"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." – Henry David Thoreau

For international students without prior US work experience: Do I want you to focus on an offer at [YOUR DREAM FIRM]? YES AND NO. I do want the relevant dream companies relevant to your industry niche on your target list.

But I don’t want that to get you stuck!

I want you to get to “proof of concept” first.

Proof of Concept means getting an offer from a (solid) firm first.

Can you get an offer? One? Start there.

I have seen a singular focus on just one or two or three “dream” firms SINK a job hunt. It can be an obstacle to our job search effort.

There are vast opportunities that lie among many companies. Offers there lead to getting hired laterally into your “dream” firm.

Can we still have dream firms on a list and get an offer? Sure! But not at a cost.

Not at a cost to applying, to generating coffee chats, to attending interviews, to the offer. When I help through all of this, we stay focused on Proof of Concept.

Don’t be afraid to...