Finding your next People Leader role: Allison Mairena (Sproul), VP People, NewGlobe

Watch MPL's recent episode with Allison Mairena (Sproul), VP of People at NewGlobe. We talked about her job search for her next people leader role and getting your resume in front of the right people without having to apply. Don't have time to listen to the whole thing? Read the highlights below. ⬇️

1. Network like it's your job 🤝

By targeting specific roles and leaning heavily on her network, Allison recently landed the VP of People role at NewGlobe. 👏

Allison says you've got to have a clear goal in mind for your next role and the type of company that you want to work for before you start applying. As she put it, "what's the point in applying to a role you're not truly interested in? You'd just be taking that opportunity away from someone who might be a perfect fit."

She says to make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect your major accomplishments, not just routine tasks. For example, highlight how your company was voted for the best perks.

Since cold LinkedIn InMails don't work like they used to, her advice is to lean into your network instead. Reconnect with people at companies you used to work for or leverage connections from community involvement.

"Network like it's your job. Some fully remote roles are getting up to a thousand applications for a single position. It's a needle in a haystack. And even if you do have all of these accomplishments, you're probably still going to get rejected unless you have a contact."

2. How to find your sweet spot as a People Leader 🎯

There are three phases in a company's growth, and as a people leader, you need to figure out which phase you enjoy working in the most.

🌿 In the jungle phase, when you are seed-funded or at Series A, you're hacking your way through without a clear direction, hoping to find sustenance.

🛤 By the time you reach the dirt road phase, around Series B or C, you have a minimum viable product and market fit, but the road is still bumpy with potholes.

🛣 Finally, in the later stages, pre or post-IPO, you have your paved road, and it's smooth sailing down the highway. Sure, there may be occasional accidents, but the direction is clear.

While Allison has seen all three stages, she loves going from the jungle to the dirt road phase, building from nothing and starting to scale.

3. Past actions indicate future actions 🕰

When you are job searching, always have specific examples ready for interviews. These examples become part of your pitch, defining who you are.

Like when Allison talks about developing relationships with first-time CEOs, she can summarize it in a quick ten-second elevator pitch.

She says to start thinking about your personal elevator pitch early on, right from the goal-setting stage. Determine the right role, the right industry, and have that pitch ready.

It's an essential step in your career journey.

Allison's definition of a Modern People Leader ❤️

"They need to be the king, queen, or non-binary royalty of being able to adapt. The pandemic taught us that the future of work is uncertain, and the many roles we had to take on during that time continue to evolve daily and weekly. The key, I believe, is being incredibly open to change, and hopefully, being excited about driving that change in a positive way."

The career advice she'd give to her 22-year-old self 🔮

"Things outside your control will always be outside your control. What you can manage are your emotions and reactions. Being mindful of that has been the most significant advice I've given others, and it would probably have benefited 22-year-old Alison as well."

Go listen to the full episode: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

See you next week!

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