Why you should pitch yourself

How I landed my first freelancing job with a cold call.

As soon as I graduated, I realized how many jobs required years of experience. Although I had two exciting internships during college, I ended up working retail at Ann Taylor LOFT after a month of no interviews. I felt deflated and worried my hard work wouldn't pay off, even though I was passionate about starting my career.

Right when I started to feel like my student loans would bury me, my mom mentioned that our town's City Hall was complaining about their social media, or lack thereof. No one in the office knew what to post, when to post, or how to respond to upset community members on their Facebook page. I thought about how they had a problem, and I had a problem, and if we teamed up, it would solve both. I decided to just pick up the phone and call! The worst they could do was just say no, right?

After I explained my (very short) background, and described how I could help them by creating Best Practices, they immediately offered me a freelance role as a consultant. It was so much easier to pitch my services than I thought, because my resume and experience was less important than what I could offer them now. Ever since, I haven't been afraid to make cold calls or reach out to people in my network to pitch myself.

No matter what your career field, reach out to the companies and people you want to work with, even if they don't post a job listing. You would be surprised to know how many freelance gigs you can create for yourself. I have found copywriting clients from LinkedIn posts, checking in with former employers, and chatting up my friends who own businesses. Whether you're looking for a project or a full time job, share your ideas on how you can help employers reach their goals.

Never stop after the first "no,"or after the first 500. I have been turned away far more than I have been hired. After working with the City of Lowell, I moved to the East Coast, where I found I was a very tiny fish. The first two positions I was offered were unpaid. I was strung along and asked to do free labor, all in the name of seeing if I was a "good fit." If you are just starting out, don't go down that road. Even if it seems like a dream job, you don't want to work for someone who is comfortable taking advantage of you.

One of my favorite ways to get noticed by the right employers is to have a mentor(s). Once I started building a network of mentors on the East Coast, I found that I not only had strong references to back up my pitches, but I also simply heard of more opportunities. A good mentor is also someone you can find with a cold call! I reached out to many alums from my own college, and professional contacts through other universities. When I met a professional I admired, I would ask them for references and advice, and it always served me well.

Aside from seeking mentorships, I brainstormed ways to surprise employers. I bought monogramed stationary and mailed hand-written letters with my resume. It's easier than ever to create your own website for a reasonable price, start an online portfolio, or even have a cake delivered with your resume as the decoration. Think about what makes you unique, and what you can offer right now.