Volume I: How to Do What You Want, Faster.

🚀 Key Takeaway

A simple, 3-part system to help you land a job you're excited about – without waiting years to "earn" the right to do it.

❓ Why does this matter?

Most college graduates settle for a job that pays the bills while they wait for the right opportunity to come along. They assume they need more experience, connections, or luck before they can break into something meaningful.

But that waiting game isn’t necessary.

We talked to people who successfully skipped the waiting and identified the key insights behind how they did it. The result? A system you can optimize to speed up the process.

👉 No time to read? Scroll to the bottom for our summary.

🔑 The System

1️⃣ What have you accomplished?

Your accomplishments are your currency. No one hires you for potential, they hire you for proof. The best way to stand out? Start building things that matter.

A side project, a business, a student organization, a nonprofit, a website, a blog, anything that creates real impact. The key is to have something tangible that speaks for itself.

💡 Exercise:
Picture yourself in an interview with your dream company. The hiring manager asks:

"What have you accomplished in this field?"

What answer would make you undeniable?

Now, break that answer into a list of goals - and start making it real.

This is your guide for what you create.

2️⃣ Who do you know?

Opportunities don't live on job boards - they live in conversations. The right connections open doors faster than any résumé tweak ever will.

Your goal is not just to network - it is to build real relationships and trust with people who can help you break in.

💡 Exercise:
1. Open LinkedIn.
2. Navigate to your dream company's page.
3. Click on the employees tab.
4. Find someone you have something in common with (same school, mutual connections, shared interest).
5. Send a Personalized Invite.
• • • On mobile, click "Personalize Invite"
• • • On desktop, click "Connect" –> "add a note"
6. Introduce yourself, express your interest in the company (not in a specific job), and ask for a 15-minute call to learn from them.
7. Repeat with 10+ people.

This is not about begging for a job - it is about getting on the radar of the right people. Do this consistently, and your network will start working for you.

3️⃣ How can you prove it?

Social proof builds credibility. Whether it is a company you interned with, a portfolio, a personal brand, testimonials, make sure your work speaks for itself.

💡 Exercise:
🔹 1. Audit your social proof – Write down everything that proves your skills and credibility:
• Past internships or jobs
• Projects you have built
• Testimonials
• Portfolio, website, or blog
• Any public recognitions

🔹 2. Set the standard – Find people that are doing work you admire, and write down their skills and credibility.

🔹 3. Find the gaps – What's missing? What stamps of approval do they have that you do not have?

🔹 4. Create your proof – Pick one thing you can start this week to strengthen your credibility.
• Publish a blog post about a topic you care about
• Launch a project and document the process
• Freelance. Find something you are good at and do it for others.
• Find reputable companies in your field and do free work for them.

🔹 5. Make it visible – Update your LinkedIn, website, or portfolio so that your social proof is easy to find.

Proof beats potential - so make sure yours is undeniable.

👉 Summary

To land work that you actually care about, focus on:
✅ Creating - Build real, tangible accomplishments.
✅ Connecting - Build relationships with the right people.
✅ Confirming - Accumulate undeniable social proof, and showcase it.

Do these three things consistently, and opportunities will come to you. Not the other way around.

⏭️ Next Up...

Over the next few weeks, we'll break down each of these topics so you can start applying them immediately.

Thanks for reading! And a special shoutout to everyone who contributed – your insights made this possible :)