Reinvent Yourself

I specialize in helping people break into six-figure tech roles by implementing proven systems that deliver results. I am a PMP® and CSP®-SM certified tech professional with over 15 years of experience in program management across more than five industries. I previously worked as a Technical Program Manager at Amazon and a Techno-Functional Reporting Analyst at Harvard University. With over 15 years of experience in the field, I have developed a framework that has transformed the career journeys of over 50 clients, helping them land their dream job offers

My clients have landed positions at top companies such as:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Facebook
- Sonos
- Coinbase
- Uber
and many more.

I will help you:
✅ Gain clarity in your career  
✅ Build confidence in your career  
✅ Acquire the knowledge, tools, and skills to lead as a Program Manager successfully
✅Apply to jobs strategically
✅Build Your Personal Brand

Founder

Limelight

• Provide brand advice and recommendations for new features at Limelight.
• Support testing of new features and give recommendations on launch strategies.
• Collaborated with Founder teams to ensure successful feature launches.
• Provide advice on new features to be launched based on market trends to inform feature development decisions.

Advisor

Amazon

Technical Program Manager

Built Business Intelligence (BI) solutions including but not limited to ETL and Tableau Dashboarding.

Business Intelligence Engineer

Harvard University

-Collaborated with Business Analysts and the Student Information Systems team to assess Business Intelligence and reporting requirements and integrate into a cohesive delivery.
-Followed an Agile methodology, designed and delivered reporting solutions, including standard reports.
-Designed several OBIEE semantic layer data models, reports, and dashboards.
-Supported SIS internal teams, end users, and Product Owners with the design and delivery of business intelligence content; supported the implementation of production support mechanisms and the BI competency center for SIS and student .
- Provided support for my.Harvard and business intelligence, including in-depth analysis, troubleshooting, researching and recommending resolution options.
- Served as Scrum Master.

Techno Functional Reporting Analyst

The Ironside Group, Inc.

Data Integrator/ DI Developer Technical Environment: Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, MS SQL Server 2008

- Collaborated with the Data Architect to design and enhance Data Warehouse models for the      purpose of high performance Analytics.
- Developed  and implemented +20 ETL process using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to  extract  from different sources.
- Provided detailed documentation and knowledge transfer to customers.
- Assisted the Project Manager to prepare project estimates, timelines and proposals.

Business Intelligence Consultant

AGS USA

Sovereign Bank– Produban/Santander
Data Analyst/Report Specialist, Technical Environment: Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, MS SQL Server 2008

- Responsible of the development and implementation of a new reporting platform in Microsoft BI Suite.
- Analyzed and understood critical data to create reports.
- Developed and implemented ETL process using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to extract data from different sources.
- Worked in the database design and data modeling.
- Assembled reports related to application usage, incident tracking, system performance and others.

Data Analyst/Report Specialist

Delaware Consultoria S.L

Vodafone Spain
- Responsible for the strategic development and implementation of RDP design (OLAP Design) using     OBIEE Administration Tool.
- Developed +300 reports using OBIEE Presentation Layer.
- Designed  +5 Interactive Dashboards and Front End interface using OBIEE Presentation Layer.
- Analyzed all information business requirements and make a proposal to be approved.
- Gathered customer requirements and provided a constructive feedback.
- Supported technical incidents using OBIEE.

