Hacks for Getting Hired
Making a career change? Trying to find your dream job? This workshop will give you insights into what hiring managers at startups look for, and the tips and tricks needed to stand out as an applicant and get the job. You’ll learn:
How to find potential job opportunities and get in front of hiring managers
Crafting the cover letter
Nailing the interview
Follow up steps & getting the job
About Samantha Hepburn
Sam works with a variety of London-based communities and user groups, helping to organise events that focus on developing talent, and mentoring everyone from students to CTOs. She wants fewer people to fall into their careers, and more to play an active role in choosing what they want their future to look like, based on a better understanding of the different types of roles in the technical space.
3. Sam Hepburn
Partnerships Lead @ General Assembly London
How to get in touch with me:
Email: sam@ga.co
Twitter: @SammyHep
Who Am I?
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED3
Founder: Non Technical Women in Tech
Organiser: Find a Tech Job in London
Organiser: London Startup Jobs
4. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED4
WHAT’S MY STORY?
MY PAST LIFE
South Africa
Hospitality
Finance
LONDON LIFE
LOVE technology
Not a dev :(
MY BIG BREAK
Tech communities
Java, graduates, CTOs
and front end tech
GA
Career coaching
community
management
MORE
More Communities
FATJIL
London Startup Jobs
NTWnTech
12. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED12
PROFESSIONAL
PROJECT/
PORTFOLIO
JOB TRACKER
DIGITAL PRESENCE
(GITHUB +
LINKEDIN)
CV!
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED
In order to set you up for success, you will need the following:
14. 3 Universal Truths!
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED14
‣Your CV should look different from your best friends CV.
‣Your CV will look widely different in format and structure over time.
‣ Your audience matters!
‣ You will likely have multiple versions of your CV
‣ The name of the game is RELEVANCE!
‣Getting a job comes down to networking and interviewing.
‣Your resume is a supplemental tool; it can open (or close) doors, but
you need to walk through them.
THERE’S NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL CV TEMPLATE
YOUR CV IS A PERSONAL MARKETING PACKAGE
YOUR CV WILL NOT GET YOU A JOB
15. Creative Examples
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED15
‣The interactive resume of Robby Leonardi
‣Philippe Dubost’s Amaz’ing resume
LET’S PUTH THE BOUNDARIES OF CONVENTIONAL CV’S
17. The Basics
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED17
‣Name, phone, email, digital contact information
‣Education
‣Relevant experience, which can include: paid employment,
internships, volunteer work, consulting projects.
‣Relevant community organisations and involvement
‣Relevant skills
‣Relevant awards and achievements
WHAT CONTENT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE?
18. The Basics
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED18
‣DON’T: Include a photo of yourself, your pet, or your significant other.
‣DON’T:Use unprofessional e-mail addresses (glittergal505@aol.com).
‣DON’T:Include the reason for leaving a former job, salary, or supervisor’s
name and contact details.
‣DON’T:Lie or fabricate job duties.
‣DON’T:Use subjective self-describers (“amazing interpersonal skills”).
DON’T DO THIS!
19. Skills
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED19
‣I KNOW THIS WELL…
‣IVE WORKED WITH…
‣IVE DABBLED WITH….
MAKE THIS CLEAR!!!
21. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED21
There’s more than one way about it!
TIP #1
22. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED22
TIP #2
Know what’s important to you.
Think SECTOR as much as COMPANY
23. SECTORS
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED23
‣ Transferwise
‣ GoCardless
‣ Crowdcube
‣ DueDil
FINANCE TRAVEL MUSIC RETAILFASHION
‣ CityMapper
‣ One Fine Stay
‣ Secret Escapes
‣ Hailo
‣ Editd
‣ Thread
‣ Stylist Pick
‣ Metail
‣ Songkick
‣ Sofar Sounds
‣ Mixlr
‣ Mixcloud
‣ Not on the High
Street
‣ La Zook
‣ StreetHub
AND SO SO MANY MORE!
24. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SSSSHHHHH
EVERYONE IS HIRING!
26. ‣ESCAPE THE CITY
‣TALENT ROCKET
‣ANGEL LIST
‣SILICON MILK ROUNDABOUT
‣TECH CITY JOBS
‣WORK IN STARTUPS
‣HIRE MY FRIEND
‣UNICORN HUNT
‣DREAMSTAKE SKILLSWAP
‣JOBPAGE
‣ENTERNSHIPS
Job boards a plenty!
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED26
27. ‣ESCAPE THE CITY
‣TALENT ROCKET
‣ANGEL LIST
‣SILICON MILK ROUNDABOUT
‣TECH CITY JOBS
‣WORK IN STARTUPS
‣HIRE MY FRIEND
‣UNICORN HUNT
‣DREAMSTAKE SKILLSWAP
‣JOBPAGE
‣ENTERNSHIPS
Job boards a plenty!
