After almost a year, I finally got it.
A job offer! Whoop, whoop! Fist pumps! Running man. Sprinkler. Cabbage patch. Whatever cheesy dance move, I did it (twerking, was not included) immediately after the call from the COO.
My journey towards my new job has been long, filled with ups and downs. Many emails, phone calls, video interviews, in-person interviews, and even a timed 4-hour test. For a non-technical position, I was really surprised that it was a part of the interview process. But I was game and passed it. I didn't end up getting an offer, but it was a great learning experience.
For those that are in the hunt for the dream job, here are a few words of wisdom that were given to me and/or that I came up with:
Don't be discouraged. If you are discouraged, take a break from the hunt to recharge. Once your head is cleared, dive right back in. Just make sure your break isn't too long. If you are frustrated, find something you can safely shake the sh*t out of. Mine was little doll that had an internal bell. So the harder I shook it, the more cheerful it sounded. It eventually became too silly for me to stay mad because of the bells.
Network, network, network. If you are located in a small town, there's still social media. Surprisingly, Twitter has been very helpful in connecting with a lot of people that were more than ready mentor those looking for a new job. I frequented #TChat, #OMCchat, and #JobHuntChat the most. I would not be able to attend live, but I checked them out afterwards.
Google yourself and don't forget to check out the images! You get to see what others will see if they search for you. I have been fortunate enough to have a unique last name so I was able to find myself quite easily. If you see something negative, go to the source and see if there's a way for you to get rid of it. Sometimes, it's just a simple privacy change on Facebook.
Clean your social media accounts. In addition to your resume and cover letter, your public image is very important. It shows off who you are, outside of work. Your profile picture of you dancing on tables during a wet T-shirt contest is probably not going to help in your search. Of course, you don't do that everyday and you only did it that one time. But that hiring manager doesn't know that. Don't forget to look over any written posts as well. A simple sentence can have many different meanings depending on the body language and tone being used. In a typed sentence, both of these are lost. So be careful on how you say certain things.
For those that are interested in the sites I have used in my search, here they are:
AngelList
Quora
About.me
Tumblr
I made sure each social media accounts had the same/or very similar user name for consistent branding. I thought it made it a lot easier for people to associate user name with me. Then for my LinkedIn and AngelList profiles I made them formal and relied on my other social media accounts to present my personality and interest.
Twitter is great to show case how you communicate with others in a very concise manner. You are only allowed to use 140 characters and to use more than one tweet to convey your idea is generally frown upon. Occasionally it does happen, but I have only had that happen a handful of times out of 1,700 tweets. You should definitely check out #TChat, #OMCchat, and #JobHuntChat if you are interested in meeting those mentors I talked about above.
I like Tumblr as well because everyone understands that it is a blog. Being that it is a blog, I posted anything I wanted. Opinion pieces, new experiences, DIY, random pictures, anything. However, I made sure that it would highlight my strengths and personality. This was important to me because this was my way of showing off how I could potentially 'fit' into the culture of the company.
I hope this helps you in your hunt for the dream job. It is a perilous journey, but do not be discouraged by it. If you are getting interviews, it's a good sign. If you are not getting interviews, it may be time to reevaluate your methods. It is a good thing do an evaluation on your progress, regardless of whether or not you are getting interviews.
Good luck!