I got hired at Google and Meta as an average candidate by finding the 'third door.' There's an alternative way into Big Tech.

• Learning to use the "third door" strategy led to career achievements for Andrew Yeung at Google and Meta.
• The idea is about discovering original routes to reach objectives and gain notice.
• Yeung used four key steps to discover the door to a successful career in tech and hospitality.

Until just a few years back, I thought I was destined for a mediocre career.

Going to school was a struggle. Math, English, and science were tough subjects for me to tackle. I didn't think I was particularly smart, and it showed in my below-average grades which continued from middle school right up through my college graduation.

This person possesses exceptional qualities such as charm, self-assurance, and the intelligence of a genius.

However hard I pushed myself, my performance always fell short. I'd spend hours studying in school, only to get mediocre grades. This became a familiar pattern in college, where I'd spend months sending out job applications without getting any feedback.

I came to the realization that I needed to make some adjustments, or else I'd be stuck with mediocre results for the long haul. I had to break away from the status quo because it wasn't yielding the results I was hoping to achieve.

It completely changed everything I did and ultimately helped me get main acting roles at Google and Meta.

What is the concept of "the third door"?

that nobody tries.

by finding the correct door.

I became increasingly intolerant of uniformity and traditional thinking, questioning general wisdom at every turn. Anytime I saw someone doing something in a particular way, I'd try to do it differently, and I was convinced that there must be a simpler, more unorthodox, and less obvious way to accomplish things.

Here are the four things I started doing to boost my chances of having a successful and enriching career.

to catch the eye of key decision-makers

You often had to know the right people, have a highly impressive resume, or possess exceptional intelligence or charm to get ahead. Since I lacked these qualities, I decided to create my own opportunities.

I decided to bypass attending private dinners with CEOs and host my own instead.

of business leaders, I created my own platform and invited leaders I wanted to speak alongside.

Rather than constantly pursuing people, I discovered how to create things of worth that would draw the attention of those with whom I wished to connect.

2. I began to stand out by executing tasks much faster than my peers.

Throughout my career, I've utilized my execution speed as a strategic benefit, and it's consistently yielded positive results.

In fact, I landed an internship with the CEO of a company with over 20,000 employees just 10 seconds after responding to an email.

I was able to work on the most prominent projects I've had because I'm the first person to volunteer for these opportunities.

I've also managed to make introductions within a minute of being asked. Making introductions quickly is the best way to stand out and give yourself a competitive edge.

3. I began prioritizing long-term investments, beginning with relationships, while others were focused on one-time transactions.

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It makes sense, there's a high concentration of outstand individuals, giving you what appears to be an infinite array of choices when it comes to forming relationships, but in truth, this false sensation of having many options can actually do more harm than good.

Early in my career, I faced multiple rejections from numerous hiring managers. Each time, I took the rejections with a calm attitude, expressed gratitude for their time, and offered to provide value by being a resource for other candidates. Eventually, things came full circle.

The individual built and maintained a strong connection with their hiring manager for over a year.

My path started when someone from Facebook reached out to me, and we ended up developing a mentoring relationship that lasted over three years. I then started working with Google after building a connection with someone I met randomly, which turned into a long-term partnership.

Lasting professional connections are formed when you prioritize a long-term perspective, thinking in terms of decades rather than just days or weeks.

4. I began giving without expecting anything in return.

My approach to securing job openings, CEO connections, and influential people has consistently relied on offering my most valuable resource: my time. It has served as a Trojan horse, allowing me to break into new situations, forge relationships, and gain access to bigger opportunities.

Several individuals eventually gave me a shot, and this was my key to gaining a foothold in the tech industry, even without prior technical experience. This approach allowed me to establish a personal brand as a young, helpful, and ambitious professional.

I opened the third choice which proved to be the right one

These four habits ultimately gave me access to new opportunities, allowed me to build relationships with influential tech leaders, and "broke" the barrier to entering the tech industry despite lacking good grades or a strong resume.

In all honesty, I consider myself an ordinary person who doesn't have any exceptional talents or outstanding abilities, but I've been able to achieve success by uncovering the hidden opportunities that I'm uniquely qualified for.

,

on Microsoft Start.