5mo ago

Gen Z job seekers should be willing to work for free, long hours, ‘willing to do anything,’ says Squarespace CMO

finance.yahoo.com Gen Z job seekers should be ‘willing to do anything,’ says Squarespace CMO, who cold-called firms from the phonebook for her first role

After landing her first job thanks to the Yellow Pages, Kinjil Mathur has climbed the ranks of Conde Nast, Saks Fifth Avenue and Squarespace to the C-suite.

Gen Z job seekers should be ‘willing to do anything,’ says Squarespace CMO, who cold-called firms from the phonebook for her first role

Work Reform @lemmy.world

finance.yahoo.com /news/squarespace-cmo-cold-called-firms-100000661.html

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I'm gen X. I worked for free in my chosen field to get experience. I worked shitty jobs at the same time for rent.
It sucked, but it landed me a super sweet job compared to my young peers, as I had experience on the ground, and they did not. That was the only difference.
It's a shitty thing starting at the bottom. That's how I stepped up, and got out of my young man poverty.
Now I know I'll get down voted, so you do that. But, that was my reality. That's what happened. That's what gave me my start. Such is life.
- What time period did you work for free while also working shitty jobs for rent?
  Lots of people are working two full time jobs to barely survive...
  I'm not saying you're wrong, but you have to look around and understand that a 1 bedroom apartment can easily be one full time jobs worth of salary to rent if you're a GenZ, then your second full time job is utilies and food... And depending on where they live, that's WITH a roommate.
  Once you've worked 16 hours a day, plus commute time, unpaid lunches...you basically only have time to sleep.
  Where in that schedule do you propose someone donate their time working for free?
  
  This was definitely in a time when things were heaps cheaper. It was the 1990s and the cost of living was nothing like it is now so it was definitely easier for me.
  But I do remember working from some time in the afternoon until about three in the morning on a project for free to demonstrate that I can do what I needed to do.
  That project got me a foot in the door and it got me my first job that I would consider my real road to success.
  It wasn't fun, it wasn't easy, and i remember being so tired that my eyes were shuttering/shaking, but I knew that if I could get that out the door and show them what it was I could do, that it gave me a good chance.
  It did more than that, it put me straight into salary in their company within a week.
  Absolutely fantastic, and I might have been lucky, that I didn't get screwed, but that it is what happened.
  
  Just because you did it doesn't mean it should be done. You, having experienced sleep deprivation to the point of shaky eyes, should know that the system shouldn't be designed to expect anyone to go that far.
- You're getting down voted because it's not 1990 anymore. Working for free just gets you abused, not a foot in the door.
  
  Many people had that same attitude then as well. It's always been like this. It's not like anything is different.
  The only thing different now is the huge costs of living which would make it a lot more difficult to do versus when I did it back in the day. It definitely was financially easier for me because the economy was not so screwed as it is now.
- You boomimg lol
  How many people provide free labour and get ahead in life?
  How many non whites get lucky?
  Asking for a friend.
  It is a system that's relies on everyone to deal value their labour so you and that clown can tell us cute stories lol
  At this age you should know better
  
  I made a choice. It worked. I got an amazing job out of it.
  Much in life is a calculated gamble. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you don't.
  
  JFC this guy can't help with the booming haha
  We got it bro, you made it. Do you want a pat on the back from the comment section and for everybody to admit that stupid poors deserve it... Shoulda worked harder for free
  🤡

86 comments