Senior Business Intelligence Consultant

VASS

Programmer Analyst (December 2009- March 2010)-AZKAR
•Developed reports using OBIEE Presentation Layer, design of Interactive Dashboards and Front End interface using OBIEE Presentation Layer.
Programmer Analyst (October 2009- December 2009)-ADIF
•Developed Web Application using Webfocus.
•Provided comprehensive system support, configuration, and maintenance using Webfocus.
Programmer Analyst (January 2009-September 2009) -OHSJD
•Developed +50 reports using OBIEE Presentation Layer, design of Interactive Dashboards and Front End interface using OBIEE Presentation Layer.
•Supported professionals while working.
Programmer Analyst (July 2007-December 2008) - HNA
•Analyzed data mart model checking the processes of load in the data Warehouse using SQL Server 2000/2005.
•Utilized Microsoft BI accomplishment of functions in alteration of the information in the data mart and resolved incidents in the same one 
•Created +20 Reports using Business Objects.
Programmer Analyst (February 2008- July 2008) ISBAN
•Developed of the extraction processes, transformation and load of information of multiple systems using DB2, files VSAM and Flat files using Informatica Power Center 7.5 for the analysis of the lending’s portfolio.
Programmer Analyst (December 2007- February 2008) ING Nationale-Nederlanden
•Analyzed the data mart model, checking the quality of the data.
•Developed +30 reports using OBIEE.
•Solved Incidents in the Data warehouse using Informatica Power Center 7.6
•Programmer Analyst (September 2007- October 2007) ING Nationale-Nederlanden
•Corrected +50 reports to adapt it from Siebel Analytics to OBIEE.
•Designed and developed +30 reports in OBIEE Presentation Layer.
•Designed OBIEE Presentation Layer (Interactive Dashboards).
Technologies: Oracle Business Intelligence 10 G, Siebel Analytics 7, Informatica Power Center 7.5, Microsoft BI 2000-2005, Business Objects 5, Business Objects XI

LinkedIn Top Voice | #8 Female Creator USA | Technical Program Manager | PMP®| Keynote Speaker |Advisor | Ex Amazon, Harvard University | Helping People Pass The PMP Exam & Land Their Dream Jobs

As a first-generation immigrant, I am living proof that building your personal brand from scratch is possible. 

I did not speak English when I moved to the USA in 2011.

In 2012, I faced over 100 rejections in America. 

In 2014, I landed my dream job at Harvard University.

In 2017, I landed my dream job at  Amazon.

In 2020, I transitioned from Business Intelligence Engineer to Technical Program Manager.

In 2020, I started posting on Linkedin, grew on LinkedIn from 0 to 160,000+, and became a LinkedIn Top Voice in 4 years. 

Today, I am on a mission to help one million job seekers gain the confidence to become leaders, build their personal brand, and land their PM/TPM dream job offers.

Keep reading to learn how!

If you need help 
- transitioning to Big Tech, 
- building your Personal Brand, 
- moving forward in your career, 
- preparing for your following job interview or 
- improving your public speaking skills...

Join the 50+ Professionals who already landed their dream job offer!

Please book a session with me: https://calendly.com/d/cqqf-dmt-9r3



Get my FREE Resume Template
https://www.reinvent-yourself.org/

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email: elvicaperonis@reinvent-yourself.org

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Landing Your TPM/PM Dream Job Offer. 🚀https://calendly.com/d/cqqf-dmt-9r3

Elvi Caperonis

Dear Hiring Managers & Recruiters,

It’s 2025.
We can send a rover to Mars,
use AI to write code,
and 3D-print a house in 24 hours.

But for some reason…
we still can’t put the salary in job ads.

Here’s the thing:
💡 Job seekers shouldn’t have to guess if a role can cover their bills.
💡 Salary transparency saves everyone time.
💡 It builds trust between employer and candidate before the first interview.

Every week, I hear from professionals who:
→ Spend hours applying to “dream jobs” only to find the pay is far below market.
→ Get ghosted after asking about salary.
→ Feel undervalued because pay is treated like a secret.

Putting the salary in the job posting isn’t just “nice to have.”
It’s respect. It’s equity. It’s the future of hiring.

So let’s normalize it.
Post the salary. Every time.

Please share this post so more companies get the message. Should salary be part of the job description?

Elvi Caperonis, PMP®

AI & Tech Leadership Career Coach | Leveraging AI to help job seekers & leaders build confidence land their dream $150k-$300K job offers, earn promotions, or launch thriving businesses | Keynote Speaker | DM me “PB”

I used to take rejection personally.

Every “no” felt like a verdict:
❌ Not smart enough.
❌ Not ready enough.
❌ Not enough.

But here’s what I learned after dozens of rejections —
Rejection isn’t always a dead end.
Sometimes, it’s a redirection.

A signal from the universe that you deserve:
→ More alignment.
→ More purpose.
→ More respect.

That “no” you’re facing today?
It might be the space being cleared for your “yes.”

Because the job that ghosted you…
The client who passed you over…
The opportunity that slipped away…

They weren’t the last chance.
They were the wrong fit.

Now, I help professionals rebuild after rejection,
and step into roles and businesses that finally feel right.

Have you ever been rejected and landed a better opportunity?

