Job Search and Career Transition

Behind every opportunity is a relationship, and behind every relationship is a conversation. Networking is about building real connections that last and have the potential to help you find your next opportunity. Data shared by the University of Maryland’s Department of Economics indicates you won’t find 70% of available jobs on any site that posts open positions. Those positions are usually found on a company’s internal network, often by referral. In other words, relationships can make the difference between finding a job or not. That’s no surprise to me. Throughout my journey, from engineer to investor, relationships have been a constant driver of growth. Mentors, colleagues and peers have not only opened doors, but also challenged my thinking, sharpened my skills and inspired my vision. Here’s what I have learned: - Be curious: Ask questions that show you care about people’s stories. - Be intentional: Connect with purpose, not just for your own gain. - Be consistent: Follow up, follow through and add value where you can. Networking isn’t a one-time event. It requires maintaining ongoing relationships rooted in trust and genuine interest in other people’s lives. Whether you’re just starting out on your professional journey or deep into your field, relationships are what power careers.

To the UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT who is OVERWHELMED about what career to pursue Here’s the best advice I received as an undergraduate: 📌Treat your journey to CAREER CLARITY like a series of TINY EXPERIMENTS. Embrace as many opportunities as you can in the beginning. See each opportunity (the big, the small, the in-between) as a chance to learn about yourself. Approach it with the mindset of I’m just trying this out, I’ll give it my best, and we’ll see how it goes. JUST TRY THINGS OUT Some experiences will excite you, some won’t—but they will all contribute to building that database of what you like and wouldn’t like in a dream career. It might take days, months, or even years, but one day, you’ll have enough data to say, “I think I finally found THE career path…” But that clarity will not come from stressing and thinking about it and disturbing Google (poor guy). ✅ Clarity requires data. ✅ Data comes from experiences. ✅ Experiences come from doing and exploring—EXPERIMENTING. ❌ There is no secret career clarity formula. ❌ No career coach can tell you exactly what you’re meant to do. ❌ And you definitely won’t find your dream career path on the first page of Google. **************** When I joined the Student Finance Club in my third year of university, I had no perfect plan of, oh, I would then leverage that experience: 🟢 To secure my first CFA Access Scholarship. 🟢 To land my first graduate role as a Financial Analyst. 🟢 More importantly, I had no idea how those experiences were shaping my conclusion that finance wasn’t really for me. When I explored tutoring as an undergraduate, I didn’t know it would: 🟢 Land me a role at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University during NYSC. 🟢 Serve as teaching experience in my MSc application—the degree that ultimately gave me access to secure an Economist role in the Department for Education. 🟢 Help me prove my mentorship skills during my International Student Ambassador interview. 🟢 Most importantly, show me how much I love teaching and confirm that I’d return to lecturing economics someday (Insha’Allah). Eventually, everything made sense—some things are still coming together. But it all started with just trying things out…not knowing exactly where they would lead ************* My advice: Make your undergraduate years your "just trying it out" era; there is little at stake, and the pressure is low. ❌ Stop stressing and obsessing over connecting the dots from the start. ✅ Start doing, and trust that one day, you'll look at your CV with a big smile and say, "It all makes sense now." Cheers to clarity! Drop your best career advice below—let’s empower each other! 👇🏽 P.S.: If this inspires you, repost ♻️ to inspire another undergrad. ************* Baliqees, you might see this or not, but this post is dedicated to you. I hope it inspires you to trust your gut and just try things out to see where it leads. Thank you Aminat for the opportunity to speak with your community Sparcool Connect.

Struggling with the job search? Stop submitting dozens of online apps and crossing your fingers. Try this instead: Start by setting aside 2-3 days. Use that time to research the heck out of companies in your target industry. Learn about their products, customers, finances, people, and culture. You’ll cross a lot of places off your list — that’s a good thing! Work to narrow down the list until you have 15 companies you really love. Now focus 100% of your time and energy on those companies. Invest time creating highly personalized resumes and cover letters, then apply. Begin building relationships with potential referrals. Start with people you know — can anyone in your circle introduce you? Then message decision makers (hiring managers, potential peers) directly. Finally, think about how you can go above and beyond to show how much you want to work there. Can you share potential solutions to a challenge? Can you help identify a new opportunity? Can you perform a competitive analysis? Can you gather feedback on a new initiative? Package that up in a deck and lead with it (I call these Value Validation Projects). Moral of the story? Stop going 100 miles wide and one mile deep. Instead, choose a small set of companies you’re genuinely excited about and invest 100% in them.

