How I Hacked My Way Into a Senior Level Interview

My Story/Experiment

If you want only the tangible tips or the audio version, check out the Audio or the cheat sheet.

Getting a job has always been relatively easy for me. It has, however, not been very useful because I'm quite self-directed and prefer doing things my own way. At times though my projects would fail, as any entrepreneur would know happens when you are trying something new. In those down times I would quickly get a job, get caught up with my bills, and then continue on with my projects. I often found it hard to understand why my friends and colleagues found the job hunt process difficult. I had always found that within three to four weeks and I would be able to find and obtain a fair to decent paying job. In no time, I would be paying my bills and everything would run smoothly. This could keep me going as well as being able to handle my side projects.

I decided to carry out a test. I wanted to prove whether I had an actual working system or if I had just been perpetually lucky. Or could it be some other variable I was not aware of that made my job hunt simple? Well, I thought, "What better way would I test this than to personally try to implement my own strategies and get job offers for myself?" To obtain the better results, I opted for those jobs that would be a stretch for me to get into. This way my theory would be tested rigorously.

Considering my previous business experience, I thought "Okay, what is the best job I can get into right now?" Online marketing was the most probable option. I had the relevant experience and I knew I could take on one (either a small, medium or large business) and really ramp up their online marketing and add value to the company. So, that is what I chose.

I went to Indeed and looked for online marketing but few correlating jobs popped up. The few results that came up weren't local and didn't fully match what I was looking for. I was like, "Okay, I need to actually find the right job. And to do that, I have to know the right listing." So I went on Google keywords then online marketing. E-commerce was one of the top results. I searched it on Indeed and seven corresponding jobs pulled up in my area. My town is mid-sized with a population of about a hundred and fifty thousand people. I felt for that size of town that was a fair amount of listings to work with. If there had been less than 5 listings I would have refined my search further.

Of the seven, three were what I would consider IT positions, lower-level or entry-level and wouldn't be much of a challenge for me to get in. I had more than enough experience needed for the jobs but the pay wasn't much pleasing and I wanted to get into something better. And if I could have this process get me a better job, you know it's even more valid.

I disregarded the three and used two of the remainder as sort of a control group. I didn't use my strategies at all, I only went through their website application program, filled my resume, the application form, other details and sent them. That is all I did with the two businesses.

For the remaining two, I decided to use my own strategy that I had been using before and see what happens. The first one was an e-commerce position, a senior management at Bass Pro. After reading the description and all the requirements, I was like, "Oh I think I'm not as qualified for this one as I think... I have about 40 percent chance of getting this position, but oh well, it will make a great test subject." I had no chance for real failure since after all, there was never a chance of succeeding in the first place. I decided to make it my test run. The first step was to get in touch with the hiring manager. Regarding the way I did it before, in my previous Business to Business sales experience. This is just similar to getting in touch with the decision maker when you need to sell a product to him or her. Since I had done this before, I knew that you could just go to Linkedin, find the right person, and work your way out from there.

I went looking for the head and the assistant HR person on Linkedin. I found their names and their titles. I called into the company through the main line. "Hello, can I speak with John the Head of HR?" The secretary replied "Oh yeah sure" and she transferred me to John's secretary. "Hello, my name is Jacob. I'm interested in the e-commerce position." The secretary replied "Oh actually, that is in Kimberly's department." John and the assistant HR had been the only ones listed on the application.

By now I had an insight to who the actual hiring manager was. Then she said, "Should I transfer you over?" I replied, "Yes please transfer me over to Kimberly (fake name)." She transferred me over and Kimberly picked up immediately because it was an internal transfer. "Hello?" Now if you've been in B to B sales, you know that there's a bunch of filtering processes in businesses so that the higher up people don't ever have to talk to people that they don't need to talk to. I could easily tell by her tone that she was not exact happy with this call. This led me to believe there were systems in place so she didn’t usually have to talk to unknown people and because of that she was a higher-up.

Then I began, "My name is Jacob. I'm interested in the e-commerce position. Is it still available?" I asked this question because it is a valid question to get the conversation started. She answered "Oh it is still available." I then wanted to ask a question to make sure she is the hiring manager. I had to ask a question that only the hiring manager could answer. So I asked, "Okay, just sort of a weird question here, but would you guys be open to the possibility of doing a test project as part of the interview? Or sort of a trial. Because there's a lot in e-commerce that needs to be, you know, proved that you can do this, whether it's a good fit and everything like that. And I feel like a test project would really show me and you that it is a good fit or not."

