get one's foot in the door
Gain preliminary entry
To get one's foot in the door is to gain an initial opportunity that may lead to greater access or success.
The image is of a salesperson preventing a door from closing by inserting a foot: She took an unpaid internship just to get her foot in the door.
Often used for entry-level positions or first chances in competitive fields.
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- entry levelFor those starting out
- job interviewFormal hiring assessment meeting
- networking eventProfessional social gathering
open · step · foothold · door · breakthrough · wedge · connection · stepping stone · cold call · knock · chance · determination · foresight · professional growth · inside track · referral · leverage · resourcefulness
relationship/connection establishment
get one's foot in the doorburn one's bridges
Ruin future options deliberately