Gorick's Newsletter

3 Networking Tips When Making a Lateral Career Move

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:01:00 +0000

ASK GORICK ANYTHING, EDITION #57

“How to make an internal career pivot?”

💡 The quick answer: Reach out to your relevant mutual connections (and anyone else you can find).

THE QUESTION

“I applied for a new position today at my company (a Fortune 50). Would it be wrong to reach out to others on the team to talk about the position since I’m currently an employee?

I don’t have any experience in the area that I’m applying for technically, but know that I can do the job as I do have experiences they are looking for. I am excited about the possibility of the job and would like to do everything I can to not let it slip away.”

—Stephanie W. from Fresno, CA

GORICK’S RESPONSE

Congratulations on putting yourself out there and applying!

To answer directly: No, it is not wrong at all. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that I expect the person who'll eventually be hired to be someone the hiring manager either (A) already knows or (B) was introduced to by someone else.

Here's “Exhibit A” of proof: a classmate from business school currently at [another Fortune 50] emailed me just last month with the following message. She's using every connection available to her to get to the person hiring (so I doubt I'm the only person she pinged).

So, I'd do 3 things if I were in your shoes:

1) Find someone who can introduce you to someone on the team that you're interested in.

People are more likely to respond if they want you to succeed—and people are more likely to want you to succeed if they find you compatible (see my explanation of the Three C's here).

So, start by looking at who's on the team you want to join.

Is there someone who...

(A) also transitioned from another team (so can empathize)?

(B) has something in common with you?

(C) has worked with you (or knows someone you're close to)?

Next, go on LinkedIn, look up this person, see if you can find a mutual connection and, if so, pinpoint the person you know best. Then, ask for an intro!

Here's a script to try (this one is admittedly a bit more formal than the note I got, but go with the style that best fits the type of relationship with the person you're contacting):

“I am wondering if you might be close enough to [person you'd like to meet] to make an introduction?...” (Include a link to their online profile if possible). I'm currently [your role/department] and looking to [join X team]. I noticed that [person you'd like to get introduced to] is on [X team] and you are connected via [platform]. I was hoping to specifically get [person you'd like to get introduced to]'s perspective on their [mention commonality that might make you more interesting or relevant]. No pressure if I caught you at a bad time—kindly let me know either way.”

Navigating a job change?

Want to help out someone who is?

Rewarding Relationships is a set of field-tested networking scripts by Gorick Ng in flashcard format. Get the 54 networking cards, plus bonus videos from Gorick on every scenario, here: https://amzn.to/4usGXQa

2) Look for someone on the team you applied to join that you can cold email.

If you can't find a mutual connection, I'd try cold outreach like this:

“Hi [person you'd like to meet with], I'm currently in [your current role] on the [your domain] side and love the work your group is doing because [be specific!!!]. I recently submitted an application for the [X role] and would love to learn how your team's current priorities might overlap with what I've done over at [your current role]. Specifically, I'd like to think I could help you [be specific!!!] and would love to discuss further. Might you be open to a 15-minute conversation sometime next week? If so, I'm available at [share your availability in their time zone]. No worries if not—please let me know either way.”

3) Ask whoever you speak with, “Who should I speak with next?”

Connections are the key to landing any role, but it always takes more than one conversation with more than one person to go from connection to coffee chat to interview to job offer!

Consider asking the following at the end of any coffee chat (or even at the end of a brief conversation if that’s all you were able to get):

“[This was so helpful! / Got it, thank you!] Is there anyone else on the team—or someone who made a similar transition within [your company]—that you think I should chat with?”

Remember: the worst that could (usually) happen is that someone says no. So, putting yourself out there over and over again is the best way to stumble upon doors that lead you to new opportunities (including ones you may not have even thought of in the first place).

In fact, I believe in this advice so strongly that I have an entire slide devoted to it in one of my keynotes:

In other words: When in doubt, send the networking note / email / message / connection! You never know where it might lead you.

Hope this was helpful, and best of luck!

See you in October for our next AMA,

Gorick

Interested in getting your own career question answered? Submit it here for a chance to be featured!

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

Gen Z is turning hobbies into work — and missing the point (Washington Post)
‘But enough about you …’ How to survive in a world of monologuists, interrupters and trauma dumpers (The Guardian)
Policy—not PR—will determine Gen Z’s trust in AI (Brookings)

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

1. Keynote speaking: If your organization is looking for speakers for your internship program, new hire orientation, new student orientation, manager training, all-hands meetings, recruiting season, year-end performance evaluation season, or something else, let's chat!

2. How to Say It: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting via hundreds of fill-in-the-blank scripts (just like the examples above). Free shipping on all orders over $40.

3. The Unspoken Rules: My Wall Street Journal Bestseller that Arianna Huffington calls “a blueprint for anyone starting their career, entering a new role, or wanting to get unstuck.” Used by top companies and MBA programs.

4. Soft skills crash course: Hard skills get you hired, but a lack of soft skills gets you fired. Equip your interns and early career talent with the essential behaviors of high performers in just 3.5 hours.

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

Leverage your weak ties

Gorick Ng — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:01:43 +0000

Hi friends,

Happy Tuesday!

Quick heads up: From here on out, I’ll be sending my newsletter on a monthly basis and focusing on answering your career questions.

In the past, you received a story like the one below every two weeks along with a monthly edition of my AMA. However, out of everything I send, you’ve consistently shared that the AMAs are the emails that actually get opened in your already full inboxes, so I’m taking your feedback and acting on it!

The stories aren’t disappearing. All editions will stay where they’ve always been in my archive (https://www.gorick.com/career-strategies).

Which is to say: if you’ve been sitting on a question, send it! You may just be featured in a future email.

Ask me anything

Excited for this next chapter with you,

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Leverage your weak ties.

Your casual acquaintances could be your key to getting ahead in your career.

THE STORY

His biggest breaks came from people he barely knew

It was the early 1990s and computer science major Jimmy Fallon was moonlighting as a comedian in small clubs around Albany, New York.

Two decades later, he was hosting The Tonight Show, the longest-running talk show in the world.

How did he make it?

Not from merely being talented or even from networking—at least not with people in his inner circle.

Instead, it was the people he barely knew who opened the most important doors.

Here’s what happened:

1995: While interning for newspaper owner Peter Iselin in Albany, Fallon gives Iselin a VHS copy of his stand-up act. “Maybe you could play this for people,” Fallon suggests. Iselin passes the tape to a contact of his—Los Angeles entertainment agent Randi Siegel. Fallon and Siegel had never met. Siegel calls Fallon and signs him. Fallon leaves school, moves to LA, and begins his comedy career.

1997: With Siegel’s help, Fallon auditions for SNL. The audition is a flop and Fallon doesn’t get the role.

1998: Fallon, now 23 years old, auditions for SNL for a second time. Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live, hires him. Producer Marci Klein gives Fallon some advice: after every show, go thank Lorne Michaels. He does, and soon enough Michaels invites Fallon out to chat.

Jimmy Fallon in 1998 at his SNL audition

2004-2008: Fallon leaves SNL to pursue acting in feature-length films. However, none of the movies do well, and Fallon enters a self-described “lost period.”

2009: Michaels tells Fallon he needs to be back on TV. Fallon agrees. So, Michaels convinces NBC to hire Fallon as Conan O’Brien’s successor on the talk show Late Night.

Jimmy Fallon hosting The Tonight Show

2014: After 5 years as host of Late Night, Fallon succeeds Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show.

Present day: As of 2026, 12 years later, Fallon continues to host The Tonight Show.

A quick word from today’s sponsor:

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Leverage your weak ties

It’s easy to think that the people you are closest to are the ones who will help you most in your career. But research actually shows something different: the people who know you just a little, but not a lot, are the ones most likely to open the most important doors for you—like when Fallon’s former boss sent his comedy tape along to Siegel.

Wondering how to build your own “weak ties”? Think of one person you haven’t spoken to in a while who once helped or encouraged you. Then, send them some version of this:

“Hi ______, hope you’ve been great since ______. Just wanted to let you know that I [finally got to ______ / have been loving ______ / was recently ______ / ______]. None of this would have been possible had you not ______—thank you!”

Like Fallon, you never know who in your network might one day change your life. The point isn’t to turn everyone into your closest friend, but to keep your connections warm (like what Rosalind Brewer, former CEO of Sam’s Club and Walgreens, did—read my story here).

Similarly, you never know who you could help out, too!

See you next month for our AMA,

Gorick

PS: You can submit your career-related questions here for a chance to be answered in a future Ask Gorick Anything edition.

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

1. Keynote speaking: If your organization is looking for speakers for your internship program, new hire orientation, new student orientation, manager training, all-hands meetings, recruiting season, year-end performance evaluation season, or something else, let's chat!

2. HOW TO SAY IT®: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting via hundreds of fill-in-the-blank scripts (just like the examples above). Free shipping on all orders over $40.

3. The Unspoken Rules: My Wall Street Journal Bestseller that Arianna Huffington calls “a blueprint for anyone starting their career, entering a new role, or wanting to get unstuck.” Used by top companies and MBA programs.

