As the saying goes, good things come to those who hustle. And when it comes to landing the job of your dreams in 2018, a little bit of hustle is most definitely required. With only 30 percent of available jobs actually advertised in this day and age, finding jobs the old-fashioned way is becoming increasingly uncommon.
Now let me make myself clear when I say that I don’t necessarily agree with organisations recruiting hoards of university students as unpaid interns, in a bid to save money on staffing. Working in the media industry I have seen the damaging affects of this first-hand and I whole heartedly believe that good work deserves fair pay.
But as somebody who interned my whole way through university and walked straight into my dream job before classes even wrapped, I have learned that sometimes sacrificing pay for the right opportunity in the short term is the key to success in the long term.
As Dr. Heather Berg, a labour expert at the University of Southern California says, “When you realise they’re taking advantage of you, take advantage of them right back.”
So how do you make sure that all those hours of unpaid work actually pays off, and pays up? Here’s a crash course in hustling your way into the job of your dreams, kids.
Get an Internship
It may sound painfully obvious, but the first step towards landing your dream job is simply just getting your foot in the door. You may think convincing somebody to let you work for free will be a piece of cake, but let me tell you, the intern market can be just as competitive as the job market. Make a list of the top 10 organisations in your city that you would like to work for and then find a way to show them why they need to give you a shot.
Create a killer CV, put together a standout portfolio and do everything you can to get some face time with the right people. Got friends or classmates who are interning or working somewhere you would like to be? Leverage those connections and ask them to put in a good word for you. I got my first big break when Emma put in a good word for me at the magazine she was working at, so you should never underestimate what will come from having somebody on the inside.
Act Like You’ve Already Been Hired
You’re in? Great. Now don’t screw it up! Just because you’re not getting paid, it doesn’t mean you have an excuse to be anything less than professional. Dress to impress, put in the hard yards and whatever you do, don’t complain about the menial tasks you may be given. Do your best to conduct yourself as the dream employee and do everything you can to show your boss you have what it takes. It’s okay to ask questions and learn, but make sure you also make the most of the skills you already have and show off what you can do.
On my first day interning at the magazine that eventually hired me, I made an effort to write just as many online articles as the staff writers and people quickly noticed that I was a good asset to the team who didn’t need to be hand-held through tasks.
Make Friends at the Top
As an intern it’s easy to be intimidated by those in senior positions, but putting yourself out there and making an effort with those above you could be the difference between landing the job of your dreams and being overlooked. There’s a fine line between being a suck-up and building valuable relationships. Avoid being fake or disloyal to your teammates, but don’t afraid to spark up conversation with your boss or show senior managers that you aren’t afraid of them. Trust me, they will respond to your confidence.
Find a Way to be Invaluable
You may feel that you don’t have much to offer, but you probably have more going for you than you realise. Look for gaps in knowledge and skills within your internship organisation and then figure out how to fill those gaps. Think about what you are able to offer that other staff may lack and then find a way to show your boss how you can be valuable in this area.
When I was interning with the organisation that eventually hired me, I noticed that despite being a modern women’s lifestyle magazine, nobody was really writing much about health and wellness. I knew a little bit about this area, so I started writing about fitness and nutrition for our online magazine. Before I knew it, these articles were some of the best performing pieces of online content on the website and people started to realise we needed to be doing more in this space. Suddenly I had created my own area of expertise and I had found an area where I had something unique to offer.
Find a Way to Make it Work
So they like you and they want to give you a job? Don’t be discouraged if what they offer you to begin with isn’t exactly what you had in mind. Stay open to taking a part time role within the organisation or accepting pay that may be a little lower than you hoped. Don’t compromise on what’s important to you, but remember that sometimes you have to start small if you want to eventually reach the big time.
If the pay sucks, consider negotiating other perks like an extra week of holiday or freedom to work in other departments from time-to-time to help expand your professional skills. The journey to the top is never smooth, but play your cards right and you never know where you may end up.
