9 Ways to Lead Yourself During Times of Uncertainty

05/12/20

We all knew a viral pandemic might happen. Most of us binge-watch zombie movies six nights a week forgetting about our troubles in the real world, but we forget to get ready for the real thing. Now we’re living in a lockdown due to a terrible virus. This article is about taking powerful steps to lead yourself through uncertain and tough times without losing your mind. In fact, by the time you’re done reading this short article, you’ll see the power of your mindset as a useful process to get through anything, including a pandemic. Know That Opportunities Exist There are always opportunities no matter what’s taking place around us. Whether or not you see opportunities and the new potential it’s important to note that many others only see the darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light! You get to be the light whenever you choose to be conscious and bright with your outlook about your current situation and future. I can’t encourage you enough to be your own light! The bottom line to leading a rich, happy, healthy life during times of uncertainty, including viral pandemics and other bad stuff when life and work happen to us is that: You have to plan and work daily on the process of building a happier, healthier, wealthier life based on your goals. It’s also not possible to be happy if you always put being happy in front of you. Being happy means choosing to accept what is, knowing you can improve any situation if you are willing and patient. It’s important to learn how to be content with what is happening now, while you acquire the wisdom, experience, and talent to get to the next level. First, learn to be with the world instead of trying to change. The power of life planning as a process is essential for success. If you won’t plan your career and life, who will? Now is a great time to evaluate where you, and what’s next. In order to get where you seek to go, you need to answer a few questions. What’s most important to you in terms of your big, next goal? How confident and clear are you on how to get there? Where do you need the most help? Now Is the Time To Take Action Now is now, and it’s always the best time to be where you are. If there’s a pandemic taking place, use your downtime to reevaluate your plan of action and goals. When times are tough, most people fall into fear and inaction. I recommend using this time to take advantage of the downtime, and refresh your plan to build a better career and life. All you need to do is follow these suggested steps, including being coachable. It’s okay to ask for help if you need it. In fact, you can click here and book in a free call with us to help you develop your dream career. Okay, onto my tips to lead yourself during uncertainty! Get a grip. This means stand your ground, breath deeply, and stabilize yourself. You reinforce your foundation when you take a moment to reset and get your grip during tough times. Focus on the present, the here and the now. Do your best not to take a head trip into the future. Emotions can be powerful waves that sweep us into action that we later regret. Slow down! Focus on and cherish only the present. Remember your purpose. When you know your purpose, you can endure almost any situation no matter how challenging it is. Humans, each and every one of us included, can be extremely resilient when thinking and acting in alignment with our purpose. If you don’t know your purpose, that’s where coaching comes in! Take charge. Nobody cares more about you than you, hopefully. This means you have to be willing to take charge of your mindset, and your own thinking. Practice healthy habits. This is easier said than done for many of us. But the truth is, what you feed your mind, brain, and body makes all the difference. As within, so without. The same is true for the people you hang around. Choose healthy habits that give you energy in place of habits and behaviors that drain you. Network like your life depends on it. Don’t be tempted to isolate and get stuck in negative thought patterns that show up. Even if you’re stuck at home, choose to network like you would in the real world. Meet people online, and build relationships with people who have been where you’re going, and those who you might be able to help, including going to work with them. Be of service to others. If you’re bummed out about your situation, go help someone else. If you’re stuck inside, find someone online to help, or someone who lives in your home! This is a powerful step because helping others is part of human nature. That’s why it feels good to give to charity, donate your time, and help others. See and think about the big picture, your long-term goal. Remember, each step you take will get you close to the goal, and it’s the process you embrace that makes all the difference. Along the way, you’ll see, feel, and learn to trust the long-term goal in your life. Be coachable. If you’re not accountable to a coach you pay, or a mentor you admire and trust who can lead you to the goal? Not a single world champion or leader in their field achieved their dream on their own. All successful people have teachers, trainers, mentors, and coaches. Successful people are constantly learning, focused on taking new classes, getting advanced degrees, and making a difference in the world. It’s okay if you don’t feel better yet. My hope is that you realize these are the most powerful processes for achieving the work and life of your dreams. If you don’t absolutely love your career and your

9 Cool Jobs: Companies Hiring in Chicago

05/01/20

Gabby Vicas

Our clients and community are looking for unique jobs in a fun environment. This edition of 9 cool jobs focuses on companies hiring for interesting roles in Chicago, IL. There is a lot of uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic, but companies are in fact still hiring. If you are in the Windy City, this list may help you with your job search! If you know of cool companies hiring in Chicago, or elsewhere, you can submit them here for us to consider for a future post! Now, onto the list of cool companies hiring in Chicago! MATTER Why we like it: MATTER is the hub for healthcare innovation in Chicago. It is a startup that began in 2015 but has rapidly grown each year. MATTER currently has a Venture Acceleration Associate position open. In this role, you will set the strategy to grow the MATTER entrepreneur member base and work to recruit these entrepreneurs who are pushing the healthcare industry forward. Click the link to join a very cool company whose work is important now more than ever. To learn more and apply for the Venture Acceleration Associate position at MATTER click here. Discover Why we like it: Discover is hiring for a few different tech and engineering roles right now. The company prioritizes work culture and giving back to the community which is why it hits our cool company list. It also has a number of diversity and inclusion and career development programs offered to employees which are critica.. Not only that, but Discover offers some cool perks: Vacation time, anniversary awards, mother’s rooms and tuition reimbursement just to name a few! If you are interested in available jobs at Discover in Chicago you can find the list here. Motorola Why we like it: Growing up, if you had a Motorola Razr you were one of the cool kids. Well, now you can be a cool adult and work for Motorola because it has a number of job openings right now. Positions from business development to tech to internships, there is likely one that fits what you are looking for. Motorola also offers benefits like performance bonuses and parental leave. When the world gets back to normal office life, you can expect happy hours with your co-workers, casual dress and a kitchen stocked with snacks! If you are interested in available jobs at Motorola you can find the list here. Slack Why we like it: If your company wasn’t using Slack before, you probably are now. At ALV we LOVE Slack. It’s great for communicating with our co-workers and keeping up to date on company happenings as well as serving an online community for our clients! As for their employees they have some awesome core values that they live by. One of my favorite perks I found on their website is that they pay 100% of healthcare premiums for employees and their families. Slack also puts emphasis on getting to know your working family but not staying in the office 24/7. If you are interested in available Chicago jobs at Slack you can find the list here. Tempus Why we like it: Tempus, one of Chicago’s leading startups, is a company that aims to equip doctors, patients and researchers with data to help enhance treatments. That sounds like a pretty cool mission to me! The company has some pretty unique benefits for its employees too. You can expect unlimited vacation, free transportation after 8 p, and an onsite barista. I don’t know about you but they had me at coffee. There are several science-based job options to choose from as well as a few non-science roles. If you are interested in available jobs at Tempus you can find the list here. NowPow Why we like it: NowPow helps communities find services for their healthcare needs through intelligent resource networks. It is located near the lakefront, so talk about views. It also offers several benefits including matching 401k, generous PTO and self care days on top of that! In case that wasn’t enough for you to check them out, it also has an innovation challenge accompanied by prizes as well as fun events and happy hours. If you are interested in available jobs at NowPow you can find the list here. Salesforce Why we like it: If you have done anything in sales you have more than likely heard of Salesforce. This large CRM company has a strong work culture expressed in Glassdoor reviews as well as through its core values listed on their website. Salesforce employees enjoy some great benefits including paid tuition, parental leave, adoption assistance and a lot of other resources and perks for parents! If you are interested in available jobs at Salesforce you can find the list here. The Mom Project Why we like it: The Mom Project is all about creating a world where women don’t have to choose between their career or having a family. So if you are looking for a company that empowers women and helps other companies see the benefits of doing the same, then look no further. Its benefits include health plans, paid parental leave, subsidized lunch, remote opportunities, generous PTO and 401K plan. Not to mention The Mom Project’s most recent advisor is Serena Williams! If you are interested in available jobs at The Mom Project you can find the list here. Built In Why we like it: Built In is a great website that has job listings in major cities for tech companies and startups. Every company that is on its site has a profile where you can learn more about the culture, the benefits the company provides and the mission of the company. Built In itself is also hiring for several positions! The company promotes from within, has a casual dress code and provides 401k matching and more! If you are interested in available jobs at Built In you can find the list here. If you’re excited about one of these cool companies hiring in

