Vivian’s strategic career move

Vivian built a strong marketing career at management consulting firms — successfully partnering with Fortune 500 companies and building strategies and programs that drove brand awareness, customer loyalty and revenue growth.

The pandemic gave Vivian the opportunity to reflect on her career and determine what she wanted to do next. She felt ready for a new challenge and wanted to move into an in-house role at a tech company.

Q&A with Vivian

Why did you join our Job Search program??

I wanted to take my career to the next level and felt passionate about tech, especially companies who are building meaningful solutions that help their customers achieve their goals.

There were so many posts on job boards and recruiters reaching out to me that it soon became overwhelming. I didn’t know where to start and didn’t have any guiding principles to help me evaluate and select the roles that would be the best fit not just for my next job, but also for my career path.

So I joined the program to gain the knowledge and framework to confidently assess and pursue the best opportunities for me.

What was it like working with Dream Job Catcher?

It was a very positive experience. I appreciated the methodology with the end result in mind. The program helped me think holistically about what kind of life I want to live and then think about what job and career aligns perfectly with that.

What did you find the most valuable?

Making the mental shift about how to think about my career with intentionality helped me get into the mindset to think bigger about the possibilities.?

The overall program framework and online training helped me take meaningful steps to achieve my career goals. And the coaching was invaluable. It was great to have a sounding board with an expert who gave both strategic and tactical advice to get results.?

How did you feel throughout the process?

Making a career switch can be emotionally taxing and can feel like a roller coaster. I felt extremely supported by my coach who provided an objective perspective and reminded me of my “why,” which helped me trust the process and shift my mindset when things got tough.?

She was also there to celebrate the small and big wins! It was great to have someone in my corner throughout my journey.?

How did you land your new job?

I saw a job post and then networked with a couple of people at the company. I learned more about the marketing organization, company culture, the overall business opportunity, etc. and became even more excited about the opportunity.

I was referred for the role and then invited to the interview loop. I worked with my coach to practice and refine answers for a wide range of questions. I felt prepared, showed up confidently and was able to be my authentic self.

I received the offer and worked with my coach to make the counteroffer to get the best terms possible.?

Did it align to your goals?

Absolutely! I wanted to join a tech company who valued people and focused on their growth. This move was a game changer for my career. I learned a tremendous amount from the company and my role — that has laid the foundation for future leadership roles.

What are you loving about your role?

I work with incredibly intelligent and conscientious people and there’s a spirit of innovation and collaboration throughout the company. My teams and I have worked closely together to solve big problems, which has been a highly challenging as well as rewarding experience.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

If you feel like you’re ready for a change, it’s time for a change. Be strategically fearless and embrace opportunities, even during uncertain times. In fact, uncertainty often leads to great creativity.?

Be ready to try new things. Initially, I was nervous to network, but was pleasantly surprised to meet many wonderful people who engaged and offered to help.?

Be constantly curious. When you hear of a company doing interesting things, take note of it and network to learn more about it. You’ll expand your network and have a list of great companies when you are ready to make a move.