After landing an entry-level position at a PR firm specializing in hospitality, I eagerly awaited my start date, which was just weeks after my graduation from UC Berkeley.
Seven months later, I joined a Zoom call with my manager, expecting to discuss my growth, coming prepared with questions about my performance and future with the firm. Within minutes, the tone had shifted completely: my role was being eliminated with budget cuts.
The devastation, confusion, and frustration held me captive for days. I understood their reasoning, but couldn’t shake the helplessness of feeling sucker-punched by the decision.
While I worked all those months, 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.
Assuming it was my turn to feel defeated, I imagined months ahead, spending long hours applying to job postings and watching my San Francisco apartment suck up money for rent. I had to pivot somehow.
Starting the process
After allowing time to sit with my emotions, I focused on a game plan — a method of attack for my search.
First, I defined my interests and long-term goals. I knew I wanted to continue working at the intersection of communications and hospitality, so I broadened my scope beyond my previous experience: marketing, communications, events, and copywriting. I would try anything that could get me in the door.
I browsed Bay Area hotels, restaurants, and hospitality groups online, then created a targeted, niche list of businesses that had caught my eye.
Rather than scouring job boards, I found cold emailing with an introduction felt more genuine. I had no idea whether it would actually lead to a job, but it was a chance to start on a more personal level.
I created a simple formula for cold emailing
Even if there were no postings available, I would still take the chance and email. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so why not shoot my shot?
I titled my emails with some variation of “PR and Marketing Opportunities at _____.” Simple and straightforward.
The body consisted of a description of what specifically drew me to their company — whether it was the caliber of service or the prestige within San Francisco — so the recipients would know I had done my research.
Next, I added a sentence or two about myself. I had a few years of internship experience, but more importantly, I was genuinely curious about growth within the industry. I then asked for a time to chat about any open roles.
The clock was ticking; every email I sent had to be the perfect combination of direct, personable, and worth the effort. After logging every draft and email address in an organized spreadsheet, the last step was to send it off and hope the right person saw it.
Momentum started to build
In the beginning, I didn’t have much hope that things would turn around quickly. I started slower than expected, yet more methodical, averaging three to four emails per day.
But it all starts with one moment.
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.
Though marketing had no openings, he mentioned a position in catering — someone who would facilitate planning for conferences, galas, and other events hosted at the hotel. With my experience in event planning, this piqued my interest, and I pushed for more.
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.
