There’s no doubt in my mind that every young person has a dream job or career direction, but what we don’t know is how to get our foot in the door and stand out from the crowd.
I’ve been really lucky to have had experiences and gain jobs such as working with the BLACKCAPS, Cricket World Cup 2015, Melbourne Grand Prix and now the Sydney Thunder BBL & WBBL sides, all by following these 5 strategies.
Although these strategies have worked for me in the sporting industry, I have NO doubt the same concepts apply to whatever direction you want to go.
So here they are. My top 5 strategies for getting your foot in the door of your dream job.
1. Add Value
What can you do that is going to add value and help that person or organisation? If you want to stand out of the crowd and leave a mark, you should always be thinking about how you can add value. Instead of emailing an organisation or person asking to just “help out” or “taking them out to coffee”, you should be reaching out with an offer that is going to add value to what they are already doing. That offer should align with your unique skills & strengths which could be helping manage social media, creating content, redesign their website or brochures, an inhouse barista and errands running hand etc.
2. Volunteer Your Time
Don’t be that person that thinks your time is so valuable that working for free is beneath you. If you truly desire to be working in this field or with this person then the experience and industry contacts should be more than a big enough payout for you. What you also need to remember is this is all about getting your foot in the door and earning the respect of your potential new boss, and the best way to do this is by showing your intent early.
3. Pick Your Moment
When I say pick your moment I mean when you’re about to send that first email or make that call for the first time about getting involved you need to really pick timing carefuly. If you want to be involved with a professional sporting team or organisation for example it’s probably not the best idea to reach out the day before the final as they are most likely to be extremely busy and occupied. If you want to be in and around a top tier accounting firm, reaching out right before the end of the financial year probably also isn’t going to work! Pick and choose your time carefully as you want the person you are contacting to be able to be fully immersed and present when they receive that first contact. Everything you do, including that first contact should be thought about and carefully excecuted.
4. First In, Last Out
Put in the hard work and do as Garry Vaynerchuck says, “eat dirt”. Turn up early, do far more than you are expected to do whilst having a smile on your face and be prepared to be the last to leave. Show everyone that not only can you add value, but you’re willing to work hard and far beyond what’s expected of you. You’ll pretty soon find that people will begin to rely on you – and that’s when you know you’re onto something big!
5. Sacrifice Something.
Know this. That working towards anything is going to require you to sacrifice something, and quite often that sacrifice comes in the form of time. Time with friends, time with family, time doing the things you love, time to sleep etc. Sacrifice is going to happen if you peruse your dream, especially in the early stages – so don’t be fooled that everything is going to be all roses and daffodils! But if this is what you want to do it will all be worth it and, in the end, it won’t have felt like a sacrifice at all.
