how to get hired at a company you actually want to work at

yes, it does take a little bit of work.

I talk to fun, ambitious job seekers every day and one pattern drives me absolutely nuts 🥜.

They know exactly where they want to work. They can name the company, follow them on social, and probably recite their last product launch word-for-word. But when I ask what they’ve done to get in the door, the answer is almost always: “I’m waiting for the right role to open.”

Waiting is not a strategy.

The best roles are often created, not posted. They’re shaped around the person bold enough to show up and prove they can solve problems the company hasn’t even tackled yet.

That’s why I developed this 5-step approach. It flips the job search on its head. Instead of hoping to get picked from a pile of résumés, you identify the gaps in your dream company’s strategy and pitch yourself as the person to fill them, even if there’s no vacancy. If the company doesn’t have headcount *yet*, you still want to lay the groundwork to be first in line when budget hits.

It works because it’s direct, specific, and high-value. You’re not begging for a shot; you’re showing up as a strategic partner they didn’t know they needed.

Here’s exactly how to do it.

Step 1 – pick your company and industry

Start with a company you genuinely want to work for whose output you admire. Don’t overthink whether you’re “qualified” for the industry yet. What matters now is curiosity and the willingness to learn their world.

How to choose wisely:

• Go beyond the obvious: look at rising stars, niche brands, or companies in early growth stages.

• Ask yourself: Would I be proud to tell people I work here? Would I naturally talk about their work at dinner with friends?

• If you’re stuck, list industries you care about, then brainstorm the 3–5 companies in each space that intrigue you most.

Example: Let’s use sustainable outdoor gear as the industry. You could target an established name like Patagonia or a fast-rising niche player known for design innovation.

Step 2 – map the landscape

Research like you’re preparing for a board meeting. The goal: see their world the way their leadership team does.

How to do it:

• Study their product/service portfolio. What are they known for? What’s selling now?

• Identify their core customer segments. Who’s buying and who’s not?

• Follow their marketing. Check their website, social media, press releases, investor reports.

• Look at competitors. What’s the competition doing that’s different or better?

• Note trends. What’s happening in the industry at large? New tech, shifting demographics, changing cultural values?

In our outdoor gear example:

• Strong eco-friendly offerings for hardcore hikers.

• Missing an “urban adventurer” product line.

• No rental, resale, or repair programs despite customer demand for circular economy solutions.

• Competitors are partnering with music festivals and lifestyle brands but this company hasn’t touched that space.

Step 3 – identify the gap you’d fill

Now, answer the core question: “What are they not accomplishing because I don’t work there yet?”

BIG question. Take that one in.

This is about aligning what you uniquely bring (skills, perspective, network) with what they’re missing.

How to uncover your gap:

• Look for customers they’re not serving but should.

• Spot channels or partnerships they’ve ignored.

• Identify product, service, or experience gaps.

• Ask: If I were in charge, what’s the first thing I’d do to expand impact or revenue?

Example answer for the outdoor gear brand:

“They’re missing a strategic bridge to younger, style-conscious, sustainability-focused customers who live in cities but still want outdoor gear. I’d design a crossover product line, form partnerships with urban events, and build a content strategy that redefines ‘outdoorsy’ for this audience.”

Step 4 – build a mini-thesis

You’re going to distill your thinking into a simple, high-value artifact you can share. It should be compelling enough that someone skims it and thinks, “We need to talk to this person.”

What to include:

1. Current State – What the company is doing well today.

2. Opportunity – The gap you’ve spotted and why it’s worth pursuing now.

3. Your Approach – How you’d tackle it in your first 90 days.

Pro Tips:

• Keep the tone constructive. You’re here to help, not critique.

• Be specific but concise. Aim for 1–3 slides MAX. Better yet, film a 2 minute Loom video over the slides.

• Use visuals if you can: screenshots, mockups, competitor comparisons.

Example:
Slide 1: “Expanding Our Reach Beyond the Trail: Urban Sustainability Customers”
Slide 2: Current state + missed opportunity
Slide 3: Three actionable plays to win this market segment

+ your face explaining it all, on video.

Step 5 – put it in motion

Ideas are only valuable if they reach the right people. This step separates the people who move to conversation land from those who never get noticed.

How to move:

• Find decision-makers. In our example, we’d search LinkedIn for heads of product, marketing, or strategy or the founder/CEO at smaller companies.

• Write a short, clear email:

Subject: Idea to help [Company] win in [specific opportunity area]

Hi [Name],

I’m making a strategic pivot into [industry/space] because I’m obsessed with the impact companies like [Company] can have in [specific problem/market]. I’ve been deep-diving your work and spotted an opportunity you’re not fully capitalizing on yet: [1-line description of the gap].

Here’s how I’d go after it if I were on your team tomorrow:

1. [Idea #1] — quick win or low-hanging fruit that builds momentum.

2. [Idea #2] — scalable initiative to cement market position.

3. [Idea #3] — bold move that differentiates [Company] long-term.

This is exactly the kind of problem I’m motivated to solve in my next role, and my background in [relevant expertise] means I can move fast on it. If this resonates, I’d love to connect and talk about how I can bring it to life inside [Company].

Best,
[Your Name]

• Attach your one-pager/deck or link to it in a clean Google Doc.

• Follow up a week later if you hear nothing. Persistence matters.

• Show up where they are. Industry events, webinars, LinkedIn conversations. Essentially anywhere your name can start to feel familiar to them.

• Share your ideas publicly. Sure, you created this pitch for them, but aspects are likely applicable for their competitors. Shop that thing around town.

This works because…

• It’s proactive. You’re not waiting to be chosen, you’re choosing yourself.

• It’s differentiated. Most applicants talk about their past. You’re talking about their future.

• It’s concrete. You’re giving them something to react to, not just a résumé.

Even if they don’t hire you tomorrow, you’ll:

• Gain deep industry insight.

• Have a reusable portfolio asset.

• Build a network of decision-makers who know you as the person with ideas worth hearing.

And yes, I see this open doors all the time :)

When you're ready, here are 4 ways I can help:

→ 1:1 Coaching — Feeling stuck, squashed, or quietly craving more meaning in your work? I help people at the edge of a career shift get clear, get noticed, and design work that fits who they are now.

→ The Career Pivot Portfolio — Because “transferable skills” sounds boring, but showing off your brilliance doesn’t. This self-paced toolkit walks you step-by-step through building a story-led portfolio that packages your past experience, pitches your future direction, and makes people get it in five seconds flat.

→ LinkedIn — I share bite-sized clarity prompts, career strategy, and real stories from the job hunt trenches. Follow me on LinkedIn for weekly perspective shifts (and the occasional spicy take).

→ TikTok — Curious, creative, maybe a little chaotic :) This is where I test ideas, share behind-the-scenes of my coaching process, and help (51,000 of you!) feel less alone in the in-between.

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