
<p>When looking at a potential employer and deciding whether it would be a good place to join you are probably looking for all the information you can get. Despite this, you might be overlooking a sneak peak into the company, the value statement.  An organization&#8217;s value statement almost always originates from the founding or leadership team, and therefore is probably the best place to start to understand what they value, and therefore what type of person it attracts. </p>



<p>Familiarity with the value statement can save you time and improve your decision-making on whether you might work well with new a team. We are all different, and the thousands of hires that become a company reflect this. A mistake that can lead to an unhappy fit at a new role is underestimating the variety of styles with which teams can be run and with which goals can be pursued.</p>



<p>The best value statements are clear outlines of the attributes that a company looks to as indicators and guideposts for success. More practically, they almost always manifest in  promotion and compensation and might be a roadmap for your next few years after joining. </p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<p>To illustrate this, let&#8217;s take a few famous examples and break them down for quick takeaways that an applicant might look for.</p>



<h2 class="has-huge-font-size" id="amazon"><strong>Amazon</strong></h2>



<ul class="has-small-font-size"><li><strong>Customer Obsession:</strong> Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.</li><li><strong>Ownership: </strong>Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say “that’s not my job.”</li><li><strong>Invent and Simplify:</strong> Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here.” As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time.</li><li><strong>Are Right, A Lot:</strong> Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.</li><li><strong>Learn and Be Curious: </strong>Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.</li><li><strong>Hire and Develop the Best:</strong> Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.</li><li><strong>Insist on the Highest Standards:</strong> Leaders have relentlessly high standards—many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high-quality products, services, and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed.</li><li><strong>Think Big: </strong>Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.</li><li><strong>Bias for Action: </strong>Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.</li><li><strong>Frugality:</strong> Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense.</li><li><strong>Earn Trust:</strong> Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing. Leaders do not believe their or their team’s body odor smells of perfume. They benchmark themselves and their teams against the best.</li><li><strong>Dive Deep: </strong>Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ. No task is beneath them.</li><li><strong>Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit:</strong> Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.</li><li><strong>Deliver Results: </strong>Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle.</li><li><strong>Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer:</strong> Leaders work every day to create a safer, more productive, higher performing, more diverse, and more just work environment. They lead with empathy, have fun at work, and make it easy for others to have fun. Leaders ask themselves: Are my fellow employees growing? Are they empowered? Are they ready for what’s next? Leaders have a vision for and commitment to their employees’ personal success, whether that be at Amazon or elsewhere.</li><li><strong>Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility:</strong> We started in a garage, but we’re not there anymore. We are big, we impact the world, and we are far from perfect. We must be humble and thoughtful about even the secondary effects of our actions. Our local communities, planet, and future generations need us to be better every day. We must begin each day with a determination to make better, do better, and be better for our customers, our employees, our partners, and the world at large. And we must end every day knowing we can do even more tomorrow. Leaders create more than they consume and always leave things better than how they found them.</li></ul>



<p>What can we learn from the famous leadership principles? Imagine you are an alien from space and only know that Amazon is the biggest company in the world with hundreds of thousands of employees. Here are some fast questions you could ask yourself after reading these famous leadership principles which have remained mostly unchanged since Jeff Bezos started his online bookstore.</p>



<ol><li>Am I driven by responding to what people are asking for, vs what possibilities exist to give them that they don&#8217;t realize yet? Do I truly want to serve the customer?</li><li>Do I thrive in environments where my thinking will be challenged a lot, and I will always be pressed for details and to make a strong case for options?</li><li>Do I like taking ownership and pushing those around me to move fast and stay frugal?</li></ol>



<h2 class="has-huge-font-size" id="costco"><strong>CostCo</strong></h2>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Our Mission</strong><br>To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest<br>possible prices.<br>In order to achieve our mission we will conduct our business with the following Code of Ethics in mind:<br><strong>Our Code of Ethics</strong></p>



<ol class="has-small-font-size"><li>Obey the law.</li><li>Take care of our members.</li><li>Take care of our employees.</li><li>Respect our suppliers.<br><em>If we do these four things throughout our organization, then we will achieve our ultimate goal, which is to:</em></li><li>Reward our shareholders.</li></ol>



<p>Costco&#8217;s unique philosphy is famous, and although at first glance it might seem like any other discount wholesale store its fans will all diasagree.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-small-font-size"><p>I believe Costco does more for civilization than the Rockefeller Foundation. I think it&#8217;s a better place. You get a bunch of very intelligent people sitting around trying to do good, I immediately get kind of suspicious and squirm in my seat.</p><cite>Charlie Munger &#8211; Berkshire Hathaway</cite></blockquote>