How to Change Your Career and Start an eCommerce Business

04/25/20

Victoria Berman

Interested in making a career change? There are different reasons why people want to change careers: you might wish to have more flexible hours or make more money, or you’ve discovered new interests that you’d like to implement into your job. Maybe you’re fed up with working in a stressful environment or you’re looking for a position that will offer a better work-life balance. If you’re exploring a career change, consider moving into an eCommerce business. Why? With consumers increasingly relying on online shopping, eCommerce is opening opportunities to countless entrepreneurs. This year, it is estimated that there will be 2.05 billion digital buyers worldwide and eCommerce sales are expected to account for more than 15% of all retail sales on a global level. If you decide to enter the world of eCommerce, you have two options: you can buy an eCommerce business or opt to build one from scratch. Let’s look at both options in more detail. Start an eCommerce Business from Scratch Building an eCommerce business from scratch is the best route to take for those that aren’t ready to invest in buying an already established business. If you want to start a business from scratch, here are 5 tips to help you do it the right way. 1. Choose a Great Business and Domain Name After you decide what you’re going to sell, the first thing to do is choose a unique, easy-to-remember name for your business. Once you have picked a name, you need to register it. If you form a corporation or an LLC, this will happen automatically in the state where you file your paperwork. If you can’t get your business name as your domain name, choose a URL that is related to your business but also easy to spell and pronounce. Here’s a quick list of rules to follow when coming up with domain names: 2. Design Your Online Store When designing your online store, you need to make sure it is both visually appealing and functional. If your budget is tight, consider out-of-the-box solutions like BigCommerce and Shopify. However, if you have more money to spend, or you want a custom-made website, you’ll need to hire a professional web designer. Whether you decide to build the site yourself or hire a pro, there are several important steps you should take to ensure it will do its job: 3. Find the Right Vendors The competition in the eCommerce world is fierce, so finding the vendors that offer quality products at affordable prices is of the utmost importance. There are many factors to consider when selecting a vendor such as price, shipping, product availability, attention to customer service, etc. As a small eCommerce business, it’s crucial that your vendors’ interests align with your own. Take your time to look at as many options as possible before you choose the vendor you want to collaborate in the long run. 4. Begin with Marketing in the Early Stages Like any business, the first couple of months are very important, and in particular, getting customers to visit your store is vital. Even if your website still hasn’t launched, you should start with marketing from day one. Create a ‘Coming Soon’ page on your website where people who are interested can sign up for updates. Marketing your eCommerce website doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the basic online marketing methods to kick-start traffic to your e-store include: 5. Increase Productivity with the Right Tools Remember that tech can make things much easier, so before you launch your e-store, take some time to explore automation tools and software solutions related to email marketing, customer relationship management, project management, accounting, etc. Make sure you can integrate these tools into what you’re doing once your online store launches. Buying an eCommerce Business Many entrepreneurs decide to make their career change by buying an eCommerce business because they believe it is a faster path to success. If you buy an already existing business, you’re going to start seeing significant returns much sooner than by building one from scratch. An existing online store already attracts traffic and has customers. In addition, the previous owner has already negotiated deals with suppliers, so if you buy the site, you won’t have to go through any of these or take the risks the original owner took. Experienced buyers can buy an already profitable business and increase the yearly net profits by two or three times within one year, which means an average ROI of 33% – 50% a year. This makes the eCommerce business worth much more than they paid for it. Finally, when you buy an eCommerce site that has already proven to be successful, you can choose to enter into a new niche, acquire other online stores to merge with your store or use it to upsell and cross-sell your existing customers. Ask a Website Broker for Help Bear in mind that buying an eCommerce business requires a significant investment. So, before you decide to pay up, you should make sure you’re making a good investment. If you want to buy an already established eCommerce site that already generates revenue, you can start by looking for a reliable website broker. An experienced website broker will present all the websites for sale that fit your needs, help you find the best options, and give you a recommended selling price. They will even provide post-sales support to help you gain familiarity over your newly-acquired website. Final Thoughts A survey conducted by Joblist found that nearly 80% of people who made a career change felt happier, 75% of them felt more satisfied, and 65% felt less stressed. So, whether you decide to become a part of the eCommerce industry or choose a completely different path, there’s a big chance that changing your career will turn out to be a great decision. If you’re interested in making a career change into the eCommerce business world but you’re unsure how to pull it off, consider hiring a career

