After working remote with my last company for about 10 months since moving to California, I decided that it was time for a new challenge. Perhaps it was simply being in the Bay Area and meeting some of the most talented people I’ve ever met that inspired me. I had been with my company for about two and a half years and had been challenged in more ways than I could have imagined, but yet, I felt like I was missing out on key growth opportunities. Thus, began my job hunt. Here are three simple, but game-changing pieces of advice that guided me.
1. Networking As A Lifestyle
For introverted individuals, like myself, the thought of networking can be terrifying. When we think of "networking," what comes to mind for many of us are random strangers, name tags, business cards, and awkward smiles at some fancy hotel bar. While this may be the scene for many networking events, I quickly learned that this was not the only way to network, nor was it the most effective way for me. During one of the night courses I took while job hunting, my instructor Stephen McCurry (Director of Product Management at Udemy), left me with a piece of advice about networking. He said, "Don't wake up in the morning and plan to network.” Instead, he insisted to think of networking as a way of life. I've always understood the value of building my professional network, but he finally hit the nail on the head. If you play sports on a league, use this opportunity to “network." If you’re in a music group or orchestra, “network." When you hit the gym, “network." These casual encounters that you’re already having are the best opportunities to connect with people because that's when people see you in your natural skin. However, don't start networking only when you're looking for a job. The strongest connections are most likely built over time, not over single events. Who would be more likely to vouch for you - your hiking buddy or a stranger you met at a happy hour? Part of it is also having a sincere interest in getting to know people, not just for the sake of finding a job, but for insight, mentorship, and friendship. I'm thankful for all the friends and connections that I made during college. Having built these relationships through those years helped make growing my network in a new city, several years later, easier. These friends ended up helping me the most during my job hunt. I found my current job because my friend from college introduced me to his friend, who kindly put in the referral for me. Thanks Howard(s)!
2. Different Industry OR Role, not Both.
It took me some time to figure out my career goals. I knew I wanted change, but wasn’t sure what changes I wanted. In the early stages of my job hunt as I was getting my feet wet, I sent out many resumes for various types of roles and companies. Some positions were similar to what I was currently doing for similar companies, others were for different roles and types of companies. I thought, “If I cast my net wide, I’m bound to find something I like, right?" Not exactly. I was successful in getting responses from the former, but those positions didn’t feel “right." I was seeking a dramatic change in scenery, so these initial stages were pretty discouraging. It wasn’t until I talked to my friend, Michelle Chang (HR & Operations at Sila Nanotechnologies) about hiring experiences at her company, that I decided to make a shift in my strategy. She mentioned that when looking for change, it’s extremely difficult to switch to a different industry AND a different role at the same time (especially in the Bay Area). She suggested to try pursuing one or the other, rather than both. I stopped job searching for a few days and took a step back to reevaluate. I began brainstorming about the industries and companies I wanted to pursue, separate from the roles that I was interested in. I thought, not only, about the likelihood of landing jobs for various industry and role combinations, but also how they would be aligned with my long term career aspirations. Next, I reflected on my strengths. Which was the greater strength - my experience in my role or my industry knowledge and expertise? After deciding that my greater strength was experience in my role, I came up with a new plan. I sought out companies different than my previous company that interested me, that had openings for my current role, and that had opportunities for me to evolve into new roles over time. To my pleasant surprise, I gained a lot of traction with this new strategy as the “right" emails and calls started flowing in.
3. Best Face Forward At All Times.
During my quest, I was familiar with most of the do’s and dont's of job searching, resume writing, and interviewing. Having read every job search article that came up on my LinkedIn newsfeed, I knew I was supposed to tailor my resume to match every job description. I knew not to blast my resume at every electronic application I came across. That referrals were my best shot. That I needed to be intimately familiar with company current events and news. This list goes on and on. What was difficult about following these “rules” was deciding where to draw the line. For example, how closely should I match my resume to the job description? How many applications should I submit? How much should I know about the company in preparation for the interview? I credit my friend and mentor, Dennis Ngin (Strategy Consultant at Accenture), who would always remind me to “put your best face forward at all times” whenever I was lost on what to do next. Now, this one seems obvious, but I think it's a loaded one because prepping to put on the best face takes time and thought. It's also unique to each person. One person may require two hours to prepare for their “best face” interview, while another may need months. Whenever I was unsure about whether I had put in enough effort towards something, I started asking myself, “Is this my best face?” For me, putting on my best face meant that I had to make sure every resume and cover letter was my best response to a posting’s calling, even if it required a couple more days of preparation. It meant that I had to get my hands on every relevant piece of company information possible. It meant learning the names and backgrounds of my potential teammates, managers, and colleagues before having any type of interaction with them. With only a limited number of hours in a day, putting on my best face at every step meant that I couldn’t apply to twenty jobs. Not even ten. Using this as a guideline, I was able to concentrate on pursuing just a few companies with greater focus and more success.
I had a lot of support from my husband, friends, and family throughout this journey. It was not an easy time, so I’m thankful that I had them to lean on. If I had to leave one last piece of advice to wrap up this post, it is to stay steadfastly open and receptive. Listen, even if it's inconvenient or in disagreement. Keep all doors open because you never know what type of advice or connection could lead you to the next opportunity.
First Holiday Season with the New Company Family