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED27
28. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED28
TIP #3
Dont put all your hopes on your CV.
30. LINKEDIN
PRESENTATION TITLE30
Is better.
‣ Take pride in your skills, (and if you can) what you’re looking for
‣ Stalk the company, and the staff
‣ Send connection requests (but don’t leave them blank!)
‣ Get endorsed, recommended & intro’d.
31. Make it easy to be found!
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED31
Your LinkedIn Profile is your living resume:
‣Strong headline and summary paragraph
‣Make sure to get your own URL and make your profile public
‣Good, professional photo
‣Turn off notifications to your network (if you are currently working)
‣Get a few recommendations
‣Certifications, Groups
Updated other accounts relative to role: i.e. Github, Pinterest, Youtube
32. Getting found for a role you don't want.
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED32
‣Research the individual to see if any connections at another job
‣Ask them if they know about anything more like “This role” or have
contacts there
‣Offer to put them in touch with individuals that might be a fit for the role if
you know them or will reach out to them
33. How to find common connections
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED33
Click on the job you’d like to apply to or company.
Linked in provides a people you know section for all employees at that company.
34. REFERRALS
PRESENTATION TITLE34
The Best.
‣ Do you know anyone that works there?
‣ Do you know anyone that knows anyone that works there?
‣ Do you know anyone that knows anyone that knows anyone that works there?
44. Finding the perfect job - A few tips
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED44
‣A lot like sales or dating – it’s a numbers game!
‣People want to hire people they know or their network
knows, especially true in startups.
‣ Employees who refer candidates get compensated for it
45. ‣ GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAILING LIST
‣ 3 BEARDS
‣ ADA’S LIST - WOMEN IN TECH LISTSERV
‣ THE FETCH
‣ ESCAPE THE CITY
‣ STARTUP DIGEST
‣ TECH CITY NEWS
‣ THE DRUM
‣ 3460 MILES
‣ FACEBOOK GROUPS - LONDON STARTUPS, LONDON STARTUP EVENTS
Sync up with London Newsletters
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED45
48. The Basics
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED48
‣Keep it simple
‣Something that isn’t on the resume or linkedin
‣WHY them– what’s so special about this company
‣WHY you are the best person for the specific job
‣What else you’ll bring to the table
‣Be Human!
49. Cover letter tips
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED49
‣Send early in the day during the week (avoid your email
getting buried)
‣Use email tracking to identify if/when email is opened –
you can then follow up shortly after or call (Yesware)
‣ Set a clear time and action for a next step.
50. sofia quintero
Head of Growth at Geckoboard
“In the job description, they said they were
looking for a ‘Marketing Honeybadger’ ”
————————————————————————-
Some of my mates
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED50
53. The Interview
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED53
‣ Preparing
‣ Answering Questions
‣ Asking Questions
‣
54. Interview Prep
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED54
‣ Research the interviewer – it’s okay to stalk...
‣ Research the company – website, find out any press
mentions of them, customer reviews, employee reviews.
Glassdoor, Yelp, Twitter, blogs, etc.
‣ Show up early (5-10 minutes)!
‣ Come prepared with resume, set list of questions and
way to take notes
55. When answering questions you can…
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED55
‣Pause before giving an answer to a question
‣Ask for a couple seconds to formulate your thoughts
‣Ask to clarify the question, “If I’m hearing you clearly you asked...”
‣In summary, does this answer the question for you?
56. HAVE STANDARD SET OF QUESTIONS
(3-5)
Questions?
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED56
57. My List
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED57
‣Three months from now, how will you know this role has been a success? 6
months from now?
‣When do you need to have someone in this role?
‣What do you need help with now?
‣ What’s the best way to work with you?
‣What is something you need on your team and don’t have yet?
‣What is the process for hiring for this position?
59. FOLLOW UP
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED59
‣In my opinion the most important part of the process
‣Always send a thank you email regardless of the outcome
‣People get busy its ok to reminder them who you are
‣Send presents??
‣See if they are going to any events you are.
62. Offer Negotiation
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED62
‣Let them provide the first number!
‣If you cant give a range!
‣Ask about equity (Startups)
‣Ask when you can get something in writing
‣Ask to meet the team!
‣Ask for time to review the offer and see if you have any questions
‣Sign and start!
63. HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IN SUMMARY‣ Know what you’re after
‣ Research is key
‣ Don’t just rely on your CV
‣ Get out there
‣ Know your value proposition
‣ Keep going!
64. Sam Hepburn
Partnerships Lead @ General Assembly London
How to get in touch with me:
Email: sam@ga.co
Twitter: @SammyHep
Thank you! Q&A
HACKS FOR GETTING HIRED64
Founder: Non Technical Women in Tech
Organiser: Find a Tech Job in London
Organiser: London Startup Jobs