I was working for a Big 4 consulting firm and knew I wanted to do something else. I’d figured out what I wanted my next job to be and was patiently waiting for the right opportunity. I wasn’t unhappy where I was, I just had an itch that couldn’t be scratched by my current role.
Eventually, I found a job that seemed like the perfect match. The description fit exactly what I was after, and the skills they were looking for lined up with mine. Confidently, I applied online.
A week later, I got a rejection email from HR. No interview. Just a polite “thanks but no thanks.” I was surprised. Maybe they needed someone who could speak business German? It was listed as a plus, not a must. Still, I moved on.
A few weeks later, I caught up with a friend I used to work with. I casually mentioned that I’d applied for this job and was knocked back. What do you know, his girlfriend’s brother was the CFO of the company I applied to. He offered to pass my CV along.
The next day, I got an email from the same HR person inviting me to interview. We spoke, hit it off immediately, and the rest is history. I’ve been working at the company ever since, and it’s a great fit.
This begs the question: if I was such a good fit in the interview, why did my application get rejected?
The answer surprised me. They told me my CV made me look “too qualified.” I had used big, impressive consulting language thinking it would impress them. Instead, it gave the impression that I’d expect to run the place… not exactly what they were looking for.
So what does this have to do with the podcast?
It taught me that whether we like it or not life really is about who you know. Even though I applied for the job and was a strong match, I still wouldn’t have landed it if I hadn’t had that beer with an old friend.
That experience got me thinking: I haven’t been in Switzerland that long. My network here was mostly limited to colleagues at work. I wanted to broaden my circle; meet interesting people outside of my immediate bubble. But I’m also an introvert – I can’t stand networking events or anything that involves big groups trying to “get to know each other.”
What I do enjoy is having meaningful 1:1 conversations.
So I asked myself: what would need to happen for a wide range of strangers to be open to a 1:1 conversation with me? Well, they’d need to get something out of it too. Otherwise, it’s all take and no give.
–Lightbulb moment–
I could create a podcast and use it as a license to approach people. It would give them a platform to share their ideas and experience. (To be fair, I still think I get the better deal).
That’s how the podcast was born. Among many other things, it’s become an incredibly effective way to build a diverse network. It did take a fair bit of time to land on How It Ticks as the concept. I’ll write more about that in a follow-up post.
Oh, and as for the HR person who first rejected me? Her name’s Jelena. We’re now good friends, and I even interviewed her on the podcast. We talked about hiring, the mistakes people make with their CVs, and how to avoid situations like mine.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
