Beer Goggles #11 - 5 Things I learn while looking for a job
Hopefully next time the job will look for me.
Over the past year I have been attempting to change my career from one in management consulting to one in the advertising industry. Fortunately for me this aspect of the journey has now come to a close and I have landed my first job at an advertising agency.
Despite the somewhat happy ending I will be the first to admit that my search has not come without its share of challenges and self-doubt. As such I have decided to document 5 things I learned as a way of concluding this chapter of my life:
Read
Especially when looking to shift into an industry you have no experience in, it is important to know what you are getting into and be able to talk the lingo when going for interviews.
A great way to do this is to read. Any sort of content based around the industry you are trying to enter will do. My personal preference is a mix of books and podcasts.
Consuming content about the industry is the easiest way to learn more about it at a relatively low cost and level of commitment. Reading can act as a sort of litmus test for if you might enjoy being in the industry. If you can get excited or passionate about topics within the industry it could be a good sign that you might like a job there. Additionally, it is also a great way to learn what sort of roles or departments you might be interested in.
I also found that when going for interviews or coffee catch ups with people in the industry, it was always great to ask if they had any book or podcast recommendations. This has three benefits: 1) you might get some great suggestions 2) It signals to them that you are keen and actively trying to learn more about the industry 3) it can give you a platform to talk about what you have already read.
Talk to people
My next learning is that talking face to face is always better if you can manage it.
Going to networking events for the industry is a great way to meet people at all levels in the organisation. In my case I was lucky enough to meet someone within the advertising industry association who introduced me to key players in exchange for helping out (serving drinks) at an event. Having an ally that wanted to help you was endlessly useful and encouraging.
Don’t be afraid to talk to junior members of the industry. Although they might not be the ones that can offer you a job directly, they can pass your name up the chain. Additionally, juniors will often give it to your straight without all the fluff.
Going to these events is great to bring up in job interviews to signal your dedication and interest towards the industry as well.
LinkedIn is a powerful tool
I have never been the biggest fan of LinkedIn. The ‘humble’ brags and corporate glazing that litter my feed make it close to intolerable at times. However, it is an incredibly powerful tool for networking and job hunting.
The job search feature and ability to set job alerts can be really useful to keep tabs on certain types of roles or companies. Additionally, over time it learns the sort of roles you are looking for and will begin to suggest similar ones.
For me though the most important feature is the ability to see who works in a specific organisation and then send a short message to them along with a connection request. I highly recommend following the pages of companies in the industry you are looking at as it is a great way to get updates on their activity.
Reaching out to people and sending a polite hello to someone on LinkedIn has been the single most useful tool in my job search, and is what ultimately led to me getting a gig. Although before you start DMing entire organisations there are a few things to take into consideration:
Think about who in the organisation would be the most useful to engage. You can sort employees by their location and what type of role they are in, to help narrow the search . If you are unsure, I would recommend starting at the top of the hierarchy and working your way down. You can always ask who the best people to reach out to are once you get your first few bites.
Look at it from their perspective. Some people out there are not greatly enthused by the idea of strangers on the internet asking for favours (and even less so jobs). Instead of straight up asking if there are any opportunities, consider trying to make this as low effort for them as possible, or at least offer some kind of incentive (it's not bribery I swear). After a bit of trial and error I found that the best approach was to give a quick introduction and then offer to buy them a coffee in exchange for their advice or guidance. If this is not to your liking it can also be worth having a few questions that you can send through in an email as well.
Here is a generic version one of the messages I might have sent on LinkedIn:
Through this I was able to get face-to-face meetings with people which eventually lead to interviews or ideas on how I could change my approach.
A lot of people won’t respond but don't get dismayed, persistence is key.
It could also be worth investing in LinkedIn premium (or at least getting the free trial for a month) as you have an increased number of characters to send the notes with and there are no restrictions on how many you can send.
Persistence is key
As cliche as this may be, your persistence will be rewarded. Looking for a job is a lot like fishing, you just gotta be patient. Sometimes getting a job may just come down to being in the right place at the right time, but if you are polite and insistent in checking in with people there is a higher chance you will be front of mind when an opportunity comes up.
The more you email, message and meet people the better you will get at it, and over time you will craft a great narrative that you can tell for job interviews as to why you should be there.
Networking and interviewing are skills, so it will take time to get better at them. Remember this for those moments when self-doubt starts to creep in, and you feel like you are getting nowhere. Don’t try to be in a huge rush and enjoy the time for what it is, you'll get there.
Find other things to keep you occupied and enjoying life.
You don’t want a job hunt to completely take over your life.
Yes, it can be stressful and yes, you have got bills to pay. But it’s a process that takes time and will not happen overnight. So it is important to give balance to your life and take time away from applications and spend some time on your passion projects, hobbies and be with friends.
For me this was learning to play the guitar. It helped to keep me busy and gave me something interesting to talk about in interviews, as well as the fact I just really enjoy doing it.
Use the time you have and try to enjoy it. Don’t let the pressure of what other people are doing and what a typical pathway through life might look like phase you. It is your race you get to run it how you want.
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