Shooting Your Shot: Creating Opportunities

Last night (when I should've been sleeping), I was thinking about this startup. Not just any startup, but a startup that, if able to scale and expand, could change how we go about the job application process. The premise of this startup was that for many entry-level job opportunities, you don't necessarily need a degree. With the right tools and guidance, ANYONE could build their career. Imagine the possibilities, where innovation booms because we have a thriving workforce that isn't limited to just those with college diplomas. Our corporate offices would look a lot more different. Diversity would be a standard. I spent the majority of the night thinking of what could be. Then I realized, "I need to be a part of that."

The name of the startup in question was Crash, an expansion of the Praxis program. The mission is something I believe in, but before I could continue thinking about what I would do if I were part of the company, I had to become a part of it first. The real question was, how was I going to do that?

For the longest time, we told job seekers to put together a resume, scour the job boards, apply for an opening, and wait. For a while, that was the only way. Nowadays, we have more options. How many times have you heard, "I got the job because I heard about an opening from a friend who works there." or, "I got the job because I struck up a conversation with someone on the team while getting coffee at Starbucks." It happens more often than you might think. Job seekers aren't waiting anymore. We're taking matters into our own hands, getting creative and getting noticed.

I had the why(why I wanted to work there), I had the who(who I wanted to work for) but what I still needed to figure out was how? How was I going to get Crash to notice me? I already had a slim chance because there weren't any openings. Plus, though I had interacted with members of the team, I didn't know any of them well enough to just ask for a shot. So, It was time to get creative. I looked at all their social media and went over the website. Looking for anything I could create or blog about to show that I not only understood what the company was doing, but that I was capable of taking on work without being asked and thus bring value.

After some research and brainstorming, I created a project and made a quick video explaining my skills and why I wanted to work for Crash. During my research, I made a note of those who would be in charge and got their contact information. I drafted a polite email and uploaded my content. I had nothing to lose by sending the email. The worst that could happen was that they would ignore it, and if that did happen, hey at least I tried. Thankfully, I did hear back from a member of the Crash team. Though there weren't any openings, they appreciated the fact that I showed real interest and said that if there were opportunities down the line, I would be considered.

I didn't get an immediate offer for a full-time position with Crash. But I did get noticed, and that's a start. By taking the time to put something together that shows I am genuinely interested in the company and prepared to get to work, I'm already one step ahead of everyone else. By being one step ahead, I'm one step closer to working at a company I believe in. My next personal steps are to make sure I stay in touch with the Crash team and keep thinking of ways to show how I would be an asset and then execute. If you keep finding and knocking on doors, chances are; eventually, one will open. I've lost nothing and gained a possible opportunity. All because I dared to shoot my shot.