Squad, Assemble!
There are very few people who get excited about a job search. I'd go so far as to say those who do are masochists. As I find myself in the job hunter's seat I've realized a few things:
I hate job hunting for myself: despite helping so many people with their job searches / resumes / interview prep, it seems like an overwhelming task for myself
Job searching feels isolating: I'm in a rare position of having a cohort of about 800 coworkers who are looking for new jobs, and even I feel alone
You cannot go at this alone: the next chapter is tough, but with the right people behind you it doesn't have to be so painful
In the world of #productoperations, this stage represents the "Kickoff". At this time a POM goes out into the world, and tries to find the best people for the job. Typically this involves a listening tour to align on a RAPID model as well as determine bandwidth and expertise. This group is assembled for a period of time, while the project is being worked on and shortly after launch.
So without further ado, here’s what your squad should look like:
The Hype Person: Who's the best? You're the best! That's what you're hoping your hype person will do for you! Not only will they tell you that you're capable, and competent - they'll tell you why! The hope is that they are able to spit out examples from your past when you've overcome tough things - they build you up! This is the person you call on days when you're feeling hopeless, decide being homeless doesn't seem so bad, and who needs a job any way?
The Cool Gal: Counter your hype person, you're going to need someone to tell you to "Calm (the f) down!". This person reminds you that a job is just one facet of you as a human, and helps you maintain perspective through your mental spiral of "what if don't land this job?"
You'll still be alive - thats what! (thanks mom!)The Wordsmith: Your partner in resume revisions. A lot of times, this person becomes so familiar with your experience, that they can coach you through your career story, and prep for that interview!
The One on the Inside (of your old workplace): A coworker who can really help you magnify your achievements. Since they know your work and the impact it's had at the company, they can help you strengthen the wording, make it relevant for the industry, and help you contextualize your results in a way that is honest and amplifying.
The Shameless Socializer: this is your friend who seems to know everyone (include the whole staff of Starbucks). They will have ideas on people to connect you with and help you network.
Now that you have your squad together, (and you've briefed them on your situation), don't be afraid to ask them for help!
If you're feeling self conscious about asking for their help, be upfront and give them an out. Something like "I know I've been picking your brain a lot on this, so if you don't have time for this right now, just let me know!"
Whenever I become wary of asking for help, I like to remind myself of the Ben Franklin effect. (Wiki link)
I'm the person in the squad who is the shameless socializer (I guess I can thank my days of being a door to door salesperson for that). To avoid burdening my core squad, I've spread out my annoyance love to an extended squad that includes these BONUS characters:
The Forward Thinker : This is the friend who invested in bitcoin before most, has their eye on the market, and how predicts how industries are evolving. If you're in the mood for a risk, and are wanting to put yourself out there - call up this person! They may not have the safest ideas, but you'll always learn something from them.
The Industry Veteran : this person has seen a few crazy situations and might have thoughts for you on what to think of if you're look to have a more stable / traditional job.
The Lawyer : If like me, you find yourself here on a work visa, you'll want to call up that immigration lawyer to ensure that you have all the facts straight, and all your paperwork in order.
You're almost always going to find that you are missing a couple core members from this group. That kind of realization is what might lead you to the dreaded network, which I hope to get to another time
Until then, Who else would you include in your squad?
