navigating the job search (solo show)

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I'll answer some questions that you have about the job search right now, but I do want to get into again some conversations I'm having right now right first and foremost and just things I'm seeing first and foremost listen I get a lot of like Job reports right and I try to subscribe to a Lot of labor market stuff listen. It's not good right now right? This is the two side thing. A. It's not that great Right, it's not that great, but also be companies are still hiring right? I literally have a call tomorrow with this company That's hiring a handful of engineers right and so now you're probably like listen to this probably watching this or listening to the future like tell What what that makes no sense?

Big big tech and headlines always always Oh my gosh y'all get this clean eats has my camera. I could cry. I am so so excited They just email me so shout out clean eats for having my camera praise the Lord That's great. All right, so so what does that mean first off listen? You know have a savings account and the reason why I'm talking about this It looks like I like to spend money right? I love to spend money I also love To take take trips right? I will tell you this right now like my wife and I are having active conversations like I thought we'd be out of this mess right now Like I legitimately thought the market right now I thought we would be out of this mess at the moment and we're not and so My concern is this thing is probably going to go this market is I hate to say it probably going to go to the end of the year I Think we'll see some activity in the market the closer we get to election season election time But listen my encouragement so you all especially recruiting engineers like if you get laid off And you find a job like my first priority if I were you is to Replenish your savings account now.

I get I'm not this is not financial advice like I said I'm not the best at savings right? I'm having this conversation actively But I want to let you know like we need to have more conversations No one's having this conversation right now like like you got to be prepared right? I I have folks right now in the job search that are going six to nine months before finding their next job Six to nine months so the question I ask yourself the question I ask you the question you should ask yourself is do you have a savings? Do you have a runway to go six to nine months?

Right and if the answers know then my priority right now Especially if you have a job and you know you're safe for the moment is to focus on that listen I I firmly believe that like anybody could get laid off at any time and That's not a great mindset to have but I think we all just need to get there the market's crazy Now I probably Taylor this isn't the best uplifting Monday message that I want to hear this morning I get it, but I want to be real with y'all right? I'm never gonna be the recruiter. I'm never gonna be the individual out here saying the market's great Everything's great right?

But I do want to tell you this though is that companies are still hired now the big tech is laying people off Right because we saw that during COVID if you listen to unicorn finders my other podcast We talked about this a lot like there What happened during 2021? 2022 was was unattainable. It was absolutely on a table so my What's happening is that big tech come out of the money who hired so much are now laying people off? but startups and high-growth startups are Hiring right now right so what I would do if I were you is I would start following a lot of like emails literature blogs Individuals on social media that keep up with startups like product hunts Angel list and really start getting more networked into the startup ecosystem now the argument here to be like Taylor Well, there's a lot of stuff in the market right now saying well people aren't writing checks right now right VCs aren't writing checks You are right there.

We have seen a downturn in VCs writing checks However checks are still being written right and I think I think a lot of people these days and even me right even me I do this live I do this life. I've been Amy. Thank you so much for your kind words but for me I thought I lost I totally lost what I was trying to say oh When it comes to startups like I Never really focused my time and startup culture right when I was at my last company We were very enterprise heavy. We didn't really talk to startups a lot now that I'm at gun Like I am introduced to so many more startup ecosystems founders entrepreneurs Because that's that's where we really sell it gun I owe and so like again.

I mean I'm telling you If I were looking for a job right now look up like your local entrepreneur center right like Nashville the National Entrepreneur Center Get involved, you know startup Nashville right? Why do you think I'm a part of startup Nashville with Kelly Griggs right is that as that companies are still hiring? They're just usually smaller companies because the big companies who had the money during COVID Ripped too hard and hired too many folks and so again that is that is what's going on right now Chris is good to see you render Nashville Yes, I want to give it I want to give kind of too announcement real quick And Chris brought up here render Nashville so render Nashville is meeting the end of the month at my last company believe it or not I haven't made up go to render I think it's render Nashville on meetup.com It is I am blessed to speak on a panel On this panel.

