seem to repeatedly seek out what they know. I find that the more you try to push back on this, the worse it is. I try to lean into it, but then find I’m just affirming their bias for them. There has to be a sweet spot. I think a lot of people are in this situation.
This is a very astute observation. In my experience, new startups and inexperienced founders are more likely to take a risk on someone, often because they don't even fully understand the business challenges yet and therefore, what they'll need in a hire. For job seekers looking for something different, I think you'll have better luck with smaller startups than large companies. That said, I'm biased because that's been my personal experience. What do you think?
“Now, brainstorm an idea or make something relevant to the role to share with the hiring manager.”
This is great advice. A creative team at our agency got hired with no experience (one was a medical illustrator) this way. They knew our founder loved weird, disruptive stunts and so dressed up as FedEx drivers to deliver their resume directly to him.
That won’t work on everyone, to your point you have to research your audience. But the principle of “show me what you can do” is so true.
That's genius! I've always loved projects in an interview process for this exact reason, but sometimes you need the show-and-tell moment upfront to get your foot in the door.
This is such an interesting post to me because I'm trying to move into marketing (I think). I want to do experiential marketing/producing and have 8 years working in events. As a freelancer, I feel like no one know what to do with my resume because it seems like I hate commitment. But I don't. I only get hired as a contractor usually. I'll try directly messaging people. Thanks!
Super interesting! It could help to get ahead of the question about your freelance/consulting experience by putting a statement at the top of your resume. Then, you can reinforce that message and explain why you’re looking for a FT role (and why you’d be great) in an outreach email to the hiring manager.
Thanks! I'll try that.