How To Write A Successful Letter Of Interest

04/23/20

Beatrix Potter

So, you’re ready to move on to the next chapter of your life and start working somewhere new? Great, but you need to make your future employer realize you’re interested. How? Writing a letter of interest is a sure-fire way to show them why you want to work for them, but more importantly why they want you. So how do you do it? Do Your Research You can’t just send the same letter of interest to every company and expect a response. The internet has made the first step easy, so there’s no excuse not to research the company. This way you’re able to find out what they want and how you fit the role. This also lets you know how they operate. Are they laid back or serious? Knowing this lets you make your letter of interest tailored towards their style and show them you’re already a good fit. Why You? Just because you know a bit about their marketing and style doesn’t mean you’re a good fit. So, show them. The point of a letter of interest is to make them interested in you. The key is to make it broad and related to the company. “They don’t want to know that you’re good at marketing. They want to know you can’t wait to help them develop a new marketing strategy to help them break into a new market. Your cover letter is for being precise. Tell them your ideas for the company and what you want to help them with,” says Anna Felic, a career writer at AustralianReviewer and Essay Services. Scrutinize the company’s online presence, of course, to fully understand their mission and their values before beginning. But when you write, showcase how your experience and qualifications match to this set of values, and to the role’s job description. Give as much detail as you like, like anecdotes from your life about experiences with the company. Structure So how do you write it? First of all, introduce yourself. After all, if you turned up to an interview without saying hello or telling them your name, you’d leave a bad impression. Since you have researched your company, you’ll be able to tell if you should start with a less formal ‘Hi blank’ or ‘Hello blank’. But be sure to address the hirer or recruiter, if this is possible. You could even add some contact information here, though this could go at the end, too. For example: Hello blank, My name is John Doe, a finance director in Chicago. I’m writing because I know we could both benefit from working together. So, you’ve introduced yourself. Now what? Get their attention. Make them realise you know what you’re talking about, that you’re fully qualified, and they need to take you seriously. Tell them you love their business and their ideas, but you know how to make it even better. “Show your value. What have you done that will make them want to hire you? Maybe you at your current job how you introduced a new account system that saved the company thousands. Or maybe you helped a new business develop a stable market base. They need to see proof that you’re all you say you are,” suggests Oliver Adams, a business blogger at Assignment Services and Dissertation Help. So now you’ve written your letter, how do you end it? Like before, imagine finishing a job interview and just walking out after the last question. It would be rude to not say goodbye. Not only do you need to say goodbye you need to give them a reason to follow up and appreciate the time they spent reading it. For example: Thank you for taking the time to read this as I know how valuable your time is. When you have some time, I would love to talk about how we can work to improve your company as well as the open role of the finance director. All the best, John Doe. You can even use this conclusion space to clarify work history gaps, or a time when you changed career. Your letter shouldn’t make the hiring manager feel like they’re reading your novel. Keep it short – but hit them hard. You shouldn’t need pages and pages to show them that you’re the right fit. Just cover your relevant previous experience, maybe elaborating upon unusual job experience. But one-page max, or the hirer may not read your letter. When you’ve completely finished writing your letter of interest, now’s the time to check it for errors. Not just spelling mistakes and grammar, but also potential mistakes with the hirer’s, company’s and even job role’s name. If you’re applying to many jobs, these are easy mistakes to make, but are costly. As above, though you might be tempted to re-use your perfect specimen, copying and pasting your letter easily leads to mistakes like addressing the wrong person, or applying to a slightly different job role. So, it’s much better to write out a new letter from scratch for each job. Target it using what you know of the company’s ethos, and the job description. Sending the Letter So, you’ve written the perfect letter of interest. Where do you send it? You might have to call the company to find out. It’s best to send it straight to where it has to go. When you call say, “I’m interested in the employment opportunity in your [department]. Can you tell me the name of the person in charge of hiring and the best ways to contact them?” By reaching out directly you’re showing your drive to get the job. Going through a recruiter is the same as applying online. A hiring manager is more likely to remember the person who emails them directly rather than someone who filled in boxes online.

9 Cool Jobs: e-Commerce Companies Hiring

04/03/20

Gabby Vicas

Our clients and community are looking for unique jobs in a fun environment. This edition of 9 cool jobs focuses on e-commerce companies hiring for cool, fun jobs. With everything going on with COVID-19 many people who are looking for a job have felt stuck. This list is to give you a jump start on your job search; not even a pandemic can get in your way of landing a cool job! Right now we are particularly interested in companies that are currently in the process of hiring. If you know of a cool company hiring, you can submit it here for us to consider for a future post! Now, onto the list of cool e-commerce companies hiring! Zoom Why we like it: Practically overnight Zoom gave us the ability to maintain some level of normalcy in our businesses, our educations and our daily lives. Zoom is a video chat platform with screen sharing capabilities, to ensure we’re having meaningful conversations with the people that matter most. Here at ALV, we have used Zoom for the past 4 years and it’s been such a pleasure to watch them handle COVD19. They are giving away some of the features on their paid plans for free to help provide a connection experience for the people who need it most in the weeks to come. If you are interested in available jobs Zoom at you can find the list here. Stitch Fix Why we like it: Who all is really wanting some new clothes right now but can’t go out? Yeah, me too. This is why stitch fix is so cool, clothes delivered to your door and they’re picked out just for you based on your style! If you like this concept then you may also want to work for them. Their jobs come with benefits, and we especially love that they say “We take what we do seriously. We don’t take ourselves seriously.” If you are interested in available jobs at Stitch Fix you can find the list here. Chewy Why we like it: I know I’ve probably said this before, but I love Chewy. Not just because they are pet centered, but because they really go the extra mile for their customers. Just like humans have needs, so do our pets, and that means people are still buying from online pet supply stores like Chewy. They offer their employees benefits like 401k, insurance, and competitive salaries! If you have a passion for animals and the humans that take care of them, there may be some job opportunities on this list for you! If you are interested in available jobs at Chewy you can find the list here. iHerb Why we like it: iHerb is all about affordable supplements. If you work for them they have some really cool perks! They offer tuition reimbursement, free snacks, and some really cool events that they put together for their employees. They have a Technology, Operations, and Corporate department, so you have a variety of job options! If you are interested in available jobs at iHerb you can find the list here. Moda Operandi Why we like it: Moda is a high end fashion company. They are online based and connect their customers directly to the designers that they work with. If you are an employee with Moda Operandi you are able to work in a dog friendly office with a casual dress code. Plus they have happy hours and company outings, yes please! If you are interested in available jobs at iHerb you can find the list here. Postmates Why we like it: I mean, what’s not to love about having food delivered to your door? Postmates is a food delivery company, and with everyone staying inside right now, delivery services are super popular. From the research I’ve done, it sounds like a great work culture for their office jobs! They will provide you with whatever you need to stay creative and efficiently work, there is also a stocked kitchen with healthy snacks. Oh, and my personal favorite, they have workshops and massages to make sure that you’re in tip top shape both physically and mentally! If you are interested in available jobs at Postmates you can find the list here. Grove Collaborative Why we like it: Grove Collaborative is known for its natural home, personal care, pet products. They have a cool mission and are environmentally friendly. They plan on planting 1 million trees in the next few years. While also saving a lot of plastic with their reusable glass containers last year. In addition, employees get good benefits, including a free VIP membership plus 25% discount! Not to mention, they have really high Glassdoor reviews. If you are interested in available jobs at Grove Collaborative you can find the list here. Mercari Why we like it: This app is a personal favorite of mine. It has a lot of listings of new and used items that you can either buy outright or offer the buyer a lower price. Anything from electronics to kitchen items you can probably find what you are looking for at a decent price. Mercari is currently hiring for several different types of jobs, but of course you can decide to sell things on their app too! If you decide to apply for a job at the actual company it comes with full benefits, catered meals, and events! If you are interested in available jobs at Mercari you can find the list here. Loom Why we like it: If you haven’t used Loom before, it’s pretty cool. I use it for recording screenshares if someone needs help with something computer based. Along with sending welcome videos to our clients. When working at Loom, they have some really awesome values that they live by which you can find on their website. My personal favorite value that they list is “Embrace the Weird.” So all of you weirdos check out the job openings they have right now! If you are

