Milan Moffatt’s Post

3 weeks into my dream job at Duolingo has had me feeling like the luckiest person in the world, but it wasn't (just) luck that got me here.... 6 months ago, Michael Riddering asked me to document my job hunt process to create a playbook that others could follow. This forced me to be ruthlessly intentional about my job hunt and interviewing: turning my #layoff into a success story became my singular goal. I wasn't just in it for myself, but also the entire #designcommunity: I wanted to share my journey transparently so that other designers could learn from my story, the good and the ugly. Here are my biggest tips and takeaways👇 1️⃣ I prepared before any signals: I updated my resume and incrementally built a deck showcasing my recent work that I could easily pass along to hiring managers in case I got suddenly layed off. That allowed me to act quickly once I received the news 👇 2️⃣ I was meticulously intentional about my layoff post (thanks to the help of the marvelous Elizabeth Morgan): I listed out specific ways that people could help me: • comment for reach • write me recommendations • share advice/ job postings, etc This resulted in dozens of leads thanks to folks showing up for me - because I asked. 3️⃣ I assembled a layoff advisory board: Layoffs were unchartered territory for me, and I knew by utilizing targeted professionals, I'd go farther, faster. Charlotte Burns's career coaching helped me identify the personal and professional values I wanted to optimize for. Our work together crystalized my next move, so when I got my Duolingo offer, my "hell yes" was not only an enthusiastic one, but well informed one. Dan Svorcan's Career Compass improved my resume and cover letter, crafted the best job hunt strategy for my unique circumstances, and coached me on interview prep. The interviewing skills and confidence I gained will carry me for the rest of my career. Levels.fyi's salary negotiation service taught me about the art of negotiation and how to seal the deal on an offer. 4️⃣ I took notes obsessively after every interview and organized them in a giant database broken down by company and interview stage. • Technical and non-technical questions I was asked • What went well • What could have gone better My preparation and sharpness compounded with every conversation, and by the time I interviewed with Duo, I was at the top of my game. 5️⃣ I asked for feedback at the end of each conversation: “How did this go? Was there anything you felt was missing that you wish you'd seen?” Not only was this a great source of learning but it’s also an opportunity to fill any gaps on the spot or via email. ....But all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. Michael wrote a breakdown of the strategies you can use to land a dream role yourself. It also includes our full interview if you want to hear my story (I may be biased, but it's a good one). Get it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwYTArny #jobhunt #productdesign #leadership