Hi everyone,
What a year! Some reflections plus a look at what's brewing for 2023.
Year in Review
Being a Giver
The second I stepped out on my own I became a content observer and then a content creator. I realized that the best content is helpful. That made my job easy! I'm not good at pounding my chest from rooftops, singing my own praises. Posting job search tips or hiring advice was fun, had scale, and kept me in front of my network like a constant hello. Finally, a playbook was built for me! I learned a lot by listening to Gary Vee's podcast; check it out if you haven't.
The book!
The biggest "this is for you versus me" moment was publishing Search in Plain Sight: Demystifying Executive Search. Finally a resource to refer people to! Whether it's framing your elevator pitch, creating your recruiter network, getting past the first round interview, or "I've never looked for a job in fifteen years and don't know where to start, help!," there's now a book with the answers.
Recruiting
Every search is different. A CTO here isn't a CTO there. That's part of why I love tech recruiting -- you really have to get it. 2022 was all about tech and digital: CTO, CDO, VP Engineering, Head of Data, Security, Director Engineering, etc. Every search sets me up for the next one, always. There's something to learn.
Ask any recruiter and they'll tell you that the second placement at a company is easier than the first. The third is easier than the second. It takes some reps to truly learn the culture, process, offer structure, and feel like you should start wearing their swag. 2022 was all about deepening client relationships.
Secret Mom's Club
The biggest news of 2022 was becoming a mom. Being nine months pregnant was my celebrity moment, with random people coming up to me to guess the gender. Then becoming a mom gave me a ticket to a club that I never knew existed. The one where people cheer you on, check in, and have a tremendous amount of empathy. We took our son to ACL (Austin City Limits) when he was four months old, and I changed his diaper on my blanket on the grass, apologizing to everyone within earshot. "You go momma!" a lady smiled at me. The secret club!! Candidates understand rescheduling an interview if my son is home sick and can't go to daycare. Most of them have been there too.