9 Habits for Transforming Your Career Now

Career Enrichment

03/24/20

Cliff Jones

Nothing is more important than your mindset when the world is taken by storm. This article is about dealing with the uncertainty of your job and creating habits for transforming your career when you’re in limbo. If you’re one of the millions of workers affected by the recent coronavirus pandemic, it’s essential now more than ever to sharpen your leadership mindset and networking skills. It’s far too easy to slip into a coma of fear, isolate, and get trapped in darkness. How is the team at Ama La Vida dealing with tough times for our leadership team, employees, stakeholders, partners, and clients worldwide? One of the most powerful habits we focus on is remembering our purpose; to help you love life, including your job, small business, or career. What’s the best way to “love your life” when the world seems as though it’s falling apart when we read mainstream media? Choose the Ama La Vida leadership mindset and take a proactive stance for making a difference now more than ever. Why let anything hold you back from realizing your dream career track? Nothing can hold you back when you believe in yourself and you do the work to develop a leadership mindset. Our leadership mindset is: Resilience One of the most important lessons we can learn from resilient leaders who have been through traumatic and life-changing events in the past is how they’re able to remain positive, healthy, and thrive. How can you thrive, sharpen your skills, and take your career to the next level while others are living in fear, down in the dumps? Here are 9 healthy habits for transforming your career: 1. Accept what is Accepting things beyond your control is one of the fastest ways to shift your mindset into a peak leadership gear. If you suddenly find yourself stuck working from home, or without the certainty of a steady paycheck, do your best to accept the fact that you are where you are, and vow to let go, and move on. 2. Practice awareness. If you’re stuck where you are, practice being mindful and more aware of your feelings. For example, if you feel fear, shame, guilt, doubt, or other negative feelings, stop what you’re doing. Take a few moments to breathe consciously, step back from the thought loop or task at hand, and observe your feelings. That’s it. Observing your feelings honors empowers you to shift into a better viewpoint for making objective, emotion-free choices in times of uncertainty. 3. Believe in goodness. Resilient leaders believe in their mission, vision, and purpose even more during tough times. Believing in yourself is an important aspect of success because you’re more likely to remain confident and clear when you face uncertain times or fear. Believing in something bigger than yourself is how you emulate the world’s best leaders. Believe in goodness and nothing can slow you down. 4. Be grateful. Even if you’re not happy or certain about your current career path or job, be grateful for where you are as best you can. Find anything you can be grateful for and write it down. Make a list. Review the list and add to it every day. Being grateful gives you a focus that keeps you from wallowing in fear. 5. Hold a family meeting. If you don’t have a family, hold a meeting with your virtual mastermind or yourself. Heck, do both! Even the best leaders fall down, make mistakes, and lose battles but not wars. Step up and be the leader you would want leading you through dark times. Schedule a meeting and show up like the leader you admire the most, courageous, clear, and confident. Call yourself and your “troops” to the cause! 6. Smile often. Who wants to follow someone who’s grumpy, mean, temperamental, and unable to manage their emotions? Choose to be happy even if you’re not currently thrilled with your job or career. Just smile, breathe consciously, and fake it until you make it. It works. 7. Create workspace boundaries. If you suddenly find yourself working at home and you’re not accustomed to it, fear not! One of the first things you need to do after you create a suitable workspace or workstation is to let your family know the rules of engagement around working at home. A great leader will call a meeting and make it clear to everyone the goal of the conversation; communicate and agree upon the boundaries, times, and rules of engagement for working at home. 8. Be kinder. Being kinder to yourself and others works just like active smiling, mindful awareness, or a long walk in a park with your dog. Relax when times get tough. Don’t get too rigid and trapped into toxic, negative thinking or self-destructive habits. Do your best to adapt to the new environment by being kinder with yourself and everyone around you. 9. Create new clarity. Take tough times to be still and know the tough times always pass when you believe in your ability to endure and create new clarity from where you are today. If you don’t know what you want for yourself, ask. Ask while sitting with your journal or a notebook. Give yourself time to be alone, quiet, contemplative, and ready to receive new direction for your career and future. When you practice healthy habits, you get healthy results. The biggest lesson we can learn from resilient, inspirational leaders, bosses, and coworkers is that our mindset is everything. Your mind is the operating system waiting to be programmed for the next level of success. Healthy habits will help in transforming your career and realize the life and work of your dreams if you keep believing in yourself, doing the work, and surrounding yourself with other people who love their life. Believe in yourself. Invest in yourself. Even if you’re not sure what you want next for your life, you can trust the team at Ama La Vida is here for you where you’re ready.