AI & Leadership Career Coach | Leveraging AI to help job seekers & leaders build confidence land their dream job, earn promotions, or launch thriving businesses | Keynote Speaker | DM me “PB”

Some people will only notice your value once you stop offering it to them.

I’ve been there, sitting at a table where I gave everything I had.
My ideas.
My energy.
My best work.

And still, I felt invisible.

I kept showing up, thinking consistency would earn clarity.
But all it did was teach me this truth:

“Some people don’t understand what you bring to the table until they see you at another table.”

I've learned that early in my career.


Here’s what I learned about knowing when it’s time to move on ⤵️

1️⃣ You’re always proving your worth.
If you have to explain your value over and over, you’re sitting at the wrong table. 
The right one recognizes contribution, not justification.

2️⃣ Your ideas are heard, not implemented.
When others get credit for what you built, it’s time to invest your energy elsewhere.

3️⃣ You’ve stopped growing.
The wrong environment doesn’t challenge you, it contains you.

✅ What I did instead:
→ I built my own table.
→ I surrounded myself with people who celebrated my progress.
→ I stopped asking for a seat, and started creating the space.

That decision changed everything.

Because when you choose respect over comfort, your career — and confidence, start to rise.

💡 Save this as a reminder: You don’t need to fight for a seat when you can build your own table.

I pray you land your dream job offer this week!

Job searching is one of the biggest tests of resilience you’ll ever face.

After facing 100+ rejections and helping hundreds of professionals, I’ve learned patterns that can completely change how you approach the search.
Here’s what I wish more people knew 👇

Because let’s be honest…
Job searching doesn’t just test your skills, it tests your patience, confidence, and sometimes even your hope.

I know how hard it can feel.
The self-doubt.
The ghosting.
The quiet mornings wondering if your next opportunity is even out there.

I’ve been there. And I see you.

Here’s what I’ve learned through experience 👇

1️⃣ You are not your job title. Your skills and value don’t disappear with a role.
2️⃣ Shift rejection into preparation. Update your resume, refine your story, keep moving.
3️⃣ Level up while you wait. A new skill, certification, or book can shift your entire perspective.
4️⃣ Talk to yourself kindly. You’d never call a friend a failure, don’t do it to yourself.
5️⃣ Rejections are redirections. Use them to improve yourself.
6️⃣ Your network is the main plan. Don’t just scroll, connect.

Say hi. Comment. DM. Show up.
Your next opportunity may not come from applying, it may come from a conversation.


Your dream job offer is coming soon. 💫

I’m praying for you, may the right door open soon. 🙏

Years ago, I remember scrolling through LinkedIn and seeing people share their wins:
→ New jobs
→ Speaking gigs
→ Book deals
→ Clients pouring in

I was happy for them, but I asked myself:

“Why not me?”
“Am I falling behind?”
“Will it ever be my turn?”

I wasn’t bitter, I was just tired.
Tired of doing the work and seeing no results.
Tired of clapping with empty hands.

But something shifted when I stopped treating other people’s success as a threat.
I started treating it as evidence.
Proof that it was possible.

So I clapped louder.
Not out of obligation, but out of hope.

Because if it’s happening for them,
It means it can happen for me.
And if I can celebrate others in their moment,
I’ll be more than ready when mine arrives.

Today, I don’t scroll with envy.
I scroll with belief.
I know my turn is coming, and when it does,
I hope you’ll hear the thunder of the people I clapped for…
clapping right back for me. 🙌🏽

→ Who’s someone you’re celebrating today?

If you have been laid off, this is for you.

Your value does not change based on your employment status. Take this time to reinvent yourself.

Here are 15 Remote Job Boards You Didn’t Know Existed.

These are hidden gems that actually post verified, high-quality remote jobs,  from startups to tech giants:

1. Remote OK — https://remoteok.com/
2. FlexJobs — https://www.flexjobs.com/
3. Wellfound — https://wellfound.com/
4. We Work Remotely — https://lnkd.in/e4cBn_vm
5. JustRemote — https://justremote.co/
6. JobTogether — https://jobtogether.com/
7. Remote.co — https://remote.co/
8. Remotive — https://remotive.com/
9. SkipTheDrive — https://lnkd.in/eUZwcuA6
10. BuiltIn — https://lnkd.in/ew3eh_GS
11. Underdog IO — https://lnkd.in/efbtYhah
12. StillHiringToday — https://lnkd.in/erYF-gDB
13. Jobspresso — https://jobspresso.co/
14. Working Nomads — https://lnkd.in/e5CSthGf
15. Web3 Jobs — https://web3.jobs/

💡 Tip: Bookmark at least 3 of these and set up alerts, as new roles appear daily.

