Strategic Leverage: How I Got Hired in One Day as a Shift Manager, Tech Lead, and Startup Collaborator
By Michael Kelman Portney
Everyone says it’s hard to get a job right now. That you need to send out 50 applications, follow up five times, accept low pay, and somehow still be ghosted.
That’s not what happened to me.
I realized I needed a job late on a Friday night. I applied to one listing on Sunday morning. By Monday night, I had the job—one with real responsibility: shift manager, technical oversight, and the potential to join a new tech startup my employer is building on the side.
And I didn’t get there by luck. I got there by using leverage—strategically, calmly, and with zero desperation.
Step 1: The Right Kind of Confidence
The job ad stood out because it was written like the company knew what they were looking for. Not fluff. Not jargon. Just, “we want someone competent, experienced, and dependable.”
So I sent a short, direct message that said:
“I’m certified, experienced, and I’ve previously handled an entire POS system migration at my last company. I’ve been out of the industry the past few years working on writing and music projects, but I’m ready to get back in with focus. Let me know if this sounds like a fit.”
No filler. No apologies. Just clarity.
They replied fast and scheduled an interview the next day.
Step 2: Show Up Like You Already Belong
I walked in wearing a Powdered Toast Man shirt.
Not a joke. Not a costume. Just me.
I wasn’t trying to be edgy—I was showing them the same version of me that would show up to work. No act. No nervous energy. Just grounded presence and a willingness to solve problems.
That disarmed them immediately.
They told me most applicants want morning shifts. I said I preferred nights. They fist-bumped. First point on the board.
They mentioned they’d just hired a few new staff with no experience. They said they could put out the bat signal for an inexperienced budtender and get a hundred resumes, but when they ask for somebody with management experience only a couple of people like me show up.
I knew we were on the right track.
Step 3: Solve Their Problem Before They Ask
Then came a key moment.
One of the managers casually mentioned a tech issue. They had a screen in the front of the shop that plays music and displays their product inventory. It kept glitching out. It was connected to some GitHub repo, written in “some weird language,” and nobody could fix it.
That’s where most applicants smile politely and pivot back to talking about teamwork or punctuality.
I said:
“I’ve worked on systems like that before. I can’t tell you the exact fix right now, but between my experience and the AI tools I use, I’m confident I could get it working. If I don’t understand the codebase at first, I’ll figure it out. I don’t lose when it comes to solving problems like this.”
That landed hard.
The vibe changed from “potential candidate” to this is our guy.
Step 4: The Best Cover Letter They’ve Ever Seen
Before the interview ended, they told me something that caught me off guard in the best way.
“By the way… your cover letter? Best one we’ve ever gotten.”
Not “one of the best.” The best. Full stop.
They went on to say:
“Your resumé looked so good visually, we didn’t even read it. We just called you in.”
Let that sink in.
They were so impressed by the presentation and clarity of my application that they didn’t bother to look into the job history section—which was great, because nothing on it was newer than 2022.
That’s what great design and strategic writing can do. They skipped right past the “gap” and went straight to the value.
Step 5: The Soft Close... Then My Countermove
As the interview wrapped up, they said:
“We’re still interviewing a few other people this week, but you’ll probably be hearing from us.”
A standard, polite end-of-interview line. But I wasn’t going to walk out passively.
I said:
“Okay, full disclosure—I have another interview later this week for what’s essentially the same position. I look forward to finding the best fit. So if you’re still in decision mode, we can both continue evaluating and touch base again toward the end of the week.”
As soon as I said that, they both looked at each other. Quietly. No response.
That’s when I knew I had shifted the frame. I wasn’t just someone they liked—I was someone who had options. Someone who might not wait around.
Step 6: The Instant Turnaround—and Their Pressure Play
After the interview, I got in my car and made the 45-minute drive home.
As soon as I walked in the door, I pulled out my phone to send a thank-you email.
Before I could even open Gmail, I had a new message.
It was an offer.
Not a tentative one. A real one. Immediate.
But there was more:
“We’d like to offer you the position. Also—I have another business I’m building, a tech startup. You could work part-time on that remotely. There’s real upside in it if you’re interested.”
That’s when I knew they saw me not as a hire, but as a strategic asset.
But then came his counter-leverage:
“We need someone to start this week. The sooner the better. I know you have another interview, but if it’s going to take you days to decide, I’ll have to offer the position to someone else who can start immediately.”
That was clean. Professional. Calculated. And totally justified, and least in my trained business opinion.
I had made a leverage move at the end of the interview.
He made one back before I could even send a thank-you. This is how the game is played.
Step 7: Close With Confidence, Not Desperation
I wrote back immediately.
I said:
I was thrilled about the offer
I could start right away
I’d love to work Wednesday through Saturday nights
I’d prefer to have Sundays off to stay rested and sharp
I’d be available for on-call tech support anytime
And I was very interested in hearing more about the tech startup
Then I closed with the exact line that sealed it:
“I’ll gladly let the other shop know the position has been filled.”
Translation: I’m in—and I’m choosing you.
It wasn’t cocky. It wasn’t needy. It was mutual selection.
He replied:
“Excellent. I’m looking forward to you joining the team.”
Just like that—locked.
Step 8: From Employee to System Builder
This isn’t just a shift lead job.
I’m already:
Overseeing nightly operations
Taking over tech responsibility for a broken display system
Planning to launch an online product interface they don’t have yet
Flagging gaps in customer experience that are visible in public reviews
Positioning myself as a systems builder, not just a task handler
And I’m keeping receipts. Because once I’ve racked up visible wins, I’ll revisit the startup conversation.
“I’d love to talk more about the tech company. What’s your vision? Where do you need someone like me?”
Step 9: How You Can Do This, Too
This wasn’t luck. It was methodical.
Here’s how you apply this same leverage strategy in your own career:
✅ 1. Apply with clarity, not desperation
Don’t sell yourself like you’re hoping for a break.
Frame your skills as a match, not a plea.
✅ 2. Let design and tone carry the signal
If your cover letter and resume look sharp and feel intentional, they’ll often skip the deep dive. Use that.
✅ 3. Use truth as leverage
I did have another interview lined up.
I said so calmly—and they knew they had to act fast.
✅ 4. Don’t just answer questions—solve problems
When they bring up a broken system, don’t nod. Say, “I’ve done that. I can fix it. And if I can't figure it out immediately I won't stop until it's fixed.”
Make them believe you’re already on their team.
✅ 5. Clock their pressure moves—and respect them
When he said, “If it takes you days, I have to hire someone else,” I didn’t whine. I acted.
Leverage goes both ways. The trick is knowing when to recognize it without resisting it.
The Takeaway
I didn’t send out 50 applications.
I didn’t explain a resume gap.
I didn’t ask for a chance.
I sent one email.
I had one interview.
I made one move.
I got one job—with three roles inside it.
Because I knew who I was.
I knew what they needed.
And I made it easy for them to say yes.
That’s strategic leverage. Use it.
