Good Jobs #98: Hire me... please?
A request for help, plus remote and Boise-area jobs from Harvest, Handshake, Base Operations, Tuuti, Stripe, and more
Getting that first job
I’ve been mentoring a handful of new and soon-to-be grads looking to get their first job. In chatting with them, I’m realizing I don’t know how to help them.
These are new designers with impressive portfolios with internships at companies whose apps you probably have installed on your phone.
One has experience with design and conducting research. Another can define the user experience and write the frontend code… a “unicorn” as the Silicon Valley goobers like to say. But they are struggling. Dozens and hundreds of applications submitted. Dead-end calls with recruiters. Take-home projects that end with automated rejection emails.
My suggestions for them always start with this:
Rely on your network. If you don’t have one, start NOW. Attend meetups, events, and conferences in your city. Reach out to people you’d like to work for or with. The best way to get a foot in the door is to know someone on the other side of said door.
Have a strong portfolio with 2-3 case studies that articulate the problem, the solution, and how you got to there. It should be concise, interesting, and easy to understand by
your mommost people. Bonus points for what impact the work had to the project, team, company, etc.Practice interviewing. I’ve written about this before: Practicing lets you learn what works and what doesn't so you don’t have to figure that out during the interview for the job you really want.
So I come to you, reader, what did you do to get your first job after school? Beyond luck and maybe good timing, what are the books, tools, or websites you used? What are the mindsets, hacks, or strategies that worked well for you? Conversely, what are things that didn’t work or weren’t worth the time? Oh and they don’t have to be specific to designers. All tips for all roles are welcome.
The comments on this post are open. If this is an email, shoot me a reply. I’d like to feature a few of the tips in the next newsletter. (Include your name if you’d like credit.)
Onward,
P.S. - I’m thankful to all who read this newsletter. Have a great Thanksgiving! 🦃
ENGINEERING
Data Engineer at Base Operations
Remote | Full time | Thanks for the tip Will 👍
Senior Software Engineer at Attentive
Remote | Full time | Salary: $146–219K
Senior Backend Engineer at Trust & Will
Remote | Full time | Salary: $132–202K
Senior DevOps Engineer at Cradlepoint
Boise or remote | Full time | Salary: $126–227K
Still hiring: HTML5 Developer at Curious Media
Nampa | Full time
Good jobs need to be known
Hundreds of Boise-area professionals read and share the Good Jobs Report each week. Submit a job and it could appear in a future issue. Only the good ones though.
PRODUCT
Product Manager at Harvest
Remote | Full time
Product Designer at Stripe
Remote | Full time | Salary: $172–233K
Senior Product Designer at Handshake
Remote | Full time | $150–180K
User Experience Designer at Kount
Boise | Full time | Thanks for the tip Derek ✌️
SALES, CX, MARKETING
Graphic Designer at City of Boise
Boise | Full time
Senior Graphic Designer at Tuuti
Boise | Full time
Account Manager at Drake Cooper
Boise | Full time
From last time: Creative Director at Saalt
Boise or remote | Full time
OTHER
HR Intern at Krazy Coupon Lady
Boise or remote | Temporary