Instead of just sending a resume, prove your value upfront by delivering something tangible and useful. This could be a report on a website bug, an analysis of API documentation, or a suggested performance improvement. This 'helping' act immediately shifts the dynamic from applicant to proactive contributor.

Front Office Sports began by publishing informational interviews, reframing the ask from "can I pick your brain?" to "can I tell your story?" This granted more meaningful access to influential people who were eager to share their experiences, building a powerful network under the guise of content creation.

To build a strong professional network and advance your career, actively participate in relevant online communities. As speaker Jeremy Byars quotes, "if you want a village, be a villager." Consistent, genuine engagement creates visibility and opportunities that passive observation never will.

When entering a new domain, don't feign expertise. Build trust faster by openly admitting "I don't know" and explicitly leaning on stakeholders for their subject matter knowledge. This positions you as a partner who values their expertise, rather than an outsider imposing solutions.

The speaker, Philip, caught the attention of Thrive's founder, Josh Kushner, by writing a niche Substack about semiconductors. This demonstrates that deep, public expertise in a specific domain can be a powerful way to network and find unique career opportunities in venture capital.

A consistent, high-quality newsletter in a specific niche acts as a living resume and portfolio. This strategy allows you to demonstrate expertise and attract inbound career opportunities from target companies. It's a proactive way to 'work backwards' from a desired role by proving your value publicly before you even apply.

To start his marketing agency, the founder created content about his beliefs on the future of social media. This attracted inbound leads from people who resonated with his vision. This strategy applies to any service business: use platforms to share your point of view and establish authority.

To get hired in a competitive market, stop spamming resumes. Instead, consistently create and publish content on platforms like LinkedIn that showcases your expertise, knowledge, and passion for your craft. This demonstrates value and attracts opportunities, making you a magnet for recruiters rather than just another applicant.

Before co-founding Calcetra, Paulina Meskinen deliberately started a consultancy focused on deep tech and energy innovation. This served as a paid, multi-year "learning journey," allowing her to build domain expertise, establish a network, and gain crucial industry insights before launching her own hardware startup.