<p>We can learn a lot from this value statement even at first glance.</p>



<ol><li>Do I want to join an organization that obsesses over quality and community?</li><li>Am I motivated by the overarching goal of providing the lowest possible prices for goods to customers?</li></ol>



<h2 class="has-huge-font-size" id="stripe"><strong>Stripe</strong></h2>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>We Haven&#8217;t Won Yet:</strong> People often worry that they’re joining Stripe, or any nascently successful startup, too late. Have all the large problems been solved? Are there still important decisions left to be made and things to be built? </p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Move with Urgency and Focus:</strong> Our users entrust us with their money, their businesses, and their livelihoods. Millions of businesses around the world (individuals, startups, and large enterprises) are open for business only if we are. When we mess up, miss a deadline, or slow down, it matters. We take that responsibility seriously.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Think Rigorously:</strong> We care about being right and it often takes reasoning from first principles to get there.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Trust and Amplify:</strong> By the standards of the rest of the world, we overtrust. We’re okay with that.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Global Optimization:</strong> Stripes do what’s best for the organization overall.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>The Stripe Service:</strong> Through the tools that we build, we want to push the world to create better products and services.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Optimism:</strong> We are micro pessimists but macro optimists.</p>



<p>Value statements are reserved for bigger, older companies that your parents might have worked at. Stripe is an example of a technology company, growing but not yet the size of our first two example, that offers clear values that can be used to understand what they deem important. They go so far as to provide the questions you might want to ask for you!</p>



<ol><li>Stripe has very few titles, and we don’t share promotions publicly; after a few years your LinkedIn might not look as tricked-out as your peers at other companies. Will that bother you?</li><li>Do you care a lot about having kind, warm, supportive colleagues?</li><li>The value of Stripe (and your equity) is no foregone conclusion. While you’ll have a hand in the outcome, are you okay with a substantial amount of risk and ambiguity?</li></ol>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<p>Getting a quick view into a companies DNA seems like a tall order until you realize there is a public list of what the founding team deemed essential to continue their success. If you take a glance at this list, ask yourself the questions, and then ask the people you interact with in interviews about them you will fast track your ability to understand the type of place you are looking at.</p>



<p>A final note, there are plenty of examples of value statements that are changed all the time or lack any real meaning. In these cases you might get eye rolls when you mention aspects of them to employees or find no relation to what you are being asked in the interview process. Be wary of these cases as it may indicate lack of transparency in general.</p>


Hiding in plain sight?


<p>I recently read this fascinating thread on Twitter talking about navigating startup compensation and what you should expect when deciding on whether or not to take an offer. I wanted to summarize the thread here, but you can check out the <a href="https://twitter.com/cjc/status/1463307036788072453?s=20">original</a> here.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background is-style-wide" style="background-color:#000000;color:#000000;" />



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="what-is-startup-compensation">What is startup compensation?</h2>



<p>Depending on the stage of the startup you are looking to join, the difference between compensation you receive at a startup and a non-startup is that you will often have a lower salary but this will be made up with the amount of equity you get. The three parts that form this new compensation are salary, benefits, and equity. Let&#8217;s zoom in on these three parts quickly.</p>



<h2 class="has-normal-font-size" id="salary">Salary</h2>



<p>This will largely depend on the size of the startup, but you should expect to have a lower salary at a startup than at a larger company because you will be receiving more equity and part of working there is the expectation that the company will continue to grow (thus increasing the value of your equity.) That being said, you should use salary tools to make sure what you are getting is on par with other employees at your level. Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, or AngelList all have great tools to help with this research.</p>



<h2 class="has-normal-font-size" id="benefits">Benefits</h2>



<p>Oft overlooked, a smaller salary or equity with better benefits can be much more valuable than the alternative. That being said, startups tend to have different benefits than larger companies, because they don&#8217;t have as much money to spend. Whether the benefits benefit you is really dependent on what stage you are in your life and what is important to you for your work-life balance. What&#8217;s good to remember, however, is that as a startup grows they will usually reward employees with increased benefits, so if you are happy with the initial benefits, there is a great chance they will only get better!</p>



<h2 class="has-normal-font-size" id="equity-stock-and-vesting-schedules">Equity: Stock and Vesting Schedules</h2>