4. Soft skills crash course: Hard skills get you hired, but a lack of soft skills gets you fired. Equip your interns and early career talent with the essential behaviors of high performers in just 3.5 hours.

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

Managing new hires? Read this

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Hello friends,

I recently spoke to a group of new hires and their managers at the professional services firm Aon.

When it was my turn to host the manager session, I kept hearing the same questions: How do I motivate my new team members? How do I get them up to speed quickly? How do I guide them without holding their hands?

Those questions led to a discussion, which led to this week’s newsletter, where I’ll be sharing the 7 things you can say to help your new hire excel.

Enjoy!
Gorick

PS: A number of you have also asked if I’d ever write a manager book. I’m working on it! Please answer the poll below if you’d like updates about my manager book, or other future books/workbooks.

Are you a manager who’s about to onboard an early career hire to your team and is wondering how to get them ramped up quickly?

If so, know this: if a new hire struggles, it’s rarely because they're lazy or uninterested.

New hires struggle because they don’t know the unspoken rules of navigating a professional environment—and their manager either didn’t take the time to explain it to them, or didn’t explain it well enough.

Did you know? Developing effective communication with early career hires is crucial for fostering a positive work environment. According to Gallup, managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement, making your choice of words the primary driver of employee success. Furthermore, employees who receive regular, meaningful feedback are four times more likely to be engaged.

The good news? A few simple scripts can make a real difference not only in your early career hire’s ramp-up time, but also in the quality of your collaboration and, in turn, your own time savings as their manager.

Here are 7 key scenarios every early career hire struggles with and the 7 simple scripts that any manager can use to accelerate the productivity of their new hire.

7 SCRIPTS FOR FRONT-LINE MANAGERS

1. Who to go to

Try saying this: "[Name] is the person who's in charge of [area]. Talk to them when [situation]."

Every manager wants a direct report who’s resourceful. The problem? It’s hard for your direct report to be resourceful if they don’t know who to go to (let alone if such a person exists at all).

This script is especially important when inviting your new hire to a meeting. You explaining who’s going to be in the room, how those people might behave, and what your new hire should keep an eye on can mean the difference between them paying attention to the subtleties—and being able to navigate them effortlessly—and them simply sitting there.

2. What terms mean

Try saying this: "In plain English, [jargon] means [definition]. So, instead of saying [jargon], you'd say [plain-language version]."

The corporate world (and the broader professional world as a whole) has its own language with a dizzying array of acronyms and jargon. Knowing when and how to use these terms can mean the difference between your new hire sounding like an insider and sounding like an outsider.

If your teenage self wouldn’t have known the definition of something—such as a term like “MECE”—explain it.*

*To follow my own advice: MECE means “Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive.” Mutually exclusive means categories that do not overlap. Collectively exhaustive means everything being analyzed fits into one of the stated categories.

You can find my corporate workplace jargon dictionary here.

Did you know? Clear communication is key to preventing misunderstandings. Research published in the International Journal of Business Communication (2025) found that excessive jargon lowers “processing fluency” and reduces employee confidence. Defining terms is therefore more than just about accelerating a new hire's time-to-productivity; it’s also about building psychological safety.

3. Where things are located

Try saying this: "[Resource] is located [location]. To access it, you'll need to [step]. You may also need to [additional step]."

One of the most frustrating and time-consuming aspects of any new job is figuring out where things are. A minute spent explaining the structure of folders and the logic behind how critical files are organized and version control is managed can mean the difference between hours spent clicking around and hours spent actually working.

4. When things are due

Try saying this: "Looking forward, [event] is happening [timeframe]. Working backwards, we need to [action] by [deadline]."

As I explain in The Unspoken Rules:

“In the workplace, if a task has a deadline, it typically has two or more deadlines: a final deadline (which is often the one you'll hear about) and at least one interim deadline (which is usually unspoken). The final deadline is when something will be released, published, or sent out. The interim deadline is an internal check-in to make sure that you are on track.”

Minutes spent explaining all of the invisible deadlines and how you work up to each one could save you hours of worrying and micromanaging later.

5. Why things are the way they are

Try saying this: "The process for [task] is [process]. First, you'd [step]. Then, you’d [step]. This is because [reason]."

The longer your organization has existed, the more processes there will be that will be completely foreign to an outsider. It gets even more complicated for that outsider if they happen to be a new hire with little to no corporate experience.

So, the better your direct report understands the appropriate procedures for getting things done, the more likely they will stay out of trouble (and keep your and their reputation intact!).

Not a fan of bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake? Try a line like this to encourage some entrepreneurial thinking: “Just because this is how things have been done in the past doesn’t mean it should be done this way. So, if you can find a more efficient approach, let me know.” This script is especially useful in startup environments where you need everyone looking for the most efficient way to solve problems.

6. How you think

Try saying this:

"When I encounter [situation], first I [step]. Then, I [step]."
"My logic behind this is [reasoning]."
"When I look at [document/data], my eyes immediately go to [detail]."
"What's going through my mind is [thought process]."
"I learned this the hard way when I [mistake]. So now I make sure to [habit]."

Every manager dreams of scaling themselves. It’s possible—and it begins with clearly articulating how you approach problems.

Once others can see the world through your eyes, they can start to behave as you would. Then, they can go on to develop their own approach to problem solving.

7. How you work

Try saying this: "I'd love for you to join [meeting/task] and take notes on how I approach [situation]. Afterward, let's discuss [question]."

Think back to how you learned in the earliest stages of your career. Chances are, most of your training was through “apprenticeship” or, simply put, observing others, taking notes, trying it yourself, and then getting feedback.

Whether it’s phone calls, meetings, or “look over my shoulder while I skim this document” moments, every observational opportunity is another chance to get your new hire ramped up.

Assess your tacit knowledge

A phrase I say time and time again in my manager trainings is this: what’s obvious to you may not be obvious to other people.

There is no more critical time to remind yourself of this reality than when a new hire joins your team. What you consider your tacit knowledge was probably something that someone, at some point, taught you how to do.

So, be that person for your new hire! Assume they know nothing, so share everything and in plain language. Before long, your new hire will be as productive as you are—and maybe even surprise you with an insight, proposal, or solution that you hadn’t thought of yourself.

Hope this helps,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

The 25 Emerging Cities for Jobs and Career Growth (LinkedIn)
Good things take time – but new research suggests mindfulness can make the wait easier (The Conversation)
As AI creates more entrepreneurs and a skills mismatch, Gen Z faces the choice of being a specialist or a ‘general-purpose nerd’ (Fortune)

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

Always give a hypothesis

Gorick Ng — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:01:35 +0000

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Always give a hypothesis.

The most successful professionals do it instinctively, so you should too.

THE STORY

The lipstick effect

It was 2001—just after 9/11. The economy was in a downturn and consumers were cutting back on their spending.

Leonard Lauder, chairman of Estée Lauder, had expected sales of lipstick—which he thought was “discretionary” (AKA optional, like a vacation, concert, or premium coffee)—to decline.

He looked at his company’s data. To his surprise, lipstick sales had actually grown (by 11%, to be exact).

Line graph showing the 11% surge in lipstick sales during the 2001 economic downturn.

Immediately, he wondered: Could it be that lipstick sales actually increase during tough times because people still want to treat themselves… but want an affordable indulgence?

Armed with this hypothesis, Lauder coined the term “the lipstick index” and built a strategy around it, positioning makeup as small, affordable, reasonable pick-me-ups during hard times.

Fast forward and Lauder’s hypothesis held up through not only the post-9/11 slump but also the 2008 financial crisis, despite a dip in consumer discretionary spending as a whole.

And the term “lipstick index” (or “lipstick effect”)? It became free press for Estée Lauder and continues to be cited by economists and journalists today.

A quick word from today’s sponsor:

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Thank you for supporting the sponsors who help keep this newsletter free. If you’re interested in sponsoring a future edition and getting in front of 35,000 professionals, reply to this email.

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Always give a hypothesis

What is the most commonly uttered phrase in the workplace (and maybe even in life)?

“I don’t know.”

Sure, there’s a time and place to be honest about what you don’t know, but even then, it’s helpful to understand why people are asking you the question in the first place: to better understand a situation.

When you say “I don’t know,” you’re shutting down the conversation right then and there. The person who asked the question still knows as much as they used to. All they heard from you was: “Don’t talk to me. Ask someone else or figure it out yourself.”

The better way? A hypothesis or, put simply, an educated guess.

This is what Lauder did. Was he certain that lipstick sales would grow as the economy soured? No—no one could be. But, in offering a hypothesis, he gave everyone around him, not to mention himself, something to work with.

What does this mean for you?

The next time you find yourself wanting to say “I don’t know,” try saying this instead:

1. “I’m not sure, but I suspect [hypothesis].”

2. “Based on [data / experience], my impression is [hypothesis].”

3. “I can double check and get back to you, but my first reaction is [hypothesis].”

4. “I’d imagine [hypothesis] because [evidence].”

You won’t always be right (just as I’m sure Lauder was wrong plenty of times before—we just don’t hear about it). But one of these hypotheses might just be true, thereby sending your career to new heights.

