How I Landed A Job At The New York Times

Over the past 11 years, I’ve gone from cofounding a magazine with a few fellow undergraduates to working as a strategist at the intersection of storytelling and business development. After college, I worked in business development at Viacom then, after a grad school stint, I spent the next six years in strategy at a boutique creative agency. Last year, I found myself drawn to the branded content work The New York Times' T Brand Studio was doing – and to the company’s overall mission. I knew I wanted to be a part of it, but I certainly didn't have a clear in; T Brand Studio didn’t yet have the exact content strategy role I was looking for. But I gave myself the same advice I give to anyone exploring a new opportunity: I skipped the immediate urge to do cold outreach and went into research mode, arming myself with all the background I needed to understand the organization and the value I could bring to it. If you are gearing up to apply for or interview at your dream company, here are a few steps to do the same.

1. Go deep in your research.

Beyond Googling the company and any people you will be meeting with, what else can you find out to help inform your understanding of the opportunity? Doing extensive research not only sets you apart when you’re interviewing, but also once you’re in a position. Have a continual appetite for knowledge, both within the specific organization and the industry as a whole. If you are exploring opportunities at The New York Times – or in media in general – read every page of “Journalism That Stands Apart,” The New York Times’ 2020 report that analyzes where the organization is and where it wants to go. Join trade associations, go to industry meetups, and strive to be the most well-prepared, well-informed person in any room. It’s the best way to add value and command respect.

2. Align yourself with the company’s vision.

Even before you consider applying for a position, be sure you know what the specific company’s goals are. You won’t find this information in a single blog post. It requires reading annual reports and publicly available strategy documents (like The New York Times' Our Path Forward), as well as perusing interviews with and articles about leaders. Then apply your understanding in a way that supports your candidacy. If you understand a company’s vision, you can say, "Here are my skills, and here's what I've done. I have a track record of doing X, and I am ready to help you accomplish Y." In my case, I spoke honestly and passionately about my commitment to helping The New York Times reach its goal of doubling its digital revenue by 2020, the imperative set forth in Our Path Forward.

3. Look to leverage second-degree connections.

While I didn’t have an immediately apparent way to get in front the hiring managers of T Brand Studio, I sought out people who would advocate for me. I reached out to contacts who knew people at The Times and were able to cast me in a new light. By giving them a shortlist of my career highlights and even offering to draft referral emails on their behalf, I made the favor I was asking a lot easier for the generous people doing it. These people opened the door for me to pursue an incredible opportunity, and all of a sudden it didn’t feel out of reach. Don’t be afraid to ask your connections to advocate for you or to connect you with someone who can. Companies pay attention when someone they respect champions a candidate; if you can find an internal referral, that can be powerful.

4. Demonstrate how you are right for the job and the team.

Knowing about (and being a good fit for) a specific role is important, but it’s bigger than that. Goals shift and teams shuffle. The role I was interested in evolved considerably while I was interviewing at The Times, but I knew the position ultimately had responsibilities related to developing a new revenue stream. By framing and tailoring my accomplishments to this context, I made a compelling case for how my skills would translate into supporting the business of telling great brand stories. I went in aiming to convey I was someone who belonged on the team, aligned with company’s mission, and would add value. It worked.

5. Ask for help.

This is perhaps the most important advice I can share about pursuing your next job. Brainstorm with your friends to identify your natural strengths. Seek practical tips and industry insight from a career advisor. I've been fortunate to have a coach from Management Leadership for Tomorrow since I was a junior in college, and as a member of SoFi I have free access to their experts to provide interview prep and decode "recruiter-speak." Whenever you have the opportunity to get help, take it, and when you are in the position to give help, pay it forward!

Images courtesy of Adrian Hopkins