Interviewing for a new job and nailing that first impression is challenging enough, but when you’re trying to relocate, you’re required to ace the interview on the phone or through a video conference. You have to prove to the company that you’re the best candidate without ever stepping foot in the front door. Sound tough?
Meet Theresa Foy. When she relocated from Milwaukee to San Francisco, she was on the job hunt and found a role she liked in client support at Zenefits. She used Glassdoor to better understand the interview process for jobs thousands of miles away – and nailed it. Here’s how Theresa found a job she loves in a brand new city.
Glassdoor: What type of job were you looking for and how did you use Glassdoor?
Theresa Foy: I was coming from the real estate industry doing social media and content creation and looking to get into the tech industry. I knew San Francisco was the right area; I just needed to learn more about what jobs were available, what the interview processes were like and whether I’d be a good cultural fit for the company. I used Glassdoor in a few ways. First, I targeted startups that were in a growth stage and then came to Glassdoor to look at the company reviews and better understand the company culture. Then, because I knew cost-of-living is much higher in San Francisco, I looked at salaries for the company, job title and location. Finally, I looked at interview reviews and questions to better understand what the interview process would be like and if the company would be open to interviewing someone long distance.
Glassdoor: Did the interview process meet your expectations given the interview reviews you had read?
Theresa Foy: I found the interview reviews to be very accurate and true to life. The advice other candidates shared on Glassdoor was really helpful, and I found the interview reviews to be the most valuable. A job seeker is already nervous about interviewing, so that inside information is so important and a confidence boost.
Glassdoor: What was the biggest challenge you faced as you started your job search?
Theresa Foy: Because I was trying to make an impression through a computer screen or over the phone, the distance was definitely my biggest challenge. Showing I’m a dynamic person with a lot of offer was especially difficult. I had a lot to prove.
Glassdoor: What did you want to know when you were trying to find a job?
Theresa Foy: I wanted to learn what the leadership and company structure was like because I knew that working at a startup would be different. I wanted to know management structure, company culture, how much autonomy employees had and how employees can affect change at the company. I really wanted to work at a company where I would be a good cultural fit and that was in a growth phase.
Glassdoor: What were the most important factors you were looking for in a job?
Theresa Foy: A chance to grow. I ended up with two different offers, and I used Glassdoor’s company reviews to better understand which company I would have better career growth opportunity. I wanted to affect real change and impact people’s lives, whether that was through helping people use the product or working with other departments like engineering or marketing to develop better content. Your coworkers end up becoming like your family, and I wanted somewhere I could have that closeness and also make a difference.
Thanks for sharing your story, Theresa! Congrats!
Has Glassdoor helped you? We love hearing from our community on how they found a job, negotiated a salary or learned more about the interview process at a company! Plus, when you tell your story, you help countless others. Tell us your story by emailing us at blog@glassdoor.com.
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