ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

Gen Z Grad's Unconventional Networking Lands Dream Job at LinkedIn

Basant Shenouda defied traditional job-hunting methods, leveraging social media and face-to-face networking to secure a position at LinkedIn.
PUBLISHED APR 16, 2024
Cover Image Source: Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda
Cover Image Source: Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda

In today's competitive job market, Basant Shenouda has made headlines for her innovative approach to securing employment. With traditional methods of job hunting yielding limited results, Shenouda turned to a combination of social media insight and face-to-face networking to land her dream job at LinkedIn.

Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda
Image Source: Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda

After graduating from the prestigious University of Bonn in 2019, Shenouda found herself facing the daunting task of navigating the job market. Despite spending six months reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn and applying for jobs online, she struggled to make a breakthrough.

"It's becoming increasingly difficult to grab the attention of hiring managers, even through virtual means," Shenouda explains. "I realized that I needed to find a more unconventional method to stand out from the crowd."

Her turning point came when she decided to leverage social media platforms to identify conferences and events where recruiters from her target companies would be present. One event that caught her eye was the Online Marketing Rockstars conference in Hamburg, Germany.

Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda
Image Source: Linkedin | @Basant Shenouda

"As a marketing graduate looking to transition into sales, the conference presented the perfect opportunity to network with decision-makers in my field," Shenouda recalls.

Determined to make the most of the opportunity, she volunteered at the conference to gain free entry and traveled over six hours from Cologne to Hamburg armed with her résumés. During breaks at the event, she took the bold step of approaching recruiters directly, seeking feedback on her CV while secretly hoping to impress potential employers.

"It was a high-risk, high-reward strategy," she admits. "But I knew that face-to-face networking would be far more effective than connecting online."

Image Source: Photo by Airam Dato-on | Pexels
Image Source: Photo by Airam Dato | Pexels

Her perseverance paid off when she caught the attention of recruiters and received offers for multiple positions, including a role in the sales graduate scheme at LinkedIn. Today, three years later, Shenouda still works at LinkedIn as an implementation consultant in Dublin, Ireland.

Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of rejection. "Every 'no' brings you one step closer to your next 'yes'," she advises.

Furthermore, one of the key insights Shenouda gained from her experience was the value of reapplying to companies that had previously rejected her. By seeking feedback from recruiters and addressing any gaps in her applications, she was able to turn rejections into opportunities.

"It's essential to keep trying and maintain relationships, even after facing rejection," she explains. "These skills are highly transferrable and can ultimately lead to success in your chosen field."

A sign is posted on the exterior of a LinkedIn office | Getty Images | Photo by Justin Sullivan
Image Source: A sign is posted on the exterior of a LinkedIn office | Getty Images | Photo by Justin Sullivan

"When engaging with recruiters, don't just focus on your desire for a job. Instead, emphasize the impact you can make," Shenouda advises. "Talk about specific metrics and accomplishments, rather than simply stating your intentions."

"While it may seem counterintuitive, focusing your elevator pitch on the other person's needs can be highly effective. Ask hiring managers about the metrics that matter most to them and tailor your conversation accordingly," she says. 

Furthermore, Shenouda emphasizes the importance of forging friendships with hiring managers and recruiters. "Remember, they're people too, with interests and lives outside of work. Take the time to connect on a personal level, whether it's through social media or shared hobbies," she says.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The "Pawn Stars" were aleft impressed by the only basketball signed by the OGs Jordan, Phil Jackson, and Kobe.
7 hours ago
Turns out that Mr. Wonderful was ordained by the state of California to do the job.
8 hours ago
Fans did not expect to see a person with such a striking resemblance to the former Vice President.
11 hours ago
Rick Harrison wasn't trying to this item for a low price as it was historically significant.
13 hours ago
Despite offering $1.5 million, Harrison was unable to make a deal for the historic item.
1 day ago
Kevin O'Leary hailed their salesmanship after coming to a $600,000 valuation.
1 day ago
The star also followed it up with a second shoutout seeking another chance for her on the show.
1 day ago
The clock was a piece of art and its mechanism was as intriguing as it gets.
1 day ago
The company wasn't profitable and this alone had turned away most sharks in the first place.
1 day ago
All three contestants were unable to make the right guess, and fans pointed out what was wrong online.
2 days ago
The guest was enthusiastic about the painting and the expert was marvelled by its story.
2 days ago
Even the contestant lost his balance as he laughed at his answer immediately.
2 days ago
The Duke of Wellington gifted them the table and a set of willow-patterned tea sets to go with it.
2 days ago
Her product could help a lot of people protect their homes and loved ones from deadly fires.
3 days ago
A lot of the sharks were unsure about the product due to unfortunate incidents in the past.
3 days ago
“He seems like a lot of fun as a dad,” Seacrest admired Tony and Mike Nunes' relationship.
3 days ago
The painting was made by Francois Gilot, the ex-lover of the famous Pablo Picasso.
3 days ago
However, few fans loved their coordinated moves, "Steve Harvey be sharp all the time!"
3 days ago
The founder of Chirp scored a creative deal with Lori Greiner after much deliberation.
4 days ago
“Read the room, Ken, not the time to joke when his dream just got crushed,” a viewer slammed.
4 days ago