Almost every time I speak with juniors or college students, I get asked the same question: “I’m not sure what field I want to work in. How do I decide what to do?” It’s a completely normal feeling — and honestly, I’ve been there too. When I first entered college, I had no clue what specialization to take or what career path to pursue. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. What you need is a plan to explore and narrow it down. Here’s what I tell anyone who asks: 📍 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 List a few things you genuinely enjoy or find intriguing — like writing, data analysis, designing, or public speaking. Don’t worry about how they translate into a career just yet Action Step: Write down your interests without worrying about how they translate into a career. The point is to recognize your natural inclinations. 📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Try out your interests through short-term activities like joining a club, taking a beginner’s course, or volunteering for a project. Give it 2–4 weeks and see if you enjoy the process Action Step: Try something for 2–4 weeks and assess: Did you enjoy the process? Did it feel meaningful? 📍 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 Reach out to people working in fields you’re curious about. Ask about their day-to-day work, the skills they use, and what they enjoy or dislike about their roles Action Step: Message 3 professionals on LinkedIn and politely ask for a 15-minute chat. Most people are willing to help if you’re genuinely curious and respectful of their time. 📍 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 Identify the skills you want to develop rather than getting stuck on job titles. Whether it’s data analysis, storytelling, or management, skills are transferable and will shape your career regardless of the role Action Step: Pick one skill you’re curious about and spend an hour a week learning or practicing it. 📍 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 Your first choice doesn’t have to be your final choice. Reflect every few months to see if you’re still enjoying your current path. It’s okay to change directions as you learn more Action Step: Set a reminder to reflect every 3 months: Are you still enjoying your current path? If not, what’s next? The Bottom Line: You don’t have to know your exact career path at 20. Just focus on exploring, learning, and building foundational skills — the clarity will follow. To everyone feeling overwhelmed — take it one step at a time. And remember, not having it all figured out is okay — it’s part of the journey. What’s one career option you’re currently exploring? Share below — I’d love to hear your thoughts!👇 #CareerAdvice #CollegeTips #FindingYourPath #SkillBuilding #CareerExploration #EarlyCareerInsights

Over the last few years, I’ve switched jobs, given many interviews, and spent hundreds of hours optimizing my resume and profile. During this journey, I made plenty of mistakes that cost me time and opportunities. So today, I want to share these genuine mistakes—and more importantly, how you can avoid them: Applying Randomly & Everywhere: In the early stages, I thought applying to as many jobs as possible was the key. Big mistake! Quality always beats quantity. Lesson: Tailor each application to the job role. Research the company and make sure your resume aligns with their requirements. Ignoring LinkedIn & Online Presence: Initially, my LinkedIn profile was incomplete and poorly optimized. I underestimated the power of LinkedIn visibility. Lesson: Your online presence matters. A complete, active LinkedIn profile attracts opportunities you’d never find by traditional methods alone. Sending Generic Cold Messages: I used to send cold messages like "Hi, can you refer me?" which rarely received replies. Lesson: Craft a concise, clear message. Always include the specific role, job link/ID, your resume, and a short summary of your skills. Poor Resume Formatting: My resume had too many graphics, complicated formatting, and lacked the right keywords. This reduced my ATS compatibility. Lesson: Keep your resume simple, structured, and ATS-friendly. Use clear headings, bullet points, and keywords from the job description. Not Preparing for the "Tell Me About Yourself" Question: I used to treat this question lightly and gave long, vague answers. The interviewer would lose interest quickly. Lesson: Prepare a structured 1-minute summary focusing on your experience, skills, and how you match the job you're interviewing for. Underestimating the Job Description: I didn't closely analyze the job description and often missed key details required by employers. Lesson: Job descriptions are gold. Analyze them carefully and reflect their highlighted skills and requirements in your application and interviews. Overlooking Company Research: During interviews, I would have limited knowledge about the company's products or mission. This made my answers generic. Lesson: Always research the company’s recent activities, products, and news. It helps you answer questions meaningfully and shows genuine interest. Getting Demotivated by Rejections: Early rejections made me question my capabilities, negatively impacting future interviews. Lesson: Every rejection is a lesson. Ask for feedback, reflect, and improve. Rejection means redirection—not the end of the road. Negotiation Mistakes: I used to accept offers quickly without proper negotiation due to the fear of losing the offer. Lesson: Negotiate politely but confidently. Companies expect this. Always understand your market worth, and clearly communicate your value. Have you made similar mistakes or learned something valuable from your own job search? Share your experiences in the comments—let's help each other grow!

