At the end of August I left a well respected company for what promised to be a career bump at a small startup. Unfortunately, within 3 months, I was laid off because after losing our biggest client, my salary was no longer in the budget. I spent the next 2-3 months (yes if you calculated properly you’ve realized over the holiday period) looking for a more stable technology firm to hang my hat on. I thought that I found said place in a startup within a larger corporation, but again was mistaken. It’s difficult for bigger companies to fully embrace the startup mentality and my lack of ability to stay in my box (designed for a more junior person) wasn’t the best fit.
Now I’m back on the hunt, and with a newly invigorated mission to find my new home, I am tapping on choice people in my network for help. Unlike other times when I’ve been on the job market, I’m not only requesting introductions, but asking for advice on how to make myself more marketable. The wisdom I have
Mark Geller of Klickfu and HauteLook has been a great mentor encouraging me to learn new technologies (I’ve got 45 points on Codeacademy and counting) and promote my skills to hatchling startups that could use someone with a little business school acumen. Mark Goldin, current CTO of CSOD, has opened more doors with leaders in the LA Tech community than I ever imagined. More importantly, he reminded me, on a day when I was quite down about feeling lost, to showcase my talents for multi-tasking and working well with engineers rather than harp on my lack of experience with particular items.
Though each of these great men have introduced me to potential clients, bosses, coworkers, or co-founders, the most valuable thing they do for me right now is reaffirm that I’m on the right path, crooked as it may be.
Please reach out not only with potential job leads, but also stories of how individuals in your network have lifted your spirits too.
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