Marketing You, Pt. 5: Applying For Jobs

Rather than applying through the front door and dealing with the standard application process (which is what everyone else does)... You’re going to get in touch with a company VIP (ideally via a mutual acquaintance) and meet with them to informally chat about a potential fit. 

Why it works:

• • You skip the entire HR process — which can take weeks or months — and go straight to the decision makers. 

  • You get real feedback instead of automated rejection notices. If they don't think you're a good fit, a VIP will usually tell you why. 

  • It's what employers want! Here's what the CEO of Cloudera wrote on his blog post, "How to Get a Job at Cloudera: "Don't just email us your resume... it's much better to come by way of introduction from someone we already know. If one of them sends your name and resume along to a hiring manager, you can bet that it gets special attention."

  • Perhaps most importantly, the VIP Application shows that you're a discerning candidate.

    • Most people are desperate candidates: They apply, then pray for the best. They're not picky because they just want a job — any job. 

    • Top performers are discerning candidates. They're not worried about getting a job, they're worried about getting the wrong job. 

    • They rarely look at job ads, and leverage their network instead. They chat casually with other employers even if they're not that interested — which makes the employers want them that much more.

    •  In other words, top performers use the VIP Application strategy all the time. And we always want to do what top performers do.

How to get to a VIP to check for Fit

The VIP Application has 2 steps: 

Step 1. Reach out to a VIP, ideally via introduction. 

Step 2. Meet with the VIP informally to see if there's a fit.

Ideally, you want to be introduced by a Connector. Remember, a Connector can be anyone you can reach out to that works at your target company: a former employee, a friend, a Natural Networking contact, etc. If you haven't already taken this person out to coffee, do so! At your meeting, be sure to ask: "Who do you think I should talk to if I were interested in a position at Acme?" That's your VIP.  Wait a few days, then email your Connector and ask if he'd be willing to make an introduction. (Check back at the scripts under Natural Networking for help.

1.) Reach out to 5 Tier-2 companies this week, using the VIP Application process outlined in Step 6. [10 hours] 

1. • This means reaching out to your Connectors for introductions if you have them, or pitching a VIP at your target companies if you don't. 

   • It also doesn't matter if the company is explicitly hiring or not! Reach out to them as if they are. Companies will be flexible for the right candidate. 

If you're really serious about only stopping once you have your ideal Dream Job: Repeat this process every week, refilling your pipeline with more companies as you go.

VIP Application: The Big Picture

Remember: The missing link in the typical person's job application strategy is feedback. That's why job hunters get so frustrated — they have no way to improve. But the VIP Application lets you test the market in micro-steps: 

Not getting introductions?       🢡  Improve your networking. 

Not getting email responses?  🢡 Focus on your pitch. 

Not connecting in person?        🢡 Develop your soft skills. 

On the other hand, if you're consistently getting YES, then you know that your Dream Job is within reach.

The interview is a test of how you behave in person. That's why even if you have all the right skills, one mistake can make you an automatic "No Hire." It's not just what you say.

Remember, you're constantly sending out dozens of tiny Competence Triggers, from your vocal tone to your body language, that affect how others perceive you. Top performers understand this, and treat every single interview question as an opportunity to display their high competence. 

Dr. Perkl Sidenote: This is a lot of pressure, but really, when I am interviewing, I am looking for MATCH TO THE JOB PURPOSE more than anything - I want a candidate who also wants the job I have on offer. That means they researched it a bit though, or they ask great questions, and they show me how they align (or tell me they're not interested fast if they're not!). I don't mind a little humanity, awkwardness, imperfection etc. In fact, it often comes across as more honest, because I am not hiring for interview skills! 

