From Stoa's Induction to My Dream Job

The Year That Changed Everything

Hello guys,

It’s been a while. I hope this newsletter finds you well and in the spirit of curiosity and possibility. I am so excited, overwhelmed, and nothing but grateful to share a remarkable journey that unfolded over the past year - a journey that began in the bustling halls of Stoa's induction room and has now led me to the threshold of my dream job.

Let's dive into the adventure together.

On September 16th, 2022, I nervously embarked on my Stoa journey. It was my first day of induction at the signature resort in Bangalore, and I was filled with a mix of excitement and regret from the previous night's hangover. Convincing my dad to let me join Stoa was not easy, but he finally agreed (of course with the condition that I pursue a full-time MBA from a traditional college as well) 

My initial plan was to learn business fundamentals to support my ed-tech startup, Stellars School. However, in November 2022, I decided to step down from my venture. Life had different plans, and I didn't feel bad about it. Stoa's Career Services came to my rescue at this point.

I cleared my charter in March and rediscovered my love for working hard regardless of the outcome. My career trajectory was unconventional, and I had no full-time work experience. My cohort mates sought career services, and I found myself at a crossroads. Should I embark on another entrepreneurial journey, work with a school, go freelance, or join a growth-stage ed-tech startup? The answer eluded me until I sought guidance from my amazing career coach, Anjani and I started working as a school consultant.

After 45 days, I realized that while I enjoyed working for schools, I wanted to be in fast-paced ed-tech startups. The school offered me a full-time role with an impressive salary, but I declined. Instead, I worked on projects and focused on my resume and portfolio. I applied to 4 to 5 different companies, but I stumbled during an interview with NoPaper forms, despite being well-prepared and having studied Stoa materials. It was a wake-up call, leading me to utilize Stoa's interview resources more sincerely to sharpen my skills. Interestingly, I had initially applied to Toddle before Stoa but received no response.

Cut to 3 months, here I am with the final offer letter from Toddle ticking off all the criteria I had in mind for my dream job. 

My journey to land my first job: 

On July 1st, I chose the career cycle and made it my mission to get my first job. I was quite specific about what I wanted, which significantly reduced my possibilities. while this, I persisted while briefly considering giving up. The fact that I only wanted to work at an ed-tech company (that too with defined criteria regarding the goods or categories I wanted to) made it much harder considering that the career team had already advised us that market conditions are not particularly favorable at the moment thus we should keep the choices open. However, I did believe that with my dedication and Stoa’s guidance I would be able to craft it, and kept hustling hard.

Gaurav and the Stoa careers team were super quick in their support. In just 10 days, we fine-tuned my resume, engaged in expert consultations, improved my proof of work, and optimized my LinkedIn profile. I was interview-ready and had already applied to two companies on my own. With Gaurav's assistance, I reached out to five specific companies through compelling cold emails that led to interviews and discussions. The community's support has been invaluable on this journey.

List of Companies I had applied to:

1. Mesa School: Manager- Alliances & partnerships

Reference: Param- Stoa C10 (He reviewed my proof of work which helped me be relevant in my proof of work)

Update: They changed plans for hiring for this and a few more positions

2. Saarthi pedagogy: Founder’s office role

Reference: My own network. I had met Aniruddh (Lead Founder’s office) in an event when I was working on Stellars and had his number saved which helped me get through the entire conversation. 

Update: They were maxed out on the numbers for the founder’s office and I was late by a month

3. Buildd: Founder’s office role

Reference: Chitrangda - Stoa C9 tagged me in the comment of a LinkedIn post from the founder about the opening which made me find this opportunity and apply.

Update: I haven’t heard back from them but it helped me work on my mock role-specific interviews

4. Scaler School of Technology: Marketing and sales 

Reference: Vijay Kumar - Stoa C9 (He put a personal recommendation for me to HR and it got me an email and call from them) 

Update: They had openings for Scaler for working professionals and not for Scaler School. I wanted to work specifically at Scaler School.

5. Toddle: Event Ops Manager (Through Stoa)

Reference: Arpita - Stoa C10

Update: Accepted the offer and joining from 18th September

The cold email draft got me quick responses from the recruiters.

The Power of Community:

One of the most remarkable moments in my journey was connecting with Arpita. Little did I know that she was hiring for a role within her own team. Our connection on LinkedIn, courtesy of Stoa, proved to be serendipitous. Initially, I reached out to her for a proof of work review, hoping to steer in the right direction. Arpita, in her kindness, responded promptly.

During our conversation, I discovered that she was not just any connection but the hiring manager herself. This opportunity allowed us to delve into the company culture and role dynamics. Arpita was so impressed with our discussion that she made a compelling recommendation, leading to an offer – all without the need for formal interviews.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words:

Throughout my journey, one lesson stood out: the undeniable power of proof of work. It's the key to standing out in a crowded field. I have secured countless opportunities thanks to solid proof of work. Even at Toddle, I shared my work without being prompted, further solidifying my credibility. My dedication to this approach fostered strong relationships with the companies I applied to, even when things didn't align for various reasons. My proof of work consistently made a strong first impression and ensured prompt responses to my cold emails.

Check out some of my proof of work:

1. Mesa School

2. Saarthi Pedagogy

3. Toddle

As I look back, I can't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude. Exactly one year ago, on that same September 16th, I took a leap of faith during the induction session at Stoa. Now, life has come full circle. I'm excited and nervous as I prepare to join my first job, beginning on September 18th.

Stoa has given me not only my first job but also an invaluable community of support. It has equipped me with essential business concepts, frameworks, and the right approach for both personal and professional projects.

Thank you, Stoa, for being the wind beneath my wings on this remarkable journey. Thank you C9 for making this journey worthwhile.

I hope that my story inspires each one of you on your path to success. Keep hustling guys and make sure you take pride in your craft! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!

Will see you with another story soon!

In every challenge, there is an opportunity. In every setback, there is a lesson. And in every success, there is gratitude. Here's to embracing the journey and finding our strength within it.