How to Bring Jobs to You - Building the Flywheel
How I got an Amazon interview 1 week into a career change.
Welcome back.
Last week we talked about jobs, the best backdoor into the Valley, and why you should be wary of big platforms.
Here’s what’s in store for this week:
Building a flywheel that brings jobs to you.
More curated job listings.
The power of detaching.
Bonus: I’m also giving away something special (worth $180) to one careful reader. If you want to supercharge your LinkedIn experience, make sure you read to the end.
Building the Flywheel, Part I
This is part 1 in a mini-series to overhaul your LinkedIn to bring you job leads while you sleep.
I started my career transition back in January 2022. One week in, I got this from an Amazon recruiter:
2 key points, before I continue:
Recruiters send these out all the time.
That doesn’t matter. I’d made the list. Brought a job lead to me. While I was asleep.
Now, recruiters send me messages like this all the time.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to show you how and why, so they can start bothering you instead.
The Flywheel
If you already know what a flywheel is, you can move to the next section.
Imagine a bike wheel, but much bigger and heavier. After it’s spinning, a flywheel keeps going even after the thing that turned it stops.
Today, we’re going to start turning a metaphorical flywheel.
One related to landing you your dream job.
Crafting the First Impression
Pretend you’re a recruiter, trying to fill a job. You check hundreds of resumes and profiles a day. Now, you land on your LinkedIn profile.
Try to look at it from an outside perspective, and be honest. Would you hire this person?
We’re going to make sure that’s a “yes.”
Our mission? Turn every single area recruiters look at into a strength.
Let’s get started.
The Profile Pic
This is the first thing a recruiter sees.
It should be professional. Do NOT use a selfie.
A lot of people recommend paying for professional photos.
It’s not a bad idea, but I want you to take action today.
If you have an iPhone and an Apple Watch, prop your phone up at eye level and take the shot with your watch.
If you don’t, leverage what you do have: A friend, a family member or a random person off the street.
The Cover Photo
Part 2 of our initial impression. Pick something that clearly conveys what you do:
Canva has great templates for this, both free and paid.
The Headline
This should explain what you do (in your targeted role) in 3-5 words:
STOP using “aspiring”. Recruiters don’t want to hire “aspiring” people. They want to hire the real deal.
Act the part.
Take Action
Make these changes, and send out 5 connection requests this week to people already in the job you want.
That’s enough to start turning that flywheel.
Next week, we’ll build on this foundation and really make it spin.
Curated Jobs
If you were interested in last week’s JP Morgan Software program, I got a few more details from one of our Founding Members (shout out, George):
It consists of 3 or 4 questions. One question was relatively easy, but the other ones were pretty hard. If if you are not very familiar with complex math word problems, then you might have trouble. If you pass the coding challenge, then you have to do a team hackathon, and if you pass that, they interview you and give you a decision.
Program Spotlights
Here are a few lesser-known programs hiring right now.
2 aimed at sophomores that identify with specific groups, and one for our UK friends.
(Sophomores) The Advancing Hispanics & Latinos Fellowship Program
This 6-week paid program has opportunities in:
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Asset & Wealth Management
Commercial Banking
Community & Consumer Banking
Corporate, Consumer & General Management
Corporate & Investment Banking
Software Engineering
Link to program.
(Sophomores) The Advancing Black Pathways Fellowship Program
Another 6-week paid program that offers opportunities in:
Corporate & Investment Banking
Commercial Banking
Asset & Wealth Management
Software Engineering
Corporate, Consumer and General Management
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Community & Consumer Banking
Link to program.
(UK-Based) Technology Degree Apprenticeship
This four-year apprenticeship program offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of technology within financial services, and the chance to obtain a full honours degree in Digital and Technology Solutions from University of Exeter.
Roles: Cyber Security | Software Engineering | IT Consultancy & Project Management | Data Analytics
Applications close: Tuesday, 31 January 2023 23:59 (UK time)
Link to program.
Remote Internships
Most of these were posted in the last 72 hours.
College Tech Internship Program at Humana - Apply
Data Analyst Internship at Hanson Professional Services - Apply
Data Analytics Grad Intern at Optum - Apply
Digital Marketing Internship at TikTok - Apply
Product Management Internship at Enterprise - Apply
Software Development Engineering Intern - Apply
Entry Level Software Developer Apprentice at Catalyte - Apply
Entry Level IT Help Desk at Advantage Tech - Apply
Technical Program Manager Intern at Crown Castle - Apply
Human Resources Intern at JBIER - Apply
Human Resources Internship at Freeport-McMoRan - Apply
(Military) Jr Enlisted, DoD SkillBridge Apprenticeship Program at Ebay - Apply
Learning How to Detach
Remember that “outside perspective” we used above when viewing your LinkedIn profile?
That leads into a powerful technique to help you in all areas of your life: learning how to detach.
The idea is simple. Whenever you notice yourself getting angry or upset, take a moment and zoom out.
Pretend you’re someone else observing the situation, and ask yourself why things are going the way they are.
Detach. Assess. Regroup. Press forward.
Navy Seal Jocko Willink says it best:
“You have to detach from those emotions—step back from them a little so they don’t control you. You can do that by taking a deep breath and telling yourself to calm down.”
Here’s a 1-minute video, if that’s your thing:
Learn to do this, and you start setting yourself apart from the average person.
You realize you can choose how to react to any situation. It becomes a superpower.
Jocko has a great book on Extreme Ownership. It covers this art of detaching, and many other leadership principles that helped him become one of the most esteemed Navy Seals in the program’s history.
If you’re interested, you can find it here (affiliate link, for full disclosure). I prefer the Audible version myself.
Have a Great Week
That’s it for this week.
To recap:
Overhaul your LinkedIn to start that flywheel.
Check out the job postings to see if any are a good fit.
Start practicing the art of detaching. Grab Jocko’s book if you want to do a deep dive on the topic.
Reply and let me know what you want to see more (or less) of.
See you next week, where we’ll really make that flywheel spin.
Bonus
As a thank you for reading this far, I want to give away 6 months of LinkedIn Premium for free (a $180 value).
To be eligible:
Like this post
Vote in the poll below to let me know what you thought about the length
I’ll randomly pick one of you later this week, email you the gift voucher and give you a shout-out in the next letter.
More fun stuff to come in the future.
Stay tuned.
Ways we can connect:
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow the Exponential Growth Podcast
Really needed the detach technique, thanks!!
The information that you provide in these weekly emails is amazing! Very inspirational content and opportunities for those that need it! Thanks again!