You won't believe how this grad landed a job in a tough market
From 1000+ No's to a Life-Changing Yes..
Hi, Yudi here,
Many international students, including one of my Job Accelerator Program student Harish, graduated into one of the toughest job markets.
After submitting over 1000 job applications and facing countless rejections in multiple interviews, he miraculously landed a RF Engineer position just before his OPT expired.
Today, I’m sharing few lessons from his journey that can help you with your job search.
During his Master’s, Harshit landed an internship at AT&T as a network engineer.
Job Application Timeline
Start applying early in your Master’s program. Harshit completed his Master’s in May 2023, but unfortunately, his internship didn’t convert to a full-time job, so he had to start from scratch.
Not getting a full-time offer from internship was tough, but it pushed him to explore more opportunities and refine his approach.
Job Alert Technique
1. Setting Up Job Alerts on Career Sites
Find the Careers Section: Every company website has a section called "Careers." Go to this section and scroll down to find the job alert option.
Fill Out the Form: Enter your email, desired job role, and preferred location.
Harshit set up a job alert on the AT&T career site in September, specifying network engineering roles in New Jersey. Four months later, he received an email notification about an internship opening at AT&T. He applied immediately, and within two weeks, got a call for an interview.
Job alerts will notify you of new openings, giving you a head start before these positions appear on general job portals.
2. Benefits of Job Alerts
Job alerts send you immediate notifications about new openings, often before they are posted on major job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed.
Applying as soon as a job is posted increases your chances of being noticed. Many companies' Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) sort applications from oldest to newest, giving early applicants a better shot.
Bonus
Use Multiple Platforms: Besides job alerts on company websites, utilize LinkedIn and other job portals like JobRight, F1 hire, . However, remember that company websites often post openings first and even if you don't hear back immediately, keep applying.
Why This Technique Works
Applying early increases your chances of being shortlisted as many ATS systems prioritize early applications.
Getting direct notifications from the company ensures you don't miss out on new opportunities.
Finding Hiring Managers on LinkedIn
To effectively land interviews, especially in a competitive job market, targeting hiring managers and using strategic cold messaging can significantly increase your chances. Here's a how to approach this method, including a demo and message examples:
Step-by-Step Process:
Search for Companies:
Go to LinkedIn and search for the company you're interested in, e.g., "Apple."
Navigate to People Section:
Click on the "People" tab to view all employees at the company.
Filter by Role:
Use filters to find individuals with roles such as "Hiring Manager," "Recruiter," or "Senior Manager." Look for those involved in the department or team relevant to your job search.
Check Activity:
Visit their profiles and review their recent activity. Focus on those who are active on LinkedIn, as they are more likely to see and respond to your messages.
Example:
Inactive Profile:
If a profile shows no recent posts or activity, it’s better to avoid reaching out as they may not be responsive.
Active Profile:
If the profile shows recent activity, it indicates higher engagement. These individuals are more likely to notice and respond to your message.
Crafting Cold Messages
Cold Message Template: Initial Connection Request:
Follow-Up Message (if they accept your request):
Follow-Up and Result:
Share resume, schedule a call.
After sending initial messages, it might take some time to get a response. Be patient and persistent.
If the manager doesn’t have an opening, ask if they can refer you to someone else or provide advice.
If you don’t hear back, a polite follow-up message after a week or so can help keep your request on their radar.
And finally start prepping for that tech interview. You can use Exponent to prep the interview question. And if you are interviewing for Data Analyst role I would highly recommend using Data Ford.
Watch how harshit masterfully applied these techniques to get his interviews.
In next week's newsletter, we'll break down his exact strategies for profile building, interview preparation, and cracking every round. stay tuned!!!
Until then,
Keep Smiling & Keep Hustling
Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
1. Job Hunting Accelerator Program: This program is built specifically for international students who want to secure jobs or internships before it’s too late, and land roles in top companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, Microsoft, and many more. If your OPT is ending soon, or you're just tired of sending 200+ resumes with no reply...This is your unfair advantage. Join Today.
2. The Ultimate Course To Prep You For USA: If you are planning your masters in Spring 2026 or Fall 2026, then this course is for you. Join the 1500+ International Students who got offers from Google, Meta, Tesla, Walmart, and more after learning the tactics I teach. It will help you understand the job market and make you fully prepared even before you fly to the USA & secure an internship in the first semester itself.
3. The Ultimate F1 VISA Course: Get my "F1 Visa Course" with EX-Visa Officer. If you're applying for an F-1 visa to study in the US then this course is for you.
Until then,
Keep Smiling & Keep Hustling
Yudi J
Connect with me here:
Website: yudij.com