9 Cool Jobs: Cool Job Titles

03/06/20

Randi Hill

Our clients and community are looking for unique jobs in a fun environment. This edition of 9 cool jobs focuses on cool job titles that come along with cool, fun jobs. Above all, these jobs reside within organizations which prioritize people and culture and provide exciting ways to make an impact beyond the mundane 9-5. We are particularly interested in positions that don’t neatly fit into an obvious career path box (e.g., doctor, lawyer, accountant). If you know od cool job titles that you think would be great for us to share with our community of driven career-transitioners, you can submit it here for us to consider for a future post! Now, onto the list of cool job titles! VP of Finance Company: Jellyvision Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: Jellyvision is known for creating “ALEX”, an interactive employee communications platform that makes tricky decisions—like choosing and using employee benefits—easier and more enjoyable. If you’re ready to work alongside the Jellyvision team to build a first-class, data-driven finance organization this could be the new job for you! In this position, you will be a business partner to multiple senior leaders. In addition to running point on the financial planning & analysis, you will chart strategy regarding business intelligence, and contribute in just about every aspect of our day-to-day finance & business operations. Read more and apply here. Total Rewards Specialist Company: Duolingo Location: Pittsburgh, PA Why we like it: Duolingo makes learning a new language as easy as playing on your phone! They believe that people are their most valuable asset and for that reason, they are looking for a curious, quirky, results-driven individual to develop and refine their worldwide benefits and compensation programs. This role will work closely with the other members of the people operations team to attract, reward, and retain a diverse employee population. Read more and apply here. Chief of Staff Company: CodePath Location: Remote or San Francisco, CA Why we like it: CodePath is a nonprofit organization with a vision to one day ensure that every student in college, regardless of background or personal circumstances, has the opportunity, skills, network, and pathways available to become a confident and successful software engineer in the tech industry. This position provides a unique opportunity for an experienced operations manager to enhance their skillset. While also building relationships with key education, corporate, and philanthropic influencers. Read more and apply here. Regional Sales Manager Company: Skinny Dipped Location: Chicago, IL or Minneapolis, MN Why we like it: Skinny Dipped is a female-founded and proudly women-led snack company making thinly dipped chocolate almonds that are exceptionally good-for-you and ridiculously delicious. For instance, you’ll spend your time leading the development and implementation of planning at the account level. You’ll spend your time focusing on total volume sales and profit/share growth within Candy and Snack Nuts. As a result, you can expect travel and overnight trips to the central region account locations, you’ll be sure to flex your strategic planning and execution muscles. Read more and apply here. VP, Ecommerce Company: TOMS Location: Los Angeles, CA Why we like it: TOMS Shoes is a company that will match every pair of shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes for a child in need. One for One®. What started as just shoes has developed into bags, eyewear and coffee. Along with their one for one initiative they now invest resources to help bring clean water, restore eyesight, and help ensure safer births to those living in poverty around the world. This role will contribute to TOMS’s overall success by serving as a key business partner to the Chief Merchandising Officer/GM of the Americas. In addition to collaborating with cross-functional business leaders, and providing direction and leadership for the eCommerce strategy and business planning. Read more and apply here. Senior Adobe Stock Campaign Manager Company: Adobe Location: San Francisco, CA Why we like it: Adobe is changing the world by giving people the tools to bring their ideas to life and create content that makes life more fun and work more meaningful. As a Senior Manager on the Adobe Stock campaign team, you will be a part of building the strategy. While driving the execution to create brand engagement and generate lifetime value with Adobe’s fast-growing subscriber base. This role will join a highly collaborative marketing team while leading a global cross-functional team driving post-sales subscriber engagement. As the subject-matter expert for personalized customer lifecycle marketing programs, you will apply deep knowledge of customer needs, competitive situations and our elite offering to delight our customers – from onboarding customers for success, while on the other hand, maximizing the lifetime value of a customer through repeat purchase and cross-sell programs. Read more and apply here. Director of Healthcare Market Growth Company: Hireology Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: Hireology is a technology company that empowers businesses to build great teams. This role acts as a Director of Business Development and is responsible for leading business and partnership development activities. Therefore, you will work with our VP of Corporate Development and members of the team to create and define the business development strategy and drive the execution of that strategy to propel the business forward. For example, one of your focus areas will be growing the accounts related to Home / Home Health Care, Senior Living, Skilled Nursing and Community Living facilities. Read more and apply here. Head of Customer Marketing Company: Drift Location: Boston, MA Why we like it: Drift is a Conversational Marketing platform that combines chat, email, video, and automation to remove the friction from business buying. Drift allows companies to start conversations with future customers now, on their terms — not days later. The Head of Customer Marketing is responsible for building the customer marketing strategy at Drift. In other words, this role works alongside the Sales and Customer Success teams to understand Drift’s customer pipeline. In addition to making recommendations around how Drift can improve customer experience through

