CAREER TRANSITIONS: HOW I LANDED A NEW JOB TO START THE NEW YEAR

By Community Member Dayna Altman, author and AmeriCorps Experience Manager at City Year Providence, Providence, RI

One of the hidden gifts of the pandemic for me personally was realizing it was time to move on from my current position. Without the comforts of the routine that I was in when I worked at my office, I realized that I was ready to take on more than what my current position was offering me.

For example, I have always felt I am a born leader. In fact, I just had the opportunity to share this in an interview on Billions Success as an author to watch! In my previous role, I had the opportunity to be a supervisor. When our work turned virtual, I realized that some of my colleagues (even those whom I did not supervise) were looking to me to lead them during this time of uncertainty. This situation really had me assess my potential.

I began casually looking for job openings on websites like Indeed and LinkedIn. However, a former colleague suggested I research job openings at City Year, and I came across the AmeriCorps Experience Manager (ACME) position at City Year Providence.

City Year is a national educational non-profit, with offices in several major cities across the country. City Year provides an opportunity for a gap service year as an AmeriCorps member. The organization’s members serve in schools, preparing students with the social, emotional and academic skills and mindsets to succeed in school and in life.

I knew if I was offered the ACME position at the Providence location that I could get really creative. And, if there is one thing I know about myself, it is that being creative ignites my fire in a way that is unique.

The interview process for City Year was conducted virtually over several months. Each time I met with a different person on their staff, and the experiences left me feeling warmth, inclusion and acceptance. These three dynamics are especially important to me in selecting the right work environment to grow my career.

Preparing for virtual interviews was certainly different than the way I prepared in person. Prior to today’s virtual business world, I would do my research on the organization days prior and make a list to memorize information as well as practice in the mirror. I am someone who likes to show engagement through body language.

Now, rather than use a mirror for practice sessions, I switched to standing in front of my webcam. This made it possible to see what the other person’s view would be of everything from my posture to my eye contact and my expressions. I wanted my body language to fully convey my interest in the position. I know this practice is one that I will need to continue as I will not only be onboarding virtually, I will also be working virtually for the foreseeable future.

With every interview session, I saw my potential for personal and professional growth. As challenging as it was to leave my previous position behind, making the leap to City Year is one I am proud of! I start my new job this week.