Job qualification is a myth

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💼 Topic: Job qualification is a myth

• I was never the ideal candidate

• How to get hired with 0 experience

• Start this if you haven’t already

🔗 Quick links: Cold-message example | 5 Interview mistakes | and more

TOPIC
Job qualification is a myth

Hi friends,

Quick email today, this one’s gonna be a PSA to anyone applying to jobs.

Last week, I had a coffee chat with a reader who shared one of his biggest concerns in the job market.

And that was job qualification.

In other words, not applying to a job because you “aren’t qualified enough.”

I’m here to tell you that when it comes to internships and new grad roles, you don’t need to be 100% qualified!

Here’s why, let’s dive in.

I was never the ideal candidate

Most jobs are teachable and I’m living proof of that.

To date, I’ve had the following:

• 4 internships in finance and tech

• 1 contract role in project management

• 1 full-time role in product management

But here’s the thing, I was never the “ideal candidate” for any of these jobs.

My 1st internship at Scotiabank? I was a jobless 3rd-year student, I literally had 0 experience and still applied.

I landed that job because I showed through coffee chats I was coachable, had passion, and was likable.

My contract role? I never worked in project management. But yet again, I networked my ass off to make the right connections and got the job.

And current full-time as a Product Owner? My recruiter told me she didn’t think I would get hired.

But guess what, I landed the role within 3 months of aiming to get it.

How to get hired with 0 experience

Ok so here’s the thing, cold-applying without experience will be met with rejection.

That’s the reality.

This is why we use networking to bypass this obstacle.

Did you see a common pattern across all my 6 jobs? Despite not being qualified, I networked my way to each role.

1. Cold-emails strangers

2. Taking the initiative to plan coffee chats

3. Showing genuine interest

4. Offering value

Is all this extra work? Is it difficult and energy-consuming?

Yes, yes, and yes, but when you’re competing with people with tons of experience, it’s the only advantage we have as students and new grads.

Start this if you haven’t already

Here’s the big picture, networking is how you get hired:

• even if you’re not the ideal candidate

• even if you only meet 50% of the qualifications

• and even if you have zero experience

But what can that look like in actionable steps?

If you haven’t started already, I want you to do the following.

Start sending cold emails.

That’s it.

Just focus on emailing people who represent where you want to be in the next 1-5 years of your career.

I say this because every single job offer I landed started from an email.

Those initial emails started meaningful connections, which eventually led to referrals, interviews, and jobs.

If you want a metric, I’d recommend sending at least 5 cold emails a week, that’s how I did it.

And if it can work for me; someone from a non-target school with below-average grades, then it can work for you.

Your next steps:

Want to write effective cold emails that get replies from recruiters and hiring managers?

I highly recommend the cold-email guide in the REFERRALS section below.

All you need is 1 referral to get a free copy.

See you next Tuesday 🤝

-Michael Ly

P.S.
Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Book a call with me: Schedule a coffee chat or coaching call.

2. Promote your product: Get in front of 4000+ young professionals. We’ve worked with brands like Nike, Morning Brew, Huel, and other big names.

3. Join Insider Epics: My private newsletter for online writers. Learn how I create, promote, and monetize written content.

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QUICK LINKS
Running the web

🔗 I’ve received hundreds of cold messages. This is the best one by far. If you want your cold messages to get replies, study this one. (LinkedIn)

🔗 5 interview follow-up mistakes that are costing you job offers. (LinkedIn)

🔗 Here are 70 of the toughest interview questions and how to answer them. (LinkedIn)

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REFERRALS
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🔗 5 cold email templates
🔗 3 bonus resources

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