9 Cool Jobs for Career Exploration

02/07/20

Gabby Vicas

Our clients and community are looking for unique jobs in a fun environment. This edition of 9 cool jobs is focusing on cool jobs for career exploration. These jobs reside within organizations which prioritize people and culture and provide exciting ways to make an impact beyond the mundane 9-5. We are particularly interested in positions that don’t neatly fit into an obvious career path box (e.g., doctor, lawyer, accountant). If you know of a job that you think would be great for us to share with our community of driven career-transitioners, you can submit it here for us to consider for a future post! Senior Manager, Strategic Programs Company: MATTER Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: We are starting this week’s 9 cool jobs off with a bang. This role at leading health-tech incubator, MATTER, brings the perfect blend of innovative thinking, strategic partnerships and project management. You will be designing and developing programs and serving as a trusted advisor to industry executives. MATTER is looking for someone who has at least 3 years of healthcare experience, CRM experience and a strong hustle mentality. Its values are: Be the host Make others successful Speak your mind Turn over rocks Never stop experimenting That sounds like a great culture that encourages its employees to be the best versions of themselves! Read more and apply here. Financial Planning and Analysis Manager Company: Centro Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: As a FP&A Manager with Centro you will be playing a key role in developing and implementing Centro’s financial and strategic plans and formulating Centro’s financial plan, fiscal budget and forecasts. Centro is seeking a CPA or MBA with 7+ years of progressive finance experience. If problem-solving and making sense of big data is your thing, dust off your resume and apply! Read more and apply here. Head of Marketing Operations and Email Company: Zapier Location: Seattle, WA Why we like it: There are a lot of perks when you work at Zapier. They include competitive salary, great healthcare + dental + vision coverage, retirement plan with 4% company match, profit sharing, 2 annual company retreats to awesome places, 14 weeks paid leave for new parents of biological or adopted children, pick your own equipment, unlimited vacation policy. Plus they require you to take at least 2 weeks off each year. Wow, what amazing incentives! So if you are an exceptional marketing leader with deep expertise in automation, attribution and marketing operations at scale, this is a job you are going to want to check out. Read more and apply here. Associate Campaign Manager Company: KAYAK Location: Stamford, CT Why we like it: In this cool job, working on cross-functional teams is the name of the game. You’ll also be leading all aspects of advertising campaigns from start to finish, analytically tracking and optimizing campaigns to meet client objectives and collaborating closely with the sales team to build and maintain relationships with clients. Not to mention the benefits: 4 weeks paid vacation, a day off on your birthday, no stupid meetings, flexible hours, free massages from a professional masseuse and more! I don’t know about you but I could go for a massage right now! Read more and apply here. Director of Regional Marketing Company: Shake Shack Location: New York City, NY Why we like it: If you have 5-7 years of marketing experience and want to live in the Big Apple, this could be the role for you. You will manage and develop the team of regional marketing managers. You’ll also be working with the operations team and hospitality team. This is a very diverse role with a company that takes culture seriously. They say “we work our buns off, but we play hard too with a Team Appreciation Day, unlimited meal discounts, volunteer opportunities and so much more. If you’re looking for a deeply fulfilling, financially rewarding and really fun career, you’re in the right place.” Read more and apply here. Director of Influencer Marketing Company: August United Location: Tempe, AZ Why we like it: Are you a creative thinker, an incredible presenter and a dynamic relationship-builder? If your answer was yes and you also have experience in influencer marketing, this might be the role for you. This Director position will include creative campaign and program ideation, client-facing presentation deck creation, data-driven influencer identification, time-honed negotiation skills with creators, vendors, and talent managers, disclosure compliance, in-person experiential event execution, story-driven report building and overall client relationship building. August United is on a mission to rid the world of boring marketing, so you’ll get to let your creative side flow. It does require about 25% travel, so if you are up for an adventure, what are you waiting for?! Read more and apply here. Social Strategy Lead Company: Zappos Location: Los Angeles, CA Why we like it: It’s Zappos. Need I say more? Okay, if you haven’t heard of Zappos before we forgive you. It is an online apparel and footwear company associated with Amazon. It is known for its great company culture and radicalizing the way the company operates compared to competitors. Zappos is looking for someone with 6 years of social media experience to join its team to oversee creative strategy for all social media outlets. You will also be tracking trends and how each channel performs while coming up with innovative ideas to try and push the company’s social presence forward. Read more and apply here. Senior Executive Administrative Assistant Company: Solid Ground Location: Seattle, WA Why we like it: If it’s important to you to work for a company with a cause, look no further. Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable. They say, “Our approach combines direct services with community-based advocacy. We support individuals and work to undo racism and other oppressions that create barriers – so everyone can achieve their full potential.” In this role, you’ll be working on administrative and project management tasks for the President & CEO. You will also be communicating

5 Reasons Why Engineers Should Consider Getting an MBA

01/17/20

Editorial Staff

Engineers are in demand thanks to an increasingly high-tech world. Working in engineering requires at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering. This prepares you for a stable, good-paying job and a wide array of challenging projects. However, you may want to consider earning an advanced degree to take your career to the next level. And one of the most popular advanced degrees for engineers is the MBA. Not only does it open a large number of opportunities for engineers, but it is one where engineers can use their natural talents and flourish. Here are 5 reasons why engineers should consider getting an MBA. It Is the Path to Engineering Management An MBA prepares you to work in engineering management. You learn the soft skills required for technical leadership like time management and communicating complex information to diverse audiences. You’ll learn how to lead teams, delegate to middle managers, and meet various ethical and legal standards. As an engineering manager, you will be asked to: Research and develop products and designs Manage and propose budgets for projects Supervise cross disciplinary teams Make sure products are supported by upper management Determine talent develop and training needs Build teams and hire contractors An MBA is necessary if you want to move beyond team leader into program management. You could also earn a second master’s degree in operations management or engineering management with just a couple more classes beyond those required for the MBA. Now you’ll have a powerful resume that proves you’re qualified for whatever job you want. Note that you don’t have to quit your job to further your career. You can earn an MBA taking classes part time. There’s also the possibility of getting an engineering MBA online. You’ll learn the same business content and study the same case studies. However, you have more schedule flexibility, and you can continue your education whether you’re on the road or working from home. It Opens Up the Possibility of Cross-Functional Roles An MBA on top of an engineering degree prepares you to move into project management. You could move from supervising equipment upgrades to managing the facility as a whole. If you complete an MBA, you could become a technology planner. Now you can manage the entire IT strategy for the company, having a massive impact on the future of the firm. An MBA will also teach you more about the business side of things. You’ll learn about managerial accounting, financial planning, and risk management. This knowledge is not just required to move into management. It sets you up for success if you decide you want to start your own consulting firm. Learning how to solve problems holistically while drawing from a wide range of case studies also prepares you for change management positions. MBA programs typically teach logistics and supply chain management in addition to accounting and customer relationship management. This prepares you for a move to supply chain management or engineering sales, if you want to change directions with your career. A side benefit of enrolling in an MBA program is that you’ll cultivate a network that can help you move into a new role. It Can Dramatically Increase Your Salary An engineer with an MBA can earn up to fifty percent more. This depends on the job they choose and where they work, but many roles that they’re qualified for are high paying jobs. For example, program managers earn over a hundred thousand dollars. Here are some examples of high paying positions for engineers with an MBA: Senior project manager $160,000 Facilities directors $130,000 Solutions architects $140,000 Marketing director $90,000 Senior staff engineer $117,000 There is significant evidence that shows an MBA will increase your salary no matter what compared to if you only have a bachelor’s degree. One study found that MBAs earned about $12,000 more per year than bachelors. But this difference is even larger when it comes to complementary fields like engineering. An MBA Can Validate Your Business Experience A lot of engineers decide to start business either straight out of engineering school, or after a few years in the marketplace. And while engineers do often have a core skill set that translates well into the business world, they still have many gaps to fill. When asked why he decided to get an MBA, electrical engineer Xi Guo said: “I wanted to add some structure to all the things I learned through trial and error in my business.” He also saw the MBA as a way to make the link between business leaders and engineers. “I saw a big divide between business leaders and engineers” He said. “Engineers often couldn’t factor business considerations when building products, and leaders had difficulty communicating with highly technical teams.” And this is an issue that only engineers with an MBA can fix. An engineer with an MBA can now understand the complete lifecycle of a product, from product development and prototyping all the way up to manufacturing and supply chain management. Combine this with accounting, human resources skills, and all the soft skills that MBAs acquire, and you become an almost unstoppable force. It Can Improve Your Interpersonal Skills Speaking of soft skills, another advantage of getting an MBA is that many engineers end up developing their personality and get a chance to see a side of themselves they never knew existed. The MBA revolves around a lot of group projects, presentations, discussions, and industry visits. As a result, a lot of engineers end up honing interpersonal skills that will be useful if they decide to move into a managerial role. An MBA will give you a holistic view of business and prepare you to handle a much greater level of responsibility. How you choose to use this knowledge is up to you, but employers will pay a premium for it. So, if you were looking for a way to advance your career, get the skills needed to become a better entrepreneur, or completely change fields, getting an MBA is