And even if it doesn’t, you at least gave the other person something to work with, which is why they came to you in the first place (and why they’ll keep coming back).

(Are you a manager who wants your direct reports to adopt this mindset? Check out this prior tip on how to teach new hires to be more self-sufficient.)

See you in 2 weeks for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

PS: I answer a career question from a subscriber every month. You can submit your own question here.

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

7 Winning Signals That Employers Look For

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:12:56 +0000

ASK GORICK ANYTHING, EDITION #56

“How to get companies to take a chance on me?”

💡 The quick answer: Make sure you’re sending the 7 signals that employers most want to see.

THE QUESTION

“I’m 57 and struggling to get the interview. How can I get companies to take a chance on me?”

—Tina from Forsyth, Missouri, USA

GORICK’S RESPONSE

Hi Tina,

Thanks so much for your question! I’m sorry to hear that it’s been such a struggle landing interviews.

If you are struggling to be taken seriously in the job search, chances are you could be showing more of these 7 critical characteristics: balance, expertise, translation, proactivity, credibility, leverage, and intentionality.

You probably already have these characteristics, but the question is: Do your potential employers know you do, too?

Before we dive in: The framework that I’m sharing today is from my new workbook! So many people have asked me for advice on how to get hired in their 40s, 50s, and 60s that I decided it was time to create a resource to address this exact struggle. “The 7 Winning Signals” is a framework from this new work-in-progress workbook, and today, you’ll get the unreleased chapter. (You are the first people in the world to see it, and I wouldn’t want to have any other way!).

“The 7 Winning Signals That Employers Look For”

From Chapter 8, Section I

A job posting goes up. A tiny handful get interviews. One person gets picked. Why? Chances are—in addition to all of the criteria that get filtered for on paper—the new hire projected 7 specific signals that bypassed a manager’s fear of a bad hire and made the manager think, “This is a safe bet”—not “This is a risky bet.”

As you read through the following list, ask yourself: “To what extent have I been showing this signal (in my emails, cover letters, coffee chats, and interviews)?”

Has it been a lot? A little? Not at all? Be honest, because your goal is to send each signal as much as you possibly can. After you review a signal, practice the fill-in-the-blank scripts. These are your signal boosters that say to hiring managers, “I’m a great bet—choose me.”

Here goes:

Signal #1: Balance

You demonstrate the right dose of the “Three C’s” (Competence, Commitment, and Compatibility) without overshooting to arrogance or undershooting to cluelessness.

What this sounds like:

“I know how important [Priority] is in [Role]. So, importing what I saw at [Prior Employer], I’d [Approach], but [Modification] given [Unique Circumstances].”

Signal #2: Expertise

You position yourself not as a candidate looking for a job but as the key to landing customers, fixing processes, or opening doors.

What this sounds like:

“When I was at [Prior Role], I saw [Analogous Problems] and was the one who [Results], which I’d love to make happen for you too.”

Signal #3: Translation

You explain how everything you’ve done to date directly relates to the job at hand, proving that your experience is even more relevant than what meets the eye.

What this sounds like:

“In my work with [Experience], I [Result] which is exactly like [Their Pain Point] with the only exception being [Differences].”

Signal #4: Proactivity

You show you’re already in the mindset and starting the work before you’re even hired.

What this sounds like:

“I’ve been thinking about your [Goal] and drafted a [Plan/Brief] on what I’d do, step by step, if I were hired for the job. In fact, I’ve gone ahead and [Initial Work].”

Signal #5: Credibility

You show you’re a safe bet because respected peers or organizations have already vetted you.

What this sounds like:

“I became interested in this role speaking with [Peer, Leader, or Respected Insider] who shared [Insider Knowledge]. So, I’d like to think that my work at [Relatable Setting] makes me an even more compelling candidate for [Role] given [Reasons].”

Signal #6: Leverage

You show that you’re in demand and have other options if they don’t make a decision quickly.

What this sounds like:

“I’m currently in discussions with another firm, but am prioritizing you because [Priorities] align perfectly with my goals. Can you please share your timeline?”

Signal #7: Intentionality

You show that your career path is a deliberate journey that led you specifically to them.

What this sounds like:

“I’ve reached a point in my career where I don’t just want to work anywhere, but somewhere that [Values Alignment], which is why I’m here today.”

Here’s what I’ve realized from chatting with hundreds of career transitioners and the gatekeepers on the other side: Employers don’t “take a chance.” They make calculated decisions. So, your job is to show them that hiring you is the lowest-risk, highest-reward decision they could make.

Hope this helps!

Gorick

PS: Job boards strip away your single biggest advantage over younger candidates: your network and your story. So, if you’re relying on job boards to land interviews, don’t. (I wrote about this at length in a prior AMA on ageism, which might be worth a read if you haven't already.)

PPS: The interview process is filled with landmines. If you’re landing interviews but not getting past them, I have a resource for you (now available on Amazon): How to Say It® flashcards covering the 54 trickiest scenarios you’ll be quizzed on. Check it out here.

Did you like the fill-in-the-blank scripts shared in this newsletter?

They’re from my professional communication flashcard series, HOW TO SAY IT®—and they’re on sale on Amazon now:

→ For better networking and relationship-building skills, get Rewarding Relationships ($24)

→ For better interviewing and job landing skills, get Impressive Interviews ($24)

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

The Job Market for Recent College Grads in 5 Charts (Inside Higher Ed)
Many students listen to music to focus and stay motivated while they study – but it doesn’t always help (The Conversation)
Screen time can damage under-twos’ development, landmark study suggests (The Guardian)

MORE OF MY WORK

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Bring your learnings home with you

Gorick Ng — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Welcome back and Happy Tuesday!

Did you know that HOW TO SAY IT® is now available on Amazon—and part of Prime Day?

Shown: Rewarding Relationships, the HOW TO SAY IT® deck for better networking.

From now until Friday, June 26, HOW TO SAY IT® is on sale for an unprecedented price of $18!*

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These flashcards are designed to help professionals and students with interview prep, starting a new role, or making a career change. Grab a deck for a new grad in your life (or yourself)! Plus, every card comes with its own video in a course that I developed to help you get the most out of every framework.

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Let me know if you have any questions, and enjoy,

Gorick

*Discounts are only applicable to “Rewarding Relationships” and “Impressive Interviews” from Tuesday, June 23 at 12:01 a.m. PDT to Friday, June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PDT or until supplies last. You must be an Amazon Prime member to access the sale.

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Look for what works.

Because the world is full of examples that work. All you need to do is find them—and follow them.

THE STORY

He found models to follow

It was 1872, and 14-year-old Milton Hershey was working as an apprentice at a confectioner in Lancaster, PA.

After completing his apprenticeship, he opened his first candy shop in Philadelphia, PA—but, six years later, it ran out of money.

Fast forward over 150 years later and The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world.

So, how did Hershey go from failed entrepreneur to chocolate conglomerate founder?

Hershey’s Chocolate World in New York, New York

Here’s the timeline:

1876: He opened his first candy shop in Philadelphia, PA, but after six years, the business collapsed.
1882: Hershey moved west to Denver, CO, where he learned how to make fresh-milk caramels.
1883: He started new candy businesses in Chicago, IL, and New York, NY—but both failed and left him empty-handed.
1886: He returned to Lancaster, applied the fresh-milk caramel technique he learned in Denver, and launched The Lancaster Caramel Company. It took off.
1893: During a visit to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Hershey discovered a German chocolate-making machine. He bought it, brought it back to Lancaster, and started producing chocolate.
1900: Hershey sold his caramel company for $1 million and shifted his focus entirely to chocolate making.

Hershey’s Lancaster company

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Bring your learnings "home" with you.

What I learned from Hershey is the power of learning from the outside world—and then bringing that learning with you.

When he failed with candy, he looked to caramel.
When he failed in Pennsylvania, he looked to Denver.
When he saw potential in a German chocolate-making machine, he brought it home with him.

This could be you!

Are you a student questioning your choice of major? Look to an alum who is happy with their decision—and ask them why.
Are you a professional questioning your choice of career? Look to someone who used to hold your job and is now doing something else—and ask them what they would have done differently.

Like Hershey realizing that he was pursuing the wrong type of candy in the wrong place, you might soon realize that maybe you're doing all the right things—except for a few tiny details.

This was—and is!—me with my HOW TO SAY IT® flashcards:

I realized that the cards weren't useful enough on their own—so I developed video tutorials for each card.
I got feedback that the cards were too small—so re-launched them in a larger format.
I was told that interviewing and networking were the most popular topics—so I doubled down on those two topics.
...and so much more.

See you next week for our AMA,

Gorick

PS: I answer a career question from a subscriber every month. You can submit your own question here.

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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STORY SOURCES

Share what you have access to that others don't

Gorick Ng — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Earlier this month, Rent the Runway announced that its cofounder and CEO, Jennifer Hyman, was stepping down. As some of you can probably guess, I immediately found myself looking into how the company got started and what it’s done to stick around. Fast forward... and here's the outcome of my research.

Enjoy!

