Derek built a remarkable career in tech helping companies grow their sales and strategic partnerships. He spent the last 10 years leading and managing key partnerships for Adobe’s Digital Experience business — collaborating with sales teams to establish, expand and accelerate new revenue opportunities as well as drive overall partner success.
He was ready for a new challenge, but was only passively looking — reviewing inbound opportunities from recruiters. None of the roles or companies seemed aligned with both his career and family goals. Eventually, a great opportunity opened up and Derek joined our program to ensure that he aced the interviews, objectively evaluated the opportunity and negotiated the best possible offer.
Q&A with Derek
Q: Why did you decide to invest in the program?
A: Someone years ago gave me great advice, “The best investment you can make is in yourself.” Even if you think you’re at the top of your game, you still need a coach to help you through the process. Think about it — Serena Willams, the greatest tennis player of all time, still works with a coach to help improve her game.
I also realized that I needed guidance and support to focus and prioritize my efforts as well as improve the positioning of my value to the market.
There’s value in working with an expert who can truly help you assess the right opportunity. The result of my investment was a 10X return on the cost of the program vs increase in compensation. It was worth every penny!
Q: What was it like working with us?
A: Dream Job Catcher has ideal coaches. Julie’s a pro and knows the tech space as well as anyone I’ve met over the years. Her coaching style is direct, but personable. She’s not afraid to call out if you’re going off track and helps you along the way. We had a plan for each step of the journey with a strong framework and supporting documentation in the portal. Julie was always accessible and her team was supportive throughout the process.
Q: What did you find most valuable?
A: Bar none, it was comp negotiations. Julie helped me understand my value and potential. Through her coaching, I was able to achieve a 10X return on the cost of the service. This was one of the BEST investments I made in my career.
Q: How did you feel throughout the process?
A: I felt like I was valued. This was especially important because I was coming from an unsupportive environment. Julie and her team helped me position myself so I could put my best foot forward.
Q: How did you land your new job?
A: I landed my dream job through a referral from someone I previously worked with. This company was building out a Channel Program and my skills, tenacity and strong interviews landed me the gig. What’s important is that Julie and I had a game plan for each step of the process, from the initial interview to acceptance.
Q: Did your new job align with your goals?
A: Absolutely! After three months, I definitely felt like I made the right decision. My new employer checked off every box as to what I was looking for and what they offered.
Q: What surprised you by the results?
A: I was most surprised by how much my compensation was below market value. It wasn’t until I went into negotiations that Dream Job Catcher was able to help me see my “true value”
Q: What advice do you have for other job seekers?
A: When investing in a program like this, think of the end goal (e.g., what do you want to achieve). They’re not going to find your dream job, but rather help you position yourself for the opportunity you want. Their role is to guide you, but you need to do the work and own your success. If you follow the program, you will be successful. I am testament to that.
Q: What are you loving about your role?
A: I have better work-life balance, a larger role with more visibility, am making more money and most importantly, my contributions are valued by my team and the greater company.
Are you ready to uplevel your career? And land a job where you’ll feel fulfilled, realize your potential and get the compensation you deserve?
If so, then watch our video and book a session with one of our job strategists. We’re excited to talk about your career goals!
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