It's gonna be a great panel And we're gonna talk about the mental health on the job search so for those of you wanting to be in community I would highly recommend showing up to the render Nashville meetup. It is it is May 30th I have the meetup page set go check that out. So Chris. Thank you for bringing that up my god I appreciate you and yes, the EC is Fantastic so I want to give kind of a few more tips and tricks on what I'm seeing right now Listen, I think Good morning that bear coffee. I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah bear. Yeah, this I got this for my wife a while ago This is like the best it's like a big coffee mug get a lot of coffee in this bad boy So I do want to talk about Again the power of networking right?

I will never stop talking about this right now if you apply to a job If you submit your resume to a job your resume most likely will not get seen unless it is within the first probably 24 hours of that job posting happening right what I would do is I would heavily rely on Recruiters I would heavily rely on your network and I would heavily rely on meeting as much people as possible I would try to meet one to two people a day if you do not have a job on your job search And so I can't what's going on buddy tail. I can't I love you.

I love you Martin's get the Debbie I hope we get the W tonight five or two Kent's calling it. I love it Can you show up tonight and coaches big dog show up tonight and coaches? The boys have a game two final championship game tonight We could win the championship for the first time ever After going to the championship for three years in a row. We're kind of we're starting to become like the the the Buffalo Bills All right, so what else networking again meeting people networking with people and like also I know I talk a lot about like going to professional meetups and all this stuff listen literally just like hanging out with people That like have your same per like same interest is networking right?

I feel like everyone's like I'm gonna go create a meetup about Java or I got to go create a meetup about dot net listen at the end of the day like I like Kent Kent's my guy from hockey Like Kent Kent was about to sell me a car, right? And like by the way if you do any a car Kent Kent's great guy talk to but like Like I know Kent through hockey. I don't know Kent through a job a meetup, right? And so again like I want to encourage you all today I feel like networking gets a really bad rap and I totally get it It's really awkward But like really really leverage the people in your life that you have similar interest to because I feel like a lot of times We were going to the job search again.

I'll never forget I had coffee with my biggest competitor Who's a recruiter in Nashville and I was like how's this person gonna help me find a job as As what I do because he only recruits developers Right and so that's why I'm saying like I think you need to become BFFs with a lot of people a lot of recruiters in your area Because like they're the ones that like keep and keep keep things in mind for you, right? Another thing to work smarter not harder when it comes to the job search like Leverage social media right now. I'm not asking you to turn into a mr.

Beast But I would document your job search. Listen it is not a coincidence folks It is not a coincidence that the folks that have been documenting their job search on Twitter and LinkedIn that I follow have found a job quicker Than than other people who aren't doing that Literally two people. I know that I have interviewed on this pod have messaged me recently last 30 days and said hey Believe it or not. You were right. I got literally one guy on the job search recently He he has been struggling to put out a video and I keep encouraging Keep encouraging as to do it. Dude.

Just put it out He finally put out one video. I'm not kidding you. I am not kidding you He messaged me because he won't believe this my former boss saw this and he re-offered me the job Because they needed somebody they and I was top of mind and they reached out to me I Mean guys listen I Everything I say I tell people this listen. I'm not the end all be all there's a lot of recruiters right? I'm on live on TikTok on my phone like TikTok. There's a lot of recruiters out there right LinkedIn There's a lot of recruiters out there right and listen they all say some good things.

They really really do I will tell you this the folks who have Gone and done my blueprint Right the five things of the job search Networking right having one of two conversations a day right? Two I'm going to hold out my second hand for TikTok here second posting on LinkedIn and or Twitter right to Documenting your job search right third thing slacks slack discord's getting involved in at least one community The fourth thing is meetups try to get to one meetup in person or try to do something in person And then the fifth thing I forgot the fifth thing but there is a fifth thing I promise there's a fifth thing right?

