The Loop

Why do many people underestimate the value of 'people skills' vs. technical skills? Why do we shy away from the difficult conversations that could actually benefit our careers? In today's episode I talk with former engineer and author Farnoosh Brock about the practical importance of people skills, why technical/engineering professionals might not prioritize them as much (especially new graduates), and a wide range of real examples and tips that you can use in your job today. About Farnoosh: Farnoosh Brock went from electrical engineer and rising leader at a Fortune 100 company to a speaker, author, and trainer in 2011 when she started her coaching & consulting company.  Today she helps aspiring professionals and future leaders choose their mindset and transform their world one powerful conversation at a time. In addition to her book, The Serving Mindset: Stop Selling and Grow Your Business, she is the creator of several leadership & advancement courses. Learn more at www.farnooshbrock.comHighlights:[4:30] What held back Farnoosh in her career, communication skills and her story[9:00] The beef with "soft skills" and why Farnoosh prefers people skills[10:15] Why people don't think people skills are important; the tendency for STEM/technical professionals to devalue people skills[13:00] Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and extreme genius exceptions vs. the rest of us [16:00] Engineers who don't understand marketers[21:00] Practical tips: using different voices and the power of your voice[26:15] Connecting the dots at work, transitioning from academic environment to corporate, and connecting larger circles within orgs[33:00] Role playing, setting context, how to tell a story and getting feedback on it[37:00] Self-record your own video and get feedback on it : https://app.yoodli.ai/[40:00] How to slow down a manager who is in a rush in a respectful, firm way without being bossy[45:00] How to say no and why Farnoosh loves saying no![47:00] Why most people don't see themselves as leadersQuestions comments or feedback? Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io!

In today's conversation we talk about what it means to be a new manager, expectations, and advice to set yourself up for success. Jiovanni manages a small at Amazon and shares his insights in the last few months, what has gone well and what he would have done differently.  Jiovanni is an Amazon Engineering Manager, Coding Bootcamp Instructor, and Coach. Book a call with Jiovanni here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/jiovanni-rosarioNote: Opinions of Jiovanni are solely his own and are not in any way representative of the views and opinions of Amazon.Show notes and highlights[4:00] Jiovanni's career path [11:10] Why Jiovanni chose to be a manager  - Book recommendation: Making of a Manager by Julie Zhou[16:00] The advantages/disadvantages of the IC path vs. Management path. Book recommendation: Managing Humans by Michael Lopp[18:30] The #1 question to ask yourself before becoming a manager[20:00] The first day being a manager - how does it feel?[22:30] How to address the elephant in the room[26:00] Psychological safety / Management styles that don't work anymore[28:00] Micromanagement and letting people make their own mistakes[29:00] Alternatives to micromanagement / how to make sure everyone is heard [31:00] The art of casual conversations and relationship building [33:07] Spending time talking to peers and understanding processes and your own responsibilities [39:00] How your relationships change with teammates Quotes, comments or feedback? Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io

Why does burnout happen? How do you know when you're just a little bit tired vs. when it's really time to take a break? What actions can you take to test whether your job is the right one before calling it quits? Former tech recruiter Kerri McKinney shares her own story of burnout, the warning signs and lessons learned from taking on too much. Chat with Kerri here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/kerri-mckinney-1About Kerri: Kerri has had the opportunity to work for incredible organizations career including PayPal, Indeed.com and Amazon, as well as some amazing start-ups. She's recruited for many different types of roles from tech to sales and marketing. You can visit her site at www.kerrimckinney.com and reach out to her directly at me@kerrimckinney.comShow notes and highlights:[3:30] Kerri's career story, chasing titles and dealing with workaholism[7:45] Why a mission-driven role didn't solve the burnout problem[10:15] The danger of measuring your value / self-worth by what your job is[13:20] Warning signs : frustrations, temper, disengagement, more days where you just can't work[17:12] The #1 way to know if you're getting to the point of burnout (paying attention to your energy)[21:45] Red flags: is it easy or is it sucking your energy? [23:30] Judging whether it's the little things or the big things [25:15] How to set boundaries at work [31:30] Differences in roles and respecting other people's schedules[36:40] Why you shouldn't check your phone in the morning [42:00] Questions to ask yourself if you don't feel good after a meeting. The power of the Pause.[52:00] The power of full engagement book https://www.amazon.com/Power-Full-Engagement-Managing-Performance/dp/0743226755 and the Presence Process https://www.amazon.com/Presence-Process-Journey-Present-Awareness/dp/1897238460Questions, comments and feedback?Email me at misha@carrus.io 

