The Trojan Horse Strategy: How to land your dream role (without waiting years)

We all know someone who’s trying to leap straight into their dream job - and keeps getting rejected.

They’ve got great transferable skills, loads of motivation, and a clear vision of where they want to go… but hiring managers just can’t see them in that new function yet.

That’s where the Trojan Horse Strategy comes in.

What is the Trojan Horse Strategy?

It’s one of my favourite career strategies - especially for anyone looking to change roles, industries, or functions.

The idea is simple: use what you already have to get inside the company you want, then pivot once you’re there.

Think of it like this: instead of trying to make one huge leap from the outside, you focus on getting through the door in a role that plays to your current strengths. 

Once you’re inside, you have access to opportunities that are invisible to outsiders - people, projects, visibility, internal job boards, and, most importantly, trust.

Why does it work so well?

Most people underestimate how much easier it is to make a career shift once you’re already inside a company.

From the outside, you’re just another name on a résumé. From the inside, you’re someone who’s proven, visible, and already part of the culture. You’ve built credibility. You have relationships. People know your work.

At that point, when you say, “I’d love to move into X team,” it’s not a wild idea — it’s a logical next step.

And that’s exactly what the Trojan Horse Strategy is about: getting in first, pivoting second.

It’s not settling — it’s strategy

A lot of people resist this idea because they think it means “settling.” It doesn’t.

This is strategic patience — playing the long game. It’s about proximity and credibility.

You might not land your final job title on day one, but you’re choosing a company that excites you, where lateral moves are possible, and where you can grow in the direction you really want.

Big organisations love internal movement. Once you’re through the gates, those doors open far more easily than they ever would from the outside.

The balance of speed and fit

If you need a job quickly or you’re trying to relocate, this strategy helps you move fast without losing sight of the long-term goal.

Start with the role that’s closest to what you’ve already done — the one you can realistically land now. Once you’re stable and inside a company you love, you can start mapping your next internal move.

That’s the sweet spot: balancing momentum with intention.

The takeaway

Your dream role might not be ten applications away — it might be one Trojan Horse away.

Get in through what you’ve already mastered. Prove your value. Build relationships. Then use internal mobility to pivot toward what you really want.

That’s how smart career changers win.

If you’d love help mapping your own Trojan Horse Strategy, my Creative Career Level Up programme could be the perfect next step.