Here’s some practical career advice for women looking to advance their careers: Always explore new opportunities and have backup plans—even if you end up not needing them. For the past five years, I’ve interviewed with various companies every fourth quarter. These interviews often lead to fun consulting roles where I assist startups in building their online presence, though they’ve never resulted in a full-time position because I prefer the flexibility of consulting over the restrictions of full-time employment.
The thought of returning to a daily commute, taking orders, and sitting through endless meetings is depressing. I can’t fathom how people handle the rush-hour commutes! It’s hard for me to accept working so hard for someone else’s dream, especially when the equity shared is minimal.
However, I do enjoy meeting new people and learning about their aspirations to change the world. At the very least, these meetings allow me to make new connections in the San Francisco Bay Area, who could turn into potential business partners or provide new stories to share.
Let me recount a recent memorable incident that exposed the darker side of startup culture. During the second round of my interviews at a life insurance startup, I was asked to present my first 100-day plan. I prepared a concise 10-page presentation using my existing consulting materials while watching a basketball game the night before. At their office, I met the Head of Brand, a fairly new hire, who confirmed he had undergone a similar extensive hiring process.
The CEO and other top executives were late to the meeting, and the head recruiter rudely informed me that I was late, despite my early arrival. The overall interview atmosphere felt challenging and unwelcoming.
One of the co-founders, who I’ll call Amit, seemed to relish making the interview difficult for me. He grilled me with questions right from the start of my presentation, not satisfied with the answers I was providing. Another slide in my presentation proposed hiring an influencer to promote their startup, which sparked another series of skeptical questions from Amit.
Things took a shocking turn when the CEO openly stated his dislike for female customers, claiming they were not profitable due to their longevity and hesitance to sign up quickly. This blatant sexism was unsettling, yet none of the male interviewers reacted.
This experience is a stark reminder of the biases that still exist in the workplace, particularly in some startups. It’s disheartening to know that female employees at this company are likely unaware of the founders’ true views.
Despite these challenges, I remain committed to sharing and discussing women’s career issues. I am motivated by stories from women who struggle to balance their careers with motherhood and face workplace obstacles.
If you find yourself in a company that doesn’t value diversity or shows signs of groupthink, it might be wise to look elsewhere. It’s essential to find mentors who support and inspire you, and if you can’t find them in your current environment, it may be time to move on.
For those considering leaving a job that no longer fulfills you, negotiating a severance could provide a financial cushion and some peace of mind during your transition to a new role or venture. Always explore all your options before making significant career decisions.
