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Pluck up the courage and shoot your career shot in someone's DMs - I landed a new job by just pressing the 'send' button. It worked for me and you should definitely try it too.
Before I became intentional about the kind of job I wanted, I would continuously apply for roles I wasn't even suitable for, all in the name of getting one foot in the door.
But when I decided which specific fashion writer job I wanted, I made sure to become well acquainted with the company I was interested in.
I followed some of the employees and, of course, the founder of the company on social media such as LinkedIn and Twitter. I also gained knowledge about the founder's accomplishments, career timeline, and any projects she worked on that I loved.
No, I wasn't a stalker, I was doing a bit more than blindly sending through email applications - I was genuinely interested in this particular company.
I knew that if I get an interview at the company, it should be clear that I understand it's values, culture, and objectives. So I observed the company's journey, where they started, and how they landed where they are.
I consciously learned more about the leadership team on a personal level and engaged on LinkedIn by commenting on any status updates or articles posted, which resonated with me. I also invited the company's leadership team on LinkedIn and sent a personalised note sharing my interest in being connected.
I established authentic relationships and made it a mission to have them know my name for all the right reasons.
I had to be mindful of how I was presenting myself too. As a content creator, my social media accounts are an extension of my CV, and I had to ensure that I always highlighted that I am easy to work with and delightful to be around.
Before I slid in the company's founder's DMs, I asked myself what I was thinking by casually sliding in her DMs like we are old friends who brunch together on weekends.
But I quickly realised that I had nothing to lose, and I had been working for years to pitch to her and put myself out there. I had gained the experience I needed to toughen up as a young professional and I pitched and provided a portfolio that I was proud to present.
Here are the main four items I included in my DM-cum-job application:
1 - I introduced myself and mentioned how the new social media strategy the company was using had benefitted me as an end-user. I intended to demonstrate just how aware I am of developments at the company as well as to showcase my general knowledge of the company itself.
2 - After that, in one paragraph, I mentioned my skills, job experience, what I can offer the company, and what makes me unique.
3 - At the end of the DM, I had a call to action. Examples of calls to action can include asking for a meeting or exchanging contact details.
4 - I did not send my CV. I expressed my interest in joining the editorial team and asked if it was okay to send my CV. It may come off as very rude to send an unsolicited CV to someone's inbox, instead, ask politely if it's okay to send one.
READ MORE: SA tops 9 other markets including UK, Germany and USA with 47% women editors at news media outlets
Fast forward to a few weeks later,(after politely sending a follow-up DM), she responded and requested my CV. After reviewing my CV, I was asked to attend an interview and offered a role on the spot.
During the interview, I was authentic and prepared in advance by going through my portfolio and researching the company once again.
I learned to push through past failures and was reminded that vulnerability will manifest into something beautiful in ways more profound than you'd ever believe. Do the work, always be ready to create opportunities for yourself, so you can create the life you want and never look back.
How did you find your first job, or a new one? Tell us your story here.
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