<p>This is the most important (and most confusing) part of any startup compensation package. Equity refers to the amount of ownership you are given of the company and this is where the real value of working at a startup lies. When you are hired this equity might not offset the reduction in your salary, but if the company continues to grow it will likely more than make up for the deficit in the long run, especially if the company is acquired or goes public. You should familiarize yourself with how equity works and what the different stages of fundraising a startup go through <a href="https://www.ycombinator.com/library/4A-a-guide-to-seed-fundraising">here</a>.</p>



<p>A very early-stage startup doesn&#8217;t have the capital to pay you a competitive salary so they will likely give you much more equity, but as the startup raises money and grows the amount of equity rewarded to each hire drastically decreases. As a rule of thumb, startups usually reserve 10% for early hires and 10% for everyone after that. While that is by no mean a guarantee, that gives you a good idea of the diminishing amounts being given out. </p>



<p>The other important aspect of equity is the vesting schedule that you receive. When you are hired you are never directly given all of your equity, but instead are given the option to purchase it on a vesting schedule. This rewards employees who stay around and disincentivizes employees from leaving early. The typical vesting schedule gives you one-fourth of your options at the end of your first year, and then 1/48th every month after that. Once your options vest, you have the right to purchase them (or not).</p>



<h2 class="has-normal-font-size" id="where-is-the-company-going">Where is the company going?</h2>



<p>When deciding whether or not to take an offer, think about where the company is going. Much of the value you are receiving by working at a startup is in the future value of the company so you should try to understand how the company is growing and whether or not you will see an increase in value. You should also note that as the company grows it is very likely your salary will increase (you can sometimes request that your salary is increased when they raise capital.)</p>



<p>When you are negotiating your startup offer make sure you find some numbers to base your offer off of and have a range in mind. Also, consider the whole package of working at a startup. Beyond offering more equity, working at a startup is a totally different experience and is often faster-paced, and allows you to wear multiple hats. If this is something that really excites you then maybe a small pay cut is worth it!</p>


Navigating Startup Compensation


<p>Recently, I wrote a short twitter thread on some of the exciting new features that we have introduced to Kiter.  </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="embed-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Remote work, tech talent crunch, Web3&#8230;<br><br>A lot is changing in 2021 and we are building <a href="https://twitter.com/kiter_app?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kiter_app</a>  to evolve to this new reality. Here is some of what job seekers have asked for.  🧵 👇</p>&mdash; Peter Mangan (@PeterbMangan) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterbMangan/status/1458490491759104016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</div></figure>



<p>Everything we do is rooted in meeting the needs of professionals in today&#8217;s job market. Kiter makes the process of keeping track of exciting job opportunities effortless, so that you can always monitor what opportunities are out there and take control of the process.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="148" data-permalink="https://kiterblog854371813.wordpress.com/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12-20-39-pm/" data-orig-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png" data-orig-size="2068,1508" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=1024" src="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-148" srcset="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=1024 1024w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=2048 2048w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=150 150w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=300 300w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.20.39-pm.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h4 id="find-out-when-a-company-has-posted-a-job">Find out when a company has posted a job</h4>



<p>While Kiter primarily offers a repository and planning board for your opportunities, we were continually asked if there was a way for us to monitor when companies post new roles that might be a fit for the respective user.</p>



<p>This ask eventually evolved into our &#8220;Openings&#8221; feature. This allows Kiter to link to public job boards and instantly displays new postings with application links one click away. Importantly, this is not a feed from aggregators like LinkedIn or Indeed but directly from company websites and their job board providers. There are no duplicates, old postings, or unrelated items in the list. Everything is searchable and can be added to your board or applied to directly from Kiter. </p>



<h4 id="track-interview-dates-and-times">Track interview dates and times</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img data-attachment-id="154" data-permalink="https://kiterblog854371813.wordpress.com/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12-22-06-pm-1/" data-orig-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png" data-orig-size="2068,1508" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=1024" src="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-154" srcset="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=1024 1024w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=2048 2048w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=150 150w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=300 300w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.06-pm-1.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Dates and deadlines are a big part of any important process and this is no exception. Providing a clean view of events related to each company was something we were excited to add to Kiter. This calendar available to all accounts is a central resting place for job opportunity related events. Moving forward, we plan to add integrations into this calendar to sync with users preferred main calendar provider. Email reminders will also be integrated as we learn more about how best to include this into the overall Kiter platform.</p>



