How to Become Affiliated with a Company

It can be very helpful to your career to become affiliated with a company you admire. Being affiliated with a company means you have a formal connection or association with that company. This could mean being an employee, consultant, partner, or official relationship with the company.

There are many benefits to being affiliated with a company:

You get to work with smart people and learn from them
It looks good on your resume
It can lead to other opportunities
You might earn good money or other benefits
You get an inside look at how the company works

If you want to be affiliated with a company, here are some steps you can follow to make it happen.

Research the Company

The first thing to do is learn everything you can about the company you are interested in. Some things you’ll want to find out:

What does the company do? What products or services do they provide?
What is the company’s mission or goals?
How big is the company? How many employees do they have?
Where are they located? Do they have multiple offices?
What is the company’s history? How long have they been around?
Who are the company’s leaders? Who founded the company?
What is the company culture like? What do employees say about working there?

You can usually find much of this information on the company’s website. Look for an “About Us” page or a company blog. The company may also have social media accounts you can follow.

Other good company research places are news articles, industry blogs, and online forums. See what people are saying about the company online. Learning about the company will help you understand if it’s the right fit for you.

Network with People at the Company

Networking means building relationships with people who might be able to help you in your career. If you want to get affiliated with a company, one of the best things you can do is network with people who already work there.

Here are some networking tips:

Attend industry events and conferences where you might meet people from the company.
Connect with company employees on professional social networks like LinkedIn. Don’t just send a connection request – introduce yourself and explain why you want to connect.
Ask your network if they know anyone who works at the company and could introduce you. An introduction from a mutual connection can be very helpful.
If you went to college, see if any alumni from your school work at the company. Alumni often like to help fellow graduates.
Follow company employees on social media and engage with them. Comment on and share their posts. Build a friendly online relationship before trying to meet in person.

When you meet people from the company you want to affiliate with, try to make a good impression. Be friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about their business. Don’t immediately ask for a job or opportunity. Focus on building the relationship first.

Apply for Open Positions

One of the most straightforward ways to become affiliated with a company is to apply for a job there. Most companies list open positions on their website’s Careers or Jobs section. You may also find their job openings on online job boards or professional networking sites.

Before you apply for a job, make sure your resume or CV is up-to-date and tailored to the specific position. Your resume should highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you want. Include any past projects, accomplishments, or results that show you would be a good fit for the company.

In addition to your resume, you will usually need to submit a cover letter with your job application. Your cover letter is your chance to introduce yourself and explain why you want to work at that company. Show that you have researched and understand the company’s mission and goals. Explain how your skills and experience would help the company succeed.

After you apply for a job, the company may invite you to an interview. This is your opportunity to meet with the company’s people, learn more about the role, and convince them you’re the right person for the job. Remember to prepare for the interview by researching the company and practicing common interview questions.

Even if you don’t get the job, going through the application and interview process can be a valuable way to get your name in front of people at the company. If you make a good impression, they may think of you for future opportunities. Stay in touch and build relationships with your interviewers, even if you don’t work together immediately.

Explore Other Partnership Opportunities

A job is not the only way to be affiliated with a company you admire. Depending on your skills and experience, there may be other ways you can work with the company.

Some other partnership opportunities to consider:

Consulting: If you have expertise in a particular area, you might be able to work with the company as a consultant. You could help them with a specific project or provide ongoing advice and guidance.
Freelancing: Some companies hire freelancers or contractors to work on a project basis. If the company has temporary needs that match your skills, they may be open to bringing you on as a freelancer.
Affiliate marketing: Becoming an affiliate means promoting a company’s products or services and earning a commission on any sales you generate. Many companies have affiliate programs that anyone can apply for.
Sponsorship or advertising: If you have a blog, podcast, video channel, or other kind of content platform, you might be able to work with the company as a sponsor or advertiser. You would promote their brand to your audience in exchange for money or other perks.
Joining their ecosystem: Some companies have an ecosystem of other businesses that partner with them in some way. For example, a software company might have a directory of consultants who help clients use their products. Getting listed in a company’s partner directory can be a good way to affiliate with them.

To find these partnership opportunities, start by exploring the company’s website. They may have information about their affiliate program, ecosystem partners, or advertising options. If you can’t find anything online, try contacting someone at the company to ask about ways to work together.

Stay in Touch and Offer Value

Building a relationship with a company is not a one-time event. To become truly affiliated with a company, stay in touch over time and keep offering value. Even if the company does not have an opportunity for you right away, they may think of you in the future if you stay on their radar.

Some ways to stay in touch and offer value to a company:

Share their content on social media and add your thoughtful comments
Mention them in your blog posts or other content and link back to their site
Attend their events or webinars and participate actively
Provide feedback on their products or services if they ask for it
Refer other people to their business when it’s appropriate
Congratulate them on their successes or milestones, like funding rounds or product launches
Send them useful articles, resources, or tools related to their industry
Introduce them to other people in your network who might be able to help them

The key is to focus on giving, not getting. Don’t constantly ask the company for favors or bug them about job openings. Instead, look for ways to be helpful and provide value. If you do this consistently over time, the company will start to see you as someone who’s truly invested in their success.

Be Patient and Persistent

Becoming affiliated with a company you admire can take time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t immediately get your desired response. Keep reaching out, providing value, and looking for new opportunities to engage with the company.

Remember that timing is often a key factor in landing opportunities. That could change even if the company doesn’t need your skills today. The most important thing is to keep up your relationship with the company over time so that you’re top of mind when the right opportunity comes.

In the meantime, keep developing your skills and experience. The more you have to offer, the more attractive you’ll be to your dream companies. Attend industry events, take on new projects, and look for ways to become a leader in your field.