‘Don’t Limit Yourself’ but Do Be Prepared: Tips From a Senior Technical Recruiter

Do you want to grow your career in tech? Looking to apply for — and get offered — the position of your dreams? Well, Kat Donoghue, a Senior Technical Recruiter and talent acquisition partner to the Engineering teams at Klaviyo, can help you do just that.

From getting an interview to pivoting your career, Donoghue has insider advice that will help you advance in your professional journey. Read on to learn more…

How to get an interview.

Many modern-day candidates have a common hurdle to overcome before getting an interview: automated application systems. But how can you address this challenge? Donoghue shares that you should avoid applying for many different roles at a single company all at once. “The message this sends is that you are just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, without any idea of what you really want or what you are qualified for,” she says. “It’s okay to apply to more than one position, but be sure to not overdo it and be intentional about the roles you are choosing.”

Another method for passing the application stage and getting your foot in the door for an interview is to make connections. Here, Donoghue says that finding a recruiter or team member who is connected to the role you are interested in is a good plan of action. However, making connections shouldn’t just happen when you’re applying for roles. “Often, the best time to foster connections within your network is when you're not looking for a new role,” Donoghue tells us. “You will thank yourself once the time comes when you are ready to make a change.”

And, when you’re applying, Donoghue urges you to take a chance. “Don’t assume that you know everything about a company or a role based on a job description or a job title,” she says.

Top 5 Tips for acing your interview.

Next, once you’ve successfully gotten an interview, how can you best showcase your skills? After interviewing countless tech candidates, Donoghue has five key tips on acing your next interview and scoring that position you have your eye on:

1. Write down stories about different professional experiences you’ve had. Having this prepared will help you discuss relevant and interesting examples in-depth, no matter what experimental question you’re asked. 

2. Have prepared questions for your interviewer(s). This will help you show curiosity and interest in the company, which is extremely important.

3. Be authentic. Never misrepresent yourself during an interview. Remember that great teams will both respect and appreciate your honesty and humbleness. 

4. Take the time to fully listen and understand a question before answering. Questions are asked for a reason, so make sure you’re answering correctly. And, if you notice that the interviewers are steering you in a different direction or offering feedback — listen, then pivot accordingly.

5. Try not to interrupt or talk over your interviewers. This can be particularly challenging in a virtual interview environment; however, pausing before speaking to ensure that you're not interrupting someone (and apologizing if you do!) can make a real difference.

Advice for growing the STEM job of your dreams and pivoting your career.

What about women who are looking to grow their existing career? “Don’t limit yourself,” Donoghue says. “This is a moment where many engineering companies are making strides to actively attract women.” The STEM field wants you. So, “figure out what you care about when it comes to your work and life, and find a company and role that allows you to fulfill those goals,” she says, “because I promise you that it exists.”

Self reflection is also relevant if you’re looking to pivot your career. During her own career pivot five years ago, Donoghue learned the importance of taking the time to ensure that a career pivot is the right move for you. This includes networking and reaching out to mentors and others in different industries and fields. 

Then, “once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, figure out how to tell your story in a way that makes it easy for recruiters or hiring managers to see how your skill set matches the job — even if the titles look different,” says Donoghue. “If you get really good at this, you can help them recognize that your background not only satisfies their needs, but actually brings in a diversity of experience and additional value that they didn’t even realize they were looking for.”

Advice for interviewing at Klaviyo (and why you should join the Klaviyo team).

What about if you're interested in interviewing at Klaviyo? Well, in that case, Donoghue says that you should first make sure that you research the company, which you can do via Klaviyo’s engineering blog, seeing what awards the company has received, and more. “This shows your interest in the company,” she explains. Additionally, “the more you can align your previous experience with relevant examples, the more likely you are to demonstrate to the hiring team that you would be a good fit for Klaviyo.”

In her own interviews, Donoghue notes that she likes to find tech candidates that have technical expertise, communication skills, and leadership skills. And, beyond that, “I am looking for engineers who are humble, collaborate well, and are passionate (about anything!),” she notes. These soft skills are also important to showcase in an interview.

Of course, interviewing is a two-way street, and Donoghue always makes sure to highlight what it’s like to work at Klaviyo, too. She always mentions the company’s momentum as well as the exciting “technical challenges our engineers have the opportunity to tackle every day,” she notes. “Lastly, I talk about the excitement of our company’s stage and the opportunities all Klaviyos get to make a lasting impact on our products, teams, and customers.”

Does Klaviyo sound like a good fit for you? They’re hiring! Check out open roles via the link below.

Fairygodboss is proud to partner with Klaviyo. Find a job there today!