<h4 id="find-related-job-openings">Find related job openings</h4>



<p>One problem with any search is that, with so much information at hand and companies hiring for a multitude of roles, users might be stuck looking at a small slice of openings that fit their background. We are creating our &#8220;Matches&#8221; feature to overcome this and allow for a small recommendation feed to add just the right amount of extra input.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img data-attachment-id="153" data-permalink="https://kiterblog854371813.wordpress.com/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12-22-34-pm/" data-orig-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png" data-orig-size="2068,1508" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=1024" src="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-153" srcset="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=1024 1024w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=2048 2048w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=150 150w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=300 300w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/screen-shot-2021-11-10-at-12.22.34-pm.png?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Everything on Kiter is evolving, and the more we learn how we can serve applicants in their process the more we are able to provide in the way of delightful tools fit for the task. Please reach out to the team if you found this interesting, have thoughts about how we can improve further, or just want to say hello!</p>



<p>-team@kiter.app</p>


What we have been building and why

mulyadi-d3KukqLHoNU-unsplash


<p>It can be hard to sort through all the emails you&#8217;re getting on the best of days. When you are juggling existing priorities while also considering your next job it can get overwhelming. Product promotions are ok to miss every once in a while but we built the new Kiter email bot Mentat to make sure you don&#8217;t miss any recruiting emails.</p>



<p>Even if you meet your next employer at a cocktail party of football game, most of the communication on your road to getting there will be email. Folders are great, but we want to take all of the stress and time out of keeping track of these critical comms. You can now forward any recruiter email to robot@kiter.app and it will be automatically process saving it to your Kiter account, creating contacts and tagging the relevant companies. Even if you get a long shot suggestion its a simple click to stow it away for when you might need it.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="141" data-permalink="https://kiterblog854371813.wordpress.com/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1/" data-orig-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg" data-orig-size="3512,6240" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=169" data-large-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=576" src="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=576" alt="" class="wp-image-141" width="236" height="419" srcset="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=236 236w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=472 472w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=84 84w, https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mulyadi-d3kukqlhonu-unsplash-1.jpg?w=169 169w" sizes="(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px" /></figure></div>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>You can now forward any email to robot@kiter.app to save it</p></blockquote>



<p>We are improving <strong>Mentat</strong> all the time and look forward to its progress. No need to even log in, just forward from your existing account email and you will be on your way. We are working to make it easier for you to keep track of your critical recruiter emails on the fly. Never miss a follow up again and just file everything away with a simple forward. </p>


A little help to get to Inbox 0


<p>The Oracle of Omaha is clearly one of the most well known and famed investors. He has made his partners and shareholders wealth grow beyond almost any other benchmark, but the mental models and knowledge he has shared in his years might yield even higher returns. </p>



<h2><strong>Circle of Competence</strong></h2>



<p>A central tenant of Buffet and his partner Charlie Munger in their leadership of Berkshire Hathaway, has been intellectual humility. Though they are likely have as diverse a knowledge base as  anyone alive, they profess to constantly warry of straying into subject matter that is outside their circle of competence.  This circle encompasses areas they might have an information advantage in that can be relied on to produce better then average outcomes. They are humble about areas where this is not the case  </p>



<p>While the circle of competence might sound like an advocacy for specialization, it is much more complex. Both Buffet and Munger are voracious readers, love learning, and especially look to take principles and models that apply across a broad array of industries and disciplines to guide there way. Neither are advocating for limiting your outlook or narrowing your options as you specialize. They are recommending to seek new investments, or opportunities for your time, that will benefit from the skills you have already been able to build. There are very few skills, lessons or good habits than can not be transferred to a new domain. You can pursue new horizons and still benefit from your circle of competence.</p>



<h2><strong>Punch Card Decision Making</strong></h2>



<p>Buffet has been quoted as saying that it would be better for many investors to be given a punch card that allowed for only a handful of investing decisions throughout their life. This would instill caution, promote research and reward patience all of which he thinks would lead to outsized returns. Taking this principle outside of the investing domain, we can view our decisions about time and what to do next in the same way.</p>



<p>Every time we consider taking on a new project, job or learning in a new domain, we are making an investment decision. While we should not limit our adventuring, we can use the punch card mental model to ensure we are taking a systematic approach. Time is never returned and although we can change direction as much as we like each new course is only forward. Past time can not be reclaimed.</p>



<p>To ensure proper decision making etiquette when investing our time, we can take Buffet&#8217;s advice on thorough due diligence.  </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p> “You ought to be able to explain why you’re taking the job you’re taking, why you’re making the investment you’re making, or whatever it may be. And if it can’t stand applying pencil to paper, you’d better think it through some more. And if you can’t write an intelligent answer to those questions, don’t do it.” </p></blockquote>



