You might have just gotten out of college and you are thinking to yourself how can I have a great career? Should I use Linkedin? How should I network in this post-covid world? In truth, there are several things you need to do in the right order to start moving in the direction of what you want. I will quote Tony Robbins on this, well not word for word, but the first few steps are always the hardest. You need to get yourself going just to have momentum. So here are a few steps that I guarantee will help you reach the job of your dreams:
1) Goal setting: decide where you want to be in 5 years, and break it down backward into small chunks until you reach the first 3 tasks you need to do – one great tool I use is from Tim Ferris’s 4 hour work week that helps you plan it financially as well – the Dreamline plan [which you can find in the following link:https://bit.ly/3KdZREF ].
You get bonus points if the career you’re picking is in something your not only passionate about, but something you are good at or at least plan to be good at [don’t panic if you aren’t good at it, just use the same goal-setting strategy to find out what you need to do tomorrow to become good at it].
2) Log in some experience in the field: companies tend to appreciate your experience more than your education. They want to make sure you can handle clients, handle pressure, and that you deliver great quality work in a timely manner. Always be open to learning and take any feedback you can get! Remember, you are you student of life, always and forever.
3) Build your Linkedin profile: I would suggest you get on that ASAP, because in our world today that is exactly how you your profile gets instant exposure by recruiters. Start as early as your Freshmen year of college. Make sure you are presentable in a professional manner – unless you’re aiming for startups then your profile has a little more leeway in terms of professional feel. Your profile building really depends on what the industry needs. For example consultants usually look for good grades, engineering students / business students and extracurricular activities. Startups look for someone who isn’t afraid to go back to a white board and can grind on a sales level.
4) Network on Linkedin: reach out to experts and don’t get worried about whether they will reply or not / whether they are going to be rude or not. Who cares! Through this approach, you will eventually make a bigger network that could serve you in the near future. Make friendships not just connections, and be genuine about it. Help others the way you want to be helped.
5) Network in real life: I can never stress this enough “your network, your networth”. Look for any friend of a friend or friend of a family member. Ask everyone in your circle if they know someone in the field you are interested in. I like a quote from a Denzel Washington’s speech on Youtube: if you hang around the barber shop long enough, sooner or later you’re going to get a haircut. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times a connection got me a job.
6) Consume knowledge in your field of interest: I don’t care how you do it, reading, podcast, audiobook, youtube, workshop or a coaching session, whatever floats your boat, just make it happen. This is the only way you can stand out infront of competition. I will make list of best books I came accross in 2021! So stay tuned.
7) Try all variations of your field: make sure you find out what piece you are in your field’s machine. Be the expert in something, the go to guy and you will never fail to succeed. You need to know what kind of monotanous work you enjoy doing. Not all aspects of your work will be interesting and some might be challenging for your character. Remember, no one pays you to do something enjoyable. They usually pay you to do what they aren’t willing to do especially in the first few years of your career.
8) Career Vs. Job: Always pick a career over a great paying job. Remember it is a marathon not a race. The destination is somewhere really far away. Also never fear to take a step backward to move ten steps forward, thank you Gary Vaynerchuk for this advice. I get this question so often: should I forgo money for a better future career. Yes! As long as you have a roof over your head and your family is doing okay, then do it!
9) Be willing to do the hard work and don’t fear failing: whether it’s catering a CV for a job on Linkedin, creating a cover letter or contacting the team of the company you are aiming for, it all requires hard work, don’t ever give up! If you need help with this check out my coaching program where I take you through all these steps and set you up for success! Reach out to me at yahya.alfreh@gmail.com or visit the following link: https://themillennialstage.net/coaching-services/
10) Consistency is key: Put the effort 20 mins a day, comment on people’s Linkedin, be an active part of the community. Meet people go for coffees. Do internships all through college years, work hard and remember first impressions matter the most.
Image and material credits
A big thank you for:
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash [Feature image]
Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash [The networking image]
Photo by Saulo Mohana on Unsplash [Job vs. Career Image]
Tim Ferris for his Dreamline plan
themillennialstage.net 