Job hunter becomes Job Forum volunteer
Job hunter becomes Job Forum volunteer
Do you ever wonder where the volunteers at the Job Forum come from?
Please meet Smita Nair and read her fascinating story. She tells about going from a Job Hunter to Job Forum volunteer.
Software engineer considers a pivot.
Smita Nair was the Vice President of Engineering at a software company. She decided to explore her career options. She was considering whether she wanted to pivot to a different kind of role, move to a completely different industry or different type, or size of company. She wondered if the role of “customer success” might be right for a good future or if there would be another great way to “change up” her career and feel happy about her future.
Smita was a member of the LinkedIn group for the Albert’s list Boot Camp. It was there she first learned about what she now calls a “simply wonderful organization,” The Job Forum.
Firsthand view of The Job Forum value.
Smita says:
“At The Job Forum you can explore options for your next career move with people from managers at companies here in the Bay Area who will boost your confidence while also giving you accurate, helpful information and good advice. She says: “You meet amazing people who will listen carefully in a small group zoom setting, be supportive, encouraging, and positive.”
She acknowledges “Job search is daunting and there is a lot of rejection even when you have the experience and credentials. The Job Forum takes you to another level and you should go and experience the positive atmosphere and benefit from the ideas. Go to The Job Forum even if you think you know everything, and you think you won’t learn anything, because the truth is you will learn from the advisers and panelists at The Job Forum and from the other job hunters who attend.”
Smita adds that her advice is “Especially go to the free Wednesday evening 6 pm
Zoom sessions where all of the job hunters get to talk and it’s a small group with a lot of interaction and ideas you can put to good use.” She adds that for her, “Trying to craft the right resume and LinkedIn profile was very hard to do for myself.”
How The Job Forum helped
In addition to attending multiple Job Forum sessions where she was helped by the “on target” insights of Robin Pille of Splunk and Kathy Mark, an IT project manager and quite a few others. Smita also looked at The Job Forum website (https://thejob forum.org) and noticed she could sign up for resume help (1-On-1 Advising) on Tuesdays with Jerome Imhoff. Smita cannot say enough about the professional help she received from Jerome Imhoff, (jeromeimhoff.com) on her resume and his help for her LinkedIn profile also. She thinks this help resulted in her being approached by an executive recruiter and getting her new job.
Success and a new job
Smita has great news: she became Sr VP of Engineering at Shotspotter.
As soon as she got her new job, Smita wanted to be part of The Job Forum. She decided to see if she could volunteer as a member of The Job Forum and “pay it forward.” She had volunteered in other organizations in the past and had experienced a few negatives (politics, credit taking etc.) She particularly noticed that at The Job Forum the positive values of the leadership team were friendly, patient, mission driven committed to help job hunters. She says “having a job where you have stability and pride in your work is such an important thing for everyone.
I want to be part of The Job Forum to make sure other people find their next jobs and can thrive.”
Smita has already volunteered at the SF Technology Careers event and she will soon be volunteering at some Wednesday Job Forum sessions too! What a delightful” full circle from successful, grateful job hunter to impressive Sr VP Job Forum volunteer!
If you have your own story of Job Forum success or help, we want to hear it! Please email to our Executive Director, Janet Beach: jbeach@usmarketingservices.com.
