Five Friday Faves - 2.21

Reflections on Job Searching

Happy Friday, friends! If you're in Mass or a surrounding state, it's likely that this was a vacation week for your school-aged kids, or at least a short week for many. I hope you're hanging in there.

I mentioned this briefly in last week's newsletter, but this week I've been "funemployed" - in the transition period between my former job and my new job's start date.

I wouldn't exactly describe what I'm doing this week as "funemployment," but I am trying to balance getting stuff done with having a bit of fun. Especially with school off and camp not being full day, there's a lot of childcare and errands going on. Next week is for fun.

I've been reflecting on the last few months, and below are some thoughts on my experience in this job search/decision-making process. I fully acknowledge that my experience is a privileged one, as I was going through the job search while employed, unlike many who've been laid off. If you're in that position, I feel for you.

A little background first: I wanted to be a doctor when I graduated college. I'd taken the MCAT and applied during my first year out of college while working at Epic. I didn't get in, and being as stubborn as I am, I reapplied the following year. Then I did get in but decided not to go. I worked at Epic in implementation for 6 years before moving to a startup. Since then, I've worked in implementation roles at startups and growth-stage health tech companies. I love startups, doing new things, solving problems, and working with internal teams and clients. This gives you an idea of what I was looking for.

Looking

Keep Your Resume Updated

I hate updating my resume. I really hate doing it all at once, so over the past 15 years, I've learned to always keep it current. A great way to do this is to update it during annual reviews, after role changes, or whenever I have a big achievement like a go-live. It's easier to be specific about achievements, outcomes, and measurements when they're fresh in my mind. There are many good resources available to help you update a resume, and Julia is a fantastic career strategy consultant if you're looking to talk with someone (also check our her episode here).

Applying Sucks, Connections Help

Applying to jobs cold is really tough. I'm sure it's always been tough, but it feels especially challenging now. With the exception of my first job after Epic in 2016, all of my positions have come through connections. While I did get interviews from cold applications, very few progressed beyond initial interviews. If you're job searching, I recommend checking out companies you're interested in and seeing if you have any connections or friends of friends working there. This helps not only get your foot in the door through a referral but also helps you understand if the company would be a good fit.

Be Clear On What You Want

Job searching, like any big decision, can sweep you away when you're in the midst of it. Having experienced this before, I've learned that when approaching a new job search, it's helpful to be clear about my negotiables and non-negotiables. I start by calculating my total current income and determining what compensation would make a move worthwhile. Then I consider what responsibilites I want in a role, what I’m hoping to learn, what size and stage of company I'm looking for, and where I'm willing to be flexible. Having these criteria clear from the start makes decision-making easier later in the process.

Interviewing

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

I keep a Google Doc with interview questions and answers that I review before any interview, saving a new version to update for each one. Being clear about your story is important for interviews, and I like to anticipate questions so I can feel confident in my answers and ensure they're current for this job search. Beyond my standard preparation, I input job descriptions into ChatGPT and ask what questions I should anticipate. I also add questions that have caught me off guard in previous interviews. The most challenging question I've faced in a preliminary phone screen was "Which of our core values most resonates with you and why?" - that taught me to always research company values beforehand. Now, I include the company's core values and any relevant current news in my preparation document.

You’re Interviewing Each Other

I always prepare a list of questions for the interviewer, adding them to my Google Doc. These range from role and company-specific questions to personalized questions based on LinkedIn research or other information I can find. I usually ask about what they do for fun or what motivates them outside of work, especially if it's someone I'll be working with closely.

If Someone Tells You Who They Are, Listen

This is one of my favorite sayings, and it applies in many situations. I've declined a job offer because I didn't get a good vibe from the hiring manager. I've also accepted a position despite red flags I should have heeded. While culture isn't everything, if you're getting a certain vibe or feeling, dig deeper and trust your instincts. Ask to speak with more people or connect with current employees for informal conversations.

Deciding

Leaving a job is a huge decision. If you're lucky (as I've been over the years), you're leaving people you care deeply about and enjoy working with. Even if you have a great offer from another company that checks all the boxes, it can still be a tough choice.

One excellent piece of advice a friend gave me was "no decision is permanent." If yiu take the job and it's the wrong job, you can leave and find something new. If you don't take the job, you can always find another one later. Either way, the decision is yours to make.

However, I do wish there was someone who would tell me what to do. Who could see into the future and tell me what the “right” choice is. I think we all know that’s wishful thinking, but I’ve found that following my gut is the best alternative.

I am so excited for what’s next and really looking forward to seeing what I learn and who I learn from in this next role. I am going to miss some incredible co-workers, but if I’m lucky, our paths will cross again soon.

Alright - now for a few quick favorites from the past week.

Powder Puff Collection - We went skiing for a day with friends, and it was FRIGID. Brutally cold, but despite that, we had a blast. I wore this and my neck was so warm. I got this two years ago, and it’s so comfortable and looks great. I wear it off the slopes too.

Finspan - We love a board game in our family, and I got this game for my husband for his birthday. We love Wingspan, and this game is designed to be quicker version. The first rounds are tough to learn, but after the first round, we all picked it up.

Sorel Caribou - In the skiing theme, I dug these boots out of my attic when we had a big snow recently, and they’re still so warm and comfortable. I am a big LL Bean Boot fan, but these are so great and have a huge foot bed. I feel like I’m wearing snow shoes. If you need new snow boots, these are a great investment, I’ve had mine since I moved to Wisconsin in 2010.

Skin Food - It’s been brutally cold here, and this stuff has been a life saver for my hands. I’ve been using this for years, and continue to love it.

Bag Hook - This may seem stupid, but in Boston traffic, this is a lifesaver. How often have you had a purse on the passenger seat, and a quick stop causes it to go flying EVERYWHERE. Enter this stupid little hook that sparks such joy.

Retractable USB Cords - I just ordered these for my car because I was sick of seeing cords everywhere, and I am so pleased with these! it makes my car feel cleaner though it’s still a complete pig sty.

What’s for Dinner

Monday - Out of Town

Tuesday - Out of Town

Wednesday - Peanutty Pork and Brussels

Thursday - Upside Down Dinner - OK, my husband hates upside down dinner, which is criminal to me. So my kids and I had eggs, pancakes, French Toast, and Bacon.

More A Day In Her Life:

• ICYMI - This week’s episode of A Day In Her Life with Ruth Rotterman is a great listen! Ruth is a dentist, business owner, and mom of twins in Louisville, KY! I loved hearing from Ruth how she ended up in dentistry, and how she’s embracing a creative pursuit to balance the precision of her job.

• One Year Ago - A Day In Her Life with Julia @Smarterinasec! Julia shared what her days look like as a career and personal brand strategist. She shares some of her tips for avoiding takeout and how her love of networking got started at a young age! Such a fun listen!

• If you love romance novels, follow something new I’m working on with my friend Anna over on @pepper_books! We’re looking for feedback on our MVP, so would love if you’d take a second to complete this quick survey!

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