How do I know this?
Because just like you, I have made every job search mistake under the sun.
But here’s the twist...
Despite those missteps, I still pivoted to a $200K job at Amazon.
Here are 5 mistakes I made in my job search and what ultimately helped me land a dream offer at Amazon.
Mistake #1: DOUBTING MY EXPERIENCE
Coming from the Energy industry, I was convinced that I wasn’t “Tech enough”. I thought I needed more certifications or a Tech bootcamp to even be considered. This mindset made me second-guess everything and delayed my progress for months.
What I Did differently:
Instead of fixating on what I lacked, I focused on the unique value I brought to the table. I didn’t need another degree - I simply needed to position my existing experience in a way that resonated with the Tech industry.
Mistake #2: OVERLOADING MY RESUME
I made the classic mistake of including everything on my resume - every job, every responsibility, every internship. The result? A cluttered document that didn’t speak clearly to my target role.
What I Did Differently:
I started treating my Resume as a strategic document. I reworded it to highlight the impact I made, not just the tasks I completed. Once I restructured my resume to focus on measurable achievements, I started seeing results.
Mistake #3: AVOIDING NETWORKING
I used to believe that if I just applied to enough jobs online, something would stick. I spent countless hours filling out applications, only to hear crickets.
What I Did Differently:
I finally started reaching out directly to hiring managers and leveraging my existing connections for referrals. This got me in front of decision-makers at Google, Meta, BCG, and Amazon faster.
Mistake #4: WINGING MY INTERVIEWS
I cringed practicing for interviews and thought I could “wing it.” Spoiler alert: I couldn’t. I fumbled through answers, struggled to articulate my value, and left many interviews knowing I’d blown it.
What I Did Differently:
I realized that preparation was inevitable. I developed the SOARR framework (which I now teach my clients) that allowed me to confidently tackle any interview question that came my way.
Mistake #5: SETTLING FOR THE FIRST OFFER
In the past, being on a visa, I always accepted the first offer even though it was well below what I knew I was worth.
What I Did Differently:
This time, I used negotiation strategies I learned during my MBA and negotiated for 6 weeks, until the offer tipped past $200k. It’s nerve-wracking, but I owed it to myself to ask for what I deserved.
TLDR: The moment I started treating my job search like a strategic project, everything changed.
I realized that I didn’t need to be perfect - I just needed to be persistent, strategic, and confident in the value I bring to the table.
Despite all the mistakes I made previously, I landed a $200K job at Amazon.
And if I can do it, so can you.
