No. It is not too late. Now that we’ve settled that, you might be wondering what you can do at this point. Read on, and I’ll tell you how I went from 100 online applications and zero phone calls to 25 applications and 25 phone calls for interviews! Yes, that happened to me after I graduated with a PhD. And it happened this time of year, when “all of the good jobs” were taken.
First, don’t forget the long game
When I started applying to jobs, I felt pressure to look good on paper. Sell myself. I was convinced that if I didn’t get an offer, I failed. I realize now that my biggest problem with those 100 applications was that they weren’t authentic. I wasn’t representing my true self. Essentially, I was trying to trick companies into calling me. You’re here to meet real needs for real people, not just clear an interview and collect a paycheck.
Instead, build your network. Become an actual participant in your professional culture. Whatever field you’re in, you have the ability to connect with people at all phases of their careers. Not so you can ask them for favors, but so you can learn and contribute. Devote time to this, every day forever.
Here’s how:
- Build a LinkedIn profile that isn’t lame – it isn’t a digital resume service, even though that’s how many people use it.
- Find a professional who does your job and a person from HR from every company in your industry – connect or follow.
- Watch your news feed – it will be filled with content that real practitioners in your field are sharing. They’re teaching you new ideas, and they’re telling you what they care about right now (which is helpful in interviews…).
- Ask “why would someone post on this platform?” – the answer is to be viewed as a contributor to the profession. Give that to them. Like and share. Like and share. Like and Share (they’ll see your name every time you do this).
- Connect others – The easiest comment in the world is “Hey Sal, thought you might like this.” Tag one person in a comment on another person’s post. You’ve just connected them, with you in between.
- Talk with them – comments and DM’s go places. Build real relationships so that…
- When you apply for a job, you can let them know – don’t ask for anything, you have a real relationship. They’ll follow up.
Why does this work? Because you’re no longer a number and a piece of paper. You’re an actual contributing member to the profession. The only price of admission is hustle – you have to spend the time making connections, reading articles, adding comments, and tagging people. Map your actions to your goals and you’ll hit them.
Second, fish where the fish are
If you only apply to big named companies, you are trying to win in the most competitive space while leaving lots of opportunity on the table. Everyone’s heard of the big companies in your industry. And everyone looking for an internship applied there.
Instead, apply places that people haven’t heard of. Most of these are smaller businesses (10, 50, 500 employees). What this means is that the interns actually get to do something. Why? Because the professionals actually do things too. Don’t get me wrong, folks at the big companies are working hard too. But in a small business each team member wears multiple hats. Which means you have a chance to see what it’s like to work in multiple roles.
Where are they? Sub-Contractors.
The best kept secret (that isn’t actually secret) is that big companies hire smaller ones to do a lot of their work for them. Especially big companies that work on government projects. You’ve never heard of them, but they’re hiring. And far-fewer students are applying. To find them, search for businesses within a 5- or 10-mile radius of every military base and government facility.
If you think this doesn’t apply to you, just remember that the US Government has everything from internal newsletters (journalism) to websites (web development and marketing), social profiles (content marketing), census (big data and sociology), airplanes (engineering), the list is endless…
Also, these companies are listed in the Federal Budget – have fun reading that. It’s a catalog of jobs that none of your friends have heard of.
Third, stop applying online
If a job is posted online, you can assume it gets 10,000 applications. 10,000. Are you the best “on paper”? Will you filter to the top of that list? It’s so easy these days that people who aren’t even looking for jobs apply to openings! Just upload a resume and click “apply.” Are you really surprised that this isn’t working?
Here’s an interesting statistic (though a couple years old to be fair): 70% of job openings aren’t posted online. Just because that’s how your friends are hunting for jobs, doesn’t mean it is the only way to hunt for jobs.
Here’s the process I followed to turn 25 applications into 25 phone calls for interviews. The key is relationship-building.
- Email introduction – figure out someone who could be your boss and send them a brief email. Introduce yourself following these three steps: (1) I am, (2) From, (3) My specialty is. “I am Tony Ferrar, from the Intentional Academy, and my specialty is leveraging relationships to grow careers.” End your message informing this person that you’ll be sending your resume and cover letter to them in a couple days.
- Email resume/cover letter – it doesn’t matter how they responded to your first message. Send your resume and cover letter with another nice note pointing out one of your favorite things about their company. Let them know that you’d like to talk, and ask what time “Tuesday” works best for them. Don’t wait for an invitation, set a time!
- Call – Call them when you said you would. If they responded to your last message with “apply online,” do that beforehand and send a quick note letting them know you did. Thank them for the recommendation. (See what I did there? I just got this person in the company to recommend you). No answer? Leave a nice message. Call back. Stop when they ask you to or you get them on the phone.
- Got someone on the phone? Be you. Be you. That’s all.
If you get an offer, great! If not, you didn’t fail. You learned. Learn as much as you can, every day for the rest of your life.
Last, give yourself an internship
You don’t need anyone’s permission to go to work. Work for free until someone pays you to do it for them. Pick a project and start working. And tell everyone about it. Leverage your network to ask for help. I don’t care if you’re a business major or an engineer or an architect – you have the tools at your disposal to create something and share about the process.
Need Help?
I’m here for you. Send me a DM on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, SnapChat – @TheTonyFerrar. This process worked for me, it works for the students I coach, and it will work for you. Time to hustle!