Your next opportunitty is coming soon. Keep going!

PS: Which one will you try first?

Ready Aim Interview

I offer personalized coaching and mentoring to prepare people in tech for job interviews. 

- Wish you could get useful feedback for interviews?
- Wish you could make a better first impression?
- Want to show your value more effectively?
- Haven't interviewed in years? 
- Can't get phone screens? 
- Can't get job offers? 

I can help with that.

Self-Employed

Created scalable project management operations for three startups, enabling teams to work effectively and efficiently in remote or hybrid work environments.

Managed a critical project at a major FinTech company, projected $40-$50M in new revenue at program completion.

Program Management Office Consultant

SoundExchange

Led the enhancement of a cloud-based system that distributes $1B in royalties to artists, producers, and music labels and generates $100M in annual recurring revenue (ARR). 
 
Planned a green-field project responsible for distributing over $14M in royalties internationally.

Senior Technical Program Manager

University of Maryland College Park

Directed operations and maintenance of Software as a Service (SaaS) transportation data analysis tools earning $14M in annual recurring revenue (ARR). 

Led four R&D initiatives worth $15M dollars in total.

KLC Network Services, Inc.

Led $4M of a $20M indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract successfully for five years.

Led all phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) for bespoke digital forensic tools for counter-terrorism and law enforcement.

Technical Project Manager

Savantage Solutions

Led a cross-functional team of 12 people to modernize a web-based e-commerce site on a $10M firm fix-price (FFP) contract.

Lead Software Developer

Corporate Brokers

Performed user acceptance testing (UAT), black-box testing, and independent validation and verification (IV&V) on a biometric collection device for a $43M contract.

System Engineer

Sim-G Technologies

Enhanced an online collaboration suite using C#, .NET, SQL, and Team Foundation Server, which earned $1.5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Software Developer

USPTO

Determined patentability of domestic and international patent applications for database, data structure, and software applications.

Software Patent Examiner

I empower millennial & gen X job seekers in tech to interview with confidence

Do you feel frustrated with the current job market?
Do you struggle to communicate in interviews?
Do you get rejected often? 
Do you get ghosted?

It usually takes a handful of interviews to warm up. 
But those handful of interviews are jobs. 
Jobs you might really want. 

For the last 20 years, I’ve been studying interviews. 
First as a candidate, then as a hiring manager. 
I’ve been in hundreds of interviews. 

I interviewed countless candidates and interviewers. 
I worked with interviewers to make hiring decisions. 
I learned what worked and didn’t work. 

And I learned that interviews aren’t about trivia. 
They’re about human connection. 
They’re about story telling. 

Interviewers want to experience working with you. 
Interviewers want to see if you’re like them. 
People want to work with people they like. 

I know what rejection feels like. I’ve been there. 
And I know what it’s like to crave feedback.
I know what it feels like to be ghosted. 

And I know what it feels like to get the offer. 
What it feels like to crush an interview. 

Today, I help people make a lasting impression. 
I help them show, not tell, how they work. 
I coach them on how to tell their story. 

I give them the feedback they crave. 
So they don’t have to warm on when it counts. 

Dozens have worked with me so far. 
And they’ve seen results in as little as 7-8 weeks. 

So what are you waiting for? I’m here to help you.

Jonathan Corrales

How do you search for a job when you dread doing it?

Short answer: turn it into a routine. Remove motivation. 

I've spoken to well over a thousand job seekers over the last two years. I understand the emotional rollercoaster of searching for a job. I study it daily. 

The thing that seems to work again and again is consistency. Sustainable consistency at that. A routine that doesn't rely on motivation. 

Motivation can disappear for weeks at a time. When job seekers depend on motivation they lose momentum often.

Some job seekers stop looking for work altogether. It's more common than I expected. They take days or weeks off. They burnout. 