Why do layoffs happen? What are the warning signs internally that could indicate impending layoffs? How do you prepare yourself and your career? In today's conversation with tech recruiter Magda Cheang, we go over the recent layoff trends and much more. Magda Cheang worked at Zoom, Facebook (Meta), InVision and has helped hire thousands of people in Sales, Channel, Marketing, Customer Success, Account Management, Product Marketing and Leadership positions across the U.S, EMEA, APAC, MENA and EMERGING markets.Book a coaching call with Magda here. —> https://app.carrus.io/s/magda-cheang-1Show notes and Highlights[5:05] Why the layoffs happened during COVID and why they happened after the pandemic / the differences between these layoffs [7:55] The internal mindset of companies during layoffs, what's in control and outside of the control of companies, and the limitations of companies on predicting growth [13:00] Why there isn't a more compassionate approach to layoffs? [16:30] Examples of how some companies can create work internally to save jobs[18:45] Signs of impending layoffs![31:30] The difference between getting fired and being laid off and what should you do if you're laid off?[40:00] What you should say in an interview if you were laid off in your previous role[43:00] A skillful way to share your layoff experience on LinkedIn, and how to leverage LinkedIn to showcase your skills [48:40] Why you shouldn't jump right into the next job if you got laid off Questions, comments or feedback? Email me at misha@carrus.io

Today's conversation is with Preston VanderWeyst, who is a former software engineer at Microsoft, and has engineering & hiring experience at both small and large tech companies. We talk specifically about the the hiring manager interview and the misconceptions people have about that initial meeting. He clarifies what many people think the hiring manager is looking for versus what they're really looking for. We cover good questions and bad questions to ask, and what to expect, along with a bunch of other tips and advice!Book a coaching call with Preston here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/preston-vanderweyst-1Show notes:[4:40] How to deal with difficult questions from hiring managers[7:09] What kind of conversation to expect with the hiring manager[10:15] Conclusive vs. inconclusive interviews[11:43] Advice on how not to blow it in the HM interview / what to watch out for/ being critical[16:10] Preparation for the HM interview Checklist[17:47] Is it appropriate to mention a HM's background during the interview? (a note of caution on making assumptions)[22:00] Examples of good questions to ask[26:19] Preston's least favorite questions[33:00] Follow up questions[36:00] Getting feedback, hints to watch out forQuestions, comments or feedback?Email me at misha@carrus.io

Why do we get defensive at work? Why do we shy away from difficult questions in interviews? And how do we develop the self-awareness so this doesn't hold us back? In my conversation with Stefania Montagna, we dive deep into the meaning of EQ, why it's important, and why to develop it. Book a coaching call with Stefania here to work more on improving your emotional intelligence and self-awareness before your next interview-> https://app.carrus.io/s/stefania-montagnaGet $50 off any coaching session with this special link: https://carrus.io?via=free50Resources from the podcast: Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence Book The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff Write like a motherfucker, by Cheryl Strayed on The Rumpus The quote by Rumi:Beyond right and wrong there's a field, I'll meet you there.Show notes:[11:26] Stefania's experiences developing emotional intelligence[13:45] Getting deep into emotional intelligence and what it means[18:33] How to know if you are being reactive and measuring your self-awareness (and what does it mean when you are triggered often?)[23:35] The role social media plays in reducing self-awareness[25:30] Self-awareness during your interview, the desire to be right, and why you don't need the right answer[28:00] Why it's triggering to be in an interview: The connection between work and belonging historically (supporting yourself economically)[38:20] How interviewing is like dating + tips for feeling out the right role instead of overthinking it[40:00] Interview coming up? Stefania's Framework to Identify Before-After Moments and tactics you can use today and building out your story and Elevator Pitch[49:30] The "tell me about yourself" question and why you're doing it wrong[52:00] How companies assess Emotional Intelligence in an interview / why people avoid conflict/ how to overcome this obstacle [1:02:50] Where we were 30-40 years ago, and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in the interview[1:10:00] Making the same mistakes, re-learning painful lessons [1:12:30] The importance of humility[1:17:00] Stefania's coaching focus and her tips on when you should get a coachQuestions, comments or feedback? Email me at misha@carrus.io!

