How To Get Your Foot in the Door

Attend college career fairs. Someone you meet may lead you to that marquee job.

Talk to the alumni office or career center at your alma mater. Schools often track their graduates’ careers and could connect you with individuals in your field who’d offer you advice — or plug you into their professional network.

Get an internship, or just volunteer to help with a specific event or organization. You’ll meet others who share your interests and prove your worth to someone who could someday hire or recommend you.

Be prepared. The person who gets hired is going to be the one with the most relevant experience, so do everything you can to be that person, even if it means working long hours or for little money.

Consider accepting the wrong job at the right place. Sometimes the guy in the mailroom does become the CEO. Once you’re in the door, it’s easier to convince a company to give you the position you really want.

Be a snoop. Scour the company website and anything else you can find to learn more about the place and the individuals who work there. Use this information to send personalized letters directly to specific people.

Cold-call the place you want to work — it can be intimidating, but sometimes it’s the most direct route. Be succinct, and don’t forget to mention how you will follow up before you hang up.

If all else fails, just show up. Come prepared to speak intelligently to everyone you meet. If you’re turned away, depart gracefully — but leave behind a resume with a handwritten note. Someone may admire your pluck and follow up.

Be a marathoner, not a sprinter. Persistence pays off. Pursue each lead, and keep searching for new ones. Once you land that great job, don’t forget to thank everyone who helped you. And do the same for others.