Thread by @julianwtgreen

[Thread] I've been pondering for a while now on how to share this, and now I'm ready. Starting today, I'll share regular threads of information, content and experiences that will hopefully add value to your pursuit.

Below we'll look at 10 steps to follow to help you get there.

The pursuit I'm referring to is ensuring you have all the necessary knowledge, strategies & preparation to get your foot in the door, making the most of the opportunities that you may encounter chasing your dreams when trying to find that dream job in today's digital world.

[Disclaimer] This is not another hustle porn-related post. This is what I've used in my journey and believe can work for you in your own way. Adapting some of these tips and incorporating them into your daily routine may land you the job you dream of or create an opening for you.

Step 1. Identify the core skills you possess. In my case, it was writing, analytical skills, a knowledge of the creative arts & culture I had picked up at university as well as from consuming media and experiences throughout my childhood.

Step 2. Identify the industry you want to enter with your current skill set and learn from. For me, this was the digital marketing, media & tech space.

Step 3. Use the tools at your disposal to acquire as much information about this industry and the environment that it exists in. The resources you have around on a daily basis are the perfect start. A mobile device or smartphone. A pc or laptop. A library with internet access.

NB: USE THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO NOT ONLY ENTERTAIN YOURSELF BUT ALSO TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE. THERE ARE A TON OF SMART PEOPLE TO LEARN FROM ON HERE. USE THIS POWERFUL RESOURCE WISELY AND WATCH YOURSELF GROW.

Step 4. Coupled with that knowledge, identify which companies you would like to work for and the roles you want to grow into. Explore their values by perusing their websites for information. Make a hit-list of which companies or agencies you'd like to apply to.

Step 5. Look introspectively at yourself to identify areas or your own strength and ones to work on. This is the most important and most difficult step. I used an opportunity abroad teaching English to work on public speaking. I also joined Toastmasters to polish this skill.

Step 6. Reflect, reframe and review all your efforts so far. This is key to understand what you're doing well and where you can improve. Ask for feedback from peers, friends and family. Use this to inform the level of effort needed to improve your areas of strength further.

Step 7. Look for an opportunity to gain experience and leave your comfort zone. I offered my writing services for free to a local house music blog. This allowed to test me and explore my passion for music further. Looks great on the CV too. Self-starter > self-doubter.

Step 8. Research best practices on CV preparation, dress codes for your industry, the industry jargon, what fuels these spaces. If you can, find someone in your desired space to shadow and possibly help for free - great! Then do it.

Step 9. Look at your desired industry, and try to establish where it is headed. The easiest way to do this is by setting up Google Alerts on topics that will give you insight into the industry - you'll receive daily email updates to keep you sharp in terms of your knowledge.

Step 10. Shoot your shot. Find companies that will be open to your service/value offering and demonstrate your willingness to learn. This is a highly sought after trait in potential candidates. Ask to shadow for free if you can. Apply for that internship. Start doing.

NB: This is not a one-size-fits solution for everyone. Resources may be limited, but there may be options available to you that you are unaware of. Expose yourself to as much as possible outside of your comfort zone to grow.

In the upcoming posts, I will look at how to prepare yourself for an interview, selling yourself as a resource of value and planning for the future in your career. We may also explore what to do when things do not go your way and how to pivot for success defined by your goals.

If you've already read through this thread and you're curious to know how I managed this process for myself over the past five years, thank you🙏. You can read about it more on Medium here: medium.com/@julianwtgreen…