Are you job searching IN THE WRONG DIRECTION?
I just got a question from a current student:
"Which *companies* should I apply to?"
And it reminded me that, so often, we start our searches by focusing on the companies we've HEARD about - the biggest brand names, the ones that will impress our parents or friends.
And yet, it's usually NOT the company that makes us happy in a job ("I just love working for this giant faceless corporation!") - it's either the company we keep ("My boss and team are awesome") or the job itself ("I can't believe I get paid to do this!").
Which means starting your search by only focusing on a few companies is starting in the WRONG direction.
It would be like saying "I only date people who went to X school or live in Y apartment building." How are you sure you're going to find your soulmate if you artificially limit your pool of matches at Step 1?
On the other hand, if you start your search by *function* (e.g., Product Manager, Sustainability Analyst) and then open yourself up to an ocean of opportunities, you'll get a bunch of benefits:
1) Discovering an amazing boss or team - even at a company you've never heard of
2) Getting more opportunities, which leads to more interviews + offers - and more leverage for negotiating the offer you decide to prioritize
3) Just not feeling STUCK by the lack of opportunity - since feeling helpless + disempowered is often the toughest part of searching
So bottom line: Before you start your search, point your compass in the right direction. Away from just a handful of famous names. And towards opportunity! 🧭