In this 2-part podcast series, I interview former Amazon bar raiser and executive recruiter Eric Hudson on Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles. He unpacks the real meaning behind each one, and shares expert tips on how you can best prepare for the Amazon interview.If you're trying to understand what these principles really mean, the stories behind them, and how to prepare for the Amazon interview, there is a TON of value in this podcast.You can check out Part 1 of this series here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/358d04ffBook a call with Eric here and get help nailing your interview and negotiating your offer—> https://app.carrus.io/s/eric-h-1Show notes and highlights:[2:50] Bias for action[8:15] Frugality[13:40] Earn Trust[18:40] Dive Deep[28:45] Have Backbone, Disagree and Commit [36:52] Deliver Results[40:00] Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility[42:40] Strive to Be Earth's Best Employer[46:30] Why people should have examples focused on multiple LPs / using the same answer more than onceQuestions, comments or feedback?Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io 

In today's conversation I interview former tech executive and founder of Kadima Careers, Alan Stein. We discuss all the ways in which the hiring process is biased, along with strategies any underrepresented individual can use to overcome these obstacles. Alan spent several years at tech companies like Google, Facebook, Amex and Salesforce, and witnessed first hand the efforts companies made to promote diversity and inclusion, which often fell short. Using this experience, Alan decided to take matters into his own hands and start Kadima Careers, a business that equips underrepresented talent with the tools and confidence to accelerate their career and increase compensation. You can connect with Alan on LinkedIn here, and get coaching and career support at Kadima Careers here. https://kadimacareers.com/Show notes and highlights[4:20]  Alan's story and why a pasty white dude is passionate about diversity [7:00] What Alan tried to do to decrease hiring bias at tech companies like Google[8:57] The main inputs for talent acquisition/hiring and all the ways they are biased [15:00] What is a "good" outcome for diversity in a company? How Alan thinks about this issue[19:00] Having a difficult to pronounce name and bias in screening resumes[21:30] Where the funnel is broken, the sourcing of candidates and why incentives for recruiters and hiring managers are often skewed[24:30] What is the "Rooney Rule" or Diverse Slate Approach, and why are the advantages/disadvantages?[29:30] The recruiter stage vs. other stages and where the worst bias is[34:00] Why Alan decided to start his own business to solve this problem vs. do this internally[42:00] Reasons to aim for big tech companies instead of smaller or mid size firms[43:20] The Growth Framework Alan teaches to find a job[46:00] The importance of 'tenacity' and how to handle getting rejected from interviews - 295 rejections laterComments, questions or feedback? Email me at misha@carrus.io!

In today's episode, I sit down with former Amazon recruiter Tays Heyer to talk all about the Amazon recruitment process and how to nail the first screening call. He explains how to make a CV that gets you past the online screening, the best way to go through your CV during the recruiter call, what to watch out for, and lessons he's learned from doing thousands of screenings. You can get career and interview coaching with Tays here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/john-heyer-1Show notes and highlights[3:05] Tays' experience as a recruiter[7:00] How Amazon hired high volume [9:45] What Amazon recruiters are looking for when they screen a CV/resume (what boxes you need to check)[12:30] Job titles, scope of your work, and why you shouldn't take titles too seriously[13:40] Why you should apply for roles that are more recently posted[16:30] How to get referrals [18:50] How Amazon recruiters look at a resume/CV (growth, years experience, titles, education, etc)[22:00] Unpacking the Recruiter call, when you can expect to get a call back, what to prepare specifically for the first call[28:00] The biggest mistakes people in the 1st recruiter call[30:30] What if you're not a fit for the role, but a fit for the company?[34:00] How to leverage the relationship with your recruiter / how to communicate/ how often to check in[44:30] Final tips for the interviewComments, questions or feedback? Drop me a message at misha@carrus.io

In this 2-part podcast series, I interview former Amazon bar raiser and executive recruiter Eric Hudson on Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles. He unpacks the real meaning behind each one, and shares expert tips on how you can best prepare for the Amazon interview.If you're trying to understand what these principles really mean, the stories behind them, and how to prepare for the Amazon interview, there is a TON of value in this podcast. You can check out Part 2 of this series here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/370180aa Book a call with Eric here and get help nailing your interview and negotiating your offer—> https://app.carrus.io/s/eric-h-1Show notes and highlights:[2:30] Why Amazon's LPs are important and are not just 'nice values'[5:20] Customer Obsession[11:20] Ownership [15:40] Invent and Simplify [19:10] Are Right, a Lot[24:00] Learn and Be Curious[27:35] Hire and Develop the Best[32:07] Insist on the Highest Standards[35:00] Think Big[41:00] What principles are important for your Position at Amazon, which ones to ignore, and which ones to focus onQuestions, comments or feedback? Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io 

