This comic talks about how getting a job is like entering a club. It’s a metaphor to help put the job-seeking experience in a relatable metaphor. This is done for fun, so don’t take it too seriously.
So you want to go to a club. You could queue up with everyone else in the long snaking queue.
But the night’s dark and sweltering. And your squad is getting impatient. Surely there’s a better way in?
If you decide to wait, that’s the equivalent of applying for a job via a job portal or LinkedIn. That’s what most people do: send in their CVs and pray for a response.
Of course, in both clubs and jobs, there is more than one way to get in.
For some people, their relatives run the club. Oh, they’ll get in for sure. Bob, this is my cousin. Let him in.
But what if you’re not? Are you disadvantaged? Of course. Are you screwed? We don’t think so.
Maybe you’ll call your friend, who’s already inside, who has a guest list. Or maybe you’re friends with the bouncer.
That’s like getting a referral from a friend who’s already an employee in the company.
Perhaps you know the DJ from the last time you partied. That’s like knowing the upper management in the company.
Maybe it’s about changing the composition of your group to suit the club’s requirements better.
That’s like going to your prospective employer with a very specific solution that can help solve a problem.
If there are two things I’ve learned from clubbing, it’s this:
1) Family connections help
2) But it’s also not that hard to create new ones.
All you need is some initiative and bravery. If you put yourself out there, you’ll be surprised at how many friends you can make.
In the same way that unlikely friendships are formed outside clubs… You can meet many helpful people who’ll one day help you in your career. Hey! Saw this opportunity and thought of you!
Having said that, if you have no choice but to queue up for the front entrance, that’s fine. Just do yourself a favor and optimize your odds of entry because everyone else is doing that.
Stay woke, salaryman.
Some actual tips for finding corporate backdoors:
LinkedIn is your friend
Reach out to the hiring supervisor and ask how you can optimize your submission to make things easier for them.
Reach out to existing employees (especially if you know them personally) and ask them what it’s like working for the company.
Find out what the company/department/ manager is looking for and present it as part of your pitch.
Be persistent and passionate; sometimes showing up multiple times can work (but don’t be annoying)
Credit: Salaryman
