After being in the industry for a couple months, I have used this ‘technique’ quite often already. When I was interning at the San Diego State University Entrepreneurial Management Center, my supervisor mentored me very well. One thing I really appreciated was the tip he gave me over lunch one day.

“Get to know people” he said.

He suggested that you contact directors, ceos, thought leaders and just ask them out for a cup of coffee or tea or even lunch. Why?

It is all about networking right? It’s the people you know. I always remember hearing this when I was growing up. So if the message isn’t clear by now…GET TO KNOW PEOPLE!

Now I never said it would be easy, but the payoff is well worth it. Often times the person might blow you off (which is understandable). They are busy, they actually have work to do! Don’t worry, keep trying. These kinds of people will notice that you are going the extra distance and REALLY want to meet them. Don’t be annoying, but be persistent and if you have to meet them at 6:30am…do it.

I could go on and on as to why you should set one up.. but I’d rather you just try it out and see for yourself. Be yourself with no hidden agenda except to chat with them on topics that are relevant to their industry and the work that you do. Above all, have fun and go out and meet people!

Trust me, you’ll do fine.

How It Began

On April 6th, 2010 I set forth on a journey. I was unemployed, had a lot on my mind, and a dream. I told myself…I WILL get a job at an advertising / marketing company here in San Diego.

Click here to read my original post where I set my goal.

During this time I also did a lot of freelance so that I could pay bills and what not; however, this was not cutting it. I wanted something more. I wanted a career. So this is where my story began. A couple months ago I set a goal…I would get a job in my field before I turned 24 (in less than a month). I got this idea after watching a movie called Julie and Julia. Anyways, I digress.

The biggest challenge was actually getting responses. I would send out a couple resumes, make several phone calls and of course, I went through craigslist. Let me tell you that out of all these job hunting activities…none of them really worked.

What made a difference was when I started putting myself where the professionals were. That means joining clubs, networking on LinkedIn, engaging conversation on Twitter, following companies on Facebook. After I joined these networks, I was one of them. Well, I wouldn’t say it is that easy. You have to work at it.

I ultimately got my interviews through clubs I joined, networks I participated in and the through the people I knew. There is no 100% solution to this problem; however, I hope the following list of tools may aid you in your search. Let me know if it has helped you or of you have any other tips I missed!

The Portfolio

This is probably the single most important item in your arsenal. If you are looking to get a creative position, it really depends on the actual work that you do. I carried around a physical leather portfolio with my most recent and best work. It’s very important to have this as there will be times you want to show your online portfolio, but you might not have access to internet or the individual might just want to see it right away. I’m not saying you have to carry it 24/7; however, keep it with you when you know you might run into important people.

The Online Portfolio

Hands down another very important part of your arsenal. I ran analytics on my site so I know there are several times a recruiter will pop onto your website and darnit, it better be good. Just think of it as a way to talk to a recruiter without actually being there. I kept my website simple and easy to navigate. If you don’t have a website, I STRONGLY recommend getting someone to design you a custom website that will resonate with potential employers.

The Cover Letter

Don’t be boring. Keep it short, sweet and to the point. Also..have a personality..PLEASE!

The Resume

If you are applying for a creative position, be sure to make it creative! Please for the love of god…don’t use a word template. There are plenty of great examples on the world wide web. I suggest you search ‘creative resume‘ or something of that sort to get inspiration. Be sure to feature relevant experience and capabilities.

The Interview

Aside from showing great work…I believe the next best thing is to show personality. You will be spending about 40 hours a week with these people and they want to know you are human. Things they look for: professionalism, personality, and portfolio. Let’s call it the three P’s of interviewing.

The Card

Do you have a business card? This is the common question I get asked when I’m out networking. Often times you don’t have a lot of time to talk to a single person (nor should you) for a long period of time. The last thing you want to do is jot your phone number on a bar napkin. This is where having a unique business card will help you build that contact.

The Follow-Up

Be sure to write a handwritten thank you letter to the people that interviewed you. It also wouldn’t hurt to send a quick thank you email after your interview just to show promptness. Also if there was something interesting that happened during your interview, don’t hesitate to be funny or creative with your response. In one interview I was asked what I’d bring to a potluck. I loved this question because it wasn’t a typical interview question. I also loved it because I’m a huge cook so I ended up answering the question and followed up the next day by sending a flickr account full of photos of my cooking.

If these tips don’t help, I’d also recommend increasing your skill set in the meantime. In the midst of interviewing, why not take a couple more classes or learn as much as you can from the internet?

After all is said and done, here are the top tips I can give you:

1) Be Confident and Professional

2) Be Friendly and Personable

3) Have fun!