In today's conversation with former Amazon engineer Roman Yusufov, we discuss his perspective on Amazon's work culture, how the hiring panel works, the job leveling system, what to expect from a bar raiser interview, and much more. He shares tons of valuable advice on Roman is a nine-year Amazon veteran and a Senior Software Engineer. Throughout his tenure he's worked in various areas including Amazon Marketplace, Amazon Alexa and Amazon Logistics. He has extensive mentorship experience from giving guidance to orgs of 60-100 people to one on one mentorship of engineers of all levels.Book a call with Roman here —>  https://app.carrus.io/s/roman-yusufovShow notes and highlights[4:30] Why the interview is like a mini version of the job[8:15] How Amazon teams are structured [11:40] The importance of Amazon Leadership Principles [12:42] Roman's interview process at Amazon[14:00] What to expect from an Amazon Bar Raiser interview[19:30] What FAANG companies are really looking for [21:20] How "Job Leveling" works at Amazon, from L4 to L8 and above[30:00] Bar raisers at Amazon, their role and what to expect[37:00] How the decision making process looks like in the Hiring Panel[42:00] Getting rejected for one role and re-interviewing for a new one. Position fit vs. company fit.[45:40] Amazon's work culture, the NYT article about Amazon, and Roman's experience with work-life balance[52:50] Roman's approach to Interview Prep and 2 things you need to rememberQuestions, comments or feedback? Email me at misha@carrus.io!

In today's conversation engineer Harsh Mittal shares what its like to work at Microsoft, the differences between interviewing at Microsoft and Amazon, and a 9-step plan to approach the software engineer interview. Talk with Harsh here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/harsh-mittalYou can also hear a more detailed breakdown of his 9-step approach here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTVAfjFWvOo&t=10sAt Microsoft, he worked on projects responsible for the overall quality of hardware that goes into production. He's also  the go-to person for the quick "one week crash course on becoming an expert at the subject" since his school days. He "teaches the way I feel I should've been taught." and believes that everyone deserves to fall in love with the subject they are inquisitive about.Show notes and highlights: [4:40] Harsh's transition from Microsoft to Amazon[6:48] The recruitment process out of college for Microsoft roles[8:27] Differences between Microsoft and Amazon interviews [10:43] The Microsoft culture[20:10] The talent movement between Microsoft and other FAANG companies[26:50] Harsh's 9-Step Plan for nailing engineering interviews[46:00] The trend of companies outsourcing their technical interview screeningQuestions, comments or feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Email me at misha@carrus.io!

In today's episode I interview Teresa Fung, a former Alexa engineer and Bar Raiser who spent 7 years at Amazon. Teresa shares her story as an engineer that left the workforce for 8 years, and then was able to land a job at Amazon afterward! Her story is inspiring and full of practical advice for people going through a career break that want to reenter the workforce. We also dive deep into Amazon's unique hiring process, her role as a Bar Raiser and how to approach this particular interview, and much more.Get 1-1 coaching with Teresa here: https://app.carrus.io/s/teresa-fung-2 Connect on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresakfung/Show notes and Highlights:[5:00] Teresa's story about moving to Silicon Valley and taking a career break to raise her kids[9:30] How do you explain an 8-year career gap? What do you put on your CV?[12:30] Why you can still get a job after a gap + strategies/techniques you can use to land a job[17:00] Mental barriers to overcome when you are applying for new roles after a career gap[20:00] What is an Amazon "Bar Raiser" [22:20] What Bar Raisers are responsible for, misconceptions, their role, and how they assess candidates (company vs. team)[26:00] How to answer interview questions in a clever way that allows you to keep your options open for OTHER roles in the company[29:29] Why do Bar Raisers make me nervous?[32:00] Why interviewers ask you follow-up questions, and why it's a good sign[35:20] How many Bar Raisers are at Amazon? [40:00] The hidden side door to get into Amazon / what Teresa would have done differently[42:50] Teresa's top Tips for anyone interviewing at Amazon[49:54] Breakdown of role-related questions and culture (Leadership Principle) related questions [52:00] Common patterns Teresa sees during job interview prep[58:40] What interview prep approach is the "best"?Questions, comments or feedback?Send me an email at misha@carrus.io! 

