There and Back Again

I've always jokingly told folks that I studied literature for my undergrad for two reasons: I wanted to find a way to study a little bit of everything and show how it's all connected, and I loved to read but was a dreadful writer. By virtue of these beliefs, I've often felt like I shouldn't be the one writing here on LinkedIn. However, the encouragement I've received from many people has inspired me to push through my imposter syndrome.

Today, I want to share my story of pivoting from a lay-off to a new job in just a month. I hope to provide insights into the strategies I used for fellow job seekers. Because of my personal struggle with depression, I knew I had to harness the momentum from my daily sales routine and keep my energy high. Taking time off would have sapped my willpower and left me in bed for months, so I decided to approach my job search as the ultimate sales endeavor. I'm excited to share my journey with you, highlighting the strategies that enabled me to secure a new job within a month.

Transferring Work Skills and Energy

In the world of sales, maintaining momentum is crucial. As Nick Cegelski often says in 30 Minutes to President's Club , "Eat the frog first," which means tackling the tasks you dread the most before anything else. I was determined to maintain this mentality during my job search. As much as I wanted to take that moment to catch up on sleep or Sopranos, I ate frog and dove straight in.

I applied the same principles I used for prospecting clients to my job hunt. My professional network became my most valuable asset. Just as I diligently followed up with prospects, I made sure to maintain consistent communication with recruiters, former colleagues, and new connections. This approach not only kept me engaged but also propelled me forward with unwavering determination, resulting in an average of 4-5 meetings daily for two weeks straight. Needless to say, my Zoom fatigue hit an all-time high but I knew the payout would be worth it.

Preparing for Interviews

On my first day of unemployment, I found myself with four meetings on a Friday afternoon. While I was excited to have meetings booked, I quickly realized I was wholly unprepared for these conversations. Those who had reached out after seeing my LinkedIn post were asking about my dream position, and at that moment, my dream was simply to have a source of income. I recognized that while I maintained momentum, I was missing a crucial element for scalable and repeatable success: preparation.

Effective preparation is the cornerstone of any successful discovery process, and I embraced this philosophy in my job search. To ensure I stood out in interviews, I developed a specialized "discovery template" for my meetings, which I've shared here (albiet, much prettier than my original) through a Canva document.

This template not only highlighted what to research about the company but also provided a comprehensive guide on how to do it. I delved into the company's mission, values, and culture, leaving no stone unturned. Armed with this knowledge, I entered interviews with strangers and friends alike with newfound confidence.

In addition to thorough research, I compiled a list of strategic questions tailored specifically for sales roles. These questions weren't just about the job; they aimed to uncover the company's sales strategy, its challenges, and its vision for the future. This not only demonstrated my enthusiasm but also helped me assess whether the company aligned with my career aspirations.

Identifying My ICP (Ideal Company Profile)

Just as in sales, where we define our Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), I identified what I was seeking in a new company. I began using ChatGPT in December 2022, shortly after its release. Since then, it's become a great resource and I used it here to generate questions (rather than answers) to guide my own discovery process.

I took the time to discuss these questions at length with my husband, John Sculley to identify the kind of workplace culture that best suited me, my non-negotiable values, my long-term career goals, and whether the company aligned with them.

This decision continued to inform my choices as I entered discussions with some remarkable sales leaders. At times, it meant making the difficult decision to walk away from incredible opportunities that didn't match my ICP. Though challenging, I knew that finding the right fit was more important than hastily accepting a job that wouldn't contribute to my long-term happiness and growth.

Setting Boundaries and Expectations

Throughout my job search, I found that establishing clear boundaries and expectations was essential. This helped ensure alignment with potential employers and prevented misunderstandings or wasted time.

Just as I prefer to disqualify sales ops early in the process if they don't fit timeline or budget, I communicated my expectations early on with both recruiters and sales leaders, which facilitated effective time management and transparent communication. I laid out a timeline of when I was planning to make my decision and openly discussed my salary expectations, ensuring I pursued opportunities that matched my timeline, financial needs and career goals. By setting these clear parameters, I streamlined the job search process and entered negotiations with confidence, ultimately saving both parties time and energy.

Back Again

My journey from a lay-off to securing a new job in less than a month was undoubtedly a test of resilience and strategic thinking. As its concluded, I've recognized the need to continually reassess what serves me best. With a new role in a completely different industry, my attention needs to be focused on learning my new job.

I've deleted all other social media from my phone, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, to be more intentional with my time. However, LinkedIn has been such an asset that I'll still be around, but I'll need to pause my writing.

If you're in the midst of your own journey of a job search, I'm not going anywhere though I may be a little more quiet. I'm still here to support you through direct messaging and to bounce ideas for your own search.

For the incredible nonprofits I've worked with in recent years, I'd love to stay connected. I have extensive contacts and unbiased suggestions for various needs across the industry. If you're in the market for something, feel free to reach out, and I can provide guidance and connect you with the right contacts.