One step forward, one step back

Finding the rhythm in the career and life dance ...

As much as I wish to say I did it, that I broke down the barrier and found the wind beneath the wings... it’s far from the truth. As much as I want to explore, something isn’t right. I haven’t really stepped out of the room much, part fear, part uncertainty.

The wind beneath the wings

I realized I want to move forward in life and take a leap of faith to begin again. To be back home in the US. This is going to be very interesting as I am not the same when I left San Francisco in 2020 or Raleigh in 2022 and neither is the city, state or country for that matter. Still working my courage to come to terms with life as a single woman. It’s crazy to think of the stories we tell ourselves. And the need to build trust and confidence within. I am curious where home will be next - location agnostic tbh.

Home is a fascinating idea - a place where you put down your roots and belong.

As I started to apply for jobs and keep getting rejections, I wonder if I am missing something. This is great for my inner voice to question me and self worth. Imposter syndrome in full gear ready to take you down. But I won’t let it be. I can do this.

And once in a while, you get a rejection, where you feel like they do care. And that is comforting. That someone took the time to show they care. Much appreciated.

I noticed this year that I prefer working 9-5 which is an interesting shift for my work life balance. It worked well in Europe/UK to be in the same time zone. I can see the benefit for hybrid teams and excited to be in office/remote collaborating with teams. Making new friends and move forward in life.

And I know I need to take it one day at a time. Every day is a new day. As much as each “No” email is devastating, all I need is one role and team where we connect and can build our journey together forward. A mutual synergy and understanding.

This is going to test my patience and perseverance. After my daily duolingo quests, I apply to jobs. I applied to 50+ product marketing jobs so far and now the waiting begins. Some roles, I might be overqualified and some underqualified. I will be persistent and apply in hopes that the right role and team will come through. And continue to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to my network. They are a lifesaver and a good reminder that I matter in the workforce. When folks are excited to refer you to their companies, it’s a boost in confidence and you believe again.

This is where I came across a few more websites for job search for product marketing roles from my network:

• Otta | https://app.otta.com

• PMA | https://jobs.productmarketingalliance.com
  I just found out about the PMA Talent network - let’s see what that entails.

• Sharebird | https://sharebird.com/jobs/c/product-marketing

• Indeed | https://www.indeed.com

• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs

As for the big F500 companies, better to check on their websites as I haven’t come across those roles in the aggregated search networks as much. I tried Indeed and have found a few relevant roles, but their search results are not ideal.

My core values will help me find the right role, team and company who believe in what I believe.

• Trust and Credibility

• Extreme ownership

• Results and relationships

Values

The market volatility is a dynamic we all have to navigate and find creative ways to make it work in our direction. Each opportunity is a step in the right direction, whether we can see it now or not. Folks are afraid to take a leap from where they are today in fear of the uncertainty. That is part of our growth in career and life. We are all looking for the next challenge that stimulates our thinking and builds our personal growth and wellbeing. When we reach 50 or 60, we want to look back and appreciate the ups and downs - the highlights and lowlights, not regret and wish what-if.

Mastery: Soul search for my inner voice

A checkbox for disability

Every time I fill the job application and mark the disability check box for anxiety, it’s hard not to think of what life could be and if I will ever be good enough. Mental wellbeing is a stepping stone to being true to ourselves, so why is it challenging?
Why can we not prioritize health and wait for the burnout or breakdown?

In one interview, when I shared that I took time from work for my wellbeing, I was told I was brave. I was surprised by the response. As if that is not an option for most folks. The always on mode is taxing our systems and nations. How can we find work life balance. I love what I do in product marketing and keen to work with teams. And explore options to take one step closer to defining the right balance.

I hope one day I can not look at this question and feel helpless. One day.

This was interesting - invisible disability - this was different from the rest of the job applications. I wish it said Differently-abled vs Disability. It doesn’t make us any less than the other candidates. It makes us stronger and ready to take on the world.

DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)

Are we thinking about DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in the wrong way - is it only about classification or are there other ways to provide a sense of belonging.

I love the pay scale included in job postings - makes one wonder the reason for the wide ranges in some roles. This is huge progress and a path to equity. Hopefully current team members are compensated equally and the gap is not glaring.

I always struggled when the question about compensation comes up in the interview, since it was a black box. Now, the conversation could be better as there is a mutual understanding for finding the right mutual fit.

And the interview process outlined up front is super helpful in setting the expectations. Some great examples to set the candidate at ease knowing what to expect and the timeline.

As I shared in the candidate experience, this is the key element to build transparency from the start. And to foster trust and credibility in the right way.

I wish you all the best in your search and I will continue to share my learnings and experiences with you as we find our next opportunity and begin life again! Cheers!