But when job seekers turn their job search into a routine, they tend to get more interviews overall. They build a pipeline of opportunities. 

Consistency beats motivation. Job seekers don't need patience, they need endurance.

Here's a simple schedule that you can adopt to maintain consistency throughout your search. It's one option I give all my clients. It's the 3-3-3 method for job seekers:
- three hours everyday 
- three applications minimum 
- three networking activities, like follow-ups

When I share this with clients, I strongly suggest they do it first thing in the morning. Get it done in in one block. Afterwards, take a break. 

If you do this everyday, you'll build a steady pipeline of opportunities. 

Try it out. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below, I'll respond to each one.

--
#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

I empower millennial & gen X job seekers in tech to land and pass interviews with confidence

A job seeker's survival guide for the holiday season. 2025 edition. 

The job market resembles a rollercoaster. It's got an enormous queue. It's got big drops, a corkscrew, and several loops. It's dizzying. It gives people headaches. 

This year job seekers submitted thousands of applications. Many were ghosted and rejected. Not just after their applications, but at all stages of the hiring process. 

Some job seekers got offers. They were off the market. But some of them were laid off again after a few months.

What better way to kick off the holiday season, right? 

I know you've heard it: companies are slowing down. We're about to enter a quiet period. But are they really slowing down?

Companies still have positions they need to fill. They still have budgets they need to use or lose. Offers still go out in December. I've seen 'em. I've sent 'em. 

Is now the time to stop applying? Is now the time to stop preparing for interviews?

Some job seekers will restart their search in January. 

Now here's the good news: that means less competition. So, I put together this job seeker's survival guide for the holiday season. 

Just for you. 

(Here it is. No email address required. You don't have to comment, "survival guide" to get it.)

Daily
- track your apps
- tailor 3 applications
- send 3 follow-ups a day
- rest after that, disconnect 

(Re)connect with
- recruiters you spoke to earlier this year 
- companies that rejected you
- recruiters that ghosted you
- previous coworkers 

Interview Prep
- study the job description
- delay them if you're not ready
- prepare for all, including phone screens
- study the 3C's: company, customers, competitors

Open to work
- turn it on (banner optional)
- post a custom open to work message
- describe what you do, for whom, and impact

People to follow for resume tips
- Ed Herzog (US)
- Matt Tooker (US)
- Mary Southern (US)
- Wes Pearce (US)
- Sam Struan (UK)

People to follow for job seeking tips 
- Grant Sundbye (US-ESL)
- Tudor Matei (US-tech leadership)
- Ruth Smith (US-tech leadership)
- Gina Sapién (Asia-ESL remote jobseekers)
- Jennifer Paine (UK-women in tech)
- Shayna Cavanaugh (US-HR job seekers)
- Adam Phillips, MBA (UK-master's students)
- Edyta Boyle (UK-from academia to industry)
- Joshua T. Banwart 🪄 (US-prj mgrs)
- Ruby Y (US-trust and safety)
- Samuel Adeyinka (US-medical device sales)
- Angela Lau (US-analytics and marketing)
- Allan Wu (US-early stage engineers)
- Tony Bagnato (CAN-exec coach)
- Adam Broda (US-principal/dir tech)

People to follow for job opening posts
- Brenna Lasky (FAANGs)
- Kyle Thomas (startups)
- Richard Chen (product managers)
- Angela Lau (marketing)

--
👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan.
I help people in tech get job offers 
with hands on interview coaching. 

#techjobs #jobseekers 
#newgrads #students
#interviewpreparation

"As a recruiter, I don't read cover letters and don't give them to my hiring managers." 

I recently saw a thread on cover letters. If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know I'm big on cover letters.

One recruiter in that thread said something that worried me. They said they don't read cover letters and don't give them to hiring managers. 

The first part I've heard for years. It's not new or surprising. Interestingly, the people that say that will write cover letters for every application. Hello irony, my old friend. 

That part never stopped me from creating and submitting one. I landed interviews that turned into offers because of them. They helped my clients land interviews too.

But the second part was worrisome. If that person doesn't read them, that's fine. That doesn't mean other people will ignore them too. 

Applications have multiple audiences. Recruiters, hiring managers, and future coworkers. Each person will look for something different: profiles, portfolios, resumes, and covers. 

