A step-by-step guide to getting a job, without the usual nonsense

The easy way around is referrals

So you have to find ways to find referrals

Most employers, however, don’t have a fully standardised process. What do you do in those cases?

If you’ve already done the same work before, then you just need to practice telling your story. Skip ahead to the interview tips. But what about if you don’t have much relevant experience?

The basic idea is: do free work.

1. Find out what you’d be doing in the role (this already puts you quite a way ahead).
2. In particular, work out which problems you will need to solve for the organisation. To figure this out, you’ll probably need to do some desk research – here’s a simple guide – then speak to people in the industry.
3. Spend a weekend putting together a solution to these problems, and send them to a couple of people at the company with an invitation to talk more.
4. If you don’t hear back after a week, follow up at least once.
5. Alternatively, write up your suggestions, and present them at the interview. Ramit Sethi calls this “the briefcase technique.”

If the employer is on the fence, you can offer to do a two or four week trial period, perhaps at reduced pay or as an intern. Say that you’re keen to work there and feel confident that you’ll work out. Make it clear that if the employer isn’t happy at the end, you’ll leave gracefully.

Only bring this out if the employer is on the fence, or it can seem like you’re underselling yourself.

1. When you meet an employer, ask lots of questions to understand their challenges.
2. Prepare your three key selling points ahead of meetings.
3. Focus on what’s most impressive.
4. Prepare concrete facts and stories to back up your three key messages
5. Work out how to sum up what you have to offer in a sentence.
6. Prepare answers to the most likely questions. 

You need to build career capital

• Getting a job is a sales process. Think of it from the employer’s point of view, and do what the employer will find most convincing.
• Get lots of leads, especially by asking for introductions.
• Prove you can do the work by actually doing it. Do a project before the interview, explain exactly how you can solve their problems or seek a related position first.
• Once you get an offer, actually negotiate.
• Do whatever it takes to keep yourself motivated e.g. make a public commitment to apply for one position per day or find a partner to search for jobs alongside.

The best opportunities are less competitive because they are hidden away, often at small but rapidly growing companies, and personalised to you. You need a different way to find them.

We prefer the above tactics, but recruiters can be worth talking to, and are often more effective than just making cold applications. Look for those who have a good network in the industry you’re interested in. If you want to work in an organisation with a social purpose, check out ReWork . There are also recruiters who specialise in new graduates e.g. GradQuiz (UK).

The most useful thing you can do is find someone who recently went through the process, ask them how it works, and, if possible, practice the key steps with them. Sometimes there are books written about exactly how to apply.

The most powerful way to prove you can do the work is to actually do some of it. And as we saw , doing the work is the best way to figure out whether you’re good at it, so it’ll help you to avoid wasting your own time too.

If the employer is on the fence, you can offer to do a two or four week trial period, perhaps at reduced pay or as an intern. Say that you’re keen to work there and feel confident that you’ll work out. Make it clear that if the employer isn’t happy at the end, you’ll leave gracefully.

Also focus on developing strong skills and crushing it in your work. The best marketing is word of mouth — employers seeking you out rather than the other way around. If you’re great at your job, then people will actively want to refer you to employers, because it’s doing them a favour as well as you. Read our article on career capital to find out how to never have to job hunt again.