What does Google mean by leadership? It has little to do with people management and 'herding the cats'. And surprisingly, it's often those on the lower rungs of the ladder that have the opportunity to exhibit leadership. In today's conversation, I talk with Geoff Mendal, former engineer at Google about their expectations around leadership, the interview process and much more. Geoff has interviewed hundreds of SWE/SRE/SA/RE/QA/PM candidates during his nearly 11-year tenure at Google, 5 years at Microsoft, and senior leadership role at Pandora.Get coaching with Geoff here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/geoff-mendal-1Show notes and Highlights:[6:00] Why Leadership is conflated, leadership as a verb, and what Google actually means by "leadership"[8:30] The reason Google needs people to speak up and the role of risk[10:00] How interviewers will change a candidate on leadership ability, even in a coding or system design screening [12:38] The importance of building a coalition around ideas (selling and influencing ideas that are risky, piloting it) and other examples of leadership[14:10] How leadership was different in a smaller startup like Pandora vs. how Google runs it [20:20] Red flags in candidates who are interviewing at Google and what to watch out for [23:00] Examples of tough interview questions asked in the Leadership interview[27:50] Geoff's story when he interviewed at Google [31:00] Leadership interview questions for product managers interviewing a Google[32:30] Geoff's #1 question about leadership that you should be able to answer [38:20] How to answer tough questions even when you DON'T have the honest experience using EQ and self-awareness[41:00] Showing vulnerability in the interview[42:50] Questions around competing priorities / Geoff's approach to interview prep[43:20] Preparing great questions, a definition of a great question (something specific and valuable) vs. a lame question (what keeps you up at night?) --> leadership [47:00] The # of questions you need to prepare for each question since you are scored on the quality and number of your questions [49:47] The misconception around leadership, the surprising relationship between leadership and seniority, and why being lower on the rung gives you more opportunity to exhibit leadership [51:30] Every interviewer has their own style and what kind of discussion you can expect to have [56:00] The signs of someone being defensive vs. standing their ground and being assertive [57:30] Geoff's approach to coaching and mentoring people for job interviews and their careers ---Questions, comments and feedback? Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io!

A brief but impactful conversation with Google project manager, Pavel, on how to make a great CV that lands you the interview at Google (and other tips!). Chat with Pavel here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/pavel-latifPavel started his career as an embedded software developer where he grew into the role of a software architect. Later he transitioned to product owner role which led to engineering program management. He's worked with both software and hardware products and interviewed 100s of candidates for roles in software development and project management and mentored professionals in their early career development. Currently he works as a Technical program manager at Google.Shownotes:[2:30] The job interview at Ericsson and Google and how project management differs[6:30] Big, top down company interview process vs. bottom-up culture like Google[9:30] How Google rates culture fit during technical interviews and the "How" you're responding [11:00] The difference between the interview vs. the actual job role [12:00] What Google is looking for in a TPM Role / the importance of problem-solving skills vs. actual solutions [15:00] How the Google has changed since the pandemic [18:20] The #1 tip Pavel has to make your CV for Google [20:15] What Pavel wrote on his CV for the Google application and an example of what to do vs. what not to do [23:15] Why focusing on keywords and crawling on your resume/CV is the wrong approach[23:40] How Pavel got the job at Google with a cold-email that led to a referral and job[26:30] Tips on how to get referrals on LinkedIn [28:10] The number 1 interview tip - why your answers need to relate to the level's expectations (up-leveling and down-leveling)Questions, comments, feedback? Drop me an email at misha@carrus.io!

