Hello.

Product

Data

People

Pause...
Privilege
Check

So what is this talk about?

Finding a dream job

fulfilling

Building kick-ass teams

well-adjusted

Individuals

Organizations

Reactive

is the
Default

Let's talk about
"The Job Market"

Find {job/person/etc.}
when you need it
@ ${price}

People aren't commodities.

Keyword matching

Buzzword bingo resumes

Unhelpful job boards

Bad interviews

Rampant discrimination

Livelihood / healthcare at stake

Negotiation bullshit

No responses / no feedback

Hire out of desperation

Hire based on convenience

Under-appreciation of real workplace skills

Fear.

Unhealthy teams

Salary inequity

Logic puzzles

Shame.

Uncertainty

People => Purpose => Process => Product

1. currentSystem == Enum.notOk
2. startProactiveSequence();

3. while (1 == 1) empathize();

3 Takeaways

But if all you remember from this talk is one thing...

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou

1) Reactive Individual

What does the reactive search process feel like from an individual's perspective?

"This place is pretty good..."

Some time passes...

"I need to get out of here."

"I guess I'll look on {jobBoard}"

Apply a few places.

Don't hear back.

Finally hear back weeks later

Do 1 nerve-wracking interview

"I think that went ok"

Don't hear back.

"I guess I'll stay here."

Or worse:

"This place is pretty good!"

"...and I no longer have a job."

Wake up! You need to make money!

Scramble.

"I guess this job will have to do."

Or worse:

"I wish I had a job to begin with."

What does a reactive search process feel like to a potential employer?

What does the reactive hiring process feel like from an organization's perspective?

2) Reactive Organization

"I'm not sure if we have the budget for..."

"OMG!

We need someone... yesterday."

Frantically post to job boards...

"I have no idea whether any of these applications are good."

"I was already overworked and now I'm even more overworked!"

Ask friends of friends...

of friends of friends...

3 months later...

"I think we found the right person(?)"

Maybe not.

What does a reactive hiring process feel like to a candidate?

Reactive problem #1: "Hiring Pool"

Reactive problem #2: Timing

Reactive problem #3: Lack of Planning

Reactive problem #4: Duress

Reactive problem #5: Discrimination

Foundations of proactive searching

1. Reflect on what you want.
2. Prepare well ahead of time.
3. Be strategic with approach.

3) Proactive Individual

What does the proactive search process feel like from an individual's perspective?

"I have a decent idea of what I'm looking for"

"I've talked to the right people to help me find something"

"I'm prepared for the right opportunity when it presents itself."

"I feel confident during the interview process."

What does a proactive search process feel like to a potential employer?

4) Proactive Organization

What does the proactive hiring process feel like from an organization's perspective?

"We have a good sense of what we need"

"We're actually getting started ahead of time!"

"Thank goodness we spent time on improving our hiring process."

"Wow - we're having conversations with a lot of great people"

"This is the person!"

How does a proactive hiring process feel like to a candidate?

How do I shift to proactive mode as an individual?

1. Reflect

2. Reach Out

3. Relax

Reflect on your
current situation.

1) Reflect

AND WRITE IT DOWN!

Where did the time go?

What are things I like / dislike about this place?

What would it take for me to stay?

If I could wave my magic wand, what would I change?

What assumptions am I making about this job?

From 1-5, how do I rate:

the company / team / project / people / role / compensation?

What will I most miss about this place when I leave?

OK, I may want to leave.  What now?

If I could design my ideal role, what would it look like?

What are my constraints?

2) Reach out

Research: Get relevant people & companies on your radar.

Find communities and engage.

Share your learnings.

Seek Counsel

Just ask.

Get an ear to the ground (i.e. "passive searching")

3) Relax

Be you. Tell *your* story.

• Why are you interested in this opportunity?
• Why are you a good fit for it?
• What questions do you have for me?

Go into any job opportunity with answers to:

How do I shift to proactive mode as an organization?

1. Start now

2. Seriously reconsider

3. Show kindness

Assessing existing team **before** you absolutely need it

1) Start now

Competency Coverage

Component Coverage

Skill Coverage

Reframe Hiring Costs

Cost

=>

Value

Reframe Tech Needs

Tech Debt

=>

Risk

What specific skills do you actually need?

2) Seriously reconsider

Many projects fail because of poor vision, planning, communication & EQ issues rather than tech deficiencies.

Try a referral program based on "Aided Recall"

Start looking for new channels.

What's your story?

Strongly reconsider your current hiring process

Lots of great resources on that topic.

Small tip: check out text.io

3) Show kindness

Treat each applicant as if their review of your hiring process could make or break the company.

Why does this matter?

Tons of people looking to get into tech

A bunch of employed folks lamenting their current job

Companies complaining that they can't find good employees

Reactive searching is stressful, not as effective, and not as inclusive as proactive searching.

Major mismatch between people's skills & passions and where they can best apply them

So, start being proactive TODAY.

And remember...

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou

Thanks!

Questions?