I can't tell you the last time I looked at a resume in over 12 years of hiring, and I've hired many people. It's not even a nonstarter. I don't even think about it. I know others will disagree with me, but I don't find any value in the PDF version of your LinkedIn page. I'll just go to LinkedIn. But don't despair; there are many ways to garner attention, be introduced, or stand out. 1. Follow-up notes - it's incredible how often I do not receive a follow-up message after a conversation. It's so easy to do. Here's my opinion on the best follow-up message setup: (1) Thank the person for their time. (2) Bullet point a couple of things you learned from the conversation (3) Ask a question to re-engage. Send the follow-up within an hour of the interview. Send a note to each participant if it's a group meeting or panel. IMPORTANT: If you don't get a response after your first note, could you send a couple more? People are busy, and the inbox is even busier. 2. Use video - I always appreciate it when an applicant uses Loom or another video provider to send an introduction or thank you video. It's a rare occurrence that surprises me due to its ease of use. 3. Please research the role and be sure you are a fit. Are you framing your qualifications to match what the hiring managers are looking for? Ensure you fully understand what you are applying for. 4. Research the team and understand the company. Who are your hiring manager's peers? Who else would you want to meet? If you are interviewing with the CMO, contact the CRO or VP of Sales and try to schedule a meeting. It doesn't hurt to ask. There is no excuse not to research with tools like LinkedIn available to you. 5. Get an introduction before applying - Once you research and meet a couple of people from the company, ask for an introduction. I can count on both hands how often I've received an introduction from a team member for a role I am hiring for. Even better, if you are a referral from a trusted peer, you go to the top of the list, no matter what. 6. Prepare with questions—Spend an inordinate amount of time listing out questions you want to ask the interviewer. Discuss the role expectations, but don't forget to ask questions specifically about them, such as "Why did you choose to work here?" etc. Hiring great people isn’t about resumes but connections, preparation, and effort. Don’t rely on the same old playbook if you want to stand out. Get creative, do the work, and show why you’re the best fit for the role. The good news? Most people won’t do these things. That’s your edge.

Breaking stereotypes wasn’t easy. A banker once told me, ‘It’s better to be a shark in a pond than a fish in an ocean.’ That mindset shaped me. Some stories inspire us to aim higher and keep going. Anuja Bhekane’s journey is one that truly moves me - a story where she didn’t have a head start in life, yet today, she leads a team of 100. Here is Anuja’s story in her own words to inspire you to lead with courage and confidence. “I didn’t have a prestigious degree or a built-in career roadmap. Coming from a family of agriculture and farming, I had no exposure to the corporate world, no roadmap to success. Yet, I refused to let that define me. At 20, I began my career in the capital markets industry, a field traditionally dominated by men. My clients were CXOs of major banks, and through my interactions with them, I realized something profound: financial success wasn’t limited to business owners. Even salaried professionals could achieve wealth and independence. Over the past decade, I’ve been the only female Zonal Head in my field, earning credibility through performance - not gender. And while I’ve never played the “I’m a woman” card, let’s be real - challenges exist. Balancing work and family, ensuring my personal responsibilities never became an organization’s problem, and still delivering at the highest level - that was the biggest challenge I overcame. There were days I felt stretched between two worlds - one at work, one at home - but I never let either become an excuse. Three months after maternity leave, I was back at work - not to prove anything, but because my passion for what I do never took a break. Some days, success comes easy; other days, failure humbles you. The key is to turn setbacks into learning experiences. Staying grounded, being modest - that’s what sustains success in the long run. Even today, my aspiration remains the same. When I first met a CEO as a 20-year-old, I told myself that one day, I would be on that side of the table. That goal still drives me.”

The Class of 2025 faces unprecedented challenges—but your greatest asset isn't just your degree, it's your capacity for transformation. Research consistently shows that sustainable career success emerges from internal motivation: ↳ 68% higher employment satisfaction when work aligns with personal values, according to Workforce Analytics ↳ 2.9x greater career resilience when skills development is self-directed, according to Harvard Business Review ↳ 81% improved interview performance when candidates articulate authentic purpose, according to PSYCHOMETRIC RECRUITMENT LIMITED To activate your career transformation engine, master these five essential components: 🔹 Design your "Skills Acceleration System": Map your learning against emerging industry needs. Graduates who dedicate 5 hours weekly to strategic upskilling secure roles 40% faster (LinkedIn Workforce Report). 🔹 Craft your "Rejection Resilience Protocol": Convert interview feedback into growth opportunities. Candidates who implement structured feedback review processes receive 3x more follow-up interviews. 🔹 Develop your "Network Cultivation Rhythm": Create systematic touchpoints with industry connections. Professionals with consistent relationship-building practices receive 57% more unsolicited opportunities. 🔹 Create your "Opportunity Visibility Framework": Establish daily practices that position you where serendipity happens. Graduates in 3+ industry communities encounter 4x more "hidden market" roles. 🔹 Formulate your "Professional Identity Narrative": Craft and practice your unique value proposition until it becomes second nature. Candidates with coherent personal narratives advance 2.5x faster in early career stages. That's how you become career-resilient in a competitive landscape—by systematically building the professional identity that creates opportunities where others see only obstacles. What's one step from this framework that sparks your curiosity? Share below. Coaching can help; let’s chat. Joshua Miller #Classof2025 #CareerAdvice #Executivecoaching