If a recruiter did that to any of my cover letters, it would have prevented me from getting interviews, which led to offers, and, by extension, jobs. 

That sort of practice isn't fair to job seekers. Job seekers put a lot of time and energy into submitting applications. 

If you're ani-cover letter, don't have a field for it in your ATS and explicitly mention you don't want them in your job description. Job seekers will happily avoid creating one. 

Personally, I don't know any recruiter that would make a part of someone's application disappear like that. The ones I worked with always passed everything along to me. 

As a hiring manager, I'm going to look at everything a candidate sends. They put time and effort into it. The least I can do is review their docs. 

--
#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips #coverletter

Have you ever tried to remember details of a story during an interview and failed miserably?

Here's an exercise I run with clients to craft their stories. 

Brain dump:
Take a project you want to talk about and write down everything you can remember, from names of people to the tech stack. The more you can write down the better. As you're writing, you'll remember more and more details. Think about where you were, what you were struggling with, who worked on it with you, and so on. 

You're not going to use all those details in your initial story. But you'll need them as a reference.

Special tip for people in tech:
Try to remember bugs, tech stack, and user problems. If you remember how something worked, write it down. Diagram it.  

This exercise will help you recall important information. Since you're doing it without the time pressure of the interview, you'll recall more details easily.

Create your story:
Then you take that brain dump and whittle it down to the essentials for a story. You can put it in your favorite format: STAR, PAR, CAR, etc.

This is the format I use with my clients: STARLA. 
- S: business objectives + user problem
- T: what your specific responsibility was
- A: 3-5 actions you took to accomplish T
- R: your accomplishment + impact 
- L: what you learned
- A: how you apply that lesson

--
👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan.
I empower people in tech ace their job interviews.

#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

"How effective are referrals when it comes to getting noticed by the hiring team?"

In many companies, referrals act like fast passes. With a referral, your application may be seen sooner than it would without one. 

In some medium to large companies, you might even get a more personalized approach.  Some big tech firms take that approach as a matter of policy.

But if it's not apparent to that you're qualified for the role you applied to, you'll still get rejected. 

Job seekers with referrals can still be rejected after applications and interviews. Referrals don't overcome a bad application or interview. 

So if you get a referral, double your effort to put together a tailored application and prepare for your interview as best you can. 

Make sure you're putting your absolute best foot forward. Your application will be seen. Make sure it's making the impression you're hoping for.

Here's what you can do the moment you get a referral: 
- Ask your connection about their hiring process
- Ask your connection about challenges the company is facing
- Research the company's mission, values, customers, and competitors

If that referral turns into an interview, you can turn it into an offer. A little prep goes a long way.

--
👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan.
I empower people in tech ace their job interviews.

#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips #referrals

Amazon targets as many as 30,000 corporate job cuts. Now is not the time to panic, it’s time to be prepared 

Let me tell you a story.  Years ago, an employer couldn’t afford me. They lost a major contract that paid my salary. I worked 60-80 hours on that one. I was burned out. And disappointed. 

They put me on a small two-week project. One day, I went see my new boss. He told me to go to HR’s office. They would say what’s next. 

I thought they had something lined up for me. After all the sweat and tears I put in. I’m safe. 

I entered HR’s office and closed the door. She on-boarded me. I remember her. 

She pulled a stack of papers from her desk. And she placed placed them on a small table. 

We sat down across from each other. She said that the company appreciated me. 

Then she said, “Unfortunately…” My heart skipped a beat. “We don’t have other projects for you.” My heart pounded so hard I could hear it. 

Actually, that’s all I could hear. I started taking short shallow breaths. I couldn’t form a sentence. Her voice sounded like it was miles away. I couldn’t hear anything she said to me. Not after that statement. 

She pushed the stack toward me. She placed a pen on top. The pen had the company’s name. She turned the pages for me. She pointed to lines with X’s. I knew what she wanted. So I signed. 

We got up. My legs were weak and shaky. She walked me out of the building. I got in my car. And sat there for an hour in silence. All I could do was think about being fired. 

No income. Bills don’t care. I got caught off guard. I was an idiot. Now what? 

Repeat those thoughts for two weeks.  

After, I made a plan to move forward. I added start dates to every step of my plan. I applied for unemployment. Then I executed my plan. Step by step. 

