A YouTube testimonial conversation (April 1, 2024) between Madeline Mann and Paola about Paola's job search before and after joining the Standout Job Search program. Paola describes previously plateauing past recruiter stages, then credits the program's community, coaching (hot seats), networking content, interview and negotiation support, LinkedIn optimization, and the 'one-page career vision' for helping her land her exact desired role and attract recruiter outreach.
Paula, tell us, like, how was your job search going before you and I met?
I was going on YouTube, looking up, you know, some tips here and there was working. I was watching you, Madeline, on YouTube. It was helping me, you know, stand out as far as, like, my resume. But I felt like I wasn't getting past a certain stage, which was, like, past the recruiter, and I just didn't know why.
What were some of the, like, top three impacts that you had in the standard job search program?
The top three impacts was the community, the support, the ongoing support, the really, it was, like, from everyone, like, from you, your coaches, and of course, the people in the group that actually joined and supporting one another. Also the networking tips, the networking content. It was super comprehensive, super rich. And the interviewing help. And I guess I also have to add, even the negotiating was huge for me. When I joined standout job Search, I wanted to have that, you know, touch point with you, Madeline. So I knew that if I was going to have that, I had to sign up for those hot seats, sign up for those coaching moments. And that really pushed me and accelerated my progress because then it was like, okay, now I have this due date of, like, Madeline looking at my resume or Madeline looking at my LinkedIn or her coaches looking at my LinkedIn and giving me even interviewing feedback. And so that accelerated my growth to make sure that I met those milestones. And it really pushed me to just go further and further. Even when I was in the interviewing experience, when, you know, that was like, the hard. One of the hardest things as far as, like, the job search process. Sometimes there's going to be question marks, but there was always support there, whether it was like in a hot seat or in the Facebook group or, like, chatting amongst each other, you know, within the other members of the group. But I never really felt isolated or alone or like I couldn't reach out to anybody. There was always someone that would get back to me. If it wasn't Madeline for something else, it didn't matter. I still felt like I was very much connected and supported in the group. When I was focused and I was intentional, I got even more opportunities presented to me from outside recruiters reaching out to me. So not only was I passing the interviews, the stages, my LinkedIn profile was optimized to have people offer me the roles. I never would have thought that that would have happened to me. So it definitely gave me that confidence boost that I could totally do this.
Tell us, what were the results?
I ended up landing the exact role that I wanted in the industry that I wanted at a company that I couldn't have possibly dreamt up by myself by just like going off of other people's, like, feedback and experiences. It was way better than I expected. And I really have to say that, you know, doing the one page career vision, as you'll learn, you know, when you join the program, that, that, that was kind of like my map, you know, as I was going through all of the experiences of like, is this company really a fit for me, as I think I might be a fit for them, and just really sticking to, you know, what I truly wanted and being very honest with myself about that.
What would you say to people who are on the fence right now thinking, you know, maybe I'll join, maybe I won't?
What do you.
What would you say to those folks?
I was in your shoes as well. I was also watching the masterclass. There was someone that also spoke like I am right now. And I really resonated with her, you know, her background, the switch, the struggles, and there was something in her that I saw myself in. And so I was like, you know what? I've already tried so many things on my own for so long for more than a year, and if I'm really honest, it's been years. But I've never really made that dive into just investing. So I thought, this is going to be an investment in myself. And now that I'm coming out of it, all of the things that I've learned from this program, I'm going to carry it with me forever. And I'm even helping my close family members with little tidbits that I've learned. This is going to pay dividends way beyond the program ending after you complete it.
