Recession Proof Graduate: How to Land the Job You Want by Doing Free Work

A short read that serves as both a manifesto and a step-by step guide full of case studies.Recent graduates, who have been repeatedly told by elders that long studies entitled them to a good job, are surprised when they realize blindly posting resumes online and hoping a company will hire them does not produce the desired result.Instead, Hoehn shares what worked for him, and allowed him to skyrocket from a graduate like thousands of others, to working with the likes of Tim Ferriss, Ramit Sethi and Tucker Max.His answer is working for high-profile entrepreneurs whom you admire. For free.According to Hoehn, offering your services for free can be strategic, offering outstanding value for free can be a great way to get your foot in the door, and receive rewards that are much more valuable than cold, hard cash:Testimonials from top performersA portfolio which will be crucial to getting new customersReferrals (leads, publishers...)Creative freedomCharlie is adamant that there is a huge difference between offering your services at a discount (which only shows how desperate you really are) and doing it for free (I'm not a great fit for everyone, but I'll bring tremendous results if we have some chemistry. Let's try).The plan is to develop skills that are currently in high demand in the Internet economy (programming, mobile apps, video, photographs, copywriting, marketing...), identify high performing entrepreneurs currently on a large project (writing a book, touring, promoting a new product...) and offer a no-strings-attached, outstanding piece of work that will set you apart from the competition. Then, either continue working with them at a premium hourly rate, or move on with new leads.An approach I would I liked to hear about as I was about to graduate 4 years ago.

The world is changing. People aren't staying in one job for 40 years and then hoping to have saved enough that they can escape and retire. In today's climate, the traditional "safe" path is anything but. The only security we have is our ability to find unique opportunities and leverage our individual skill-sets to make us a stand-out in a market filled with generic noise.In Recession Proof Graduate, Charlie Hoehn shows us how to execute tactics that have led him to incredible opportunities and highlights the simple yet unintuative route to finding these positions. This book shows you how to reach out and connect with those you admire and allows you to land opportunities that would have previously been out of your league. The principles are simple, offer free work, but the experience that Charlie Hoehn has to support his method is undeniable. By following his example we can break-free from the '40-years of enslavement' model and find new ways to learn, grow, and strive towards our potential.And this is not just for recent graduates, the lessons and strategies that Recession Proof Graduate provides can be applied by anyone looking to expand their career, change their path, or just work on interesting projects with fascinating people, this book provides the solution.Ignore this book at your own peril.

This book changed my life.I read the online version when Charlie first launched it 4+ years ago. It was right when I was making a transition in my small business to a completely new industry where I had no contacts, no credibility, no experience and only a couple new clients under my belt.I took the ideas in this book, applied them to what I was doing and immediately saw huge results.In the first week of using the ideas and email templates in this book, I landed a client that was at the top of my new industry and quickly led me to closing deals with several others. Several of these clients that I got using Charlie's techniques are still, over four years later, paying clients.If you are someone that struggling to grow your business, no matter what size, I highly recommend this book. It's not just for graduates... it's for learners of all ages.

This is a short read and will really leave you wondering: "Can it really be this simple?" The answer is yes. However, don't confuse simple with easy, they are NOT the same thing. This will take commitment on your end to follow through and get results. I stumbled upon this book in the middle of a career change and I wish I would have found it sooner. Great advice, now have to put it to work!

It's rare when a book a both blows your mind and is really short.I read RPG about 3 years ago, took action on the principles Charlie outlined, and my life has been a lot more interesting since.From pimps to dropouts to people imo changing the world, I've worked with some interesting characters after reading RPG.Every college graduate should read this. No, every high school grad should read this. Some important sections for me:Life After SchoolStop Acting EntitledGet Some SkillsThe case studies and FAQ in the 2nd 1/2Looking back, if I knew where RPG would get me today, I would have easily paid $50 for it, maybe more. And I’m a f***ing cheap person.

The old advice of "get good grades and get a good job" still works for some, but in our competitive world, it's getting harder and harder to get ahead in your career, especially right out of college. Charlie Hoehn turns conventional wisdom on its head and explains, through his personal examples, step-by-step, on how you can fast-track you career and do meaningful work. If you are a recent graduate, pick this book up. Really, you don't have anything to lose, especially if you've sent your resume out to 100 companies and haven't had any luck. Why not try a different approach? It may just change your life.

There's so much bad stuff out there, not this. This book is a real energizer for people trying to figure out how to pivot into something more meaningful. I especially liked the letter templates you can use to get started and the objection handling to give a more tempered point of view.David

Charlie is the man. He used this exact strategy to land working with Tim Ferriss. A dream job for many aspiring entrepreneurs.After faffing around, I read the book again a year after I initially read it, and I actually followed what he suggests.The results were astounding.I've found a mentor who's doing exactly what I want to do and I'm working under him. In fact I'm working with him as a business partner. The lessons I'm learning and the opportunities I'm exposed to are the kind I'd have killed for a year ago.Follow the strategy in this book, and you may be surprised at the results.

I'm about to leave college and forge my own path as a businessman in the creative media industry, but everyone around me continues to say "just get a real job" or "nobody likes their job, but you do it to pay bills."This book made me accept that a little less income for a short while means a lot of happiness and awesome times in the long run.I think I'll go and get my old telesales job back for a wage, but I'll definitely be hanging around Kickstarter and few other places to get myself in that door. Having a terrible job will also keep me active but ready to leave instantly.The concept of using "try it before you buy it" on business surprised me, yet made me realise it's such a good idea! Combined with "go where the money is" (following successful entrepreneurs) means that you should be able to get awesome work honestly and easily (if you are good at what you do.)This book reignited my spirit, just as it had begun to fade. Nice one Charlie.

Are you scared that you might not find a job in your field after graduation? Well, if you're scared, frustrated, or uncertain with you future, I feel you. This is a reality for graduates in this time. BUT Charlie Hoehn can show you a different path. A better path to enlightenment.In this book, Charlie describes what you need to do to land your dream job. And it's not advice you will get from your parents, profs, or counsellers. Charlie mentions that you have to be willing to do free work for people you admire. Because with free work comes low expectations. Then BOOM, you blow out your client with your work and start building a reputation.The book goes into more detail, but with this method, you start building a portfolio and a rep. Then people want to start paying you and then BOOM you have a career in your dream industry-or is that bit of a stretch.Charlies' advice is realistic and you should read this book if you're worried about getting a job in your field.Don't wait, get this book-which is soooo cheap- and take the proactive approach for your career goals.

I'm another COVID-cut employee. I stumbled across this book through a Ryan Holiday blog article and thought it could help me get an edge on other applicants once the economy starts up. I really like this book; it's a different spin on my application mindset, it's a quick read (for a self-admitted slow reader) and Hoehn's points are easily understood. Recommend reading, but you might be able to save a few bucks by subscribing to Hoehn's newsletter on his blog/website. He emails his book PDFs to subscribers for free.

Since my early teenage years I believed in concepts very similar to the ones I found in here, which is delightful, because I confess I was a coward and used to see myself as crazy for thinking I could live this way, and I am so glad to see that this author shares the same thought process as I and, even better, made it work.I am grateful for this book beyond measure, thank you for writing it