Gorick

PS: On the topic of stepping back, I'll be releasing my newsletter on a different schedule going forward: Instead of every Tuesday, you'll hear from me every other Tuesday. I'm still here—just shifting my time to a few new projects based on your feedback. (More to come soon!)

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

You'll have a positive impact on not only others’ lives, but also your own career.

THE STORY

Making designer dresses accessible to all

In 2008, Jennifer Hyman, a first-year MBA student, watched her sister buy an expensive designer dress for her wedding—knowing it would only be worn once. Even though it was the Great Recession, designer fashion remained costly and weddings, galas, and formal events still required people to dress up.

So, Hyman wondered: “What if you could access ‘whatever you wanted to wear without having to own it?’”

Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and former CEO of Rent the Runway

Hyman went back to campus and immediately shared her idea with a classmate, Jennifer Fleiss. Together, they decided to prove that “renting could make women feel amazing.”

One year later, Hyman and Fleiss launched “Rent the Runway”—an online platform offering high-end designer dress rentals.

Over the next 15 years, Rent the Runway would go on to…

Partner with established designers to gain access to more exclusive inventory
Focus on one-time event rentals, such as weddings and formal occasions
Introduce a subscription plan that lets users rotate items each month

Despite decreased demand in 2020, Rent the Runway went public in 2021, and by 2025 had rebounded to 147,000 active subscribers—its highest subscription rate ever.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

What I learned from Hyman and Fleiss’ story is that many of us have access to something that others do not. Democratize access to that “thing,” and you won’t just make a big impact; you might even make it big yourself.

The important thing to remember is that the thing you’re democratizing doesn’t just have to be something physical; it could also be an idea.

1. Do you have an idea?

→ Try sharing it with others—and comparing it to a concept that others already understand.

→ E.g., “This is exactly like _______. The only difference is that instead of _______, we'd _______.”

2. Do you have experience?

→ Try becoming a coach, consultant, advisor, or even board member. Or, start by volunteering (like former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom I’ve talked about before) for a speaking role at an internal meeting or employee training session.

→ E.g., “The challenges you're facing with _______ look exactly like what I saw at _______. Could we chat about how I could help you _______?”

Democratizing access to an idea or thing comes with another benefit, even if you don’t become an overnight success from it (and let’s be real, overnight successes don’t exist, as we’ve discussed regarding MrBeast and Joe Biden): it shows off your Three C’s.

See you again at the end of June for our AMA,

Gorick

PS: I answer a career question from a subscriber every month. You can submit your own question here.

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

2. How to Say It: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting via hundreds of fill-in-the-blank scripts (just like the examples above). Free shipping on all orders over $40.

Gorick Ng
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Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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STORY SOURCES

How to be well spoken

Tue, 26 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

ASK GORICK ANYTHING, EDITION #55

“How do you become a good speaker?”

💡 The quick answer: Be structured.

THE QUESTION

“My dream is to be an entrepreneur and communicating your vision is super important. How did you become such a good speaker?”

—Peter Walewender from Chicago, IL

GORICK’S RESPONSE

Hi Peter,

I’m honored to hear that you think I’m a good speaker! Here are my top 10 tips for becoming a powerful speaker:

1. Memorize a table of contents instead of a script.

I used to read off scripts until I realized three things:

A) Scripts make audiences question whether you really know your stuff.

B) You get bogged down trying to get every single word perfect.

C) Nobody but you knows what you accidentally left out.

Now, I only write a bulleted outline—like a book's table of contents. I note a few key phrases I need to hit, then I just speak, jumping mentally from one heading to the next.

2. Just keep moving forward.

Since no one knows your script, no one knows when you mess up. When I forget a detail (which happens a lot!) I just keep moving to my next point. If necessary, I’ll drop a “By the way...” later on, but I never pause to say “Sorry”—I just keep going as if everything is going as planned.

3. Deliver the bottom line upfront.

Before opening your mouth, isolate your main point. Say it, then pause.

Most people do the opposite. Instead of asking, “Are you available for coffee next week?” they say: “I'd love to pick your brain and happen to be in the office next week, so let me know if you have time to meet up, maybe we can get coffee or do a call...” That's a meandering mess of details that buries the lead.

4. Use examples over statements.

Clear people speak specifically. Unclear people speak in generalities that lead to ten people coming to ten different conclusions on what they mean.

If you catch yourself being abstract, pivot to a quick example. Sure, there may be a time and place to say something general like “I help business owners grow,” but, to a random person, saying “I helped Jenny, a retired teacher, launch her online coaching business” is a lot clearer.

5. Always give a “therefore.”

Listing problems sounds like complaining unless you provide a solution. If you say, “X is out of the office, and I'm running late,” you’re just delivering bad news.

Follow it with a “therefore”: “Therefore, let’s reschedule for a time that works for everyone.” Always tell people what action to take next. Otherwise, they’ll walk away confused—and not doing what you want them to do.

6. When in doubt, add structure.

I learned this in management consulting: one of the easiest ways to sound smart is to bucket your thoughts into simple categories (e.g., “Internal vs. External” or “Short-term vs. Long-term”). If you don't have categories, just say, “I have three points: number 1… number 2… number 3…”

Here’s the secret of the best on-the-fly frameworkers: most of the time, they say they have three points when they really only have two. That third one? They made it up as they were saying the first two.

7. Vary your intonation, volume, and pace.

If you sound bored by your own voice, your audience will be too. Vary your delivery to keep people engaged: speak uuuuuuup and dooooooown, fast and sloooooowly, LOUDLY and softly. This variety not only keeps people engaged but also ensures that whatever you want to emphasize actually ends up being heard.

8. Speak loudly.

This is a straightforward one: make sure that whoever you’re talking to can actually hear you.

If you’re speaking to a group, pretend like you are speaking to the person farthest away from you. If you’re speaking in a loud place, feel free to say either, “It’s a bit loud here. Do I need to speak up more?” or even “Want to step over to a quieter place?”

9. Slow down… and pause… and breathe when you’re not sure what you might say next.

When you lose your train of thought, don't fill the silence with “um” or “like.” Instead, deliberately slow down. Delivering. Your. Remaining. Words. Slowly. Buys. You. Time. To. Think. Use that extra runway to gather your thoughts. Once you've recovered, pick the pace back up. I do this one all the time.

10. Practice in low-stakes environments.

I’m sorry, but you can read this list a thousand times, and you still won’t improve in your public speaking. But guess what will?

Speaking a thousand times—and trying another bullet point from this list each time. Start in front of a mirror. Then, try it with a trusted friend. Then, try it with a close coworker. Then try it in a small team meeting. Keep extending that comfort zone and, before you know it, you’ll be comfortable in front of a crowd of strangers.

Bonus: Use this list to deconstruct good public speakers.

I still do this. Whenever I hear a great talk (in person or online), I return to this mental list and ask myself: what are they subconsciously doing that I like—and that I’ll try myself next time I’m in the same situation?

***

Am I missing anything? Reply to this email and let me know!

Hope this helps,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (some with paywalls, but your first article should be free):

MORE OF MY WORK

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Gorick Ng
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Find a more efficient way

Gorick Ng — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

After sending yet another meme to my college roommates as a way of staying in touch, I decided to dig into the origins of the beloved “gif”—those moving pictures we've probably all sent before.

Let's get right to it!

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Find a more efficient way.

You never know how it might impact others in your niche—or the world.

THE STORY

The GIF’s original purpose

Did you know that, before the GIF became the internet’s favorite way to send memes, it was a software engineer’s response to slow internet?

It was 1987. A software engineer named Steve Wilhite was working at the internet company CompuServe in Ohio.

At the time, sending images over dial up connections was slow and unreliable. Connections were frequently dropped, color files were often too large, and images didn’t look the same on every system.

While others either scratched their heads or accepted the problem as a fact of life, Wilhite had a different thought: if the problem is bandwidth, then why not reduce the size of the files?

Steve Wilhite, the creator of GIF.

So, he:

Reduced the number of colors available in 1 file
Designed a “revolutionary” algorithm to compress the image
Put multiple images in one file

He called it the Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF.

The GIF launched in 1987 and was hailed as a practical solution to the internet’s issues.

Then, as the format gained more users, web browsers learned to “play” the GIF’s multiple images into the looping videos that modern internet users still recognize today.

Today, nearly 40 years later, practically anyone with an internet connection can create a GIF of their own.

An early GIF meme known as “Nyan Cat.”

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Find a more efficient way.

What I learned from Wilhite is the power of looking for more efficient ways of doing things.

So, the next time you find others staring at a problem at work (or life more broadly)…

Ask, “Is this an inevitable fact of life?”

If the answer is “no”, ask yourself, “What are 10 ways to get around this problem?” (And thanks to AI, you now have a brainstorm partner at your fingertips!)

Ask yourself, “Which option is fastest, cheapest, and most sustainable?"

As Wilhite discovered, you never know what your search for efficiency might lead to!

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

How Lee Iacocca rebounded after a layoff

Gorick Ng — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

It seems like every day, another company is laying people off.

If this is you or someone else you know, I hope you'll find solace in the story below (which is actually the very first story I wrote for my newsletter series).

Here's to brighter times ahead,

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Keep developing your ideas.

