the next generation of job matching
Hey y’all!
Mariam from Forward here 👋
In today’s edition:
Apply to be our Part Time Social Media Marketing Associate!
When (and how) to go “above and beyond” in your applications
Register for a free networking workshop on Jan 22nd
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This week’s curated job postings
Texas-based & remote marketing jobs: early career and transparent salary
Check out all live early career job openings on Forward’s job board, updated weekly.
Career Tip of the Week
Sending a non-cringe networking email.
Putting yourself out there with people you don’t know (and people you do) is one of the most uncomfortable parts of job searching.
Here are the key ingredients to an outreach email that is professional, personal, and impactful:
Use your real voice. It’s no secret that our inboxes and DMs are flooded with bots. And sometimes in an effort to sound professional, we come off as robotic. Write naturally, but crisply!
Don’t keep the email too long - focus on key info only! It’s tempting to write a whole essay to someone providing context and updates on what you have been up to. For the purposes of this initial email, you only need to mention (1) why you are reaching out to them (2) highlights of your background/updates and (3) a clear, concise ask.
Your ask should be clearly highlighted, reasonable, and with some context. 30 minutes is standard, and I always recommend naming exactly what you’d like to talk about (e.g. “would love to pick your brain on if grad school makes sense for me” or “I’m looking for advice on my application to x company.”)
If you are looking for some examples of what this outreach can look like, click below:
📣 We are doing a free networking workshop on January 22 @ 6:30 pm CST!
Over 90 minutes, we will cover:
How to find people to network with
How to reach out to folks
How to craft and deliver an elevator pitch
How to maintain your new connections!
Overheard from a recruiter
I’m having conversations with recruiters, hiring managers, and other talent decision-makers weekly, and want to share tidbits of what I’m learning with y’all here too!
FYI - these aren’t direct quotes, but a summary of a longer conversation!!
“In my first job, I was completing all my tasks and getting it done. But then one day my manager told me that I wasn’t showing any initiative. I didn’t understand what that meant! No one told me that part of being good at your job is about going outside of the job description, and thinking outside the box.”
I’ve been thinking about this story a lot. So much of our success at work, including getting the job itself, requires knowing the “unspoken rules.”
Don’t just write the cover letter, include a little intro video.
Don’t just work with your manager, but internally network with other teams.
Don’t just do the tasks you are given, come up with whole new tasks!!!!
Now… this is not necessarily fair. There are a lot of layers of why this is problematic. But it is the reality of how the system works right now, so you deserve to know that!
It’s a very fine line of doing unreasonable free labor vs. doing little things to make you stand out in a competitive market, and everyone has to draw that line for themselves.
My advice is not to go “above and beyond” for every job you apply for; identify those few that truly stand out as exciting opportunities and invest your time and creative energy there!
Here are a few ideas:
If you are applying to a marketing job: Create a design board for a marketing campaign
If you are applying for a research job: Attach research papers you have conducted or do your own research paper on that company
If you are applying for a business development job: Create your own pitch deck on yourself!
If you are applying for a strategy job: Create a one-pager on industry trends that you would be watching on behalf of that company
Refer a friend to this email newsletter, and upgrade your career journey
If you refer 5 friends to this email newsletter, you’ll get a free resume review session
If you refer 15 friends, you’ll get a $50 digital gift card
If you refer 25 friends, you’ll get a speaker
Take a break
Job searching is hard work. You deserve a break. Here’s how I took time to rest and recharge this week!
I did a cute, cold girl walk with my dog Dwight along the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk here in Austin!
If you are looking for a good 45 minute walk, park your car off S Pleasant Valley Road and S Lakeshore and walk all the way down the boardwalk and back!
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Thanks for showing up this week! We appreciate you. See y’all same time next week!
Mariam Matin
Connect with me on LinkedIn!