<p>Move boldly and invest time as if you have only a few big opportunities to do so, but be thorough with your analysis.</p>



<h2><strong>Fun in the Sun</strong></h2>



<p>Buffet and every other business star are constantly quoted to show the importance of loving your work as correlated with success. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds.”</p></blockquote>



<p>Buffet and Munger certainly do love their work and are still carrying it out into their 90s.  This cliché though misses the nuances and advantages to being able to find an approach in your line of work that you can totally embrace. The most remarkable company builders and investors have not always loved working, nor found love at first sight with a specific niche, but they all leverage the lack of effort when you are working on a passion. </p>



<p>Finding this balance is probably as much of a day to day journey as a big life revelation. Using it to guide small decisions can lay guide stones to the big decisions. A wonderful breakdown of this concept can be found in this talk by investor and Buffet acolyte Bill Gurley.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/fit-in/416x416/filters%3Aformat%28jpg%29/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fimageserve%2F5babb7f1a7ea4342a948b79a%2F0x0.jpg%3Fbackground%3D000000%26cropX1%3D748%26cropX2%3D3075%26cropY1%3D1753%26cropY2%3D4082" alt="" /></figure></div>



<h2><strong>Learn from the best</strong></h2>



<p>If you are still reading you probably find following the decisions, and mistakes, of some of successful individuals. Even on a smaller scale taking a look at the path those you admire have charted is an excellent way to pattern match with where you are in a particular journey. </p>



<p>How does all this relate to charting a path to your next job? Important decisions require the study and time that they are worthy of. Using investment principles to guide a change in career or shift in job is an extremely valuable tool.</p>


A few lessons from Warren Buffet on his Birthday


<p>After dozens of applications and weeks of waiting, receiving an email offering you an interview is an awesome feeling. Shortly after, however, this elation turns to dread as you think about what the interview is going to be like and whether you will say the correct thing. Here are some tips professional career coaches give to anyone preparing for an interview. </p>



<p>1.) Trust yourself and be confident: They chose you, out of the hundreds of resumes they received, for a reason. Knowing that your potential employer values what you are bringing to the table is extremely important and will allow you to be confident. This ties into the second point.</p>



<p>2.) Highlight your strengths and your weaknesses: No one is perfect. If they were then they wouldn&#8217;t be reading this blog post. While it is crucial to highlight your strengths, it is often more important to highlight your weaknesses. A lot of the time, candidates will highlight their strengths first and either ignore their weaknesses, which leaves the interviewer assuming the worst, or they finish with their weaknesses. It is actually beneficial to lead with your weaknesses and finish with your strengths. There is a lot of research showing that if we share a vulnerability or weakness (a real weakness not something like, &#8220;I could get to work earlier&#8221;) then the interviewer will see this as a sign of friendliness and trust and will like you more. This also allows your strengths to be the last thing of the interviewers mind AND appear stronger when compared to your weaknesses. </p>



<p>3.) Know about the company: It isn&#8217;t required to know every aspect of every part of the company where you are interviewing and it is actually a good idea to ask questions about what the role you are applying for specifically entails, but you should know what the company is good at, what their core principles are, who the leadership is and any information you can find on the team you are applying to join. This is a simple thing to do, but will make you look very prepared.</p>



<p>4.) Think of your posture and voice: If this is an in person interview be cognizant of how you are sitting. Ideally you want to be upright, attentive, and still (stillness conveys confidence and intelligence). When you are speaking make sure you are projecting and you are making eye contact with the interviewer. These are small changes that will really help how your interviewer remembers you: engaged vs. bored.</p>



<p>5.) Relax: While a little cliche, this is an important tip. In the grand scheme of your life, this interview is small and although you should prepare and maybe be a little nervous, don&#8217;t let it overwhelm you, because that will show and probably cause you to make mistakes. Make sure to breath and relax before starting and just share your best self! </p>



<p>These are some quick tips to remember when preparing for an interview. It is also important to remember that, even if the interview is a failure, it is a great practice opportunity and will make you more prepared for the next one.</p>



<p>Good Luck!</p>


5 Tips For Acing Your Interview


<p>Mention of a job search conjures up many thoughts, but picturing the lonely out of date work doc on your computer labeled <em>[Name_CV_2018]</em> is likely one of them.  The resume still rules most candidate screening programs. Even if it will only be scanned by software it is too important to take a pass on if you are applying to jobs where you do not have a strong connection already.</p>