Sometimes they need a different spin or to be heard by an entirely new audience.

THE STORY

After he was fired, the ex-President of Ford bounced back

It’s July 1978. Lee Iacocca was just fired as President of Ford after spending 32 years at the auto company.

Lee Iacocca

When Iacocca asked Henry Ford II, his boss, why he was fired, Ford replied, “Sometimes you just don’t like somebody.”

This could have been the end of Iacocca’s career. But no.

The following year, Chrysler, a competing automaker, hired Iacocca. Iacocca brought with him an idea that he had advocated for at Ford but that had been dismissed: a van that was big enough to fit a family but small enough to fit into a garage.

Fast forward, and Iacocca led Chrysler to pioneer the North American minivan.

So, the next time you see a minivan, remember that it may not exist had Iacocca not gotten fired—and brought his ideas with him.

The North American minivan

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Keep developing your ideas.

A robot can automate a task. An employer can lay you off. But your ideas? They’re what make you irreplaceable. And just because one person doesn’t like you or your ideas doesn’t mean you're worthless or that your ideas are dumb. You might just need a different audience.

Laid off (or worried about getting laid off)?

Look around at your job and complete this sentence: “It would have been so much better / faster / cheaper / easier if we had done [your idea] instead of [status quo]."
Look around the world and complete this sentence: “[Other organization] would love [your idea] because [everything you can learn about them].”
Now, ask yourself: "Who do I know at [other organization]?" or "Who do I know who can introduce me to [other organization]?"

You might learn, as Iacocca did, that you're onto something. You just need to find someone who thinks so too.

Not every idea will be worth your time, but some will be.

I know it because I’ve experienced it: If I hadn’t kept an ideas list when I found myself thinking, Wow, how come no one ever taught me how to manage my manager? I wouldn’t have gone on to write my book, The Unspoken Rules.

See you next week for our next story and unspoken rule!

—Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

Become the expert on "your people"

Gorick Ng — Tue, 05 May 2026 14:01:51 +0000

Time and time again, we hear stories about young geniuses who skipped school and made it big in a faraway city.

But sometimes, the most impressive founders are the ones who are right next door—who notice a need in their lives or a gap in their community, ask “Why don’t we have ______?”, and then—build it.

I’ve got not one, but two examples of these “starters” in this week’s email.

Keep reading to find out!

A quick word from today’s sponsor:

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Thank you for supporting the sponsors who help keep this newsletter free. If you’re interested in sponsoring a future edition and getting in front of 35,000 professionals, reply to this email.

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Become the expert on “your people.”

You know better than anybody around you what people like you need or want.

THE STORY

She designed a game for seniors and caught Apple’s attention

It was 2017. Masako Wakamiya was in her early 80s and retired after more than four decades at Mitsubishi Bank. One day, while looking for something to do, she found herself on her smartphone’s app store and realized: None of the games were tailored to older folks like her.

Instead of waiting for developers to design for older users, Wakamiya decided to build something herself.

Masako Wakamiya at 82.

“Old people hardly play game apps because they are not really fun for them,” Wakamiya shared. “I’ve often heard such complaints, so I thought I should make a game app designed for old people to have fun.”

So, in her 80s, she:

Learned app development basics
Designed the game around the pace, vision, and dexterity of older players
Used “Hinamatsuri” doll imagery for cultural familiarity
Avoided complex mechanics and fast interactions common in mainstream mobile games

Wakamiya’s game, “Hinadan,” attracted international media attention and Wakamiya was invited to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference as its oldest developer. There, she spoke with Apple leaders about aging, technology, and the needs of senior users.

Today, in her 90s, Wakamiya continues to share her story around the world.

Wakamiya and Apple CEO Tim Cook

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Become the expert on “your people”

What I learned from Wakamiya is that we all have an underutilized asset in our careers: our own lived experience.

Experiencing a specific problem due to your age, ethnicity, background, or something else? You’re not the first.

Wondering why there isn’t ______ yet to help make your experience better, easier, or less expensive? You’re also probably not the first.

Try…

Asking others like you a question like, “Is it just me or ______?”

Searching for your pain points online on Facebook groups, Reddit forums, or Yelp profiles to see what others are saying

Creating a prototype (which could be as simple as a pen and paper sketch to start!), showing it to people like you, and asking for their feedback

Who knows what impact you might make!

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

8 tips for career-conscious students

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Ask Gorick Anything, Edition #54.

This week's question is: “I’m a college student. How do I get ahead in today’s job market?”

Keep reading to find out.

PS: It’s the last week of my graduation sale for my HOW TO SAY IT® communication cards for professionals. Check it out below and order today for arrival by May 8! (You’ll get a newsletter exclusive discount plus a buy-one-get-one, all for free shipping.)

ASK GORICK ANYTHING

“I’m a college student. How do I get ahead in today’s job market?”

💡 The quick answer: AI is making everyone look the same on paper. To stand out, you need to return to the oldest of the old school tactics.

THE QUESTION

This is the time of year when my inbox is flooded with outreach from students on how to navigate the internship and post-grad job search process.

If you (or someone you know) is in this boat, here are my 8 tips for navigating this season’s job and internship search.

8 TIPS FOR CAREER-CONSCIOUS STUDENTS IN 2026

1. Pretend that the job search starts on day one

In the past, students arrived at college as blank slates. Today, more students than ever are showing up with resumes already full of research publications, non-profit leadership, and even corporate internships.

You cannot afford to wait until your senior year to start building your resume. You need to start in your first year—and use every extracurricular and internship to scaffold towards a bigger and more reputable opportunity.

The students getting hired are those who have spent their college years stacking competitive sports, side projects, and startup experience so that by the time they graduate, they don’t just have a degree—they have an entire page full of experience.

2. Decode the hidden calendars

In the past, the junior summer internship search started in the fall of junior year and the full-time job search started in the fall of senior year. Those days are over.

In competitive fields like finance and consulting, students are now networking for—and securing offers—18 to 21 months in advance (case in point: a sophomore mentee just landed a summer internship for the summer of 2027!).

If you aren’t aware of these hidden timelines, you’ll start looking after the process has already closed. If you have even the slightest idea of what you might want, go look up the hidden prerequisites now—whether it’s requirements around your major, GPA, or coursework.

3. Befriend the students ahead of you

I tell this to college freshmen all the time: some of the most valuable relationships you can build are with the juniors and seniors on campus. They know which companies are actually hiring, exactly what interview questions are being asked, and who’s who behind the scenes. Moreover, they’ll soon be the ones returning to campus, but on the other side of the career fair table.

Join the leadership teams of campus organizations that have a history of sending alumni to the firms you’re interested in. That way, you can access that secret spreadsheet of former executive members who will see you as a younger version of themselves—and prioritize helping you over that stranger who cold messaged them on LinkedIn.

4. Look beyond where everyone else is looking

I remember at Harvard that many of my peers trampled over one another to work at Kraft Heinz. Sure, it’s got a great Leadership Management Program, but it’s not like students came to Harvard wanting to sell ketchup—it’s because the company recruited on campus.

The lesson? Don’t just apply for the opportunities that come to your campus. If you’re open to living in a smaller city, look there. If you have contacts at smaller companies that your friends don’t even know by name, contact them.

Be a big fish in a smaller pond—and not a small fish in an artificially competitive pond.

If you’ve found this article helpful or think it could be useful to a student or new grad you know, please forward it!

By the way: I’m running a graduation sale on my HOW TO SAY IT® professional communication cards:

I’ve got 3 special discounts for you:

Use the discount code CONGRATSGRADS26 for 26% off your order
Stack it with BOGO2026 to get an extra Manageable Meetings or Terrific Teamwork deck for free
Get free shipping on your order (any size)

If you order today, you’ll receive it by May 8—just in time for new grad ceremonies.

*You must use code CONGRATSGRADS26 to receive 26% off. To use the BOGO, add a Manageable Meetings or Terrific Teamwork deck to your cart and use code BOGO2026. Sale ends Thursday, April 30, 11:59 pm Eastern or until supplies last. Shipping available within the USA only, except HOW TO SAY IT®: Impressive Interviews, which is available in video module form globally.

5. Submit right when applications open

I’ve met many students who were hired at prestigious firms and other well-known organizations despite other candidates having higher GPAs.

Why? Because they submitted their application the day the portal opened.

Many employers review applications on a rolling basis, meaning they fill spots as applications come in rather than after the deadline. The time to polish your resume is weeks before applications open.

6. Use AI as your research assistant, not your ghostwriter

Don’t mistake the dopamine rush that comes from AI-generating dozens of cover letters for productivity—you’ll end up looking the same as everybody else and end up in the same place as everybody else: the rejection pile.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t use AI at all, though. Use AI to find commonalities with your interviewer or to synthesize company and industry news. That way, when an interviewer asks you the inevitable question of “Do you have any questions for me?” your answer won’t be “No”—it will be "Yes! I was researching your firm and noticed [News Item]; can you tell me more about [what’s not in the news]?".

7. Don’t use grad school to procrastinate

When the job market gets tough, many students instinctively retreat to grad school.

