@SeekingSFJob

How I quit my last job

I remember the day I quit my last job back in 2007. It was the day of the Halloween party and I had no idea what to wear. I opted for an orange dress shirt and black tie—Halloweeny enough, right? The office was filled with ghouls, goblins, and blood-stained creations. I felt horribly under-dressed for the occasion! :)

Around 10am, I received the call—the call that I had been anxiously expecting—the recruiter had finally confirmed that I was hired! To say that I was excited would have been an understatement. I instantly had this sense of relief and happiness. There wasn’t a moment of, “what if this was the wrong decision?” It felt right, and it was right. It was time for me to move on, and leave behind the job I had grown to hate (for many reasons that I can explain in another post).

So, I wrote a short, but polite (as polite as I could be at the time) email. Something like:

Date: November 30, 2007

To: <Lead1>, <Lead2>, <Manager1>, <Manager2>, <Manager3>

CC: <HR>

Subject: Resignation

It has been a pleasure working with for you for nearly 2 years. Unfortunately, I am resigning and my last day will be November 13.

I visited with my managers to confirm the departure and after leaving the last closed-door conversation, I was approached by a coworker on the way back to my desk. She asked, “who are you dressed as?” I replied, “I’m a quitter… I just quit.” “You lie like a rug,” she retorted. “No, really, I just quit.” “Really?” “Yes.” “Oh, wow.”

Oh hey, Murphy!

I had a few goals when I started this blog:

1. post more often
2. be more bold
3. get hired fast
4. ???
5. profit!

They say that looking for a job is tough, but I’ve been so busy with my current job that looking for my next one has become nearly impossible! I’ve been working 55+ hour weeks, not including my long commute back and forth to client site (the client really appreciates my knowledge and work ethic, so they’ve really recognized me). In my spare time, I’ve been selling my possessions, packing what I’m keeping, and squeezing in time for phone interviews—I only have time to sleep! On top of that, my current company was recently acquired, so there’s a bit of relearning administrative tasks, benefits, and policies, which is a shame because I’m spending a lot of time on items that probably won’t matter soon if things go as planned.

I have gotten cold feet in terms of the types of content I want to post. I was going to post about my interviews (and name names!), but I think that’d be a bad idea—I don’t want any negative side effects or lose out on a job because I’m experimenting with a blog.

But, I’ll break from that fear (a little) to discuss my overall disdain for one company that’s really strung me along for the last two months. The only reason I’m handling it okay is because the role is exactly what I want (product manager) and for a really awesome company. I’m told that I aced the interviews (there were five) and that I’ll hear back “anytime” now, citing that another company recently purchased a stake that my hiring is being held up while they discuss the scope of the role. That’s all fine and good, but should this conversation take multiple months? I keep in touch, and I’ve been repeatedly assured that I should “hang in there,” and it’s not like I’ve had a choice—until now. I’ve also been interviewing with another company that’s pushed me through four phone interviews in a few weeks. I’m told that the next interview will be an in-person! Woo-hoo!

Despite Murphy rearing his ugly head, there is a bright side to all of this. I’ve had extra time to prepare for the move, I was fortunate enough to own company stock that was paid out after the acquisition (I would have lost out if I would have been hired sooner), and I’m (hopefully) leaving my client on a high note (they love me!). I guess, for now, I will ”hang in there” (and keep an eye out for other jobs)—I might have good news soon.

The Benefits of Brutal Honesty

I’ve always been a big proponent of brutal honesty—in my personal life and in business. And I think my job hunt should be no different. I think above all else, honesty can get you a job, even if it seems counter-intuitive.

As I type this, I’m in a position of talking with two companies, each on their own timelines, who are highly interested in hiring me. I have no offer from either, but their word that it’s heading that way. And so, I have recently come to the realization that instead of leading them both on, or trying to use it later to my advantage when actual salaries and offer letters emerge, I have told both of them that the other exists.

By sharing these moments of honesty in initial discussions, the relationship building can begin before I’m even hired.

Now, let me explain why I would do something that seems so against common sense and self-interest. For one, it sets the expectation that I am actively looking—not just for anything—for the right thing. And if delays arise in the hiring process, which is the case for both of these employers, then we all have a better idea of the timeline and what to expect. It makes me look like a valuable resource worth respecting and it also shows that I respect them, too. This eliminates surprises and the hiring game, where some potential new hires attempt to pit companies against each other. If I inform all parties that I am actively looking and the existence of pending offers, it makes us all take each other that much more seriously and we’ll better appreciate each others’ time. As a potential hire, I start off knowing that I’m not the only one, and I feel that by sharing in a non-threatening way that I also have options, there seems to be less friction and more openness during the process. By sharing these moments of honesty in initial discussions, the relationship building can begin before I’m even hired. And if the final decision comes out and another direction was taken by either of us, then the door would be open for networking, interview feedback, and possibly future opportunities.

Congratulations, you got the job you never wanted! Hooray! Nobody really wants this to happen.

