Are you aware of the mind-boggling range of uses for 3D printing?

(Photo Credit Maxwell Anderson)

I have been on a much-needed sabbatical for the month of June - and it’s been so great to recharge my batteries. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken so much time to relax and just see what each day brings. Make sure as you advance in your career that you build in time to recharge so you can keep ascending! I’ll have another announcement in my next newsletter - so stay tuned!

#techtopic

My early exposure to ‘maker shops’ came in the form of laser-cut toast and party invitations. My friend Ali opened a maker studio in Cambridge and we got individual invitations that were intricate and beautiful. (Check out this Wired article to see how OKGo, toast & YouTube figured into the story.) While the shop didn’t stay open that long, it was a fun place to visit & tinker with expensive machines, wood, and leather. It also got me exploring other types of ‘maker tools,’ namely 3D printers, another key item in many maker studios.

3D printing (aka additive manufacturing) is a process for making a physical object from a 3-dimensional digital model. The sheer range of physical objects that can be created in terms of size, shape, and materials used is mind-boggling at this point. 

For a brief period of time, all engineers and tinkerers that I knew wanted their own 3D printer for the home. Full stop. Not just available at a maker studio, they wanted access at home. However, many of the home kits fail or don’t produce the level of quality expected. We’ve definitely seen this consumer trend tail off - and most 3D printing efforts have focused on professional or enterprise usages. 

I’ve seen a lot of growth in 3D printed housing for reasons of sustainability and affordability. I was first introduced to this concept via my friend Max, when Icon, a company he invested in, printed its first house in 24 hours at SXSW in 2018. (Max also linked to many additional articles if you’d like to learn more about 3D printing and the developing world.) Mighty Buildings is a startup also trying to address the housing shortage with tiny backyard houses. And you can also use 3D printing to create uniquely designed houses made out of dirt as well. 

3D printing also has important applications in the medical field, the military, and space. Healthcare organizations can use 3D printers to print cells, biomaterials, and even entire organs.  The global 3D medical devices market is predicted to reach $3.2 Billion by 2026. The military units of multiple countries use 3D printing technology to help short circuit supply chain issues and save on expenses, by manufacturing what they need from small parts to large bunkers in the field. Relativity Space is expanding its facilities to offer reusable rockets, printed in much less time with 3D printing technology. 

And now, we can even print nature! A bit esoteric, but you can use wood waste to print new wood that mimics endangered wood, thereby saving forests of endangered wood species. And of course, there are 3D printed steaks and other similar food items entering the market as the demand for plant-based alternatives to meat increases.

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#random

Thomas Drambo makes sculptures of giants out of recycled materials. Have you checked out his Troll map?

Tips for managing the communication flow with a tech recruiter

(Photo credit @linkedinsalesnavigator)

If you are in the midst of interviewing for a new job, make sure you understand the process and are owning the communication flow as much as you can. 

• In many job searches but especially in tech, communication with recruiters can be highly variable. Because of the volatility & dynamic nature of tech, hiring can be a messy process with twists and turns that look super confusing from the candidate’s perspective. Some recruiters are very good at keeping candidates informed along the way, and others...are not. 

• What you might see: 

  • A recruiter reaches out, you do a screening call, the recruiter says we’re interested in moving you forward...and then nothing. Nada. Zip. Days or weeks can go by. You get frustrated waiting for them and send a frustrated ‘what’s happening?’ email, slightly singeing that relationship. Or worse, you just wait for them to get back to you, and nothing ever happens. 

• What’s likely happening on their side (a common scenario): 

  • A hiring manager said they need to hire someone with X skills into a new role that never existed before & within 2 weeks. The recruiter found a few A candidates who matched that X profile & did a series of recruiter screen calls. The HM has since changed their mind and wants X + Y skills. Some candidates have X+Y and move forward, or more likely, no candidate has X+Y but it took a few weeks to see that & convince the HM that they need to reset their expectations. So now the recruiter has to go back to A candidates weeks later, apologizing for the delay, & trying to restart the process with them without really being able to explain any of the delay. 

• What can you do?

  • Advocate for yourself by keeping on top of all recruiter communications.

    • During the interview, make sure to ask about next steps and the timeline for those next steps at the end of the call. 

