1/ I've gotten three IMPORTANT jobs in my career by acting somewhat unconventionally

Do NOT just put your application through the system and wait for your dream job.

Here's a thread on acting unconventionally

2/ There's going to be a lot here, and it all may not be useful. I hope you can pick and choose what might be useful for where you are at your career.

Also, as always, my DM's are always open if you want to kick around ideas.

3/ Early in my career, I felt stuck in entry level. I helped manage a @Staples store by age 18. I honestly did nothing except show up and work hard. Promoted 3 times.

The secret here was to emulate the best of my manager and avoid the bad. It positions you well for promotions.

4/ That role was eventually eliminated. I found one of those local cell-phone repair stores and applied for management.

I studied the owner (who I now consider a friend) and his businesses. My resume and cover letter was tailored to that.

5/ Nothing special there except years later the CFO (who interviewed me) told me that she saw a lot of the owner in me and that helped the hiring decision.

Hard to say if that was engineered or not.

6/ This role was still entry level, but better. I was getting my degree and became obsessed with more.

I sent a late-night email plea to the owner for more, and outlined what I was capable of and how I could do more. Note, this is a really bad email. I was younger, ok?

7/ This is not made up. In interviewing, the CEO (my to-be boss) asked if I knew excel and much about databases. He needed someone analytical. I told him yes.

I stayed up ALL night learning. Weeks after that the same. I only told him this years later and he laughed.

8/ No hacks from there, I just worked my absolute face off. Was it worth it? Maybe not.

My growth and learning stunted here once I achieved the role of Director years later. From Technician to Leadership in 4 years

I sent hundreds of LinkedIn messages asking for coffee like so

9/ I took coffee meetings 2-3 days a week with strangers at 6am. I wasn't looking for a job, but eventually someone said, "do you want one?" So I left the previous company.

Moral here? Talk to as many people as you humanly can. You're wasting time if you're sleeping in.

10/ That company couldn't afford me for long (go figure) so I spent a few months collecting myself and seeing family. I took it hard.

Because of everyone I met in my early morning coffee meetings, I had more job prospects than I could imagine. For once in my life, I had choices.

11/ I found what I considered to be a dream job, and through my network, got coffee with the COO. He is a great guy.

I could tell I was under-qualified and didn't stand a chance on paper. I went home and created a presentation for him.

More here: https://medium.com/@mcgrathcullin/the-personal-pitch-deck-unconventional-ideas-on-getting-a-job-fe6a2829a7ec

12/ Long story short, and a lot of followup, I got the job, and moved across the country.

I seriously did not stand an ordinary chance. There were over 400 applicants for this role on LinkedIn alone.

13/ I hope none of this comes off as braggy. It is not my intention, and I honestly hate talking about myself in this capacity

I just want to provide something tangible for people to take instead of the theoretical narrative commonly found on Twitter

14/ If anything, take this career advice with you:

• You will have to work harder than your peers, and this will often take extra hours

• Be prepared (especially if young) to have to prove your worth often. It sucks, but has to be done

• You never know if you don't ask