13 Surprising Jobs With No Experience Required

01/14/20

Bridgette Hernandez

For those fresh out of college or high school, it can seem almost impossible to find a decent job without having first worked in the field. Even many entry level jobs often require some form of volunteer experience. Endlessly searching for the perfect role can trap you in an ‘experience paradox’; you need experience to get a job, but you need to get a job to gain experience’. It’s a frustrating loop to find yourself in, but there are ways out if you know where to look. In fact, in the digital age, it’s now easier than ever to find a great job with no experience required. We’ve listed 13 such jobs below. Law Enforcement Available at local, county, state and federal levels, law enforcement jobs encompass police officers, investigators, parole officers, detectives, and admin positions. At an entry level, none of these roles require any prior experience, as most training will be carried out on the job via the police academy. You’ll typically only need a high school diploma to qualify, and while the conditions can be physically and mentally demanding, the pay-off can be high. Legal Assistant Legal assistant jobs are an excellent choice for those with an interest in the field, but who have not carried out any formal training. Not all legal offices will offer you a role without experience, but many will. The job requires attention to detail and great time management skills, and there are chances to further your training and become a paralegal. Bartender While high-end bartending roles require several years of experience and training, it is possible to get a foot in the door of even the fanciest bars with no prior experience. Many of the best bartenders start out as a bar-back, learning their trade on-the-job from more experienced colleagues. As a bar-back, you’ll do much of the prep work, such as chopping garnishes, washing glasses, and stocking the bar. However, it won’t be long before you can start to get more involved in the other aspects of bartending. From learning the basics to gradually building up a repertoire of drinks you can prepare and serve from scratch. Most bartenders also attend a specialized bartending school. Translator Depending on the nature of the work, many agencies will accept translators without any experience. The only condition is that they need to be fluent in their chosen language. One major bonus is the option to work as a freelance translator from the comfort of home. This makes it a good choice for flexible working, and if you’ve grown up bilingual you’re set. There are countless translation services online, and with review sites it’s easier than ever to find the best fit for you. “When individuals need translation services, it’s imperative that they receive the best service for the best price. The best way for customers to ensure this is to read reviews provided by professionals as well as other translation service customers.” — Dr. Jonathon Phelps writer for IsAccurate and contributor at Pick the Writer, a writing services platform. Real Estate Agent In the right market, working as a real estate agent can be one of the most lucrative entry level jobs. As a commission based role, agents typically earn around 3% of the sale price of a property, which can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. The only requirements are a high school diploma, a 60-hour course, which equates to around 8 classes, and to pass the associated exam. This is a career that can either take you to dizzying heights, or something that you can do part-time. Your insider knowledge will certainly be beneficial in the future. In fact, many real estate agents go on to buy and sell homes for themselves. Content Writer or Copywriter There are 2 ways you can go about becoming a content writer or copywriter. The first is to apply for a job in marketing, and the second is to try freelance. It’s not easy however, and the more you put in, the more you will get out of it. There are numerous online courses you can take to learn the necessary skills, and if you have a flair for writing as well as selling, it’s an ideal opportunity. Medical Assistant Medical assistants are responsible for a wealth of tasks within a hospital or doctor’s office. From admin to communicating with patients, it’s a good way to enter a healthcare environment without formal training or experience. Over time, you can typically specialize and advance in a certain field. Veterinary Assistant Like medical assistants, entry level veterinary assistants are generally not required to have experience when applying for the role. A love of animals is essential however, and you must be prepared for physically demanding work. Besides a high school diploma, you may be required to complete an exam, though some clinics offer on-the-job training. Customer Service Agent Customer services roles can be extremely varied. As such on-the-job training specific to the product or service you will be assisting with is typically provided. You generally only need to be a clear communicator, able to work in a team, and have the patience to interact with customers throughout the day, either via phone, email, or chat box. Customer Care Specialist Similar to the previous position, a customer care specialist will generally work business to business rather than with individual customers. This is a good position for those looking to get ahead in a more corporate environment. PR Assistant Surprisingly, many entry level public relations and publicity roles don’t require prior experience. This is typically because firms prefer to train new hires up to their strict standards, rather than untraining ‘bad’ habits. It’s a fantastic choice if you’re a people person, and the ability to write copy or content is always welcome. Sales Representative Sales reps can work in a variety of fields, either online, in an office, or out in the field. Typically, a good understanding of the product or service you are to sell