<p>Like any communication, putting down you work history and aptitude for a job is all about simplicity. Being direct in communicating your strength and removing information that is not relevant will help your profile rise to the top. While there are endless debates about buzz words, ways to talk up your work or other tricks, one attainable improvement to the document in style.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1434030216411-0b793f4b4173?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1950&amp;q=80" alt="" width="650" /></figure></div>



<p>The message is in the medium. With a resume or CV, if someone is reading yours as a job prospect they are almost always reviewing dozens more in the same twenty minutes of the afternoon that they carved out for it.  Brevity, certainly within the confines of a single page, is a good starting point. Beyond brevity, adopting a standard style that might be familiar to readers is also a strong tactic. Thankfully for the masses, the tried and true resume formats from the countries top business schools are open source. Even if only a few hundred enter the workforce from top business schools every year their resume styles are seen best practice in many fields. We offer a format based of Harvard Business School&#8217;s template to Kiter users as a guide that will always be familiar and readable to both computers and hiring managers. Like putting on a less flamboyant outfit for an interview, choosing a trusted style format is a safe bet, especially for jobs where the hiring manager might be an &#8216;MBA type&#8217; but rarely will be out of place. </p>



<p>Excitement in the content. Even if adopting a standard, or even boring, style could get you past the first few seconds of reading, adding some flare in the content can be helpful. It is unlikely that a hiring manger will be excited by yet another instance of someone who has mastered the Microsoft suite, but they may have a common interest in backpacking or be a fellow sneakerhead. Try not to hold back on your passions if you have an area where you can speak to them. </p>



<p> Think about the process beyond the paper. In updating your document you can take the time to think about what you have done so far, and what you really will be bringing to the company. For a great role and a great fit, it will probably be hard to capture this in a resume so be sure to bring this energy elsewhere. Whether in interviews or in networking before the interview speak beyond what is on the paper. Good luck!</p>


One Sheet of Paper


<p>At the end of the day most employers will look at one document when deciding whether to send you a rejection email or move you into the next pile and that is your resume. The resume is our entire professional (and often personal) life summarized in one page. </p>



<p>With all of that riding on one document it is no wonder people stress about their resume. So here are some tips and services for you to use to make sure your resume is showcasing the best parts of you.</p>



<p>1) Start with a template &#8211; There are fantastic templates available (beyond the vanilla Microsoft Word options) including Harvard Business School&#8217;s template available here.</p>



<p>2.) Plan before filling it in &#8211; Think about what you are trying to convey to the employer. If it is a technical role focus more on your technical projects than you would for say a finance or business role. </p>



<p>3.) Review it &#8211; You should never edit a resume then send it off. Plan ahead so you can ask friends and family to look it over before you submit it. You don&#8217;t need to be updating it constantly so you can allow for more reviewing upfront. </p>



<h2>Some services to help you</h2>



<p>Here is a list of good tools to help you build your resume as well as some paid options if you are short on time and okay to shell out some money. We are also always happy to help any users with their resume review. Just email mail@kiter.app with &#8220;Resume review&#8221; in the subject. </p>



<ol><li><a href="https://resume.io/">Resume.io</a></li><li><a href="https://jobstars.com/">Job Stars</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thebalancecareers.com/resume-formats-with-examples-and-formatting-tips-2063591">The Balance</a></li><li><a href="https://zety.com/blog/editor-resume-example">Zety</a></li><li><a href="https://www.topresume.com/">Top Resume</a></li></ol>



<p>What is important to remember, however, is that your resume is supposed to represent you and your accomplishments. Therefore, often the most helpful people to review are those closest to you who know you and can help you highlight all the best aspects of why you are right for the job!</p>



<p>Often you only get one shot at a first impression, make it be the best possible version by having an up-to-date, professional resume. If you have any questions or want our help, please feel free to email us at mail@kiter.app.</p>


Resume

resume review

resume template

5 Great Tools to Edit Your Resume


<p>Recently in the news for their <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/27/no-code-bubble-series-a/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI6VGU1lQnq0v40iWMMFcmgm3ykzGMN162YrT5IqH6tNckvwAGoaGufGL0j9x2UQPWM1Fe50jdaSJCJ_5_T_MgYmXEpeVZnma4W404VX4f4Jle7-IR8VaLVhpABI3CmU_lhOeq8vDwl5uz7ntitVeXnXE-2IFzUJanUNSHTuZgHD" target="_blank">$100 million Series A</a> round, Bubble is a no-code giant that has been around for almost a decade. It also happens to be our choice for the initial design and deployment of Kiter. We made this decision for a number of reasons, but primarily because a.) I didn&#8217;t have any web development experience and b.) we wanted a way to quickly iterate and build/release new features with a small team.</p>



