Never let anyone tell you that you aren’t qualified to do something just because you haven’t done it in the past. If you run full speed at something willing to learn and work hard, nothing should stand in your way. I’ve seen so many people not apply for a job because the job description indicates 5 years required, but the applicant only has 3. I continually see this trend in how we as humans box ourselves into thinking we’re not qualified enough to do something. Guess what — you just weeded yourself out of the running by not believing in your own abilities. If you don’t think you deserve it, you probably don’t. If you don’t believe you can do it, you probably can’t. If you do, my motto is fake it til you make it and don’t be afraid to ask questions along the way.

I have found more and more often that college graduates are not taught basic job hunting skills. They may have landed job #1, but now they’re on the hunt again and don’t know where to start. I cannot stress enough that applying via a website is not enough. I find people doing this all the time, expecting they’ll get a phone call the day post submission. In today’s competitive market, it’s often about who you know. Except when you don’t know anyone and it’s about who you can get to notice you. If you are interested in applying for a position listed on a website, submitting a resume online is rarely enough. Take extra steps to get noticed. Go to LinkedIn and search out the HR rep at the company and/or other positions within the department of which you seek employment. Send them an invitation to connect with a personal note requesting an informational. Even better, find their email address via the web. If you don’t come across it upon a Google search, listed on their Facebook page, on their own website, etc, you can almost always guess it based on the domain logic behind the contact us email address on their companies website and send them a note with your resume attached. In today’s digital world, you could even go so far as snail mailing your resume with a personal note to the desk of whom you’d like to connect with as a means of trying to stand out. If you are interested in a position at a company but don’t know if said role is open or even exists — search out people who work for the company to gauge the department structure they offer. Don’t forget to leverage the connections part of many social tools. If you have a person in common, ask the person you know for an introduction. And always, always, always, learn as much as you can about a person before you meet with them. It provides a platform for conversation and proves your interest. I’ve landed 8+ interviews including the likes of Nike and Wieden + Kennedy using the tactics above, without knowing a soul at the companies initially.

While I share the three tidbits above as generalizations, advice is never a one size fits all. Find a mentor, or three, who will help you maneuver your individual career path and questions.