9 Cool Jobs

01/03/20

Gabby Vicas

This edition of 9 Cool Jobs is featuring 9 Cool Jobs For 2020. Our clients and community are looking for unique jobs in a fun environment. These jobs should reside within organizations which prioritize people and culture in addition to providing an exciting way to make an impact beyond the mundane 9-5. We are particularly interested in positions that don’t neatly fit into an obvious career path box (e.g., doctor, lawyer, accountant). If you know of a job that you think would be great for us to share with our community of driven career-transitioners, you can submit it here for us to consider for a future post! Title: Creative Coder Company: Brandfolder Location: Denver, CO Why we like it: Brandfolder is a company that helps people manage their digital assets easily. In other words, the Creative Coder would get to work with a team and own the user experience and implementation of design. To land this job, you will need experience with HTML, SASS, and interaction javascript. Oh, and they have benefits such as generous PTO, 401k, and a dog-friendly office! Read more and apply here. Title: Staff Accountant Company: Rhino Location: NYC, NY Why we like it: Rhino is looking for a Staff Accountant that will complete tasks such as processing payables, cash receipts, cash disbursements, general ledger functions, prepare and post journal entries including yearly closing entries, and other accounting responsibilities. There are many benefits that come along with the job including unlimited vacation, casual dress, and a remote work program! I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a great gig to me! Read more and apply here. Title: Diversity & Inclusion Sr. Program Manager Company: Amazon Location: Seattle, WA Why we like it: For this role as a Diversity & Inclusion Sr. Program Manager, Amazon is looking for someone with diverse skills. These skills include program and project management focused on outcomes, data and situational analysis, cross-group coordination across all levels of the organization, plus excellent oral and written communications. In conclusion, if this sounds like you, check out more information and how to apply below. Read more and apply here. Title: Project Coordinator Company: Gallagher Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: If you happen to be a Project Coordinator and looking for the next step in your career, this might be it! You only need 1+ years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for this role. Your tasks will be assisting in daily coordination of projects including preparing and maintaining project plans, budgets, and staffing requirements. Gallagher also offers competitive pay, flexible work hours, and health insurance. So dust off those resumes and apply! Read more and apply here. Title: Demand Planner Company: Vital Proteins Location: Chicago, IL Why we like it: It’s always great to see companies who promote good health and wellbeing of individuals. Vital Proteins does just that with their collagen nutrition products. They are currently hiring for a Demand Planner who will be looking at forecasts and sales trends as well as helping with product launches to increase the growth of the company. If this sounds like you something you’d enjoy, then this cool job could be what you need to start fresh in 2020! Read more and apply here. Title: Senior Organization Development Consultant Company: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Location: Seattle, WA Why we like it: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sets out to help developing countries and people in the US who do not have the resources many of us take for granted. You can help with this mission by applying to become their Senior Organization Development Consultant. Since this is a senior position, they are looking for someone with 11+ years of experience in the field. If you are interested in the non-profit world and want to help those in need, this is the job for you! Read more and apply here. Title: Customer Success Manager Company: Evernote Location: Austin, TX Why we like it: Customer Success is always a personal favorite of mine (I guess I’m a little bias). Evernote is also a great tool that many people, including myself, use to keep notes digitally. This job is customer-facing where you will be managing and growing accounts, advocating for customers, and onboarding new customers. Overall, this job comes with many different benefits including free lunch and an onsite gym! No more remembering to pack your lunch box each day. Read more and apply here. Title: Junior Android Developer Company: Geocaching HQ Location: Seattle, WA Why we like it: Geocaching is a super popular treasure hunt app that connects people all over the world. You might have even tried it out yourself! They are looking for a Junior Android Developer with 1+ years of hands-on experience with proficiency in Java. If you are a young developer looking to step up your career, this might be the opportunity that you have been looking for! Oh, and in addition, there are benefits like in-office yoga? Yeah, how cool is that? Read more and apply here. Title: Emerging Account Executive Company: Udemy Location: Denver, CO Why we like it: Udemy is a great place to learn skills through online courses for a decent price. They are looking for someone who is motivated to close B2B deals as an Emerging Account Executive. You’ll be communicating with other team members, navigating customers through a month-long sales cycle, and managing contracts. Although it’ll be fast-paced you’ll be able to relax with good PTO and company outings. Read more and apply here. If you’re excited about one of these roles, but you’ve been struggling to get the attention of employers, book a free consultation with us here. Our career coaches are standing by ready to help you land a very cool new job!

Transition Tales: From Management to Associate

12/11/19

Nicole Wood

Welcome back to Transition Tales, where we hear the true stories behind people’s bold decisions to leave the comforts of work they know to pursue work they love. In this edition, we’re telling a transition tale from management to associate. What I admire about this Transition Taler’s (TT) story is that he was proactive and intentional about his career path all along. He didn’t sit back and wait to have things handed to him but instead was reflective about what he needed in his career and asked for it. At times when he didn’t receive it, he made the choice to look elsewhere. ALV: Why did you want to make a career transition? TT: I had made a transition into a new industry (mid market IT) from logistics. I went from a very large company to 2 very small companies. Each company promised me training, mentorship, and guidance. I ended up not receiving any help despite my communication and after a year and a half I was not learning and growing and I knew I had to make a very smart move that would help have a better future. ALV: Was there a “straw that broke the camel’s back” in terms of deciding to make the move? TT: After 2 months in the new role management did not provide any training and I had to constantly seek out guidance, feedback, and training! I also learned that most employees were never in the office and management rarely came in as well. Besides that, the company culture was horrifying. Everyone seemed so lethargic and unhappy at work and people did not practice good hygiene. This built up over time and I realized I needed to leave ASAP. *** It’s clear that learning and development opportunities were important cultural values for TT, and not only was he not receiving them directly; he didn’t see that any of his colleagues also valued these things. When a values conflict this significant arises, it can be difficult to stay motivated or envision a future in that organization. Before making a switch, TT spoke with some friends and family, and then also decided to seek out coaching support to help him find his next role. Given he had made two job changes fairly recently, he put a lot of pressure on himself to get this one right. TT: I really wanted to make a great career move. I was so scared of making anymore career mistakes and I wanted a great job with a great company and pave the way for a bright future. *** So TT now found himself in the position that many of our clients find themselves in and that I, myself, was in when I first worked with a coach. “I know I don’t want to do this anymore, but I’m not quite sure what I want to do instead. How do I know it will be better?” You can never know with 100% certainty what a role will actually be like until you get there, but you can take a thorough, logic-driven approach to help you identify what’s important to you and then select a position based on what is most aligned with you and your needs. ALV: How did you figure out what you wanted to do in your next role? TT: I had some ideas but they were not validated. The Ama La Vida modules really helped. It starts from taking things from a high level. What do you like doing? solving problems? Executing plans? Analyzing data?. Then it goes into the day to day and a lot of other broader ideas. Creating my list of what I was looking for validated what I wanted to and as well as what type of company I wanted to work for. When you keep things somewhat broad in terms of the type of work you want and the environment you need, it is easy then to find the right opportunities. ALV: And what did you discover? TT: I was looking for development, mentorship, and ambition. I have about 5 years of work experience, but I am still hungry to learn and grow and I wanted a company and a manager that would provide development and somewhat of a path for growth. As far as culture, I was looking for high energy and positive people who were also curious learners. *** It’s clear that for TT the way in which the work is done and the type of people he is surrounded by are just as important to him as the work itself. This helped him focus his job search around the cultural factors that were critical. Even though TT was clear on the companies he wanted to work for, that didn’t mean the job search process was going to be easy. It can be grueling, especially when you have something very specific in mind. TT: It is going to be challenging. There are times when you feel like you found the best job ever. Then you will learn something bad about the culture or you will not receive an offer when you really felt like you were going to get it. Interviewing is definitely a skill as well. The more you do the better you will become. *** In total, TT applied to about 25 jobs and had 9 interviews. This feels like a lot because you are constantly putting yourself out there to be evaluated by strangers. However, it was worth it in the end for him to find the right position. And he learned some important lessons along the way. TT: The transition took about 5 months. I did apply for some “reach” roles in the beginning as well though. I felt empowered, hopeful, excited, happy but also scared, nervous, anxious, and hopeless when I did not receive any offers. My advice for you, do not waste your time interviewing for jobs you know you do not want. *** All that hard work and enduring the emotional ups and

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