When you hear the word "networking" you might think about being in a crowded room full of people nervously trying to strike up a conversation. Today's guest, Arne Blom, redefines networking and share's a better approach — without coming off as too desperate. Arne Blom is a former executive and career coach. He's held marketing, sales and general management positions at L'Oréal and J&J. In his last company assignment he was the VP APAC of Laboratoires Filorga, a french premium skincare brand owned by Colgate Palmolive. He's lived in London, Mexico, Brussels, Lisbon, Thailand, Paris and Hong Kong, together with his wife and two daughters. He holds a Certificate in Professional Coaching Mastery from Transcend International in Hong Kong and is a certified coach (ACC) by the International Coaching Federation. He speaks fluent Norwegian, French, English and Portuguese.You can chat with Arne here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/arne-blomHighlights from the show:[7:53] The definition of networking [10:35] Why networking is important for your job search and the increasing importance as you move up the ladder[13:12] Misconceptions, mistakes people have and why they are afraid[16:30] What you can learn from Alice in Wonderland [17:25] Step 1 of Arne's technique for networking and reaching out to people he doesn't know (the list)[19:30] Asking potential hiring managers for feedback without the premise of "looking for a job"[21:10] The second step in the networking technique (the pitch)[23:00] The third step in the networking technique (the referral) [24:00] Talking to assistants, PAs to get to the hiring manager[27:00] Not directly saying "I am looking for a job" and the benefit of being indirect[33:00] Asking for "feedback" instead of looking for a job[40:30] Reframing Arne's technique: asking for feedback, sharing their experience, etc[50:33] Talking to coaches who have the experience to draw upon [51:14] Common misconceptions of coaching - defining 'career coaching'---Feedback, comments or questions about the podcast? Drop me a message any time at misha@carrus.io!

When all eyes are on us, it's easy to fall into people-pleasing and avoiding conflict, all at the expense of hiding our beliefs and personality. So how do we bring our authentic selves to stressful situations like a job interview? In today's conversation, career coach and former Uber leader Neda Jafarzadeh shares her tips to bring your best self to the interview.Neda was a Career Coach Manager at General Assembly, where she coached over 500 people seeking a new career path. She's designed and managed leadership and development programs for leaders of all levels – including executives – at Uber, and built the foundation for the Learning and Development function at Everlane focusing on leadership, team, and employee development. She's also a Certified Professional Coach with New Ventures West. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedajaf/ Coaching: https://app.carrus.io/s/neda-jafarzadehShow Notes and Highlights:[8:00] The difference between identity and authenticity. The what vs. the how[11:00] What does "being authentic" really mean? Questions to ask yourself. [13:20] Specific examples you can use to identify if you are being authentic or being fake[15:00] The importance of pausing [16:50] Tools to increase self-awareness and recognize how you feel[19:00] The power of naming emotions. Check out Brene Brown's HBO show here that I mentioned: https://brenebrown.com/book/atlas-of-the-heart/ and her book The Gifts of Imperfection https://brenebrown.com/book/the-gifts-of-imperfection/ [20:30] Why being authentic can create discomfort  [26:40] Why it can be hard to be authentic in general, specific situations, and where you're at in Maslow's Hierarchy[27:50] The overriding needs you have and what makes it tough to be real in an interview[28:50] Pre-work for the interview, knowing your strengths [29:00] Dealing with stern-faced interviewers[33:15] Different ways people are being inauthentic[33:57] The downfalls of faking enthusiasm[36:36] Assessing your own strengths and weaknesses [41:30] Sussing out your manager/future boss and if they're the right fit for you, and questions you can ask your manager in the interview[45:40] Tips to judge your interviewer's style and whether the company is a culture fit for you[47:19] Follow-up questions and digging deep once you have the job offer[52:50] Joining a new company and the counterintuitive idea of taking ownership of your own onboarding plan[58:00] Building a network in the first 180 days on the job, casual 1-1s, and leveraging your boss for introsQuestions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!

Today's guest is Tokyo-based Romen Barua, a serial entrepreneur and content creator. He likes things in twos: he runs two startups, has two beautiful daughters, and two shiba inus. He was formerly a recruiter helping some of the worlds coolest tech companies like Amazon and Uber. We had a casual chat and covered a lot, from advice on how to build a strong network, using LinkedIn to find a job, as well as how to use supercars as investment vehicles. You can connect with Romen and check out his businesses below.Tokyo Supercars: https://www.tokyosupercars.com/Wasabit: https://wasabit.jp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyosupercars LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romenbarua/Coaching: https://app.carrus.io/s/romen-barua-2 Show Notes and Highlights:[2:30] Why Romen is taking this call in a walk-in closet[5:30] Japanese subsidies to add a home-office[9:05] The Tokyo supercars business and how they started up the business[11:05] Why supercars like Ferraris make good investments (appreciating and depreciating assets)[15:00] Supercar sharing experiences vs. commoditized car dealerships [16:00] Renting out cars as a passive income[18:00] Choosing the right car to invest in [23:00] Romen's advice for building a network, introversion vs. extroversion [28:00] Doing activities you enjoy and meeting like-minded people as a tool for networking[35:17] The best way to find a job[45:00] The benefits of working with your wife / finding more balance  [49:00] Romen's TikTok approach Questions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!

