Suggestions
Chez Jennings
CEO at Gaze and Tech Career Coach
Chez Jennings is a Tech Talent Acquisition Partner at Reddit, Inc., where they previously held the position of Senior Talent Acquisition Partner from November 2020 to June 2023. In this role, Jennings focused on hiring for the Ads Monetization teams, specifically in software engineering, machine learning, and product management, and was involved in training interviewers and advocating for employee resource groups, including the Black People Reddit (BPR) ERG and the Diversity Council.1
Jennings has a diverse background in recruiting, having worked in various roles across different companies, including as a Senior Technical Recruiter at Lever and as a recruiter at Wyre. They have experience in supporting agencies and startups in building high-performing teams in sectors such as SaaS, HR tech, fintech, and social media/adtech. Outside of their professional work, Jennings is also the CEO and co-founder of Gaze, a social app aimed at connecting LGBTQIA+ communities.1
Their educational background includes studies at the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management, and they are recognized for their advocacy for diversity and inclusion within the tech industry.1
Highlights
Thanksgiving is 15 weeks away 😳
It's never been a better time to kickstart your job search... hear me out!
I ❤️ advocating for job searching in the late summer. Whether you're looking voluntarily or not, it's a great time to capitalize on opportunities before the holidays. Many corporate teams are finishing their headcount for the year as well as beginning to plan for 2025. All of my jobs in tech I've started at the end of the year (Oct - Dec). Here's a breakdown of how the math could work for you if you started your search this week:
☀️ ~2 weeks to get organized and/or study = late August ⌨️ ~2-4 weeks of applications and initial interviews = mid to late September 💬 ~2-4 weeks of onsites = mid to late October 🍁 + 2 weeks notice (if you're working) puts you in a role before Thanksgiving
Pros: You're able to ramp into your new role at a slower time of year, which means you're ready to hit the ground running for Q1 in January.
No one job search is the same. This is VERY back-of-the-napkin math. If you do your work to organize, network for referrals, apply strategicially, and communicate your skill set well during the interview process it IS possible. Thoughts? Questions?
