How I Landed My Dream Job in Two Weeks on #LinkedIn, Part 2: The Michaela Method Revealed!

Whoa. 

Never, in a gazillion years, when I posted my recent post "How I Landed my Dream Job in Two Weeks on LinkedIn: #MyLinkedInStory and Tips!" did I have any idea that (to date) 98,035 of you would have read, commented, and shared it! 

I've received plenty of questions over the past two weeks about my strategy, initial post, and the process of my "supersonic search", also known by some of my LinkedIn friends as the "Michaela Method" , so I've decided to continue my last post and explain how I landed my Marketing Manager role at Grade A in two weeks. 

Wait! This post needs a Michaela touch, so before we get started, here's a photo of a baby sloth in a coffee mug: 

Ahh, much better. Without further ado, here's how I took control of my job search and proactively landed the career I've always wanted! 

1. I didn't use LinkedIn as Craigslist. 

I make that comparison because the majority of users that still believe that LinkedIn doesn't "work" haven't put in the effort to make that call. If you're only using LinkedIn when you need it, like you would selling an old couch on Craiglist, you're doing it wrong.

I spent years building up my network and sharing content before I leveraged it to find my dream job. Don't use LinkedIn selfishly and when you need something, it's like that guy that believes networking means handing out as many business cards as possible. Don't be that guy.

You need to invest to make a withdrawal. 

2. I spent my free time sharing my skills. 

 Every one of us possesses valuable knowledge to offer, regardless of the industry we're in. When I wasn't at an interview, I spent my time creating posts that I knew would benefit my connections. Each post I write takes about a day to produce. I also curated content that I found useful and interesting. I put my network first. 

3. I maintained positive relationships with co-workers. 

I've made it a habit to always ask for at least three recommendations for each position: 

1. From a person senior to yourself (or junior if you hold a management position) 
2. From a co-worker who worked in a different group at the same company
3. From a client outside of the organization

I do this because garnering recommendations from different perspectives gives potential employers a clear view on your personality in the workplace, allowing them to reach a decision more easily. 

4. I activated career tunnel vision.

When I first mentioned that I was looking for a full time position, I received plenty of offers for coffee dates or lunches to "pick my brain". Obliging to those meetings while on the job market can distract you from finding "The One". I started politely declining offers that I didn't feel were beneficial to my overall goal. 

The same is true about interviews. As job seekers, we tend to jump on every interview opportunity, but if you know that the position is not a good fit, don't be afraid to keep looking. Think about your future self. 

5. I never let my ego win. 

I was rejected during my job search. In fact, just hours before my recent post went viral, I received a rejection email. I lost to another candidate after multiple rounds of interviews because "I didn't have as much PR experience." Oops. You can't take it personally, it's not always about qualifications or personality, but about fit. Also, remember that interviewers are human, and hiring mistakes happen every single day. Don't give up. 

I actually interviewed at Grade A about 5 years ago. I didn't get the job, even with my chocolate bar resume, no less! The reason? It had nothing to do with my work ethic, or personality, or the fact that I forgot the 4 Ps of marketing during the interview, but because I didn't have any B2B experience at the time. 

Fast forward 5 years, I had met their credentials, and the managing partners, Mathew and Allan, noticed my post on LinkedIn. They created a position just for me! It just shows the importance of maintaining relationships and never giving up. Every day brings new possibilities, even a second interview after 5 years! 

6. I made my career goals public. 

Not only did I write down my goals, but I made them public on LinkedIn, which instantly made me more determined to make it happen. Suddenly, I had 7000 cheerleaders helping me complete my mission, asking how my interviews were going, tagging me in career openings, and introducing me to new friends that helped me along the way. I raised the stakes to realize my career goals. 

7. I broke all the rules. 

I didn't do things the traditional way.

My resume is edible, I put silly Snapchat photos on proposals, I spent time writing posts on LinkedIn rather than scouring job listings on Indeed.com. I'm still not sure if my handshake is too firm or too limp, and I feel silly wearing blazers to interviews.

I used LinkedIn as a job search method because it felt right to me and I was tired of wasting time doing things the way they are "supposed to" be done. 

If I had to give just one piece of advice to my fellow job seekers, it would be this:

Don't be afraid to break the rules and sprinkle personality in everything that you do. Creativity will stand out against your competition every single time. Do it your way.