Omna Search: A Little Introspection
Hey friends of Omna,
As much as it pains to say, Fall is officially here and with that comes sweaters, squeezing in as much last minute golf as you can, and pumpkin spice lattes (fun fact Starbucks sells over 20 million of these every year ← saw this on the jumbotron at the hockey game last night). As summer departs and winter arrives, it can be a time of introspection for many as the year comes to a close. As I do my own introspection as to what to write for this newsletter, I thought what would add the most value to you is a couple informal tips/insights for your current or upcoming job search (this is a recruiting-oriented newsletter after all) that I’ve come across during my time as a recruiter. As someone who has been in the business for nearly 5 years, I hope you view the below as a bit of a “lifting of the veil” in some sorts in terms of what we actually encounter when recruiting:
Send that Thank You note: It sounds mundane but clients actually do care about this. Sending a quick Thank You note to each interviewer during your job process goes a long way and really does distinguish you from other applicants; “Maybe I’m old fashioned but XYZ was the only candidate to send a follow up note” - Real Quote from Real Client
A conversation with a recruiter isn’t a job interview: You don’t have to worry about being “rehearsed” or having an air-tight elevator pitch when talking to us. The point of the conversation is to learn about the details of your background, tell you more about the details of the role we’re recruiting for, and figure out if there’s a good fit for the role. As a candidate, being transparent, open, and specific helps not only determine if the role makes sense for you, but also helps us get a better handle on what you’re looking for when it comes to future roles. If we ask what industries you’re interested in, give us your top 3 instead of saying you’re industry agnostic. Or if you have a material bonus payment coming up in the short-term that would realistically impact your ability to make a job change , let us know. Being transparent and open is mutually beneficial.
Your resume doesn’t have to be as “swanky” as you think: Of course your resume should be clean, polished, and look professional. But with that being said, most of our clients (and us recruiters) just care about the details of what you accomplished in your roles. When I scan a new resume, all I look for is the details of your roles, what you’ve accomplished in your roles in quantifiable terms, and what size of teams you’ve led (if applicable). You don’t necessarily need to format your resume in a way to “stand-out” - sometimes less is more. I once had a senior level finance candidate create his resume on excel and he got the job, true story.
Offer negotiations: Our team is so fortunate to deal with amazing candidates everyday (that’s you!), so it’s no surprise we’re constantly working through the closing process with candidates and the offer negotiations that come with that. Negotiating through an offer is a normal part of the closing process to make sure both the hiring manager and candidate are happy. This sounds obvious, but if you’re negotiating for a higher part of your comp package please have a reason for it (ie. you have another offer that is at $XYZ, the offer came in lower than your current comp, in 6 months you’ll be getting a raise that will put you at a higher salary level etc.). If I had a nickel for every time a candidate turned off a hiring manager by asking for more comp just for the sake of asking (and hiring managers pick up on the distinction easier than you think…)
Leverage your recruiter: If you’re working with a recruiter on a role make sure to leverage us, we’re on the same team and have aligned interests in wanting you to land the role. For example, if you have a check-in call with a recruiter during a job process, be transparent with us and upfront about any concerns or questions you still have around the role and company. It’s our job to work with the hiring manager to make sure you have your questions or concerns addressed as you work through the job process - help us help you!
Keep your LinkedIn current: There’s nothing wrong with being in-between jobs but make sure your LinkedIn profile reflects that. If you’re no longer at your current company or have started a new role, make sure to reflect that on your profile. It can set a conversation back with a recruiter if you have to spend the initial part of the conversation getting up to speed on their current situation.
Hope this helps,
- Erik
🗽 Omna Happy Hour & Panel!
As we’ve mentioned in our earlier newsletters, we’re thrilled to be hosting Omna Happy Hour and panel at the Sixth Floor Loft on October 6th. We’ll be having a panel led by exec-level startup leaders and operators, then have an open forum to network and brainpick. We look forward to seeing everyone that has RSVP’d!
Relevant Reading:
The Unicorn Funding Slump is Worse Than You Thought (TechCrunch)
Shopify Lets Staff Decide Cash-Stock Pay Mix as Shares Dive (Bloomberg)
‘If you’re going to build something from scratch, this might be as good a time as in a decade’ (McKinsey Quarterly)
Titan Announces Exclusive Partnership With Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest, Democratizing Access to Venture Capital Funds for the Everyday Investor (Business Wire)
Featured Jobs
If you’re interested in any of these roles (AND you fit the profile indicated), shoot us an email and our team will tell you more/get you into the process if there’s a fit. You can also find a full list of opportunities on our Omna job board.
Remote:
Corporate Strategy Associate @ Bodily, Series A Women's Health D2C Startup | 2-5 YOE; PE or M&A banking
Chief of Staff @ WithMe, Seed Stage Hardware as a Service | 4-8 YOE; management consulting + tech / startup operating experience
Corporate Strategy Associate @ Silicon Valley Bank, High-Tech Bank for Startups | 3-5 YOE; management consulting, commercial banking experience preferred
Senior Manager, Strategy & Analytics @ Abnormal Security, Series C AI Cybersecurity Startup | 7+ YOE; you’re very analytical with a strong technical skillset and previous leadership experience
Product Manager @ Scratchpay, Series C Fintech Startup | 1-3 YOE; management consulting experience
Technical Product Manager @ TailorBird, Seed-Stage PropTech Startup | 5+ YOE; with 2+ years as a technical product manager in any industry; background or familiarity with construction, real estate, or engineering spaces
SF Bay Area (Pleasanton):
Chief of Staff @ Omnifi, Early Stealth-Mode Wireless Technology Startup | 5+ YOE; you have operational experience, and a level of comfort around financial models; excited to build something from 0 to 1
Chicago:
Sr. Director of Investments @ Chicago Beyond, Non-Profit Impact Fund | 7-12 YOE; have managed teams / demonstrated interest in the social impact or non-profit space
Operations Manager @ Sundberg America, Leading Distributor of Commercial Repair Parts | 4-5 YOE; management consulting / banking / supply chain / operations
LA:
Director of Strategic Ops @ O Positiv, Women's Health & Wellness Brand | 4+ YOE; management consulting and / or startups (ops or relevant roles)
NYC:
Strategy & Ops Associate/Manager @ Maiden Home, D2C Luxury Furniture Startup | 2-5+ YOE; management consulting, ibanking or tech / startup
VP Operations @ Maiden Home, D2C Luxury Furniture Startup | 8-10+ YOE; management consulting and/or operations at a tech / startup
Head of Strategy & Operations @ Confidential, Bessemer Backed Healthtech Startup | 10+ YOE; management consulting experience and experience working in a startup / high-growth environment
Miami:
Territory Operations Manager @ Traba, Series A Leading Labor Marketplace Platform | 2+ YOE; management consulting experience and/or experience working in a startup / high-growth environment
Until next time,
Erik @ Omna Search
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