“Be open to the fact that you don’t know what you don’t know. Be willing to reach out and ask people what they do, what they like and don’t like...be open to just learning and figuring out what’s important to you and try to find a company that’s right for you.”
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Jimmy Sopko is a Manager of Growth Sales at Pinterest. Jimmy got his start at Pinterest by rolling up his sleeves and taking a job at Pinterest as part of their Community Operations team. While this was a step back in terms of pay and seniority, it got his foot in the door and he was able to quickly work his way up within Pinterest... a company that has already tripled in growth since he joined. Jimmy is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, and former Surface Warfare Officer. He's also an avid rower, having earned a Silver Medal in the 2009 World Rowing Championships.
In this conversation, we cover a lot of topics, including:
The three approaches Jimmy took to get his first job (Recruiters, Networking, Mentors)
The importance of choosing a lifestyle NOT a specific role at a company
How he narrowed his job search down to the Technology industry and Pinterest
What it's like to join an internet rocket ship... at the very bottom
Why he thinks it may be better to skip grad school and going straight to industry
The difference between military leadership and Tech leadership
How customer-facing roles maximize your learning inside a company
Our Sponsor:
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Audible is offering one FREE audio book to Beyond the Uniform listeners. You can claim this offer here, and see a list of books recommended by my guests at BeyondTheUniform.io/books
Selected Resources:
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Military LinkedIn network: iSABRD
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
How to Get Hired at Google - Cracking the Tech Career: Insider Advice on Landing a Job at Google, Microsoft, Apple, or any Top Tech Company
SHOW NOTES
[1:30] Background
[2:40] Transition from the Navy to US Rowing Team and searching for a new career
[4:10] Three approaches to getting his first job (Recruiters, Networking, Mentors)
[6:38] Approaching the decision to leave the military
[8:40] Choosing to not join the Reserves
[10:55] The importance of choosing a lifestyle NOT a specific role
[11:55] Deciding to leave the US Rowing Team and enter industry
[12:53] Exploring career possibilities while rowing
[14:10] Narrowing a job search down to the Technology industry and Pinterest
[16:30] Joining a rocket ship... at the very bottom
[17:57] Advice for skipping grad school and going straight to industry
[23:40] The difference between military leadership and Tech leadership
[26:50] How customer-facing roles maximize your learning inside a company
[27:52] Day-to-day life of a Community Operations / Customer Support roles
[30:00] Managing in an organization (vs. in the military)
[32:05] Day-to-day life in Growth Sales capacity
[36:50] Advice to those currently on Active Duty