    • After any interview, you should send a follow-up thank you email within 24-48 hours. 

    • Then the wait begins. If the recruiter said s/he would get back to you in 5 days, email them in the AM on Day 6 to check-in. Show them you are abiding by their timelines but also keeping on top of the process. Still no answer? Check out my ‘No-Ask’ email below. 

  • Understand at a basic level how the recruiting process works in tech. 

    • You don’t need to be an expert on recruiting - but when I explain scenarios like this to my clients, they immediately start to understand who the players are in the process and how to work with each stakeholder. Do you know the difference between a recruiter, a sourcer, a recruiting coordinator and a hiring manager? Do you know what unique role each of them play in the recruiting process? If not, stay tuned for a future newsletter to find out more! 

  • Activate your internal advocates. 

    • Many times, you already know someone who works at Company X where you are interviewing. Sometimes they referred you, sometimes it’s simply a 1st or 2nd degree connection you have via an alum or former colleague. They can be great resources to help you understand what’s happening inside the company, whether there’s a major reorg happening that is delaying everything, or simply a small hiccup in the process. 

  • Send my favorite email: ‘The No-Ask, Here’s an Article’ email.

    • You have all been out in the world and on the receiving end of a variety of good & bad networking emails. Those who are really pushy and ‘need’ me to do something for them tend to demonstrate low EQ. This makes me much less likely to help them -- and that is similar for a lot of people. 

    • Instead, send an email where the entire message is: I was thinking about our last conversation on topic T. I’m sure this is a crazy week for you but wanted to share this article/video/podcast/whatever that reminded me of a point you made, or that built upon our discussion. [Insert 1 sentence on why it reminded you.] Thank you for engaging in that discussion with me - I really enjoyed our conversation! I look forward to connecting again sometime soon. Have a great day/week! Thanks, Liz

    • The benefits of this approach: your name appears in their inbox. And it appears with no strings attached - you just want them to have a great day. There’s a subtle nudge about connecting again sometime in the future - but nothing overt. Most emails people receive require a response - so low-lift ones like this often break through the inbox chaos. 

    • Note: Don’t use this email when you need a specific answer (like ‘I haven’t received my call-in details for the next interview.’) Use it when you’re in comms limbo and aren’t sure what else to say. 

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#random

Vincent Callebaut's stunning twisting tower finally nears completion 

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WANT A CAREER IN TECH BUT AREN’T SURE WHERE TO START? TAKE A LOOK AT MY COURSE, ‘TECH SEARCH COMPASS’ FOR STEP-BY-STEP SUPPORT

It's all in the list

(Photo Credit @chigraph)

#careertip

There are a plethora of listicles out there that rate “the best” companies. While you shouldn’t assume that a company on any list is best for you, these lists can be very helpful for discovery. You can use them to identify new companies to check out, and to pinpoint your personalized set of ‘best company criteria.’ They come out all year long and tech companies are prominently featured in all of these lists. 

• Here is a list of 10 ‘best company’ lists that I have found valuable for job seekers:

  • (1) Fast Company focuses on innovation: Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2021

  • LinkedIn has two great lists to review:

    • (2) Top Companies 2021: The 50 best workplaces to grow your career in the US

    • (3) LinkedIn Top Startups 2020: The 50 US companies on the rise.

  • (4) For students & recent graduates, Universum does a survey of top employers, as rated by students: World's Most Attractive Employers | 2020

  • (5) Wealthfront puts out a yearly list of career-launching pre-IPO companies. I like how they revisit the list each year to tell you which companies IPO’d, were acquired, or fell off the list. 

  • (6-8) TheMuse is continually putting out articles that highlight various partner companies (33 Mission-Driven Companies to Work For, 30 Companies Hiring in May 2021, Companies Hiring Remote Workers Now) 

  • (9) Are you someone who is looking for companies that care about diversity? This list highlights 19 companies that are connecting employers to diverse pools of talent. 

  • (10+) The BuiltIn network is a great source of location-specific lists, whether you want to work in NYC, Boston, LA or Austin. 

As you review these lists, try to identify what keywords or phrases resonate with you, and write them down. This will help you build up a list of criteria that is important to you to have at your next company.