Exploring the Complex Factors Surrounding Women's Career Choices: The decision for women and girls to leave their careers is a multifaceted issue that cannot be attributed to a single cause. Instead, it involves a complex interplay of personal, societal, and structural factors. In this post, we will delve into some of the reasons why it can be easier for women and girls to leave their careers. It's important to remember that these reasons are not universal and may vary greatly from person to person. 🎯Gender Roles and Expectations: Traditional gender roles have often placed the burden of childcare and household responsibilities primarily on women. These societal expectations can make it easier for women to leave their careers, especially if they face pressure to prioritize their family over their professional aspirations. 🎯Unequal Distribution of Household and Caregiving Responsibilities: Even in dual-income households, women often bear a disproportionate share of household and caregiving responsibilities. Balancing a career and these responsibilities can be overwhelming, leading some women to opt for leaving their careers temporarily or permanently. 🎯Career Barriers: Women may face numerous career barriers, such as discrimination, a lack of mentorship opportunities, and a glass ceiling that limits their advancement. These obstacles can discourage them from pursuing their careers or can lead to them leaving their careers prematurely. 🎯Personal Fulfillment: Some women choose to leave their careers because they find greater fulfillment in roles outside of the traditional workforce, such as entrepreneurship, volunteering, or pursuing creative passions. This decision may not be solely influenced by external pressures but by personal values and aspirations. 🎯Health and Well-being: The physical and emotional toll of balancing career and family can impact women's health and well-being. In some cases, leaving a career may be a necessary decision to prioritize mental and physical health. 🎯Lack of Access to Quality Childcare: The availability and affordability of quality childcare can be a significant factor. If women cannot secure reliable childcare, they may have no choice but to leave their careers temporarily or permanently. It's essential to recognize that women's decisions to leave their careers are shaped by a wide range of factors, both personal and systemic. Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that includes changes in societal expectations, workplace policies, and support systems. Ultimately, empowering women to make choices that align with their goals and aspirations is crucial for achieving gender equality in the workforce.

SDR Interview Tips from my 15-month journey at Salesforce… Long post alert! But if you’re prepping for an SDR interview, this is the guide you need. Follow through, and thank me later! You’ve sent out countless applications, finally got a response, aced the screening call… and now? You’re meeting the SDR Manager for the real deal. Excited? Nervous? Wondering how to prepare? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Here’s your SDR Interview Survival Guide to help you land the role (even without 6-12 months of experience). 1. Know the Product & Industry - Skimming the company website isn’t enough. - Sign up for a free trial, read case studies, and check competitors. - Use Owler or Crunchbase to find revenue, growth, and market trends. Sales managers know if you’re genuinely interested or just applying everywhere. Show them why this company excites you. 2. Follow Company News & Trigger Events - Was the company featured in Forbes? - Did they secure funding recently? - Are they expanding into new markets? Trigger events help you stand out by showing you’ve done your research and understand where the company is headed. 3. Review Case Studies - How is the product sold? - What’s the unique value proposition? - Who are the ideal customers? Mock calls are common in SDR interviews. If you know the ICP and key selling points, you’ll crush it. 4. Prepare for Role Plays Cold calling isn’t magic. It’s a repeatable process: - Who you are & why you’re calling - Ask open-ended questions - Discover pain points - Book the meeting 5. Ask Smart Questions Hiring managers love curious SDRs. Some great questions: - How do top SDRs exceed quota? - What’s the ramp time for new hires? 6. Follow Up Like an SDR - Send a LinkedIn message or email. - If they go dark, pick up the phone. - Stay top of mind, this is your first test as a salesperson. SDR roles aren’t just about skills. Nail these, and you’ll land the offer. Are you preparing for an SDR interview? Drop your biggest challenge below! 👇 #SalesDevelopment #SDR #SalesJobs #InterviewTips #TechSales #JobSearch