#24 | Value First - CV Second | #1 Essential Shopping App | Documentaries for Learning | First VC Job
This week's newsletter will be quite straightforward, as I'm quite burnt out from the intense work week.
Personal/Work:
I am pretty exhausted after my US trip, so I won't be participating in any of the London Tech Week events.
This week, I gave a talk to a group from the Going VC program (The Venture Ecosystem for Emerging VCs) on "How to Network Your Way into VC".
I was approached by three master's students looking for a VC job after finishing university.
What everyone had in common was...
Tadaa!
Their approach to job searching.
They thought that if you saw a job post on LinkedIn, you could apply and email your CV with an average note that looks like this:
I'm interested in your approach to building the best (healthcare company). I found your job posting on LinkedIn, and I believe I am a good fit.
1. I'm passionate about healthcare.
2. I'm goal-oriented. My accomplishments X, X, and X illustrate my determination.
3. I have negotiation and sales training. X and X
4. I speak X languages and play piano.
I've attached my resume.
Thanks for considering me.
What do you think is wrong here?
I firmly believe that when applying for any position, you certainly need to promote yourself assertively - why you? However, the key point is to ensure the company you are applying to understands your VALUE to them and how YOU SOLVE their ongoing problems.
They are not hiring a Mr./Ms. Perfection but rather a hustler, a doer, a leader who can potentially lead one of the company's departments.
Show your value. Screen the company you are applying for through their website and socials, find flaws, and suggest how to solve them. Come up with a unique project your company would be excited to do (perhaps they do not have enough capacity to run it). There are so many scenarios here.
Do something for them first, and believe me, you will already be among the top 0.01% of applicants.
Happy Applications!
App:
YUKA is a 100% independent app that scans food and cosmetic products to know their impact on your health.
Make the right choices
for your health
The app deciphers product labels and analyzes the health impacts of food products and cosmetics. I started using this when buying items in shops as I'm trying to become more aware of what I consume.
Media:
WeCrashed: The show features Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as Adam and Rebekah Neumann, a real-life married couple who were central to WeWork. This company, which provides shared workspaces, was once said to be worth $47 billion in 2019. However, it faced a downfall because of financial disclosures.
I believe every movie based on real events is such a fun way to learn!
Adam is a superstar salesman, and his unwavering belief and self-confidence propel the company to new heights. You should give it a watch. You won't regret it!
Learn:
In case you are looking for an entry job in VC or want to start your fund soon:
- VC Lab by Founder Institute - an excellent way to start thinking about your investment thesis and all aspects of the venture business.
I'm Yana, the founder of Pretiosum [Pretty Awesome] Ventures. At Pretiosum we back amazing B2B founders at the seed stage in the US/UK. I use my experience to support and invest in the next wave of founders building companies that close gaps for big businesses.
I pour my heart into crafting this awesome newsletter every Sunday in my spare time. Love what you read? Support my writing by becoming a paid subscriber for the price of a coffee. Subscribe here!
I'm always excited to hear your feedback:
- on Instagram (@yana_pretiosum)
- on Twitter (@yana_vc)