Then I found one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. And that’s why I know: Now is not the time to panic. Now is the time to be prepared. 

If you’re at risk to be laid off, create a plan. If you’ve been laid off, create a plan. 

Include:  
 - How much time you need to find a job 
 - How much time do you have to find a job 
 - Take time to rest, being fired is a major blow  
 - A start date to execute your plan after you rest 

When you’re ready 
 - Update your resume and LinkedIn profile  
 - Reach out to your network 
 - Practice your pitch 
 - Practice your story

--
#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

"The most powerful negotiation tool is your willingness to walk away." Not quite.

I recently saw a post that encouraged job seekers to threaten to walk away from an offer if an employer did meet their expectations. That's a gambit. The nuclear option.

I'm not a fan of bluffing with it comes to negotiations. They might offer you more money. But they might let you walk away. 

In today's job market, employers have plenty of backups. That offer you're not happy with can easily go to someone else. That person will happy accept it.

After all those rounds of interviews and other hoops you have to jump through, don't let the opportunity slip through your fingers.

A better approach is to work with your future employer to find a win/win for both sides. For example, I helped a client get more PTO. I helped another get a sign on bonus.

If you keep negotiations professional and fair (no threats to walk away or phony competing offers), employers would be more than willing to work with you. 

Keep every discussion professional and focus on wins for both sides. I've seen offers get rescinded because candidates were rude or unprofessional. 

If they won't bend on money, explore other perks. PTO, remote work days, professional development, etc.

--

#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

Here's something I never expected working with job seekers in tech: lasting impact

When I started working with job seekers in tech that were laid off, I just wanted to help people get back to work. 

A friend of mine was laid off right before Thanksgiving in 2023. He had a wife and two kids. He's the sole breadwinner. I wanted to help get back on his feet asap. 

I helped him get an offer. Then I helped another person get an offer. And so it went. 

I didn't plan on helping anyone get promoted. I didn't plan on helping anyone do their job better. It just wasn't an immediate need. 
 
When someone gets laid off, they're not worried about getting promoted. There are plenty of career coaches out there that focus on those sorts of things.

I'm more of an interview communication coach for people in tech. However, I end up being a career coach for clients that leave the program with an offer in hand. 

It's a neat twist.  

A couple of clients have told me they use the skills I showed them for interviews at work, every day. Another neat twist. 

A client that got an offer recently sent me a message to tell me work was going well. 

He said, "I feel like these skills are helping me become a better professional overall. I truly couldn't be more satisfied with your service."

That's the lasting impact I never expected. 

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👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan.
I empower people in tech ace their job interviews.

#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

Here's how you can use a thank you note to make up for a missed opportunity in an interview

If you ever had an interview where you felt like you messed up a response, or couldn't think of a good response in the heat of the moment, you make up for it in a thank you note. 

When I debrief with clients after interviews and they get worried they didn't do well on a question, I help them come up with a blurb in the thank you note that fills in the gap.

For example, let's say your interviewer asked you a trivia question. You gave a response that you felt was incomplete but on the right path. After the interview look into it and figure out what the right answer is. You can include that finding in your thank you note. 

Here's how that might go: " ..... Following up on the question you asked me earlier where I wasn't sure what the answer was. I did a little digging and I realized I was wrong. The correct answer is..."

It not only shows humility, but it also shows that you're going to look for the right answer. That shows the kind your work ethic. In meetings we won't have all the answers. Sometimes we have to look things up and get back to people. 

So if you find yourself in that sort of situation in an upcoming interview, give this a shot. Let me know how it goes.

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#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips #thankyounote

Culture fit vs culture add: employers care about culture fit, but would benefit from culture adds. 

A common interview in many companies, especially tech companies, is the culture fit interview. 

It boils down to whether someone exhibits the same values and norms employers have. 

But there's more benefits to hiring someone that can add to the culture. 

A culture add improves processes, changes perspectives, or introduces new ways of doing things. 

Over the years, I've found that if I want to build great products or services, I want people that think and act differently but care about solving the same problems. 

If done well, it leads to better products and services. Everything from user experience to functionality will be improved. 

If you're involved in the hiring process, don't test for culture fit. Look for culture add. 

You'll have better outcomes. 

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#techjobs #jobseekers #interviewprep #protips

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