So again incredibly important do the work be active get in front of people etc Elliot it's so so good to see if you all have any questions, please ask them I'm trying to like rack my brain And trying to figure out other questions that I may have one of the questions I get I get a lot of two is just like again I Got laid off. How do I find a job? It's overwhelming the first thing I would do is Hit up everybody in your network right hit up everybody in your network everybody you know again I found the job at gun IO Because I Message people on my network right like start with who you know first everybody that I've talked to recently on social media Twitter LinkedIn etc.

You name it um Basically, I'm gonna be honest you I'm having a hard time with this live this morning I'm so excited that that restaurant found my cam that I lost. I'm very very excited about it Is it most people I've talked to lately when it comes to the job search is They have found the job because people they know Because people they know I think that's just that that just it is that that is Just the way the market works right now right referrals are huge referrals are huge Right before you submit to a job Go on LinkedIn Go on LinkedIn and see if you have any common connections with that person on LinkedIn right so if you're gonna submit to gun to find a job Go to guns LinkedIn profile and see if you know anybody right.

Hey, I know Taylor right message me I'll always and like if I know you I will put in a good word for you. Yes Speaking of finding things Jason. They found it. They found it Jason. I just got the email see not a waste of money jerk Jason on a jerk Anyways, listen, I want to give a shout to Jason as well Jason. Hosing amazing series called tech commute on Twitter It's gonna be Twitter spaces. I'm going live with Jason this afternoon for For an hour so Jason Jason are kicking off at 3 30 central today 3 30 central Twitter space is gonna be great hang Jason's gonna be facilitating it Again, I give Jason a lot of props.

He's doing it the right way go support Jason hang out with us this afternoon on tech commute on Twitter Twitter space. I always love doing Twitter space. I don't do enough of them. So Jason appreciate you. Yes very excited. They found it. Oh, what else? Let's see here just found out I made a second round interview was a referral both my interviews Listen folks listen. I Don't I don't make shit up. I don't this is it Jason congrats you also Can you text me? Let me know your interview. Can I help you know just found out I made a second round interview was referral both in both my interviews For all exactly question on TikTok and we'll get to read question here in a second TikTok question again y'all keep asking questions coming wrap up here because I got an email back the restaurant that found my Found my camera.

I'm gonna go pick it up with this work with common connections. I don't know should I still reach out? I Don't know which part you asked me this because I was running my mouth really would would this work with Comical I don't know if you're trying to get into a company and you just like have connections But you don't know those connections. I would say that doesn't work as well right you have to have an advocate You you have to have an advocate in your at that company to speak for you now what I would do To TikTok user is what I would do is I would message that Individual that you have common connections with at that kind of like hey listen Let's say you and I are connected at and you want to submit to gun you would message me and go hey basically Gun a bit Taylor.

I've wanted to submit to guns. You have a moment. We'd love to chat with you about your time there things I should keep in mind I will chat with you right, but if you say hey Taylor can you use me? Can you use me as a reference? I don't know you right so like again you have to know that person Let's see here any tips read my guy. Hey y'all listen very excited Read my boy is joining me tomorrow on the show Not 30 am central read. I'm super pumped to have you reads read to gem. Y'all He's in Knoxville. He's fantastic. So please come hang out with us read as a fantastic engineering leader And he's doing his own thing now read I think right so we're gonna talk about that going on your own It's gonna be good.

I'm so again TikTok for any more jobs or questions. Let me know Read comes in your any tips tricks for having those networking conversations about feeling like you're being to sales pitch you yes ask questions Ask questions right people feel networking is salesy why because you need something Let me rephrase let me say that again networking is awkward for 99.9% of people because you need something from that person It doesn't become awkward when you're actually just trying to be their friends Right so ask them questions right listen TikTok user who asked me that question. I don't know you right or maybe I do but I don't think I do if you mess to be like hey Taylor listen I love your stuff right flattery.