<p>At this point it was just my brother Peter and me working on Kiter and we didn&#8217;t want to spend weeks learning react, css, and html let along what would be needed for the backend db. In hindsight, this was a fantastic move as it allowed us to go from idea to MVP in less than a month. Crazy how it has changed since then. We initially also built our landing page on bubble, but quickly moved this to a full stack setup. </p>



<p>As those of you who have been users for more than a couple of weeks know, we used to be a multipage app. This was before I had done any research into web dev and it seemed like the best way (it was not). One of the limitations with bubble, we feared, was the speed. What we realized, however, was that this was in fact a result of our design rather than Bubble&#8217;s ability. All of this came to head last month when we were working to improve ease of use and speed. We decided it was finally time to transition to the more commonly used single-page application. In order to do this we needed to solve two problems that using bubble caused us:</p>



<p>1.) How to have a true single page app (I.e no scrolling of the entire page).</p>



<p>2.) How to have the elements on the page dynamically fill up the available space.</p>



<p>Both of these would be simple problems with simple solutions on a traditional full code react web app, but not with Bubble! Herein lies one of our biggest frustrations with bubble. If it is something they thought of, then it is very easy to use and integrate. If it isn&#8217;t, then you will spend A LOT of time scouring the forum looking for a complex solution to a simple problem.</p>



<p>I wanted to write how we ultimately solved these problems incase there are any other Bubblers out there.</p>



<h4>How to have a true single page app </h4>



<p>The first issue we had to solve was how to set our page height so it dynamically adjusted to the user&#8217;s viewport. After scouring the forum I came across this blog post and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forum.bubble.io/t/setting-a-group-to-be-of-viewport-height-dynamically/12700" target="_blank">started here.</a> This post did a fantastic job of explaining how to use jQuery to dynamically resize and was a great resource to start with. Unfortunately, as I tried to apply this logic to the specific elements and groups on our page it became more and more complicated to the point where it simply wasn&#8217;t working. I also don&#8217;t have much experience with jQuery so it is possible I was doing something wrong and it is a simple fix!</p>



<h4>How to have the elements resize and repeating groups scroll</h4>



<p>The next issue was having the elements resize dynamically as some percentage of the total viewport (I.e {height: 50vh;}). We were able to set this by running a jQuery call every two seconds to resize the main page which also triggered the elements to rerender. This seemed like a backwards way of doing it as it was almost like hardcoding an update function. </p>



<p>The other issue with this approach (the initial genesis for this came from this blog) was that when you resized the repeating groups, they only would show the data that had been loaded initially.  So although all of the elements were loading properly it was happening on a 2 second delay and only showing some of the items. We actually hardcoded in an automatic scroll to try to get bubble to load all of the items before it was resized. This was a fix, but proved to be ineffective if there were over 7 items in our list.</p>



<p>NOTA BENE: Later I realized you can set it so that the repeating group loads the full list. This may have solved the issue, but I am not certain.</p>



<p>After a lot of head banging and experimenting with jQuery and CSS I came across <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://forum.bubble.io/t/rg-vertical-scrolling-responsive-in-height/95036" target="_blank">this post</a>. I am not sure how I missed this initially or if Bubble simply didn&#8217;t have these features when earlier posts were written, but this worked fantastically. To summarize the post we simply put id tags in all of our elements, added an html block to the main page and using &lt;style&gt; tags set the css for each element. You need to have !important following the CSS line so as to override bubble&#8217;s default styling. </p>



<p>For the repeating groups it was required to set the list settings to &#8220;full list&#8221; so that all of the data is loaded right away. And within the repeating group css have: </p>



<div class="wp-container-1 wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container">
<p>#yourRepeatingGroupId {</p>



<p> height: 40vh(for example) !important; </p>



<p>Overflow: scroll !important;</p>



<p>}</p>
</div></div>



<p>That is a short description of how we were able to solve a simple styling challenge on our no-code tool. What I love (and hate) about bubble is that I am able to apply all of the computer science skills I learn at school while not actually worrying about syntax. It is, in sorts, a purely computer science based interface.</p>



<p>We would love to hear your experiences! Send them over to mail@kiter.app.</p>


Understanding the Bubble Responsive Editor


<p>Finding your next dream role takes time. And it should. You do not want to risk jumping into the wrong team, nor do companies want to risk hiring the wrong person. Both of these forces conspire today into a system where applicants are applying to upwards of 100 jobs and companies receive thousands or resumes for each position. Companies have plenty of tools. Kiter is your tool as an applicant.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://www.kiter.app/assets/Job_applications_statistics_sankey.33056f10.png" alt="Job search sankey diagram" width="650" title="Job search sankey diagram" /></figure></div>



