Last summer I was lucky enough to graduate from @UCLA with a job offer

but I knew that job would make me miserable

so I started from scratch + came up with a new plan:

• move to NYC
• break into tech
• learn, connect, grow
• start a company

some reflections

[THREAD]

2/ For 71 days, I was broke, unemployed, and housing-unstable in a city where I didn’t know anyone

my plan was to stretch out $500 until I could make some money and survive through the rest of summer

and if I was still unemployed by the end of August?

move back home

3/ I couldn’t afford permanent housing, so every week I rode Citi Bike all over NYC to interview for temporary sublets

stayed at some cool places

met some cool cats

and lived with a Tinder date at one point (but that’s a story for another time )

4/ I successfully used my pre-med background to get an internship at a healthcare startup

my first tech experience

it paid $20/hr (more than I’d ever made previously)

and on my lunches, I’d interview for full-time roles at this quiet spot in Union Square Park

5/ Those first few full-time interviews were really disheartening

i had no fancy FAANG internships, no connections in NYC, few friends in tech, and little guidance for what I was doing

but I had basically nothing to lose

i was broke, single, debt-free, and stubborn

¯\\_(ツ)_/¯

6/ I’d never heard of a ‘cold-email’ until after college

had no idea it was the norm

but when I found out folks were getting internships/jobs doing this?

i organized a list of target companies, used LinkedIn + Hunter to predict recruiter emails, and cold-emailed them all >:)

7/ I spent 80% of my time focusing on the target companies, learning their products/users, analyzing their industry/strategic advantage, mock interviewing, etc

all in all:
• interviewed at 11 companies
• final round at 5
• job offers at 3
• signed offer @HyperscienceAI

8/ I’m forever grateful to the hiring managers who took a chance on me

i encourage other non-trad folks to reach out to me, or people like me, if you want guidance - I’ll make the time for you

and if you’re interested in Product, check out my guide: https://www.notion.so/seanthielenesparza/PM-Resources-2d31f80676a54f4e8e7a7f51dd589be6?v=07b29049cee5459c97059a2ffca44bb4

9/ I also want to thank @gefencodes for mentoring me through this and always being my greatest supporter

a huge reason that I’m able to tell this story is bc of Gefen

we went to community college together, to UCLA together, now we’re building together

love you sm, hermana

10/ I’m in the ‘learn, connect, grow’ phase of my plan rn

and I’m fully invested in this opportunity to grow into a truly exceptional PM at an incredible company

but there’s still another part of my plan...

start a company

for now - DM me if you’re learning a new language

11/ Now, a year later, I can say that I took a bet on myself and it paid off

privilege played a big part

i’m a college-educated, cisgender, white Latino, w/ a European name and US citizenship

these are catalysts
—
if ur still here... thanks!

DMs are open - come say hi