She paused for a moment then "Absolutely no. We can't do that, a lot of time is needed for that. And you know, we're a huge organization, think of how much time we would have to do test out all these people." She was laughing at me at this point and I am saying "Okay, you know, I knew it was a weird question. I just wanted to ask." And she responded "Alright." She relaxed a little then "So what is your business experience?"

So right then I got my phone interview. I told her all about me and she asks some general questions. We then proceeded deeper into my experience. I didn't have any business degrees or marketing degrees but my credentials are pretty much backed up by experience. On paper, I looked terrible but after I get to talk about myself, I usually shine through.

I was correct in my original assumption that I was under-qualified even with the experience for this position and I could sort of hear it in her voice. She finally said "well, we'll get back to you soon", hung up and that was the end. Some people would view this as a failure since I went into an interview and got shot down. But, I viewed it as a good testament to the process. As the first case, there's the second case that got even much better. Like the first case, I saw it very promising because I got past all the initial roadblocks that would have kicked me out. I also got to speak with the hiring manager. I had the same challenges with my degree qualifications and resume due to my entrepreneurial endeavors. This would have caused them to reject my application.

I was able to go through about four levels of screening, and even talked to the hiring manager. We came to a decision right then and obviously, I was not a good fit. But the process got me in front of the right person and allowed me to pitch my case. I was a bit emboldened after that point. I now knew the process works. Now the second job listing was a bit nerve cracking. The position was still a reach for me though I had a real possibility, so I also had the option of really failing.

I did the same Linkedin research process as before, calling the secretary and "Hey can I speak with Christine(fake name) in HR?" "Oh yeah, sure I'll transfer you over." And so I got transferred over and Christine picks up and I can hear her but she can't hear me. After a few sentences the phone hangs up and I am like, "oh shoot." I had to make the call again. "Hello, I just called back a little bit ago." She replied, "Oh okay sure yeah well I'll transfer you over again. We'll try it, see if there's a problem there." Christine picked but she still couldn't hear me. "Oh no please don't hang up!" But she hanged up again. And here comes the third try. The secretary simply opened with "Oh couldn't get through again?" and I said "Yeah. Well would you transfer me to Debbie (fake name), she's the assistant HR" And she is like "Oh yes, of course." And amazingly Debbie picked up and we could hear one another.

I opened with "Oh hey there, my name's Jacob. I'm interested in the e-commerce position, is it still open?" And she's like, "Oh yes it is." I then asked the hiring manager question "I know this is a little bit odd of a question but would you guys be open to having a test project or a trial run as part of the interview? In which I show my skills and I make sure it's a good match between us. And I feel like that would be a good way for both of us to know that we're a good fit. Especially since e-commerce is so results-based.” She replied, "Hmmm well I'd have to ask the hiring manager about that." This let me know, she was not the hiring manager but somebody else. "Well if you email me that question I will forward it to her." And I'm like "Okay great." She gave me her personal company email and right away I typed the email saying “Hey, we just spoke over the phone. This is my question. Thanks for your time." I had a CRM on the email so I could see that it was being opened by both of them.

In just a couple of minutes, an email from Debbie popped up saying, "Would you like to attach a resume on that too?" And I was like "Oh yes, of course, I'd love to. Thanks for the consideration." I felt like this turned the tables a bit and made me not look as desperate. I attached the resume and sent it to her. I didn't hear from her for about four days and until a call comes in from the secretary, "Would you like to set up an interview?"

My response “YES”

In initial process I got a very brief phone interview and now had an actual interview. So I went in, we talked and the more we talked the better of a fit it was. Currently at this time I have a second level interview scheduled and the CEO will be present for that one. This was an experiment which sort of ran out of control and I was not exactly sure what I'd do with any of the opportunities that may come up. But I think it's just absolute proof that this sort of technique (which I just basically fully explained) is a real way to get you your best shot at a possibility at a job.

That is the reason why I did this experiment. I'm creating this content to let people know the best roundabout way of landing on the desired job. Since I've been a hiring manager for quite some time, I've been in the corporate world. I've done a lot of B to B marketing and I know how to get to the decision maker. All of these things put together allows you to put your best foot forward. I knew I was on both the shortlists by the mere fact that I spoke with them. Mostly, it is because you are the first on the list that they give you the job. Since the hiring process is quite brutal on both sides, they only look for someone who fits for about 60 to 80% of the job requirement. They are going to train you the rest.

Thus, if you are able to circumnavigate the roadblocks put in place, you are not only helping you but also helping them. After experimenting and getting the second interview, I thought people should know that there is always a way that's quite easy to get the best shot.

For those that simply take this free information and apply it, message me or reach out on www.ArtoftheJobHunt.com . I really look forward to hearing your stories.

I hope you have a great day and best of luck with your job search!