Remember Stephen Burgess? He submitted a video at the end of December to be considered for Bluewolf’s free Salesforce Administrator training and it stole the hearts of viewers and Bluewolf employees alike. Check it out:

When Stephen first submitted his video, we were all incredibly impressed. His editing skills, eloquence, and story were truly compelling. I sent his video to a couple of colleagues and before I knew it, everyone in Bluewolf was watching it...and posting it on social media! Soon, it was picked up by Marc Benioff and took off from there.

Our hiring managers in the UK took notice of the story, met with Stephen, and hired him to work in our London office as a Business Analyst! His creativity and story really struck a note with our team and we wanted to give this talented job seeker a chance to change his career and thrive in a new environment.

What is a great learn from this story for any job seeker is how being creative can really help you stand out from the pack. You can sometimes bypass the traditional steps by telling your story and showing a hiring manager who you are and what you have to offer! Stephen’s creative effort, insight, and personal touches really made him stand-out! And we took notice.

I sat down with Stephen to discuss his experience with Bluewolf:

Me:  First of all, HUGE congrats! I am so happy for you. Can you tell me some of your experiences and biggest challenges during your job hunt?

SB:  I wanted to move into a new industry, so I couldn’t fall back on my contacts network. That was one challenge--being a stranger in a strange place. Another challenge was the “catch 22” of needing experience in a paid role. I’d been learning Salesforce for awhile on my own, so I felt comfortable with the tools, but it was a huge challenge communicating this to potential employers.

Me:  I totally understand that. Surely, that is something that many job seekers struggle with. How did you find out about the Bluewolf promotion?

SB:  A friend shared a link! And I just jumped right in and acted. Sounded like a great and fun promotion.

Me:  Your video was fantastic. It truly caught our attention. What was your inspiration?

SB:  I spend too much time online I guess! Salesforce on Youtube inspires me--they use it very well--and I try to keep up with social media. Being online gives me an idea of how my local experiences fit into the bigger picture--so I wanted to focus on the aspects of my story that would have relevance to what the wider community is talking about.  

Me: How did it feel when your video started getting so many views?

SB: It was incredibly exciting! It was happening all on US time, and I honestly couldn’t sleep all night. I stayed up and followed along on my iPhone. Luckily, I didn’t have to be in work the next day. Marc Benioff posting my video was really just the icing on the cake.

Me:  How did it feel when Bluewolf offered you a job?

SB: Imagine you are running a long-distance race, and you think you’re only on the first lap. But then, all of a sudden someone says you are actually on the fifth lap...and they hand you a cold drink. So instead of having to run five more marathon laps, you are finished!!

Me:  Ha! I get that for sure. Why did you choose Bluewolf as the company you wanted to work for?

SB:  When I saw what a big team you’ve got, I was really curious and did some research. I went through your blog and your YouTube channel. Bluewolf is bold, creative, experienced, successful, business revolutionaries, and on the verge of blowing up in the UK! Plus, your culture seemed really fun and exciting. I just got a good vibe.

Me: Totally agree. So, tell us about your role at Bluewolf?

SB:  Right now I'm just here to listen. I'm working in the team that listens to Bluewolf's partners and clients. We listen to where they're at, and where they want to get to, and we help translate the conversation into actionable points. And when I'm not listening to partners, I'm listening to my managers, my colleagues, my mentor and my tutor! I've got exams to study for and a whole load of agile methodology to get my head round, so I really need all the help I can get.

Me: Awesome! Sounds very similar to how it was for me when I first started. So, now that you are employed, do you have any advice for job seekers?

SB:  Know what you want! That's the hardest decision, right? But if you can figure that out deep in your imagination, then you just work backwards to figure out what needs to be done so you can get there. Break that down into tasks, and start the first task. Is that not practical enough? Ok, "Learn how to use Salesforce!"

We are so excited to have Stephen on board as part of the Bluewolf pack! Congrats. It is really cool that we were able to find talent in such an unconventional way. So job seekers, take note! Don’t be afraid to be creative and show who you really are. Companies will surely take notice if you put yourself out there.