This Strategy Beat 2,300 Applicants At Microsoft

Hey {NAME}, Want to know my “silver bullet” job search strategy? One that’s helped people get hired at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Deloitte, Tesla, SpaceX, & more. It’s called a Value Validation Project (VVP). The problem with today’s hiring process is that it doesn’t give candidates a chance to show what they know. It’s about who can write the best resume vs. who can actually do the best job. VVPs change all of that. In this email I'll break down what a VVP is, how to create one, and share an example from a client of ours who beat out 2,300 applicants to land a job at Microsoft: 1/ What is a VVP? Value Validation Projects (VVPs) are short deliverables that allow job seekers to: - Show their enthusiasm for a role - Illustrate that they've done their research - Prove their value - Stand out! I personally find slide decks to be the best format. 2/ Choose Your Angle There are 3 types of VVP angles: - Identify & Solve A Problem - Highlight An Opportunity - Showcase Past Work Our first step is to choose the one best suited for the situation. That requires some research... 3/ How To Research Here are my favorite research methods: - Earnings calls - Perform a competitive analysis - Interviews / keynotes with execs - Read product reviews - Survey prospects / customers - Join product communities (Reddit, Slack, Discord, etc) - Use the product 4/ Build Your VVP Deck It should be 5-8 slides: Slide 1: Attention Grabbing Title Slide 2: Validate Problem / Opportunity Slide 3: Table of Contents Slides 4-7: Specific Ideas & Solutions Slide 8: Summary of Your Experience Let's break each of these down. 5/ Attention Grabbing Title Your first slide should catch the reader's attention. What will they get out of reviewing your deck? I like to use this formula: X ways [Company] can [Insert Result] For example: 3 Opportunities For Microsoft Teams To Gain Market Share 6/ Validate The Opportunity In slides 2 -3, we want to provide evidence that validates the problem or opportunity. This can be done with: - Quotes from leadership - Trusted industry data or insights - Survey results This gives your upcoming ideas more clout. For example: 7/ Table of Contents This slide should tease the specific problems / opportunities you'll be diving into. It should also tease the solutions / ideas you have for each. This gets the reader re-invested and motivated to keep going. Here's an example: 8/ Share Specific Ideas & Solutions The next few slides dive deeper into your ideas. The first slide introduces the problem or opportunity (with data). The second slide outlines the solution or strategy that you propose (with steps to execute). Rinse and repeat for each idea. 9/ Highlight Your Experience The final slide should summarize your best and most relevant experience. Include case studies with measurable results. And don't forget to add links to: - Your Resume - Your LinkedIn - Your Email - Any portfolio sites 10/ Use Company Branding Notice the branding on the examples here. She used the teams logo, hex color, and official Microsoft font. The best way to show attention to detail is by doing it. Run a search for "[Company] Brand Guide" to easily find this info. 11/ When Should You Create a VVP? You should NOT make these for every job you apply to. Instead, I use three criteria: 1. You have a formal interview at the company 2. This is a dream company that you'd do anything to work for 3. You have had one conversation with a contact who you believe will advocate for you (this is the most common!). That will maximize ROI and minimize risk for these projects. Be well, Austin PS - Ready to finally land the job you deserve? [Click here to book a free Clarity Call with our team]( to learn more about how we help our clients land jobs in an average of 81 days with a $43,000+ raise.= [Cultivated Culture] Land a job you love without applying online. How Can I Help You? [Build A Resume](=) [Score Your Resume]() [1:1 Career Coaching](=) [LinkedIn Analyzer]( [Twitter]() [Twitter]() [Podcast](=) [Twitter]( You are receiving this email because you subscribed to get more career-related content on [cultivatedculture.com](). If you do not want to receive these emails or other communications you can easily remove yourself from our email list by [clicking this link to Unsubscribe](.                              Â