How I Got Job Leads by Knocking on Doors
Are you tired of the endless cycle of job applications and rejections?
I was too, until I decided to try a different approach.
2 months ago, the startup I was working for shut down and I was without a job. I guess laying people off is the current trend now.
Not having a job, I tried the obvious way which is applying to jobs on Linkedin. We all know how that goes. I would either get rejected or get ghosted.
Why does this sound like my experience on tinder 😭
Being tired of applying for jobs online, I wanted to try something different. I decided to try the old fashion way. the real world experience.
I was working for a startup in a place called DIFC in Dubai which had a lot of startups. I was just walking around listening to this old hindi song called Bin tere sanaam and I notice this QR code scanner on the door of a startup.
Being bored, I decided to scan the QR code and download the app. I found a few issues when I just downloaded the app.
So I just decided to walk up to the office doing the conor mcregor walk and said “Yo, I have a few suggestions”.
Just kidding, I was a bit nervous while entering the office. But at that time, I told myself “What is the worst that could happen?”
I walk in to the office and said “Hey, can I talk to the product manager (PM)”?
I got to meet the PM and he said the designer will call you in a while as he was in a meeting.
I got a small lead. I was thrilled at the fact that this happened and couldn’t believe my luck.
So I decided to use the same tactic with a different startup and it worked. The PM took me to the food court and we had a small discussion on what was happening. I got a free coffee😛
Wish I got free food instead. Nah, I’m just kidding.
Meanwhile, the Product designer from the other company called me and we had another discussion.
Conclusion — I got two leads just by knocking on the door.
This reminds me of a quote by Sahil Bloom. “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” Speak up and ask for what you need.
Meanwhile my visa in UAE was expiring and I decided to go to Bangalore, India. I wanted to try the same experiment over there.
There’s a startup that rhymes with Hanzu that had an opening for the role of a product designer. I applied online and didn’t get a reply.
I decided to walk up to the office and told myself the same thing. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I went to the HR and gave a short intro. He told me to sit down and wait for 20 mins.
At one point, I had no idea what I was doing. Some of the employees at the company just stared me and asked “So you just walk into offices asking for a job?
I said yes, this is what I do.
They were impressed.
The HR came back, we shared our numbers and said he’ll give me an assignment to solve. Another lead.
Once again I was thrilled and decided to try other startups. I decided to walk to a startup that rhymes with backo and tried to enter the office except this time, I needed the employee card to enter the office.
So I pickpocketed an employees card and got into the office. I’m joking. I saw an employee walking in and gave a short intro and asked if there’s any opening. We connected on Linkedin. Another lead.
While I was leaving the office, the security guard comes out of nowhere and says “Wo company hire kar raha hai” For my non-hindi speaking friends, It said that company is hiring.
Normally, I research about the company that I want to join and then apply. But since I had free time and was doing an experiment, I decided to try it anyway.
So I decide to go with “That company” and spoke to the HR. The HR said that I’ll have an interview in 20mins.
I still have no idea what the name of the company is and what the company does. I had an interview and turns out “That company wasn’t a proper company”. I decided to leave the place.
Anyhoo, this was a fun experience. I was pretty tired but then I thought I would give one last shot.
The last startup that I walked into rhymes with Borter. I walk in to the office and got to speak to the HR. We shared our contacts and she said she’ll let me know soon if there are any openings. Another lead.
Right now, the market isn’t great and the times are looking scary seeing the current layoffs and the rise of AI tools.
Keep knocking on doors and you will get your big shot soon.
