Chan with a Plan

Networking strategies to help you land your next job and grow your career

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Brittany Ramsey, Founder of BWell Mindset with over 7 years of recruiting experience both internal and agency side. Brittany discusses various networking strategies to help you land your next job, from the dos and don’ts of outreach and how to stand out from other professionals networking at the same target companies that you are also pursuing. In addition, she also emphasizes how networking should not only be for when you need a job and that you should always be building relationships even when you don’t need anything, as that’s where the true long term career growth lies. 
QUOTES
“Networking to me is lifelong, it's not just when you need a job, networking is not when you need something, it’s something you continuously need to cultivate throughout your career.” - Brittany Ramsey [2:49]
“So the messages that I respond to are concise, they get to the point and they're not pitching themselves right, so it’s often just a curiosity and a specific question too.” - Brittany Ramsey [5:49]
“Be generally curious [about people] and if you are, you’re going to get more of a response vs just pitching yourself and again be patient, it’s key.” - Brittany Ramsey [14:53]
TIMESTAMPS
[0:43] Meet Brittany
[2:47] What is networking according to Brittany
[4:09] Messages that Brittany tends to ignore 
[5:46] Messages that Brittany will respond to and going through a good example message
[10:50] The art of following up 
[14:32] The right mindset/approach when it comes to networking with professionals at your target companies
[17:29] Common reasons why people are afraid to network
[19:05] How networking has helped Brittany advance her own career and the learning lessons she’s gained along the way
[22:43] Networking beyond messaging professionals on LinkedIn
[27:19] Thoughts on the Clubhouse app from a job searching and a company recruiting perspective
[28:36] Brittany’s thoughts on resumes and what role it now plays in the hiring process 
[29:31] What questions you should ask in an informational interview
[32:03] How to continue building the relationship after the initial conversation has been completed 
[36:44] What Brittany’s resources were that gave her guidance and propelled her career
[39:26] Contacting Brittany
[39:50] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Brittany Ramsey on LinkedIn
Brittany Ramsey on Instagram
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

Personal finance tips for millennials: How to build wealth and achieve financial freedom

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Kirsten Granados, Founder of Grow & Arrow based in Irvine, California. Kirsten discusses a wide range of fundamental personal finance topics such as investment options, credit scores and financial planning to buy your 1st home. Kirsten also discusses a framework on how to evaluate purchase decisions as well as having the right financial mindset for long term wealth. 
QUOTES
“One of the things I would encourage them to keep in mind [when it comes to spending money], is just, when you make a choice or you make a decision is it because you're doing it to gain the approval of others or is it because it is going to serve you and honoring your truth and be aligned with your goals.” - Kirsten Granados [11:02]
“Underestimating the impact of inflation is something so toxic because with money it’s either growing or it’s dying” - Kirsten Granados [15:06]
“The maximum you can lower your expenses is 0, but the one thing that has no limit is your potential for increasing your revenue.” - Kirsten Granados [16:48]
TIMESTAMPS
[1:08] Meet Kirsten
[5:29] Common questions and struggles that professionals age 25-35 have when it comes to personal finance
[6:16] Investment options with your earned income
[7:48] Guideline for allocating your paycheck properly and effectively
[8:34] Types of taxes that are applied to your income and some things you can do to reduce it
[10:28] Tips to stop the temptation of lifestyle inflation and stay the course on your financial roadmap
[12:21] The benefits of the principle of compounding interest when it comes to financial investments
[13:56] The long term negative consequences of inflation and what happens to your money if you don’t start making your money work for you
[15:45] Tips on paying down your student loan faster
[17:28] The trend of 9 to 5 professionals getting more into side hustles and the common ones that Kirsten has seen getting built
[19:19] Financial tips on helping you plan effectively to buy that 1st home as well as finding the best mortgage rate that’s right for you
[23:39] The long term consequences of paying only the monthly minimum on your credit card and tips on how to pay down your credit card debt faster
[24:40] Making the right choice when it comes to financing or leasing a car
[26:14] Common purchases that you should reduce or cut out to reach your financial goals faster
[28:18] How Kirsten’s financial habits and mindset have changed from when she started as a Financial Consultant to now
[30:52] Changing your financial mindset from scarcity to abundance to live a better life
[32:19] Kirsten’s biggest tip on how to improve your financial life immediately
[34:16] Contacting Kirsten
[34:50] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Kirsten Granados on LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

