Hey, friends.
Last week, I went ahead and admitted temporary defeat. It would seem that I blinked, and all the sudden my client list tripled. That's great. But, when you manage your own workload like I do, you have to be very, very aware of over-promising and under-delivering. So, that's where I find myself this week.
This is the first time in five years that I am actively not looking for work. Or for more work, at least. I remember reading those articles five or six years back -- for the marketers: they were pretty stupid articles then, and this was before clickbait content went through the roof -- about how being a freelancer or getting into a creative field is a slow, uphill battle. It's true, I guess. But it doesn't feel that way while it's happening. It just feels like you're kinda unemployed, usually.
I'm actually a huge proponent of always keeping one eye open for new opportunities. Job security is a false idol, and let's not even get started on company loyalty. You need to assert active control over your own career at all times. So when I say I'm actively not looking for new work, what I really mean is that I know I can't physically take on any more clients right now. Feel me?
Anyways. It's a bye week for #entrylevelboss, at least episode-wise. I had to let a few things go this week. Next week, we shall return, and with a vengeance.
I'll leave you with this. In an upcoming episode, I'll talk about how applying cold (i.e. you didn't alert anyone who works at the company) to job listings you see online is one of the least efficient ways you could possibly be spending your time. That being said, I still do it every once in a while. Mostly because I have a weird fetish for writing cover letters and I like to test out new strategies.
A few months back, I cold-applied for what is effectively a seasonal media executive role with a Dublin-based tech company. They called me last week to set up an interview. I remembered thinking the cover letter was pretty good, so I went and looked it up:
I hate cover letters as much as journalists hate pitches, so I'm going to give you four good reasons you should hire me in listicle format.
(1) You really won't find a better people connector. I'm a winning conversationalist in everything from accelerators to music tech to Las Vegas dive bars.
(2) I know events have a lot of moving parts -- and guests shouldn't feel that. I'm calm and user-friendly, no matter what's happening behind the Authorized Personnel door.
(3) I live in Berlin, which is a good thing for you. You need someone who is fluent in multiple tech scenes and multiple cultures. I can sympathize with SF jetlag, talk a bit of Londoner, and root for continental start-ups all in one conversation.
(4) My favorite motto is this: If you're only networking when you want something, you're doing it wrong.
In all seriousness, I think I'd be a great asset to the media team. Please do get in touch so that we can chat a bit more about what you're looking for in a candidate, and how I might be able to help.
Cheers,
Alexa Shoen
Throw away the rule books, folks.
Cheers,
Alexa
Site: alexashoen.com
Tweets: @alexashoen
PS: Missed an episode? Watch them all on YouTube.
PPS: Have a question you wanna ask? Just hit reply, or tweet it to me using the#entrylevelboss hashtag.