After being laid off from my first post-college job, I was devastated, confused, and frustrated. I watched as the job market shook its unforgiving finger at other new graduates, my close friends, all with industry experience, passion, and mentorship behind them. I felt helpless and helplessness, despite understanding the company's reasoning for the budget cuts. But I had to pivot somehow. I focused on a game plan, defining my interests and long-term goals, and broadening my scope beyond my previous experience. I started cold emailing businesses in the Bay Area, creating a targeted, niche list of companies that had caught my eye. I created a simple formula for cold emailing, titled with a variation of "PR and Marketing Opportunities at _____" and a description of what specifically drew me to their company. I added a sentence or two about myself, my internship experience, and my genuine curiosity about growth within the industry, and asked for a time to chat about any open roles. I sent off my emails and hoped the right person saw them. Momentum started to build. Within two days, I was surprised to hear back from one of the first hotels I had contacted. They had accepted my inquiry asking to meet and learn about the company's marketing team, and before I knew it, I was joining a call with my now-director. From an email that started as a drop in the ocean, a ripple formed into opportunities I hadn't even expected, and suddenly, more and more. When I accepted the position three weeks later, I was ecstatic. Although it was completely off my radar initially, I was thrilled at the chance to serve in a leadership role and join a company with such a proud culture. After feeling like the bottom rung on the ladder, I learned that in tough times, you have to be bold and ask for what you want.