Open-ended questions are challenging, unavoidable, and few things will make you stand out more than acing each and every one of them (e.g. Tell me about yourself). Once you perfect these, you can apply your new skills to every aspect of the interview process. Top performers anticipate the most common questions in advance, and prepare accordingly. Here's the 3-step method I use to give the "perfect" response to almost any question:

1. Find the Question Behind the Question.

2. Find the Plain English Answer.

3. Polish to Perfection.

That's the basic theory behind answering tough interview questions. But there's a big difference between knowing what to do, and actually pulling it off in practice. Knowing the perfect answer is one thing. Actually giving it, live and under pressure, is another experience altogether.

“WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?”

Typical (bad) answer: "I work too hard" or "I have a problem saying no to responsibility." Hiring managers have heard these lines a thousand times.

What's the ? behind the ??: "Are you aware of your weaknesses, and what do you do to address them?"

Brainstorm potential plain English answers:

• • “I have poor time management.” [Don't say this]

  • “I've only worked for one company most of my career.” [This is OK] Let's work with this one.

Polish up an answer: "My biggest weakness is that I've spent the majority of my career working for one company. In some ways, that can limit my perspective. Of course, I've worked in a variety of departments — and in fact I was promoted faster than anyone else to run XYZ — but I'm ready to take what I've learned to a different culture and industry, and that's why I'm here."

See the difference? Instead of dodging the question with the standard non-answer, you tackle it honestly, openly and professionally. That's what hiring managers want to see.

Notice the flow + story:
You start with a broad answer, give some crisp details, then go immediately into the takeaways, all in just 2-3 sentences. Finally, as a bit of an advanced technique, notice the throwaway line about your rapid promotion. They can ask you about your weaknesses, but they can't stop you from talking about your strengths.

There's only one solution: practice! It's amazing, but most people don't practice at all. They did all this hard work to get an interview, then simply show up and wing it.

• • Recite responses in front of a mirror (good) 

  • Record yourself on video (better) 

  • Practice with a skilled friend (or the career center, etc.), and video tape it (best) - seriously. YOU PAY FOR THE CAREER CENTER and have access for up to a year after you graduate. USE them!!  They even have a method for practicing interviewing from your pc, tablet, or phone! 

Big Interview | Interview Learning & Practice Tool

Pick the 5 questions you think you’re most likely to be asked, and script out your responses in advance. Simulate the interview as much as possible: Dress up, sit in a chair, and face your interviewer across a desk. Observe, or have your partner observe and give feedback on your: 

• Answers: Detailed, but not rambly 

• Body language: Attentive but relaxed, smiling 

• Voice: Loud, clear and expressive 

Practice each question at least 5 times. When you’re able to give perfect answers consistently, you’ll be ready!

1. Reach out to more experts for coffee if you have time (especially ex-employees).

2. Study the job posting and your own resume in detail. Assume you will be asked about every line item.

3. Do last minute homework and be sure you're up-to-date on any media mentions of the company.

Tips for Types

Phone: Stand up, keep a mirror in view to self-correct body language, and smile! (Dr. B does these at the bathroom counter, with the door closed to ensure no distractions, my materials all over the counter, and sometimes I even paste a person's face on the mirror to give me a real person to look at as a point to respond to emotionally. Emotions come through the phone!)

Skype/Video: Do a hybrid of both types of prep - especially be sure to test your 'look' and your setup where you plan to do the interview beforehand with a friend. That will help you be confident during the actual live interview.

In-person interviews: Prepare at least 5-10 good questions, several copies of your resume and pen & paper. Arrive in the area 20 minutes early, but enter the office ~7 minutes before the actual interview

Using the 3-step interview process, write at least 10 questions you anticipate, and their answers, into a Toolbox document. [5 hours].

Start with at least these 5 essentials: 

• • Tell me about yourself. 

  • Why do you want to work here? 

  • Tell me about your experience at X. 

  • Tell me about a time when [some challenging work situation] 

  • Why should we hire you? 

Remember, the 3 steps are:

• 1. Find the Question Behind the Question.

  2. Find the Plain English Answer.

  3. Polish to Perfection.

Finally, practice until it's perfect, either alone or with a friend. [5 hours].