But, unless you are entering a field that requires an advanced degree (like law, medicine, or licensed social work), a Master’s degree without work experience doesn’t necessarily make you more hireable. It might just make you either more indecisive or look more expensive.

Don’t use another degree to avoid the discomfort of the job search. Prioritize real-world work experience over adding more letters behind your name.

8. Flex your “Three Cs” in every interaction

At the end of the day, hiring is still a human decision based on three silent questions:

Competence: Can you do the job well?
Commitment: Are you excited to be here specifically?
Compatibility: Do we actually get along?

Meeting someone for a “casual” coffee chat? Sending an email (or sitting on an email for later)? Ask yourself: “If I put myself in the shoes of the other person, what signals am I sending about how competent, committed, and compatible I am?”

I wish I had asked myself this question before I showed up to a lunch meeting with an alum in shorts and a t-shirt when he stepped out of the office wearing a suit and tie (true story!). This is also the question that students who apply everywhere but don’t hear back need to ask themselves.

Good luck!

Gorick

A version of this article was originally published on CNBC Make It. You can read the original piece here.

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Reach "product-market fit"

Gorick Ng — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Ever since launching my flashcard series HOW TO SAY IT®, I’ve learned more than I ever thought possible about packaging: boxes, bags, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and the list goes on!

Today’s story is inspired by that. Enjoy!

PS: If you’re looking for a useful, unique gift to give this graduation season, scroll down (special new grad discount included).

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Become the person who helps others find “product-market fit”

Because fresh perspectives often reveal opportunities and solutions that insiders overlook.

THE STORY

It failed twice before finding the right market

Did you know that Bubble Wrap—the bubbled plastic we see in packages—wasn’t invented to protect items at all?

It was 1957. Business partners Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes decided to invent a textured plastic wallpaper by sealing two layers of plastic together, trapping in pockets of air. They called their product “Bubble Wrap” and named their company Sealed Air.

But no one wanted squishy, bubbled plastic on their walls.

Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, the inventor of Bubble wrap.

So, the inventors marketed Bubble Wrap as greenhouse insulation—but nobody wanted it, either.

Then, IBM announced the IBM 1401, which was “considered the Model-T of the computer industry.” There was just one problem: it was fragile, so it was a pain to ship without it breaking in transit, especially given the industry standard of using “balled up newsprint” for protection.

3 key things happened next:

A marketer at Sealed Air, Frederick W. Bowers, realized that Bubble Wrap could be used for packaging
IBM became one of the first major customers of Bubble Wrap and used it to ship its 1401 computer
IBM’s adoption of this new packaging material validated Bubble Wrap’s use case as a protective material to the broader market

The result?

Over the next 10 years, Bubble Wrap became the default solution for protecting fragile items in transit. Fast forward more than 50 years, and today Sealed Air offers specialized packaging and protection for everything from food to medical supplies.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Help others find “product-market fit”

I took away a number of lessons from this story:

“Product-market fit” is what happens when a solution meets a problem perfectly.
Just because something isn’t selling doesn’t mean it’s doomed. It could simply be that it’s not being “positioned” as the right solution to the right problem.
A surefire way to make an impact is by helping an idea find “product-market fit.”
Anyone can do this!

Here’s how I think about product-market fit:

Product market fit = (A) knowing what to sell, (B) to whom, and (C) how.

At work, we’re surrounded by “A” all the time. But few ideas catch on because they're not being sold to the right person (“B”) or in the right way (“C”).

See a coworker struggle to communicate an otherwise good idea or a company struggle to sell a product or service… and know what they’re missing?

Share your idea as Bubble Wrap’s marketer did!

Not everyone will listen, but one will—and it might just transform a stranger into an ally or a company into an employer.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule!

—Gorick

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Listen to outsiders

Gorick Ng — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:41:37 +0000

Did you know that the average American takes a photo on their smartphone 6 times a day?

It wasn’t always this way. Keep reading to learn more about the person (and the person behind the person) who made “instant” photography possible—and the lessons we can apply to our own careers and lives.

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Listen to outsiders.

Because fresh perspectives often reveal opportunities and solutions that insiders overlook.

THE STORY

He listened to the question of a 3-year-old

It was 1943 and inventor Edwin H. Land and his family went on vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To preserve the memories, he brought his camera.

But it wasn’t the camera we know today. Back then, photography required patience. You had to wait days, sometimes weeks, before seeing the picture you took because it needed to be professionally developed.

Jennifer Land, his 3-year-old daughter, hated the idea of waiting. She asked her father, “Why can’t I see the pictures now?”

Jennifer’s simple yet logical question sparked something in Land’s mind.

“So, I went for a walk, haunted by my daughter’s question,” Land recalled. “During the course of the walk, the question kept coming, ‘Why not?’ Why not make a camera that gave a picture right away?”

E.H. Land’s instant photographic film patent drawing

So he:

Spent a few hours sketching up a “one-step” photographic system on that same vacation
Developed a film that could expose and develop itself using layers of chemicals activated by light and pressure over the next few years
Released the first Polaroid Land Camera in 1948, 5 years after his daughter’s commentary, and sold out immediately

Land’s 1947 public demonstration of instant photography in New York

Polaroid became a cultural icon and Land’s “impossible” idea paved the way for digital photography—all because he listened to a 3-year-old.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Listen to outsiders

In your career, it’s easy to think the best ideas come from the most senior, most credentialed people in your field.

This may be true sometimes… but not all the time.

Sometimes, it’s the casual onlooker who doesn’t know the jargon, traditions, or “the way things have always been done” who holds the key to a breakthrough.

What does this mean for you?

The next time you’re looking at a company you’d like to work for and are thinking, “I can’t believe they aren’t doing _______!”... email a decision maker with your idea, share your strategy (or, better yet, a mockup or prototype), and ask for a call in lieu of submitting a resume and waiting for a call-back. (Who knows: you might just fast-track your way to a final-round interview.)
The next time you’re sitting in on a meeting at work and are thinking, “Why aren’t we considering _______?”... pull your manager aside afterwards and share your idea or raise it in the meeting if you’re following the unspoken rule. (Who knows: you might have just created a new job for yourself.)
The next time you’re in a new city and are thinking, “What should I do with this free afternoon?”... skim your LinkedIn or contact list to see if there’s someone you haven’t caught up with in a while. (Who knows: you might just learn something new that can change your perspective.)

After all, if a 3-year-old can spark an invention, who knows what might happen if you spoke up (and encouraged others to speak up)!

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

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Your job title is a strawberry

Gorick Ng — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Recently, while feeding my toddler a strawberry, I slowly repeated the word “berry”... only to be corrected by a stranger sitting next to me. Fast forward... and here we have today's story and unspoken rule!

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Titles don’t define you. Impact does.

Your job title is just a label. What really matters is the value you create, the problems you solve, and the impact you make every day.

THE STORY

A surprising grocery store fact

If you’re like me, you’ve probably also assumed that “strawberries” are berries (like it says in the name).

But as it turns out, strawberries aren't actually berries—but bananas are.

Here’s what I learned on a recent dog walk:

A berry is “a fleshy fruit produced from a single flower containing one ovary.”
In other words, the seeds and pulp must develop from the ovary of a flower, and the seeds are usually embedded in the fleshy interior.

Based on that definition? Bananas, cucumbers, kiwis, and even eggplants all qualify as berries.

Meanwhile, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries—despite their names and appearances—don't make the cut.

Why? They're actually “aggregate fruits” because they're derived from a single flower with more than one ovary.

Aggregate fruits

It seems arbitrary until I remember that science doesn't care what something looks like. It cares how it's formed.

And yes, in classic Gorick fashion, I think that's a pretty accurate metaphor for your career. (Let me explain…)

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

It’s not your title that defines you, it’s your impact

We often assume that job titles reflect value.

A “Senior Manager” must be more capable than a “Coordinator,” right?

But just like the banana doesn't look like a berry (yet technically is), your job title doesn't always reflect the depth of your work or the impact you have.

Whether it’s “Copywriter,” “Analyst,” or “Assistant,” job titles are merely quick, convenient summaries to help others understand where you fit.

But they rarely tell the full story.

They don't capture your judgment, your initiative, your ideas, and moreover, your impact.

Maybe you're a copywriter who didn’t just write copy, but also did customer segmentation analysis for a $10M brand and even built a new content approval workflow that 3 clients now use.

If you don’t sell it, no one would ever know.

Or take the assistant who didn’t just manage calendars but who also organized a major summit, built a new task management system used by a team of 12, and hired and trained an outsourced social media manager.

Again: No one would know unless you said it!

So…

The next time you’re asked to introduce yourself in a meeting… don’t just stop at your job title. Tell them, “I lead*…” (followed by what you actually do).

The next time you’re asked to walk someone through your resume… don’t just read off the page. Tell them, “At [organization], I led* [this project] which [achieved these results].”

The next time you’re updating your resume… don’t just use “Technician II” if this means nothing to anyone outside of your team (if they even remember it). Write “Cybersecurity Analyst” if that’s actually the role you were playing and anyone you’d ask for a future reference would agree.

Remember: Your real value isn't in the label—it's in the substance you bring every day.

