Amanda Natividad Tweets About Career Advice: Ten Years Summed Into One Thread

This post first appeared on Twitter as a thread by Amanda. We have republished here with her permission.

Image Credit: Maksym Ostrozhynskyy | @maxon

Good career advice can be hard to find. Today, we are extra thankful for people like Amanda Natividad, fellow mom and VP of Marketing at SparkToro, for dedicating her spare time to sharing her expertise and career/life experiences on Twitter so we can all learn a thing or two.

Seriously though, if you are on Twitter, I recommend you follow Amanda. Not only does she tweet valuable content, but she also finds ways to connect you to other people and resources to help you succeed in every tweet.

Now keep scrolling for some incredible career advice, and don't forget to share with your work BFFs.

If you find yourself at the edge of a career transition...

Here's the career advice that took me 10 years to learn:

— Amanda Natividad (@amandanat) May 28, 2022

Here’s the career advice that took Amanda Natividad 10 years to learn:

1. When people believe in you — believe them. Was a friend eager to refer you for that job? Did a colleague compliment you on a project you led? Did someone reply to your newsletter to say they love your writing? Keep a swipe file of these kindnesses. Let them fuel you.
   

2. Always bet on yourself. Go for that title one level up. Research market rate salaries...then ask for $10k-15k more. If you won't advocate for yourself, no one else will.
   

3. Write a compelling bio. For cover letters, cold emails, introduction requests for friends to forward. It should be an easily skimmable ~50 words including:

   • Your goals

   • How you're unique

   • Why you're great (use metrics and social proof)
   

4. Help your network help you. When you start a job search, BCC your network to tell them what roles you're looking for. When you ask for intros, write an email with your bio and purpose so your friend can forward it to the new connection. Make it easy for people to help you.
   

5. Look for hot companies or sectors. Ideally, they're fast-growing and you're interested in them. Make a spreadsheet and chip away at the applications. Remember it's a numbers game. Here's a start: check out Wealthfront's Career-Launching Companies List.
   

6. Don't settle. Keep looking, keep challenging yourself, and keep trying new things. In fact, try as many things as possible and see what sticks. I've been a journalist, test kitchen cook, freelance writer, and marketer. I stuck with the marketing thing and it worked out.
   

7. Keep looking — even when you *are* happy. You might find an even better opportunity...Or you'll find renewed interest and conviction in your current role. It's win-win.
   

8. Build relationships in unlikely places. Anytime someone says "let's stay in touch!" follow through. I got rejected by a hiring manager who added me on LinkedIn and she referred me to another job: pre-IPO Fitbit.
   

9. Always have a backup plan. Just in case life throws you a curve ball. If you can, save 3 months living expenses in case of emergency. Keep your resume and bio up to date. Have a couple references in mind. So you can spring into action if you have to suddenly job hunt.
   

10. Read industry-related books. These helped me:

    • Startup of You by @reidhoffman → helped me create a roadmap for my career

    • Cracking the PM Interview by @gayle → frameworks for job interviews

    • Lost & Founder by @randfish → dose of reality about startup life

Click here to sign up for Amanda’s Newsletter, The Menu.