Dream Job Blog

Ben spent his early career as a Systems Administrator and Release Manager at Autodesk, but had a strong interest in building products. So he pivoted to product management and found his true passion. He loved leading cross-functional teams to determine use cases and build products that solve meaningful problems.

After a long tenure, Ben was ready for a new challenge where he could learn the intricacies of a new industry as well as grow his experience and expertise. 

Q&A with Ben

Why did you join the Uplevel Job Search program? 

After 20 years at the same company, I was very inexperienced with the job search and interview process. But like most folks, I thought I could do the job search myself. I had a consistent flow of recruiters reaching out to me for roles that I was interested in and I was passing most screens. 

However, I wasn’t getting any offers after an interview cycle. After spending several months searching with little success, I knew something was wrong. The problem was that I didn’t know what was wrong or how to fix my approach.

I was no stranger to investing in myself whether that was continued education, mental health, or nutritional and physical training coaching. I knew it was time to level up my game to make my next career move.

What was it like working with Dream Job Catcher?

Working with the team was a wonderful experience. They did an incredible job of making me feel comfortable, laying out a plan of action and supporting me through the entire process.

What did you find the most valuable?

There were two parts of the Dream Job Catcher program that I found most valuable. First, setting myself up for success in defining the criteria for my desired role, manager and company as well as deal breakers. This helped me focus and spend my time and effort on the opportunities that aligned to what I really wanted. 

Second, the interview coaching was a game changer and likely where my largest mistakes were being made in the interview process. My coach, Julie, helped me use a framework for answering questions — ensuring that I was telling the best possible story and being clear on my actions as well as the successful results.

How did you feel throughout the process?

I felt incredibly supported throughout the process. Julie was the perfect blend of a coach, friend and cheerleader. She was always available when I had questions or felt stuck. She also encouraged me to take the next step to ensure I was progressing through the program in a timely manner while allowing the flexibility to take the time I needed.

How did you land your new job?

A previous coworker reached out about a product team she was building at a fitness tech company. We spoke a couple times about the role, what she was looking for and what I needed in my next career move. I interviewed with a panel of directors and vice presidents — it was a unanimous decision to hire me. And it just took a couple of weeks from the initial conversation to the offer. 

Did it align to your goals?

I’ve been a long-time believer in a quote by Mike Dooley, “thoughts become things.” The role we discussed checked nearly every criteria I wanted. A startup with a product I cared about, a senior job title, the opportunity to own and influence the roadmap, increased compensation (by 30%!) and a leadership team that cares about its employees and supports a healthy work/life balance.

What surprised you by the results?

Dream Job Catcher set me up for success and I was confident I had nailed my interviews. What surprised me most, was how much my compensation increased. There had always been a feeling that I was underpaid, which is to be expected after 20+ years. It’s an incredibly nice feeling to be getting paid my true value.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

Unless you’re already a career coach, there’s likely something you could be doing better in your career search. The Dream Job Catcher Program will certainly help you level up! 

What are you loving about your role?

I love that I’m working with smart, interesting and dedicated people that challenge me daily and continue to help me grow. What I’ve found most rewarding is the amount of trust and influence this role and the Product team has across the company. And for the first time in my career, I can clearly see a direct correlation from the work I’m doing to the success of the 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!