*Don’t shy away from the word “led”! While many people use “responsible for” on their resumes, “led” is a much stronger alternative that conveys authority and results. You aren’t exaggerating; you’re simply giving yourself the credit you deserve for the work you’ve already done.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

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How to stop getting overlooked at work

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Ask Gorick Anything, Edition #53.

This week's question is: “I’m a subject matter expert. How do I get promoted by merit?”

Keep reading to find out.

ASK GORICK ANYTHING

“I’m a subject matter expert trying to get promoted. How to advance my career on merit instead of networking?”

💡 The quick answer: Know your path, be vocal about your achievements, and look for a way “in.”

THE QUESTION

“How do you elevate your career based on merit and not purely networking? I prefer to accomplish tasks, generate results, and move on to the next challenge. I have spent my entire career doing that and providing that data to my superiors that present it (from slides I made) and they continue to get praised and promoted. Meanwhile, I am still in a position of being the SME [subject matter expert] and grinding everything out and being paid less than the people that are just good talkers.”

— “Rob” from Highlands Ranch, CO

GORICK’S RESPONSE

Hi “Rob,”

It sounds like you’re in a frustrating situation (that is also unfortunately all too common).

If you want to get promoted on merit alone, I’m sorry to have to tell you there’s no such thing. After all, it’s people who decide who gets promoted—and it’s simply not possible to be picked if people don’t even know what you’re capable of (let alone that you exist at all).

Though it’s not entirely possible to check a box and get promoted, there are ways to rely more on your contributions than on your schmoozing.

Here are the 3 things I’d suggest doing:

Reverse engineer your predecessors

Look at the people who used to hold your role and who are now in the role(s) you want. Go onto their LinkedIn profiles and internal bios (if they exist) and then ask yourself:

How long were they in my current role? (This can tell you if you’re too early)
What did they contribute? (This can tell you if you’re doing enough)
Why do you think they were picked? (This can tell you if the circumstances are in your favor)

Then, consider contacting them or asking for an introduction from a mutual contact and then trying a script like this from the How to Say It® communication card series:

From “The Ultimate Bundle”

Publicly available information can tell you a lot about whether you’re on track, but nothing can replace a one-on-one conversation with someone who’s done it before. (And if they said that it was because of who they knew, how they sold themselves, and how they timed the conversation, then that will tell you a lot about how things really work in your organization.)

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Articulate your value

Ask yourself:

What exists thanks to you being on the team (that wasn’t there before)?

What did you catch or fix before disaster struck (that other people didn’t)?

What is cheaper / faster / better / safer (thanks to you)?

What were you recognized for / hand-picked to own or lead?

What did you deliver when the circumstances weren't ideal?

I know you expressed frustration towards “being paid less than the people that are just good talkers,” but doing good work and selling your value are not mutually exclusive.

After all, if you did good work but no one knows about it, then your contributions are like a tree that fell in the forest with no one hearing it.

So, the next time you’re asked to introduce yourself, don’t just stop at “Hi, my name is Rob.” Continue on with “...And I lead [project] which is an effort to [goal].”

And, the next time you’re asked to share what you’ve done as part of your annual review, don’t just stop at “Responsible for…” Reframe your output in terms of outcomes with language like, “Before, [disaster]. Now, [miracle] after I [heroism].”

Know what opportunities to look out for

Just because you were busy doesn’t mean you were impactful. Here’s a framework I recently shared with the VP cohort at a global bank (yes, I speak at organizations!):

Focus on "massive pains" and "mission criticals"

The idea is this: you weren’t hired to be busy; you were hired to help the higher-ups achieve their goals. The question is: how well are you aligning yourself to the goals they actually care about?

To find out, put yourself in the shoes of 4 people:

Your manager
Your manager’s manager
The leader of your entire department
The leader of your entire organization

Next, ask yourself 3 questions:

What are their top 3 priorities?
Where does my current to-do list sit in their to-do list?
What can I do to better orient myself towards their top 3 goals?

Not sure? One of my favorite scripts from my How to Say It® communication card series (from the Terrific Teamwork deck) is: “What are your highest priorities over the coming weeks / quarter / year?” When in doubt, ask this question, listen to the response, and let their own words guide your to-do list.

The reality is that if the higher-ups can’t see how your work helps them achieve their goals (and how your ascension can help them even more than you already help them now), you’re merely a smart person who deserves their respect—and not a valuable one who deserves a promotion. So, don’t just be busy. Achieve goals—and big ones.

Hope this helped! You’ve got this!

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

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Get a foot in the door

Gorick Ng — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Given how many of you are telling me about your career switch or job search woes (I’m sorry it’s so hard!), I thought I’d share a story and lesson on this exact topic.

Hope you find it useful.

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Get a foot in the door. Then, prove yourself.

Not everyone is in a position to do it, but if you can, it may be worth it.

THE STORY

From homeless to unpaid intern to stockbroker

Have you ever seen The Pursuit of Happyness? It’s one of my favorite movies of the 2000s and chronicles the real-life story of a homeless single father who became a stockbroker.

(If you haven’t seen it yet, consider this week’s story a light spoiler.)

It was the early 1980s. Chris Gardner was selling medical equipment in San Francisco while raising his toddler son with his then-partner. Money was tight, tensions were high, and the constant financial strain was pulling the relationship apart.

One day, Gardner saw a man drive by in a shiny Ferrari. Curious, he asked, “What do you do for a living?”

The man, Bob Bridges, said he was a stockbroker. This chance interaction led to Bridges offering Gardner an internship at a brokerage firm. Gardner jumped at the chance.

But the internship paid nothing. And when his partner left soon after, Gardner and his son slipped into homelessness, with the two sleeping in shelters, office buildings, and even public restrooms after hours.

Chris Gardner with his son

Still, Gardner threw himself into the work. He made roughly 200 cold calls a day, arrived early, stayed late, and absorbed everything he could.

Chris Gardner’s memoir, The Pursuit of Happyness

Gardner’s tenacity paid off. Competing against 19 other interns, many with MBAs, he landed the only full-time stockbroker job available.

Fast forward and he turned his life around, going from homeless to multi-millionaire.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Get whatever foot you can in the door. Then, prove yourself.

No, today’s lesson isn’t to sleep in a public bathroom and work for free.

It is, however, a lesson in the importance of getting your foot in the door and then proving yourself.

You'd be surprised at how many opportunities are out there!

Met someone new at a social event? Ask, “What’s keeping you busy these days?”, listen to the answer, and, if the work interests you, offer to help with a phrase like, “This sounds similar to what I did in my past life as a [role]. Could I help you [with this task]?”
Spot a higher-up at work you’d like to become your mentor? Go to a company talk of theirs or look out for announcements from them, and then say, “I love what you’re doing with [project] and would love to contribute. Can I be an extra pair of hands? I have a background in [this area] and can help you [accomplish these goals].”

Not everyone will say “yes,” and not everyone will even take your offer positively. But one will, and that one person might just change your life, as was the case with Gardner.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

STORY SOURCES

How to be more memorable in your career

Gorick Ng — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Given that the Oscars just happened over the weekend, I thought I'd revive one of my favorite career stories from my newsletter archive on the “unspoken rule” of getting an Oscar—and what we can all learn for our careers and lives.

Enjoy!

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Being memorable matters.

So make yourself visible, show your work, and don’t let others forget your value.

THE STORY

What Oscar award winners (and losers) have to teach us about being memorable

Two days ago, 20 million people tuned in for Hollywood’s “biggest night”: the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

Every year, nominees across 22 categories compete for “the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry,” from “Best Actor” to “Best Original Score.”

The system is simple: whoever gets the most votes wins.

Who gets to vote? Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Presumably, the best of the best wins… right?

Not necessarily.

The 2026 Oscars stage.

So, who has a better shot at winning? Films released towards the end of the year—and therefore right before voting begins.

The data doesn’t lie: the vast majority of Oscar-nominated films are released in September, October, November, and especially December (as shown in the lighter green regions in the chart below).

Recency Bias in Oscar Nominees. Image belongs to u/zzzev via r/dataisbeautiful

Psychologists even have a term for this: recency bias, or the “tendency to place greater weight” on more recent events.

(This bias explains a host of things in life. This is why it’s easier to remember items at the end of a list over items at the beginning of a list!)

“But what if,” you ask, “Movie studios secretly know which movies have the potential to win the Oscars—and wait until the end of the year to release them?”

This “unspoken rule” of winning the Oscars is really an open secret. Hollywood even has terms to explain the games that studios play:

When are blockbuster epics (aka “Oscar Bait”) released? Towards the latter half and end of the year, to stay fresh in the viewers’ minds.
When are low-budget movies with lower expectations released? During the “Dump Months” of January and February, when audiences are more likely to forget by the following year.

Fast forward to this past Sunday, March 15, 2026, and the 98th Oscars reinforced this trend: 6 of the 7 films that won major awards were released in the second half of 2025 or January 2026 (right before the cutoff). There was one exception: Sinners, released in April of 2025, which won 3 awards.

Winners of the top 12 Oscar Awards in 2026. Notice the trend under the "Release Date" column?

