Finding the right next fit (WIP)

Always have a plan

If you’re in need of income, it’s tempting to apply to every open position you find. The idea is that you’ll be strategic about your top companies but why not just apply everywhere, right?

No. Every reply to an application takes time, energy, and enthusiasm. Having a plan helps you figure how which ones to target and, if there is an influx, how to prioritize each.

If you’re taking you’re time, it’s tempting to reply to a friendly recruiter for a product that you’ve been interested in. It sounds cool and, well, you may just been burned by your last employer so why not do something that sounds neat?

No. Recruiters are trained to lure you in and hide the bad stuff. The product and role might be interesting but if the incentives for the company and its executives aren’t aligned with what you’re looking for then you may find yourself disappointed.

Having a plan is about designing a framework for yourself of how to prioritize roles based on career goals, financial goals, and mental health.

What to consider in the plan?

Career goals

Financial goals

Mental health

Dimensions to consider

Location

Compensation

Company size

Company stage

Companies

Industry

Revenue/success structure

Founder profile and ambitions

Team structure

Design leader

Tiers

(1) Fit/Match

(2) Brand

(3) Company growth

Why important?

You know how much time to spend on them

Examples

Tier 1 (2-4 companies)

Cover letters

Research on questions that company asks

Reach to friends/connections/strangers from that company

Watch videos on interviewing there

Watch videos from leadership/product launches/podcasts

Youtube

Listen notes

Understand what the company needs to do for future success

Sometimes different than what they do now

Put yourself out there

Tier 2 (10-15 companies)

Look up the company name

Read some articles about them (google news)

Maybe research some questions

They’re super high on one aspects of criteria

Tier 3

Anyone you applied

Someone reached out to you

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