How Not to Get a Job
Hi, I’m Matt Tillotson, and this is Matt’s Mix Tape. My life is a new mix these days. And so is this newsletter.
(Got some weird looks on the plane while drawing cartoon cows. Oh well. #newsletterlife)
How not to get a job
Online job searches are a cold, mysterious, and anxiety-ridden.
Submit a resume. Hope some scanning software likes the keywords. Then maybe some anonymous person will read your resume and send you an automated email invitation for a short online video discussion.
It’s hard to get your head above the digital herd in that situation.
But people try, and it’s smart to do so. However, there’s an effective way. And then there’s the other way.
So many people choose the other way.
The best way to reach out for a job
The effective way is to send a crisp, interesting note that contains some value. For example:
Hi hiring person,
So excited about the Hyperdrive Engineer II position you recently posted. In researching for the role, I saw you’re pushing your space fleet to make the Kessel Run in just ten parsecs. Incredible!
I recently participated in research where we were able to get 23% higher hyperdrive efficiency while operating at peak speeds. I wrote the research summary which you can read here. I’d love to talk with you about it.
As a hiring manager or exec, I’m interested. You did research. You brought something interesting and valuable to the table. You picked your head up above the herd.
The way most people reach out for a job
Unfortunately, outreach often goes like this:
Hi hiring person,
So excited about the Hyperdrive Engineer II position you recently posted. I can’t wait to learn more! Could you please send me your detailed thoughts on company culture, your current policy on paternity leave for Wookies, and the company’s last three years of Imperial tax records. Thank you!
This person has immediately introduced themselves as a burden. They want something your company has (a job), and they try to get it by … asking for something else first.
Like my friend and Cohort 9 Alumni Mentor Extraordinaire Louie Bacaj says:
Louie Bacaj@LBacajIf you view everyone you meet in life as someone you can help or as someone that can help you, then it becomes pretty easy to get to great outcomes.
And most times you can do both with the same person.7:01 PM · Sep 9, 2022
34 LikesReaching out to stand out is good. But bring value. Don’t be a burden.
(By the way: we’re hiring at Write of Passage.)
And speaking of Write of Passage
Enrollment for Cohort 9 begins Monday. At Write of Passage, we have three core commitments to students. We help you:
- Publish quality ideas
- Find your people
- 2X your potential
Founder David Perell made a short video about the opportunities you can create by writing online:
David Perell@david_perellHere’s a little video I made about what I’m working on and why writing online is such a huge opportunity 11:19 AM · Sep 9, 2022
19 Reposts · 268 LikesMaybe we’ll see you in Cohort 9. Let me know if you have questions.
This week’s Florida photo
A shot from America’s finest airport, Tampa International.
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