Today's guest is Margaret Buj, an experienced recruiter and interview coach who specializes in helping professionals to get hired, promoted, and paid more. She has 16 years of experience recruiting for global technology and eCommerce companies across Europe & the US, and in the last 15 years, she's successfully coached over a thousand people to get the jobs and promotions they really wanted. She recruited for companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Avanade, Expedia, Typeform, Box, and King, and she's helped many clients get into companies such as Amazon and Facebook as well.Recognized as one of the Top Career Influencers to Follow in 2019, and with an award-winning blog, she's spoken at career events & conferences and has done training sessions or workshops in London, Monaco, Athens & Saudi Arabia. She's also been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine, interviewed for The Financial Times and Management Today, and has written the "Land that Job" e-Guide. Find out more and get her free interview resources at https://interview-coach.co.uk  Book a 1-1 career coaching call with Margaret here.In our conversation, we talk about why most people hesitate to self-promote at work and why this is holding them back. Margaret shares her stories and practical tips on how to make yourself more visible in a team or company without coming off as braggadocious. Research has shown, especially for women and minorities, that simply being good at your job isn't enough to overcome systemic bias — you need to build a network and take active steps to show the impact you're making. Relevant links: Perfecting the art of self-promotion  Detailed notes from our conversation  Show Highlights and Timestamps[3:10] The definition of self-promotion and misconceptions - and how to reframe self-promotion[5:00] Why do you need to self-promote? Being invisible in your org even if you have great results[6:30] Reframing from self-promotion to "visibility" and understanding the true value of self-promotion [10:00] Who do you want to be aware of your work, decision-makers, and questions to ask yourself[13:10] Tactics you can use for self-promotion[16:00] Sharing feedback, public praise and indirectly promoting your achievements by talking about others[17:15] Internal updates on Slack and easy ways to give praise[19:00] How to set yourself up for a promotion and how to make your work more visible. Focusing on serving others vs. yourself[22:20] Why we're afraid of receiving praise and how to accept praise. Not deflecting praise, just accepting. [24:00] Other ways to set yourself up for an internal promotion / taking one for the team and ways to demonstrate your commitment [28:11] The relationship with your boss and how to leverage them for the promotion [34:00] How it's different for women [38:00] Creating a career and promotion plan [41:38] The biggest mistakes people make when trying to get promotedQuestions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!

Ridhima Khurana is a seasoned product manager leader who has held roles at leading companies like Meta, Google, Flipkart, Yahoo and more. As a career coach and mentor she has helped hundreds of people bag jobs at Shopify, Google, Meta, Affirm, Coinbase, Sofi, Robinhood, and many Series A/B/C startups. In today's conversation, we go over the power of saying NO and pushing back at work to advance your career. Want help to prepare for your PM interview or learn how to be more assertive at work? Book a time to chat with Ridhima here. Highlights and Timestamps [3:57] How pushing back can help you chart your own career growth[5:19] Situations where you might need to push back[7:20] The art AND science of pushing back / what it really means/ and the first thing you need BEFORE you can push back[9:00] When you shouldn't push back[10:00] Rhidhima's story about joining Meta as a product manager / the dissolution of her team and how she turned things around[18:55] Day to day push-back situations and how to deal with them / why the fear is there[21:20] Opportunities from saying yes vs. assertiveness from saying no[23:00] What happens if your boss gives you stuff you don't want to do - a step-by-step guide to communicating and prioritize with your manager[25:10] A framework to deal with frustrating managers who don't give you enough context[27:15] Pushing back to teammates vs. your boss ("unblocking" vs. solving problems)[30:10] The power of saying "No, and" or "No, but." Disagreeing is okay as long as you have a solution[34:11] Should you give constructive feedback on slack, emails, or in-person? [36:15] Coming from a place of caring before you give feedback[40:00] Preparing before you give feedback[41:00] What's at stake if you aren't assertive and are afraid to ruffle the feathers[42:40] Creating your own career path[42:40] Push-back during the interview process and how to do it[46:10] The line between defensive and being assertive (curiosity-led)Questions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!

