The hiring rules have changed. Have you?

Forget job boards. Forget cover letters.
In 2025, the best way to get hired isn’t to apply.
It’s to ship something so good, they can’t ignore you.

Just ask Julia Fedorin.

Last week, she posted a 1-minute video pitching herself for a marketing internship at Shopify.

There was no job opening. No application form. No instructions to follow.

She just saw a company she admired, created something bold and on-brand, and said:

“Hi @Shopify, room for one more?”

The video wasn’t just polished.

It showed deep research. It mirrored Shopify’s tone and values. It even pitched new marketing ideas the company hadn’t considered yet.

She didn’t ask to be picked. She picked herself.

And it worked:

Within 24 hours, she had an interview—and an offer.

This is the new playbook.

And it’s not just about virality. It’s about agency.

As Harley Finkelstein (Shopify’s President) put it:

High agency means taking ownership of the outcome. It means seeing a door that’s closed and building a new one. It means putting something into the world that forces people to stop and say: ‘We need that energy on our team.’

So, what does this mean for you?

You don’t need to wait for permission.
You don’t need to be told you’re “qualified.”
You need to show them what you can do—and do it your way.

Start by asking:

• What problem does this business have that I can solve?

• What can I make that shows I understand their brand, their values, their customers?

• How can I pitch myself in a way that actually adds value?

You don’t need to beg for a shot. You just need to show them they’re already missing out by not having you.

(P.S. If you want to build this kind of momentum, Kaie connects you with real-world experiences at small businesses—no endless apps required. Start here.)

Final Thought:

We’re entering a new era of hiring—faster, weirder, more creative Those who move first, build loudly, and bet on themselves are the ones who’ll win.

Julia did.

Now it’s your turn.

— Kaie