For the first time ever,
Here's The "Back Story" Behind The Job Hunt That Landed Me An Entry-Level Salary That Surpassed 95% of My Graduating Class…
In The Nation!
It all started in my senior year in college when I thought my future was set.. I had an internship lined up and assurance from my supervisor, my supervisor’s supervisor, and the senior director of the COMPANY that my position was secure.
Then Suddenly, My Golden Future Slipped
Through My Fingerprints.
Just before graduation, the vice president of the company decided conditions weren’t right for hiring.
Four out of five interns expecting a position, including myself, were denied the internships we'd been promised at the last minute.
Frankly, I Was Scared Out Of My Mind
And for good reason, because
- I had no experience.
- My GPA was only a 3.17.
- It was spring quarter, and I had no other leads.
- Most companies had already finished hiring...
Four Years Of College,
And I Had Nothing To Show For It.
These are the thoughts that were going through my mind:
- What would my parents say when they realized I wasted a huge chunk of their life savings on a degree I couldn’t use?
- I might have to take a part-time job to make ends meet.
- That meant moving back in with my parents and dealing with...well, living with my parents again...
- I could pretty much count on being single for the rest of my life.
I gathered all my remaining self-esteem and hit the streets, applying for HUNDREDS of positions. And you know what?
I got TWO replies.
Better than ZERO, right?
Wrong. My “replies” were two letters in the mail that looked like this…
Ever seen one of these before?
And I found out later one of the positions went to someone in my class.
I even knew the guy, and he was a slacker when it came to actual work…he was just a smooth talker (hint: he knew how to MARKET himself).
I Realized The Job Search Was One Of The Most UNFAIR Processes in the Modern World.
Welcome to the harsh REALITY of job hunting...
I turned to the career center—a reasonable decision for someone in my situation…
But after driving 1 hour and waiting for 30 minutes, they handed me a resume packet with some samples and sent me away.
It was like I was a number to them…Where was all my tuition money going?
I Asked Three Different Professors For Advice And Every One Said Something Different
Than The Last.
I scoured the library and online resources for a magic bullet everyone else had somehow missed…but it just wasn’t there.
That’s when a friend emailed me a video he found online. “Hey Man, I think this might be able to help you on your job search.”
I was curious, so I clicked the link and watched the video.
This Is Where My Real Journey Begins.
Turns out it was made by a famous Marketing Guru teaching advanced Marketing concepts based on Human Psychology. He held up 2 books and explained that 1 of them sold for $1000 and the other sold for $13.
“Why…” he asked, “…is it that the first book could command such a higher price than the other book?” And he went on to talk about increasing the Perceived Value of your products and tapping into the Psychology of customers.
As I was watching it, my eyes began to open. I realized something I never noticed before because they never taught this to us in school—
It Was All About Human Psychology.
I saw then that Marketing is one of the most important skills you can learn in your LIFE. Whether Marketing an idea to your boss, your personality to the opposite sex, or your skills to a hiring manager, the MARKETING is where all the leverage lies.
I Plunged Myself Into All The Literature Available On Job-Hunting, Soaking Up Everything
I Could About
Hiring Psychology.
Then I took what I had learned and headed back out into the job market to do a little “field testing.” Some things worked; some things didn’t.
But I Kept Tweaking This 'Raw' Concept.
As time went on, I developed an edge where most people were sleepwalking. I didn’t see one door open for me—many doors began to FLY open.
With every resume I turned in, more employers called to arrange interviews. With every phone call, more and more led to sitting in an office discussing my future.
Finally, All My Work Paid Off…
I was offered a position starting at $48,000.
At first, I was ecstatic with accomplishment, but after some careful research, I decided the company was a bad choice for me….
STOP: Think About This For A Minute.
Just weeks before I was devastated about not finding work, and there I was turning down a job. Was I crazy?
Not at all. Here’s why:
- Employers were returning my phone calls instead of ignoring them or even blocking them
- Between classes, I’d have several messages from employers who wanted to interview me when in the past I’d be lucky to get one
- Employers were beginning to pursue me
Everything had changed.
Instead Of Hearing The Typical,
"It Was Very Nice To Meet You, Landon.
We'll Be In Touch." (Yeah Right!)
I Started Hearing These Words:
"You're Hired!"
I received 6 offers by the time I graduated. One from one of the most competitive firms in my industry—$55,000 a year with benefits.
After burying my nose in a book and learning some powerful negotiation strategies…
I Negotiated A Starting
Salary Of $60,000 Per Year!
To me, this wasn't just about a new career...
I no longer needed to worry about bills or the threat of unemployment. I’d never have to turn to my parents or the government to save me. I'd never have to settle for a job that sucked the life out of me.
And if I lost my job, I could easily get another, because I knew a side of the hiring process that other people DIDN’T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.