Welcome to Episode #2 of The Loop, the podcast where I unpack practical career advice and insights from experts and coaches. Today's guest is former Google software engineer, Phil Verghese. Phil was a Tech Lead and Manager at Google for 12 years, and most recently, he led the Google Photos Android core team and was part of the team that did the initial launch of Google Photos. Google Photos has over 1 billion monthly active users. Prior to his work on Google Photos, he was on multiple teams including Google Now, Google Mobile Maps, Google's Aerial Imagery team, and the Google Search Appliance. Other interesting roles he's held: startup co-founder, U.S. Army M1A1 Tank Company Commander, and FAA Certified Flight Instructor.In our conversation, we get into detail about the expectations of a software engineer at Google, the different levels of software engineer, the expectations of an engineering manager, what Google is looking for when they hire an engineer, common interview pitfalls, and advice for anyone looking to apply for a role at Google.Nowadays Phil coaches job seekers on nailing the interview and leadership. You can setup a time to chat with Phil here —> https://app.carrus.io/s/phil-verghese-1 Relevant articles:  Interview Insights from an Ex-Software Engineer at Google The Google Interview Process Everything you Need to Crack the Google Coding Interview Highlights and Timestamps:[4:10] The parallel between being an army tank commander and a software engineer, the importance of the 'why'[6:10] What is it like to be a software engineer at Google, common misconceptions, learning how to write software[9:30] How much technical knowledge do you really need to land the job/ why LeetCode isn't enough [11:50] Breakdown of different levels between an L3, L4, L5 engineer, etc.[14:45] Why promotions are meant to be "late" at Google [15:32] What a staff engineer does[16:30] What a senior staff engineer does[20:40] L8 engineers and directors[23:00] How to prepare for senior engineering positions/leadership interviews[26:40] System design, coding interviews, behavioral interviews, and what to expect[29:10] An example of a difficult and less common System Design question from Phil and how to start approaching it[32:14] Why "Premature Optimization is the Root of All Evil"[34:30] How Phil prepares people for Google interviewers and tricky questions you might ask/ traps to watch out for [36:33] Why Leetcode is NOT enough to prepare[37:40] How many answers can you get wrong in a technical interview at Google and still pass? [41:00] Why it's okay to say I don't know[42:30] Phil's #1 interview tip/framing before the interview / getting in the right mindset [46:30] The technical portion of product manager interviews[47:30] Questions Phil asks product managers for interview prep[49:30] Interview questions for Engineering Managers and leadership roles[52:50] How common it is to fail an interview / why google would prefer a false negative over a false positive / applying multiple times[54:30] The amount of time it takes to put in/ does time prepping correlate to success[56:30] Is it harder to get a job at Google now vs. 10 years ago?Questions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!

Welcome to episode #1 of The Loop, the podcast to help you grow in your career! Let's get this bad boy on the road. Anna Cseke is a tech recruiter who has helped countless people get jobs in leading tech companies, including Amazon. She was a tech recruiter for Amazon and recruited people in seven different countries across sales, marketing, product and more. Today she's a behavioral interview and career coach with a stellar track record of getting people hired into their dream jobs using a blend of mock interview prep and actionable feedback. You can book a free 15-minute chat with Anna about interview coaching or preparing for the Amazon interview and connect with Anna on LinkedIn here. Relevant articles:  Top Amazon interview questions you need to know Amazon interview process  The STAR method for answering behavioral interview questions  Podcast Highlights: [10:20] How much time you need to prepare for Amazon's interview[12:20] The "2 and 5 promise" / how fast you will get interview feedback[18:30] What sets apart those who are successful vs. not successful in the interview[20:10] The importance of humility and on being too humble, and bragging[23:30] The mindset you need to nail the interview and why you shouldn't get coaching just for the sake of it[25:55] Why a referral won't guarantee you the job[28:15] How Anna does her mock interview prep with clients[30:40] The way to make a STAR story stand out and on being memorable in the interview[33:35] Top 3 mistakes people make in the behavioral interview [38:20] The difficulty of answering the "failure question" and why you shouldn't try to soften the blow[43:55] Why humor is okay to use in an interview, coming off as likeable, especially in a management role [46:52] How do deal with standoffish interviewers who have a blank stare / dealing with lack of live feedback loops[53:45] The power of mock interviewing[56:55] How many Leadership Principle stories should you prepare[57:55] Is it okay to bring notes to the interview?Questions/Comments/Feedback about this Episode? Drop me an email anytime at misha@carrus.io!