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Episode 82: The Post-FAANG Job Hunt with Jenny Lee

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The ongoing professional journey that many of us in the world of tech and developing find ourselves on can be exciting and daunting. Here to talk us through her experience on the hunt for a new job at a company that is more suited to her particular needs, is Jenny Lee. Jenny is currently employed as a Senior Software Engineer at Google and is also looking to improve her situation by finding a workplace in which she can engage with a more connected team, and utilize opportunities for monitorship. In our chat with Jenny, we get to hear all about the lessons she has learned along the way, why relationships and mentorship are such priorities for her, and how her approach to and ideas about her dream job have changed over time. We also discuss gauging company culture, different conceptions of management, and how to develop your strategy for job interviews. Jenny has some insightful reflections on the process, and as someone who is highly intentional about where she will next work. We think she is a great touchpoint for anyone with similar aspirations! Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Jenny's current position at Google and the job hunt she is embarking on. 
  • How Jenny's ideal job has evolved since entering the professional world. 
  • Thoughts on friends in the workplace and finding a team that you can relate to. 
  • The questions that can be asked to gauge the culture of a team when applying.  
  • Jenny's thoughts on the importance of mentorship and her personal experience with it.  
  • Identifying red flags for company culture and things our panel finds worrying in interviews.  
  • The best ways to get an idea about a company's approach to diversity and inclusion.  
  • How managerial roles differ from company to company; variance in expectations and approach. 
  • The narrative around switching jobs and how much to share with a recruiter.   
  • Debate and disagreement; weighing the usefulness of these strategies for problem-solving. 
  • Making space for worthwhile input and aiming for more useful meetings.  
  • Reflections from Jenny about the important lessons and changes in her application philosophy. 
  • Tips for negotiating around responsibilities, benefits, and salary. 
  • This week's picks! Tools, films, and job hunt and mentorship sites.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Resources:

Jenny Lee:

David Ashe:

Special Guests: David Ashe and Jenny Lee.

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