How to do remote work well while joining a new company

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Erin Orstrom and Roja Budati both in the Product Management field to discuss their experience with fully remote working. Erin’s expertise focuses on her experience in transitioning from a normal work environment to a fully remote work environment due to COVID-19, while Roja provides expertise mainly in onboarding at a new company completely remote. They also discuss where they want the future work environment to look like once we return to what experts are saying is a new normal. 
QUOTES
“[When it comes to video interviews] really just be prepared, at least when I went to interviews in person, I would get to the place 30 minutes before, kind of go through the same rule, like try to join in the [virtual] meeting at least 15-20 minutes before, make sure everything around you, like you’re comfortable where you’re at, there’s no distractions.” - Roja Budati [21:49]
“[When it comes to onboarding at a new company effectively] I would say probably, ask questions all the time, have 1 person that you can definitely go to as like your mentor or like a friend, that you can always talk to.” - Roja Budati [29:09]
“I don’t even want to call [work from home] a perk anymore, but it’s going to be a thing that people and candidates are going to be looking for going forward and in order for companies to remain competitive, it’s something that they will highly need to think about offering [to new hires].” - Erin Orstrom [41:28]
TIMESTAMPS
[0:55] Meet Erin and Roja
[5:52] Erin describing her experience from moving from a normal work environment to going fully remote because of COVID-19
[14:24] Erin describing what it’s like working from home for an extended period of time and her thoughts on it moving forward
[16:45] How work from home flexibility will be a big factor in attracting talent to a company in the future when things go back to what experts are saying to a new normal
[20:02] Roja’s experience going through a fully virtual interview process at her new company and advice on preparing for video interviews for first-timers 
[24:15] Roja’s experience onboarding at her new company fully remotely
[29:04] Roja’s advice for professionals starting a new job fully remote and how to ramp up quickly
[31:16] How Roja integrated herself into the company on a social level when working fully remote
[33:12] Erin’s recommendations on team building in a hybrid work environment in the future
[36:54] Tools that Erin and Roja recommend for effective remote work
[38:55] Discussing whether there was any embarrassment people faced working from home when it came to family interruptions during phone or video calls
[40:14] What Erin and Roja’s ideal model of work flexibility is going to be in the future once we enter a new normal
[43:51] Erin and Roja’s COVID-19 predictions in terms of when we will be going back to living a normal life
[46:14] How Erin and Roja’s families initially handled the pandemic and how they are coping now 
[49:02] Contacting Erin and Roja
[50:01] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Erin Orstrom on LinkedIn
Erin Orstrom on Instagram
Erin Orstrom's Personal Website
Roja Budati on LinkedIn
Roja Budati on Instagram
Roja Budati on Twitter
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan On LinkedIn

Corporate America and how to succeed in it as a recent immigrant or 1st generation professional

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Edward Gorbis, CEO of Career Meets World, a personal development coach, career strategist and author of the book Unbreakable Mindset. Edward discusses his journey into corporate America as an immigrant and what he did to become successful in the workplace. The discussion continues with Edward providing advice on what fundamental skills that immigrants and first generation professionals need in order to succeed in an environment that is foreign to them to achieve the career goals that they desire. 
QUOTES
“I knew I wasn’t living authentically within the workplace and it took about 10 years to process that and really just say, ok I’ve had enough, I’ve hit a wall, and it’s time to really assess who I am.” - Edward Gorbis [10:18]
“[To network successfully, you need to be] Building relationships that are there for the long term, that are really there for you to have more meaningful and deep connections.” - Edward Gorbis [17:16]
“A lot of immigrants come into the workplace and they think that just showing up and doing the work is what’s going to propel them to that next level and that’s really not the truth.” - Edward Gorbis [21:49]
TIMESTAMPS
[1:03] Meet Edward
[5:25] Workplace culture changes Edward experienced when he first started working in the US
[7:10] Discussing whether immigrants and first generation professionals are more introverted compared to their American born counterparts 
[8:32] How Edward transformed himself from being timid to being more social and communicative
[11:50] How to tell your immigrant parents you want to move your career into a different direction that’s not what they are accustomed to
[14:38] Transitioning out of a typical role smoothly without having to take too far of a step back
[16:09] Networking advice for immigrants and first generation professionals that have never done it before
[21:07] Getting to the next level of your career at your current company in North American work culture
[29:50] Being a better speaker in the workplace
[31:37] Discussing whether a thick accent affects the trajectory of an immigrant’s career
[35:26] Edward’s main tip on how immigrants and first generation professionals can make this year the best year of their career even during the pandemic
[37:40] Contacting Edward 
[38:20] Outro 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Career Meets World
Edward Gorbis on LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

Going from entrepreneur back to employee: Job search tips after being your own boss