We talk about it all time right I really kind of got in the way from how to construct good DM flattery right notice in something they do Right so hey Taylor love what you're doing the community really love the content you're putting now this one thing resonated with me Can connect can we have a three minute conversation? I just want to have a call real fast with you. That's just one question Get in and then and then ask the question go call right that is how you do not be salesy right? You know read read for example right I wanted read to hire for me for a while at his at his last company Right I didn't like call read and be like yo bro just hire for me.

I just like I went to reads a keynote at Scenic City Summit years ago right I liked his comments on LinkedIn. I invite him into my podcast right like You understand something like in this market people got to be romance the lot of it right? I mean you got to be romance and so again ask questions be genuinely interested the people who are genuinely interest and listen I I can definitely I can definitely Tell if you're trying to get it something the folks who are generally interested in me I will I will try to move mountains for you for sure Garrett comes in here last year another ten of this live connect me LinkedIn this summer he got an internship Get it.

That's awesome. Look at this folks again. This is really really cool This is why I do this show. This is it. This is it. This this this is this is it Network when I tell you network with people in the DMs on the show This is why folks this is freaking why this makes me so excited between my camera being found after leaving it $600 camera being found and this comment. I'm super jacked up this morning So excited except to have the dentist. I have the dentist after this. I hate the dentist Colin I'll send you a picture. I aircard good morning. Oh, yeah, it took a lengthy disability leave and just not coming back to work Elliot I do apologize.

Hope everything's okay. Do you guys feel terrible job search for now job because my company took care of me Take I need a new boss within my company. What can I do? All right, a lot of just lots of pack. I'm so glad you asked you this because this is real stuff So thank you first off. I hope you're doing okay second off So I all right, so working with bad bosses is hard right? I've been there done that I Unfortunately think you have to skip level and have a conversation with the skip level boss Your skip level for those of you skip level. That's like your boss your boss's boss and What I would do is I would absolutely like I would come so if you have a so Elliot if you truly believe your current boss is the problem I would write down specific things of What this boss is doing or not doing and Comparing with the meeting with your skip level manager and And sit down and be like hey, this is in confidence.

I'm concerned here my concerns bang bang bang bang bang bang bang The more that I work with senior leadership throughout my career and the one thing I'm continually improving on and shout out to my CEO Tasia right now for helping me challenging me in this is Creating being very specific Right, I feel like especially for me. I like to talk a lot I like to and and blessed Tasia's heart when he hired me. He was I'm sure he was like Jesus Christ this guy Just talks all the time. I have to process outward But one thing my boss is my CEO's helping me do is being like hey if you if you want to come I'm all about bitching But if you like really want to get something across like please come with specifics, right?

So that's my Suggestion with you Elliot sit down be thoughtful right things that this boss is doing or not doing and having meeting with your skip level boss I'm sure some HR people on tick talk or LinkedIn that may see this may disagree with this But in my opinion, that's just what I've done and then And then if that doesn't work then it's time to look for no job And here's the deal Ellie if you want to play with fire you could say if I can't get a team that I'm gonna have to leave I Don't recommend saying that unless unless you're ready to say that but sometimes Sometimes that could absolutely That can absolutely make things happen if you kind of like show your hand a little bit Chris.

What's the best we can touch on me? Email email Taylor Dessen at gun IO Or shoot me shoot me a message on LinkedIn, but emails always best Taylor Dessen at gun Dot I owe Hey, you did it you listen to an entire episode and I am very grateful because you know why there's a lot of podcasts out there There's a lot of episodes and I myself rarely finish an entire episode So I appreciate you so so much for listening quick reminder Please rate and review this podcast in the app store I want this to be discoverable to others and the only way that happens is if you take the time right now and rate and review it Please like right now Unless you're driving then don't do it so thank you again You need to reach out to me at t-dessen on all social media handles and I hope you have a fantastic day