So, the next time you see an Oscar-nominated or Oscar-winning film, it’s time to ask yourself, “Did this movie win because of great acting, directing, costumes, visual effects, etc., or did it win because it had the right strategy?”

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Being remembered matters—in Hollywood and in your career.

Hollywood isn’t the only place where recency bias exists. It’s true in every workplace.

That year-end performance evaluation? Your manager will be thinking about your most recent performance—while forgetting that heroic effort you pulled off in February.

That promotion or hiring decision? The committee will be advocating for the candidate who demonstrated The 3 C’s most recently and consistently.

The bottom line is: Don’t assume that people will remember what you’ve done or even who you are. Remind people at every turn.

Here are just 2 of many everyday workplace situations that people overlook:

1. When you’re introducing yourself

2. When you’re delivering a status update

1. When introducing themselves, most people merely stop at “My name is _______.”

This is a missed opportunity to remind others of what you are working on and, moreover, why you matter.

Instead, try saying, “My name is _______ and I am a _______ working on _______ whose goal is to _______.”

2. When delivering a status update, most people merely stop at “It’s going well!”

This is also a missed opportunity to remind others of what you are working on and, moreover, why they should care.

Instead, try saying, “I’m working on _______ where the objective is to _______. So far, I’ve _______ (and discovered / and was surprised to find that _______). As a next step, I will _______.”

People don’t know what you know and can’t read your mind, so if you don’t share, others risk never knowing—and never giving you the credit you deserve.

The more you “exist,” the more likely others will see your potential—and the more likely they are to pull you into the jobs that don’t get posted and meetings that don’t get shared.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

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Gorick Ng
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Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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STORY SOURCES

Society rewards commercialization

Gorick Ng — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

We all know that the world is not fair. But rather than dwell on the inequity, let’s do something about it.

Here comes today’s unspoken rule!

Gorick

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Society rewards commercialization.

Great ideas don’t change the world on their own. Execution and distribution do.

THE STORY

He turned ideas into action

It was 1984 and Alexey Pajitnov, a young software engineer at the Soviet Academy of Sciences, had just created a simple falling-block game using the now-defunct Electronika 60 computer.

He named it “Tetris.”

Both novel and addictive given the lack of other entertainment options at the time, the game soon spread to the entire school and then all over the Soviet Union.

The prototype version of Tetris

Then, nothing happened. As was customary in the Soviet Union, the government owned the game, and it remained nothing more than an underground sensation.

Then, 2 years later in 1986, a series of chance events unfolded:

A copy of the game leaked to Hungary
Robert Stein, a British salesperson, saw the game in Hungary
Stein licensed the game from Moscow*
Stein sold the UK rights to Microsoft and the US rights to a company called Spectrum HoloByte
2 years later, in 1988, Spectrum HoloByte brought the game to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas
Henk Rogers, an American entrepreneur, saw the game and successfully negotiated with the Soviet Government to sell its console rights to Nintendo
Nintendo bundled the game into all of its Game Boy consoles

Tetris on Nintendo Game Boy

The result?

The Game Boy family sold roughly 118 million units worldwide
Tetris was widely credited as Nintendo Game Boy’s “killer app” and a major driver of its broad demographic appeal
Tetris became one of the best-selling games of all time, eventually surpassing 520 million copies across platforms

*I’ve simplified the story for brevity. The real story has more twists and turns. If you’re interested, here’s the Wikipedia page.

Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Society rewards commercialization

Society rewards the people who bring ideas to market, not just the ones who think them up.

Alexey Pajitnov invented Tetris, but it was Henk Rogers who commercialized and distributed it when the creator couldn’t and the Soviet state didn’t care to.
Scientists discover breakthroughs, but it’s often the businesspeople who turn them into products that reap the financial reward.
Ideas get tossed around in work meetings all the time, but it’s often the person who packages those ideas into a solution who gets promoted.

This is not to say that scientists are not doing a noble job or that the person who came up with that brilliant idea doesn’t deserve a promotion. (If I had it my way, I’d want to reward the unsung heroes.) But it does show how the current world economy prioritizes the bridge to market.

What does this mean for you?

The next time you have an idea, write it down—but don’t stop there.

Ask yourself, “Who would want this?”
Create a mock or prototype and have someone test it
Then ask the other person, “Who else should I talk to?”

Not all ideas will become the next Tetris, but I’m confident you’ve got an idea inside your head that’s at least as big as Tetris. The problem? It’s still merely an idea.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule!

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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STORY SOURCES

Repurpose what works

Gorick Ng — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

I never knew how useful vacuum cleaners and paper towels were until I became a dad. In classic Gorick fashion, I decided to investigate the origins of the vacuum I use—and came out on the other end with today’s story.

Enjoy!

Gorick

PS: Last week, I asked for artist recommendations—and I was overwhelmed by the number of referrals and responses! Thank you to everyone who shouted themselves or a friend out. I’m having a ton of fun sifting through the options and replying and am looking forward to sharing more about this project soon.

PPS: Do you know how to design book covers, format the interior of books/magazines, and/or can you design cute unique characters? I’m looking for all 3 (preferably together), so please reach out if this sounds like you or someone you know!

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Repurpose what works.

You might just shortcut your way to a brilliant idea.

THE STORY

How the Dyson vacuum cleaner was invented

It was 1978. James Dyson, a 31-year-old inventor and wheelbarrow factory owner in England, was frustrated by how easily his industrial filters clogged.

One day, while visiting a timber mill, Dyson saw a giant “cyclone separator” that spun air so fast that it separated dust from air without clogging.

Curious if the same solution could help clean up his wheelbarrow factory, Dyson went home and built his own cyclone system, which “worked beautifully.”

Not long after, Dyson realized his home vacuum had the same clogged filter problem.

“Why can’t you use a little version of the 30-foot high one?” Dyson wondered.

James Dyson working on the early bagless vacuum

Over the next 15 years, Dyson…

Built over 5 thousand prototypes of his bagless vacuum using cyclone technology
Launched his first cyclonic vacuum in Japan, where it won a design award
Opened his own vacuum company in the UK and released the Dyson DC01, which became the best-selling vacuum cleaner in the country within 18 months

An early version of the Dyson vacuum

Today, nearly 50 years after Dyson first went looking for a way to prevent his factory filters from getting clogged, his cyclone technology now powers an array of tools—vacuums, hand dryers, fans, air purifiers, and hair tools—that are used by tens of millions of people worldwide.

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THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Repurpose what works

What I learned from Dyson’s story is the power of being able to look at a problem, find a solution that’s being used for a totally different setting, and “translate” that solution for the problem at hand.

And this ability isn’t just for inventors or entrepreneurs!

Applying for a job for which you don’t have relevant experience?

Or, trying to pitch yourself for a project at work, but don’t have the perfect background?

Try saying this:

“[Job requirements] are what I did every day when I was at [prior position]. The only difference is [the setting / the customer].”

Example: “Sales was what I did every day when I was a middle school teacher. The only difference is that instead of trying to convince adults to buy our product, I was trying to convince 7th graders that chemistry is interesting.”

If Dyson can repurpose a factory cyclone separator to vacuum the dust behind your couch, you can definitely repurpose your prior experience to solve whatever problem you’re trying to convince others to hire you for.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule!

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

Gorick Ng
hello@gorick.com
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

Follow me on LinkedIn
Ask me a career question

Gorick's Newsletter

3 Networking Tips When Making a Lateral Career Move

“How to make an internal career pivot?”

THE QUESTION

GORICK’S RESPONSE

1) Find someone who can introduce you to someone on the team that you're interested in.

2) Look for someone on the team you applied to join that you can cold email.

3) Ask whoever you speak with, “Who should I speak with next?”

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

Leverage your weak ties

Leverage your weak ties.

THE STORY

His biggest breaks came from people he barely knew

Keep up with marketing in 5 minutes

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Leverage your weak ties

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

STORY SOURCES

Managing new hires? Read this

7 SCRIPTS FOR FRONT-LINE MANAGERS

1. Who to go to

2. What terms mean

3. Where things are located

4. When things are due

5. Why things are the way they are

6. How you think

7. How you work

Assess your tacit knowledge

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

Always give a hypothesis

Always give a hypothesis.

THE STORY

The lipstick effect

Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Always give a hypothesis

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

STORY SOURCES

7 Winning Signals That Employers Look For

“How to get companies to take a chance on me?”

THE QUESTION

GORICK’S RESPONSE

“The 7 Winning Signals That Employers Look For”

Signal #1: Balance

Signal #2: Expertise

Signal #3: Translation

Signal #4: Proactivity

Signal #5: Credibility

Signal #6: Leverage

Signal #7: Intentionality

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

Bring your learnings home with you

Look for what works.

THE STORY

He found models to follow

Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Bring your learnings "home" with you.

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

STORY SOURCES

Share what you have access to that others don't

Share what you have access to that others don't.

THE STORY

Making designer dresses accessible to all

Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

Share what you have access to that others don't.

WHAT I’M READING

MORE OF MY WORK

STORY SOURCES

How to be well spoken

“How do you become a good speaker?”

THE QUESTION

GORICK’S RESPONSE