Thread by @xaelophone, Last summer I was lucky enough to graduate from @UCLA with a [...]

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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏼" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (mittelheller Hautton)">

[THREAD]

Last summer I was lucky enough to graduate from @UCLA with a job offerbut I knew that job would make me miserableso I started from scratch + came up with a new plan:• move to NYC• break into tech• learn, connect, grow• start a companysome reflections https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

[THREAD]" title="Last summer I was lucky enough to graduate from @UCLA with a job offerbut I knew that job would make me miserableso I started from scratch + came up with a new plan:• move to NYC• break into tech• learn, connect, grow• start a companysome reflections https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇🏼" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten (mittelheller Hautton)">[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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht">)

3/ I couldn’t afford permanent housing, so every week I rode Citi Bike all over NYC to interview for temporary subletsstayed at some cool placesmet some cool catsand lived with a Tinder date at one point (but that’s a story for another time https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

)" title="3/ I couldn’t afford permanent housing, so every week I rode Citi Bike all over NYC to interview for temporary subletsstayed at some cool placesmet some cool catsand lived with a Tinder date at one point (but that’s a story for another time https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht">)">

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

my first tech experience

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😈" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit Hörnern" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit Hörnern">

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

4/ I successfully used my pre-med background to get an internship at a healthcare startupmy first tech experience https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

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" title="4/ I successfully used my pre-med background to get an internship at a healthcare startupmy first tech experience https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😈" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit Hörnern" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit Hörnern"> 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">https://www.notion.so/seanthiel...

PM Resources

Other actionable resources

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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="Weißes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes Herz">

9/ I also want to thank @gefencodes for mentoring me through this and always being my greatest supportera 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 togetherlove you sm, hermana https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="9/ I also want to thank @gefencodes for mentoring me through this and always being my greatest supportera 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 togetherlove you sm, hermana https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="Weißes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes Herz">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

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

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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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (mittelheller Hautton)">

11/ Now, a year later, I can say that I took a bet on myself and it paid offprivilege played a big parti’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 https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="11/ Now, a year later, I can say that I took a bet on myself and it paid offprivilege played a big parti’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 https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏼" title="Waving hand (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (mittelheller Hautton)">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

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