how to hustle your way into a job
TRANSCRIPT
By
Andy Parker
Co-Founder at Zealify
@ParkerACS
@Zealify
www.zealify.com
How to Hustle Your Way
Into a Job
Searching for a job IS a job
The basics:
Be willing to help yourself
Be polite – ALWAYS
Don’t be arrogant
Don’t fool yourself, there are
opportunities.
BUT you have to HUSTLE
Inside the Hiring Manager’s Head
o ~86 Applications per job role
o Tight for time
o Looking to hire the best person for the team
who can perform well in the job.
≠ the most experienced / high-performing
“Yes I am
interested in all
your vacancies.
Sign me up I’m
ready to work
hard.”
“Feel free to put
me forward for
any roles you
think are
suitable for my
skillset”
Generic Applications are your
enemy!
“I am interested to apply for the
available opportunity in your
organisation?”
Generic Applications are your
enemy!
✘ ‘Send to all’ templates
✘ Copy and pasted applications
✘ Scatter gun approach
DO NOT DO THIS
Generic applications will
receive the generic response;
‘no’.
If a candidate hasn’t taken the time and effort
to submit a well thought through application,
why should the employer take the time to think
through their decision?
“Your personal brand is what
people say about you when
you’re not in the room”
- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
You want the hiring manager to say:
“This person looks really
interesting. We HAVE to meet
with them”
What are the employers looking
for?
Attitude over aptitude
Value
Culture Fit
People who punch above their weight
Do you have Skill-Set / Market
Fit?
Examples of work & achievements?
Quantify them = context & value
Up to date skills? (Online courses)
Understanding & knowledge of the industry
Personal Branding: Quick Wins
Personal business cards
About.me
Professional Email signature
Your digital footprint
Personal website
Blogging – “blogging is the new resume”
Don’t discount Facebook
Your digital footprint
Personal website
Blogging – “blogging is the new resume”
Don’t discount Facebook
LinkedIn Profiles
Vanity URL
Complete profile
Attach work examples
Join Groups
Recommendations
Connections
LinkedIn Company Search
Use it for finding:
• Company details
• Job openings
• Size of the company
• Info about people who work there
Meetup.com search hack
Use it for finding:
• Relevant events to meet employers
• What events specific people (employers)
attend or organise
Marketing.grader.com
Use it for finding:
• Relevant articles / news about an employer
• Other interesting insights about the
company’s online presence
Warning: can spook people out.
Connectifier Chrome Extension
Use it for finding:
• A person’s social profiles
• Their email address
SideKick Chrome Extension
Use it for:
• Profiles in your inbox
• Tracking who opens and clicks your emails
• Schedule emails for later
Trello board – organise your
job search (and life)
Use it for:
• Organising your entire job search
• Storing your research
• Setting reminders
Leverage Your Network
Get Introductions!
Weak-ties > Strong-ties
Ask for advice – take people to coffee
Online networks & communities
Go to events and meetups
Communicate ‘WHY’
WHY is this particular company of interest
to you?
WHY is this particular role of interest to
you?
WHY are YOU the right person to join this
company and perform well in this role?
You need to be a problem
solver
Position yourself as the solution to the
company’s problems. They need to hire you
for a reason.
Most Common Mistakes
✘ Speling & Grammer :-P
✘ Attention to detail
✘ Not reading the job description
✘ Too generic
Need to show desire, passion, zeal!