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Courtney Nicholson, a sales and marketing professional that ran a boutique digital marketing agency for 7 years before joining a company in Indiana that provides energy code compliance services to residential and commercial builders. Courtney discusses how she ended up becoming an entrepreneur and what led her to close her business to pursue other opportunities. Her main message in this episode is to embrace your entrepreneurial roots if you decide to go back and join a company, as many companies would value your entrepreneurial experience that they can’t get from someone that’s always been an employee. 
QUOTES
“[When starting a business] Know yourself, really really well, be firm in your beliefs in terms of why you are going into this business.” - Courtney Nicholson [15:41]
“For me, at the end of the day [when it comes to incorporating my entrepreneurial experience on my resume], I am all for transparency and I was as honest as could be and I thought well this is me, take it or leave it and if it’s not meant to be then it won’t be.” - Courtney Nicholson [28:27]
“You have a skillset [as an entrepreneur] that somebody who’s coming from a similar position as an employee wouldn’t have, there’s just a different level of acumen there and some of it can’t be taught without actual experience.” - Courtney Nicholson [36:00]
TIMESTAMPS
[1:06] Meet Courtney
[3:57] How Courtney ended up starting her business
[13:25] Things that Courtney learned as an entrepreneur that she wouldn’t have learned as an employee
[15:31] 1 tip Courtney would give to upcoming entrepreneurs
[16:54] When it was time to hire her first employee and how she found and evaluated candidates
[21:11] Courtney’s decision to close her business and her next steps
[25:55] Courtney’s journey to landing her current opportunity
[27:43] How Courtney crafted her entrepreneurial experience onto her resume
[29:38] The interview process where she landed her current opportunity and what did the hiring team thought about her current founder experience
[35:45] How having previous entrepreneurial experience can help you stand out as a candidate compared to others
[37:32] What skills Courtney learned as an entrepreneur that she was able to bring to her current company to provide immense value
[40:10] Discussing the closing of her business and her future career plans
[45:48] The resource that was instrumental in helping Courtney in her career development and her main tip for others when it comes to professional growth
[47:47] Contacting Courtney
[48:39] Outro 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Courtney Nicholson on LinkedIn
Max Chan on LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan

How you can be a UX/UI Designer and land your 1st job in the field

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Shaina Danzinger, a professional that came from a non technical background to successfully enter the technical field of UX/UI design. Shaina discusses what made her decide to start learning UX/UI design, what bootcamp she chose and provided an overview of the program from the content to the pace of learning. She then dived into her job search process and provided valuable tips for anyone trying to land their first job as a UX/UI Designer after graduation, from how to effectively apply to jobs online to what to expect in the interview process. The discussion ends with Shaina discussing the feeling of finally landing her first job as a UX/UI Designer and gives advice for people wanting to enter this field of work.
QUOTES
“[When it comes to choosing the right program] I would also say speak to the alumni that are there because the alumni are going to be giving you the real feedback that you want to hear.” - Shaina Danzinger [10:29]
“A lot of what I needed and wanted to work on [as part of my job search] was broadening my network, so for me, I got involved in just a bunch of different things. I reached out to people, I joined lunch club, which was a super cool thing and setting up coffee chats all over, so for me a big part of it was just networking.” - Shaina Danzinger [36:56]
“When you’re applying to a specific job, [ask yourself] who’s posting the job, the second you have the name, send them a message saying hi I’ve just applied to your job, I love to chat with you. Find people at the company, other designers [to network and connect with].” - Shaina Danzinger [40:04]
TIMESTAMPS
[0:52] Meet Shaina
[6:15] Brief overview of what UX/UI design is
[9:12] Shaina’s process on how she picked her UX/UI bootcamp
[11:17] How to contact alumni from various bootcamps to gather feedback and what questions to ask them
[13:15] How Shaina was able to go from a non technical background to a technical field of UX/UI design effectively
[16:13] Payment plans that bootcamps offer
[17:20] Legitimacy and credibility of bootcamps and online learning and its perception with potential employers
[22:19] Overview of Shaina’s experience at her chosen bootcamp in terms of content and pace of learning
[31:51] Job search support that her bootcamp provided after graduation
[34:21] Shaina’s job search strategy and how she landed her first UX/UI design opportunity
[38:37] Where Shaina got a majority of her interviews 
[39:33] Shaina’s tips on how to apply effectively to jobs online
[41:39] How to bolster your resume as a fresh grad when you finished the program with no work experience
[44:24] Interview process for entry level UX/UI Designers
[52:20] Red flags during the interview process you should watch out for so you don’t get taken advantage of
[55:00] How Shaina felt when she landed her first full time position as a UX/UI Designer
[56:48] How long it took Shaina from graduation to landing her first full time role and tips to keep pushing through the ups and downs of the job search process
[1:03:17] Shaina’s biggest learning lesson during her journey to becoming a UX/UI Designer
[1:08:31] Contacting Shaina
[1:09:33] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Shaina Danzinger on LinkedIn
Shaina Danzinger Portfolio Website
Max Chan on LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan

How to negotiate your salary like a pro to get maximum compensation

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with Mark Herschberg, author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. Mark discusses the importance of always negotiating your job offer, as well as tips and strategies to negotiate for maximum compensation. The discussion ends with a few tips on how to improve your current compensation package at your company so you leave nothing on the table.   
QUOTES
“Learning how to negotiate a little bit better, is literally going to add 5 figures, even 6 figures to your lifetime earnings.” - Mark Herschberg [3:26]
“If you use proper negotiation techniques and if you do it in a respectful, considerate way, I don’t know of anyone who’s lost a job simply by trying to negotiate it.” - Mark Herschberg [7:07]
“[You don’t need a formal written offer to negotiate] I think it’s totally fine if it’s a verbal offer or if they just send an Email not the formal offer, they just say hey, we’re thinking of these numbers because at that point they have in good faith made an offer and you can start going back and forth.” - Mark Herschberg [20:38]
TIMESTAMPS
[0:16] Meet Mark
[2:19] The long term ROI of negotiating your initial compensation
[4:51] Biggest myths of negotiating your job offer which makes people not want to do it
[6:39] Discussing whether Mark has ever witnessed or experienced someone losing their job offer because they negotiated
[8:03] Max’s experience with negotiating his first job offer right out of university with limited work experience
[9:16] What your mindset should be when you go into a negotiation
[11:13] How to evaluate your leverage in negotiations
[12:17] What to say when the recruiter asks you for your salary expectations during a screening call
[19:50] The best time to negotiate your job offer with the hiring manager / company
[21:25] What’s the percentage increase you can ask for, based on the initial salary they offer you
[22:07] Why negotiating only salary is limiting your maximum compensation
[24:11] What other items can you negotiate besides salary
[28:07] Mark’s best practices on negotiating your job offer
[30:00] Discussing what happens after the negotiation meeting is over
[33:07] When and how to ask for a raise or to review your compensation package once you start working at the company
[36:11] Last tip from Mark on compensation negotiation 
[37:02] Contacting Mark
[39:01] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
The Career Toolkit Website
Mark Herschberg on LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn

How to land a job at Amazon and the complete walkthrough of their interview process

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, host Max Chan speaks with GG (Gayle Gallagher), former Senior Manager - Marketing at Amazon, now Founder of the Amaz0n Interview Whizz Academy, an E-Learning Amazon interviewing training platform to help you prepare for the Amazon interview process. GG discusses the complete Amazon application process from beginning to end and provides great tips along the way. The discussion ends with how to do well when you are starting off at Amazon and what she liked most about working for one of the biggest companies in the world. 
QUOTES
“The very best way into an organization, is to know somebody that works there, have worked with them quite extensively in the past, and approach that person, share with them the role, talk to them about why you think you’re a great fit for that role and then have that person refer you to the hiring manager and be able to talk comprehensively and specifically about your skill set of why they think that your skill set is a match for this role based on the deep knowledge and experience of you.” - GG [5:23]
“The [Amazon] leadership principles are everything, if you don’t provide the evidence [in your interview], that you are raising the bar on the leadership principles, you aren’t coming in, it doesn’t matter how technically good you are.” - GG [26:26]
“The really good candidates [in an interview] are able to give me a really good level of detail about what they’ve done and deliver it in a concise fashion.” - GG [32:58]
TIMESTAMPS
[0:46] Meet GG
[4:52] Discussing the effectiveness of applying online vs getting a referral to land an interview at Amazon
[11:33] Resume tips for an Amazon application 
[18:01] Amazon’s stance on cover letters in job applications
[19:06] Getting into detail on Amazon’s online assessment process and if it’s necessary to complete for every role you apply for at Amazon
[21:25] High level breakdown of Amazon’s interview process
[26:06] The importance of the Amazon leadership principles during the interview process 
[31:42] The usefulness of Amazon’s interviewing preparation resources on their company website
[32:39] The difference between a good candidate and a bad candidate when it comes to interviewing for a position at Amazon
[37:53] The average number of candidates that get interviewed for a position at Amazon 
[39:00] Evaluating the importance of asking questions to the interviewer at the end of the interview
[43:12] Additional Amazon interview tips for success 
[45:56] Tips for early success when you get your role at Amazon
[48:03] GG’s favorite things about working at Amazon
[50:40] Contacting GG
[54:42] Outro
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
GG on LinkedIn
GG on Youtube
Amaz0n Interview Whizz Academy
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on LinkedIn