The argument against brutal honesty has never sat well with me. I think that people, in general, want to know the truth, even if they initially have negative reactions to hearing the truth. I believe that the truth often gets hidden or omitted because of some misguided concepts of political correctness or professionalism (both of which I am also a big fan of, in the right circumstances). And I think during a job hunt, not telling the truth in regards to what you’re looking for and what you’re expecting from employers helps no one. Congratulations, you got the job you never wanted! Hooray! Nobody really wants this to happen. The most meaningful interactions I’ve had during my job hunt have been the ones where we’ve both put it all out there and kept it as genuine and transparent as possible. The conversation goes so much more smoothly when both parties know that they can just be themselves and don’t have to constantly edit (don’t mention the other candidates, he might be offended! -or- I better not tell them I have this other offer, they’ll stop interviewing me!). I breathed a sigh of relief when I opened up about my other opportunities, and I think the recruiters for both companies appreciate cutting through the noise as much as possible, too.

Update: One of the opportunities got back to me—they’re going with a more junior candidate who was referred by a partner. I did received feedback that the interview went great and I was the most experienced candidate, but that they changed the scope of the position and decided on a junior level candidate instead. We’re going to keep in touch.

Professional Networking: LinkedIn & Twitter (Yes), Instagram (Friends), Google+ (Anybody There?), Facebook (No, Friends Only)

Over the last few months, I’ve been trying out social media as a way to find my next gig. By far, I’ve seen the most success from LinkedIn and Twitter, followed by Instagram (limited use, but helpful), and probably the least useful has been Facebook and Google+ (but for different reasons; I’ll get to that later).

If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re doing it wrong—period.

LinkedIn is the most underrated social network. LinkedIn was built on the idea of professional networking, personal branding, and finding your next job. If you’re not on LinkedIn and you’re looking for your next job… actually not even if you’re looking for your next job… if you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re doing it wrong—period. You could skip Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but you NEED a LinkedIn profile. Employers (new and current) love it and it’s fantastic personal branding. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re missing connecting with past, present, and future coworkers, the amazing LinkedIn today articles, job postings, and groups. I’ve learned so much from LinkedIn and using the service has netted me more job leads than all other social networks combined. If you’re not on LinkedIn, GO THERE RIGHT NOW.

Twitter can be an incredibly engaging, thoughtful, and interesting social network as long as you take the time to follow and engage the right users.

I love Twitter! And I like that I can have multiple accounts—this keeps my account security dead simple. I have a personal account (locked down to close friends only, similar to Facebook), professional account (public and connected to my LinkedIn/Google+ accounts), and a job seeking account (public, of course). I have connected with recruiters on Twitter and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I’ve found job leads and discovered some excellent tips and articles. Twitter can be an incredibly engaging, thoughtful, and interesting social network as long as you take the time to follow and engage the right users—what you get out of Twitter is ultimately up to you.

Nobody wants to start over without a few friends.

Instagram, like Twitter, can be an engaging social media platform when given the chance and I’ve now met a few San Franciscan Instagram users in real life and have begun real friendships. This will truly benefit me when I move to SF—nobody wants to start over without a few friends!

Facebook is for friends, not employers.

In my opinion, using Facebook to find your next job is a bad choice, unless you have friends or mutual friends that may be able to refer you or already work somewhere you’re applying. I truly believe that Facebook is for friends, not employers. If you’re going to try and use Facebook as a job hunting tool, utilize Facebook groups (and use them correctly). Put all professional contacts in one group and only post appropriate content to that group. Hide all other wall posts from your professional group and be mindful of photos you have posted. Consider turning on approvals for all external wall posts and tags. Don’t let your professional contacts see your location if you’re traveling for a job interview and don’t post about interviews. I think that Facebook is a great way to find mutual friends in other cities if you’re moving, but there is so much setup involved in configuring your security and maintaining it that looking for a job on Facebook seems wholly unproductive.

I just can’t take Google+ seriously.

When Google+ launched, I was so excited! Finally, there was a competitor to Facebook and it used Circles! I was giddy with the concept of creating several small networks for targeted posts! I even tagged all of my friends on Facebook with an invite link asking them to join, but nobody ended up really using the service. Other than a few +1’s here or there (Google’s version of “Like”), I’ve had hardly any interaction on my Google+ account. What I really always want from Google is the ability to automatically aggregate all of my social networks (hello, hachi!) into one interface and the ability to selectively cross-post updates. In its current form, I just can’t take Google+ seriously, so I’ve started using Twoogle+ to post from my professional Twitter account to my public Google+ feed. This gives me good coverage and allows anyone to follow me on their network of choice.

(Source: geek.com)

The Time Machine

On April 17, 2012, I decided I wasn’t waiting anymore. I started looking for a new job and life in San Francisco. About a week before, I received a birthday present from a friend–a Time Machine. No, not that kind of time machine–it’s a kinetic display clock that increments time by shifting around chrome ball bearings to minutes and hours.

For over a month, it sat on my desk at work without a power source. I really had no excuse to leave it sitting there neglected; it accepts C batteries or 6 volt DC. I was finding myself rationalizing the reasons why I shouldn’t waste my time turning it on. “Why haven’t you bought batteries,” my coworkers would ask. “I could have a job anytime now,” I’d think to myself.