<p>To put in perspective the odd at work for even the best applicants, we introduced our offer probability visualizer that lets you know your odds for companies you have not heard back from in days or weeks. This is meant to be encouraging to keep the process going as there are nearly infinite great teams out there doing great things. To visualize some of the numbers behind this calculation we put together the following chart. This flow may look pessimistic or alarming, but it captures a rough view of what an average applicant applying online outside of a referral process might face. </p>



<p>We built Kiter with exactly these numbers in mind. Applicants can jump forward in the funnel by a network referral or a well placed cold email. Kiter seeks to make this easier with template, reminders and a place to plan out communications.  </p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1573164574230-db1d5e960238?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1950&amp;q=80" alt="" width="650" height="326" /></figure></div>



<p>To manage the sheer numbers involved with a process like this, Kiter lets you track notes in a few clicks and save emails that you might want to reference later should a recruiter get back in touch. </p>



<p>Even if you are not actively applying, it is always a good idea to keep track of companies you are excited about so that you have a great starting place in the future should you choose to make a move. If you have any questions, or need help exploring your Kiter account fully, reach out!</p>



<p></p>


Job search by the numbers


<p class="has-text-align-left">             We built Kiter out of a need for way to track the complicated and often frustrating journey of applying to jobs in the internet age. It has never been easier to find exciting companies that are hiring and to apply. On the bright side, this means you can send out dozens of applications without even picking up the phone or writing an email. Unfortunately, this also means that each application now faces many multiples more competition from your counterparts doing the same. The ease of an online portal also makes the worthwhile actions of writing a cold email or leaning on your network seem burdensome in comparison. The new landscape on which the job hunt is conducted requires new approaches, and Kiter is the launchpad from which they can be pursued.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="23" data-permalink="https://kiterblog854371813.wordpress.com/0_lmivovpctavzxmzu/" data-orig-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/0_lmivovpctavzxmzu.jpeg" data-orig-size="1400,935" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="0_lmivovpctavzxmzu" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/0_lmivovpctavzxmzu.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/0_lmivovpctavzxmzu.jpeg?w=1024" src="https://kiterblog854371813.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/0_lmivovpctavzxmzu.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-23" width="650" height="336" /></figure></div>



<h2 class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Too Many Applications</strong></h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide" />



<p id="8a23">The quantity of applications needed to get an offer is increasing. Our users routinely are applying to 50+ positions and seriously pursuing a dozen or more. This combines with reduced tenure across the board where almost everyone, especially younger professionals, is monitoring future job opportunities. In the face of this, taking minute notes on every resume that you send or company you become interested in may not be needed. What can be helpful is the ability to quickly log these opportunities in your Kiter board, allowing you to maintain a high level view of what you have really done so far. This can keep you grounded in the amount of outreach conducted as well as where future time might be best spent. If you receive an interview weeks or months later, you can jump in and reprioritize the application.</p>



<p id="12d5">Tracking actions is only the start. Understanding the numbers at play in the job search and the success probability of each applications further reduces ambiguity. We have used information from applicants on Kiter and market research to piece together a formula that assigns points to various events (applying, interview, second interview) to give an applicant a sense of how close to an offer they might be. Someone who has been referred to five positions and has one interview is much closer to an offer than someone who has sent out ten cold applications, al else equal. While this sounds obvious, it is helpful to see this number as you survey your work and helps to encourage activities that have a higher success outcome.</p>



<p>Having a clean slate and building a picture of what you have done, provides a launch pad for determining what to do next. Noting that it has been 3 weeks since you have send out any new applications might be the impetus to dedicate more time instead of waiting to hear back. Action in the face of unknown outcomes is always difficult, but an organized approach can offer the reassurance necessary that you are marching down the right path.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>Kiter made everything easier and quickly replaced all my spreadsheets.</p><cite>&#8211; Kiter User</cite></blockquote>



<p></p>


Learn from what's working.
We share strategies that have gotten our users topoffers quickly.

In the News

From the team

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Peter Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Learn from what's working. We share strategies that have gotten our users topoffers quickly.

In the News

From the team

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Peter Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Peter Mangan

Andrew Mangan

Learn from what's working.
We share strategies that have gotten our users topoffers quickly.