One of my work friends who knows about my job search wrote, “LAME,” on a Post-It Note and stuck it on the Time Machine so passersby could see my shame. I’d tell my lunchtime confidant, “but, I’ll be gone soon!” Every few days he’d check on the Time Machine and tease me about the neglected state of my desk gadget.

I couldn’t avoid the obvious correlations to my own life. I’ve been ignoring the here and now. My work hasn’t been affected; I’ve always been praised for being a top performer, but the only thing I seem to be focused on is my current job and finding my next one. When I go home, I’m usually in the living room on my laptop looking for leads as I “watch” (more like listen) to my favorite TV shows. I’m constantly missing visual cues on Mad Men and Community.

I took Memorial Day weekend off from the job search to enjoy a much-needed vacation from all obligations. Reading résumé tips, networking on LinkedIn, and researching new opportunities can’t happen every day. In fact, I should probably pick a day each week to relax and not focus on the job search at all. It will come in time.

I did finally get around to putting batteries in the Time Machine. And while there is no actual time machine that will magically transport me to my next destination, I’m perfectly content to give myself an occasional break to watch the time pass by.

Need help? Ask for it.

Still on the hunt for a job and my job search hasn’t been as “social” as I’d like it to be, although I do scour Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networks for leads.

I’m still looking for leads on SF-based Associate Product Manager, Product Manager, Analyst, and similar roles.

More info about me on my About page, follow me on Twitter @SeekingSFJob, and View My Résumé.

I think I’ll just try asking for help on Twitter. Maybe I can score a few RTs?

(Source: instagr.am)

Applying en masse

This last weekend was a major push for me. Over the last few months, I’ve worked, reworked, started over, redesigned and repackaged more versions of my résumé than I care to count (if I was doing version control I’d probably be on v8.9.27).

I’m quickly learning the art of the cover letter. Should I always include one? I’ve always assumed that I should, but I think there’s a possibility that including one has hurt me at times. I’m thinking from the perspective of a busy recruiter. What if a recruiter only spends a minute looking at my application documents and spends most of it on my cover letter? That time is probably better spent going over my qualifications. Some jobs I have applied to are a great match to my experience—if I apply and I have the skills, I probably shouldn’t have included a cover letter. Some jobs are a stretch—I hadn’t served in the exact role for which I was applying, but am qualified based on overlapping/related experience—those jobs need a cover letter (or a streamlined résumé, or both). Some companies explicitly state that they want a cover letter (I also include one in the body of an email if I’m applying that way), but I’d appreciate companies letting me know up front that they won’t read my cover letter (it’d be a huge time saver!). Facebook only allows for one file upload with each application, so I’ve submitted for jobs differently: submitting for a job with a combined document (cover letter and résumé) and, for another job, skipping the cover letter entirely, allowing my experience to speak for itself.

My cover letter, when I do send it, is in this format:

<Company>,

<Greeting that also mentions job position>

<Bulleted list of my applicable experience>

<Some personal qualities that make me a good fit for this position>

<Exit that sounds pleasant and is a call to action; essentially asking them to read my résumé for more information and let’s talk soon>

<Full Name & Contact Info>

I admire one company that only allowed what they called an optional “cover blurb” limited to 140 characters. You’d think this would be difficult, but I found this to be absolutely freeing! They further impressed me by saying that “All applications receive a response.” This was refreshing since I have been utterly ignored by some companies (even a swift rejection is better than no response at all). It felt good to empty my application queue—it gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I’m only applying to jobs I’d actually accept (as long as offered with a healthy work environment/culture and competitive salary/benefits). I’m hoping one of these opportunities comes through, but I can’t stop looking yet. I’ll be using Huntsy, Path.To, and SF Craigslist more than ever.

Advice on Job Rejections

Rejections are a necessary part of the job search process. I don’t know if I would have been ready if I was offered a job on day one of my job search (totally ready now, though). Ultimately, I think the struggle is a good thing. Friends and loved ones have offered the following advice:

“An acknowledgement of fit”

Someone told me he calls a rejection “an acknowledgement of fit.” There is a more primal part of me that feels slighted, but my higher thinking kicks in and I have to admit that if they don’t think I’m a good fit, they may be on to something! The last thing that either of us wants is for me to arrive on my first day ready to work and it’s not what either of us expected.

“A salesman views each rejection as getting that much closer to a sale.”

Yet another suggestion was to view my job search like a salesman. A good salesman receives dozens of rejections before an eventual sale. Unlike most people though, a good salesman views each rejection as a potential opportunity; this energizes the salesman. A rejection now can mean that the next sale could be around the corner.

“View everything as eventual.”

I was talking to a friend about some recent job rejections (some coming within 24 hours – efficient!) and his advice, apparently from a self-help tape was, “view everything as eventual.” Celebrities and CEOs often express that they knew they were going to be successful. Barring them having some sort of crystal ball, the only way they became successful was to work towards a goal and believe that it would happen. The power of seeing yourself there is a powerful incentive, and some days that’s all I have—the knowledge that if I keep working, I will make it there eventually.

My Advice: Send a thank you note because they may hire you in the future!