#purplesquirrel

Famous music legend reincarnated as famous urban legend?

An urban legend has surfaced near the hometown of the late musician Prince. The first purple squirrel sighting was in northern Minnesota in 1997. There have been less than a dozen documented sightings around the world since then. Today an astonished Minneapolis resident snapped a photo of this animal as it left her bird feeder. Was this animal dyed purple by fanatic Prince fans at his memorial block party last week?…Or do purple squirrels actually exist???”

People in different areas around the globe swear they have seen these squirrels. You now have your Google rabbit hole for the evening. You’re welcome

Normally, the HR department at Tesla would ignore the resume of an undergraduate student with very little professional experience. 

So how did I get on the phone with a Tesla marketing executive for an informational interview? Two words - Purple Squirrel.

What is Purple Squirrel? In short, Purple Squirrel is a service that allows job seekers to connect with employees from companies like Google, Facebook, Tesla, and more. Find out more here.

As I looked through ambassadors (employees from the different companies on the Purple Squirrel site), I was amazed at how many awesome companies were represented. I’ve already mentioned Google, Facebook, and Tesla, but employees from Microsoft, Oracle, YouTube and more have already signed up and begun speaking with job seekers on Purple Squirrel! I scrolled through profiles of employees holding my positions at companies I had only dreamed of working for! 

It literally took me over an hour to scroll through all of these ambassadors, but I finally figured out who I wanted to speak with: a marketing executive at Tesla. 

You know Tesla, the world’s #1 electric luxury car company. I just keep thinking about how awesome this opportunity is. At the very least, I get a thirty minute conversation packed with information and advice I couldn’t have gotten elsewhere.

So, how did it go?

To understand how it went, you must understand where I am coming from. I was using this purely as an informational interview, and my main goal was simply to absorb what he had to say about his experiences as a marketing professional. 

And it was awesome!

I learned a lot about not only how Tesla’s hiring process works and what they look for in applicants, but I also learned about how to make it in the marketing world. The ambassador allowed me to ask questions about his job and experiences and really went into depth in every answer. He advised me on my future and what to expect in the real world after college.

My Advice

Going into your first engagement can be very nerve-racking. Let me give you my pointers on what to expect. 

1. Treat it for what it is. This isn’t a job interview, but this isn’t just a conversation with a buddy. This is your opportunity to get to know and network with real employees from desirable companies.

2. Be Prepared.  Research the company and what positions are currently available. Prepare questions. Remember this is still a conversation, so don’t be afraid to show your personality a little.

3. Don’t be Nervous. The ambassadors just want to help you in anyway they can. That’s why they accepted the engagement! Relax. Relax. Relax. 

What is Purple Squirrel?

Purple Squirrel is a service, still in beta, connecting job seekers with real employees of some of the most desirable places to work. Google, Facebook, and Tesla are just a few in their network.

How do I start?

First you sign up at join.purplesquirrel.io. After you get an invite, you create a profile, much like any other website. What is cool about this profile is that the ambassadors, or the employees of the companies in our network, have access to your profile. They can, and will, read what you put on your profile, so it’s important to fill up your profile as much as you can!

Can you tell me more about the profile?

Yeah, sure. The profile should be a snapshot of your resume. Each section has a 250 character limit. The sections are an About Me, Education, Experiences, and Interests.

How do I connect with the ambassadors?

After you are satisfied with your profile you can now browse through different companies and see what ambassadors you can connect with. Once you find the one you want to talk to, you can schedule an engagement with them. An engagement is the scheduled time you speak with the employee. All engagements are over the phone. You do have to pay for the engagement, but the payment only goes through if the ambassador confirms the engagement.

What can I expect from my engagement?

It is not every day you get to talk to the person who has the job you desire. Come prepared. Do some research about the position you desire and have some questions prepared. The website has a job seeker guide which is extremely helpful.

Does an engagement cost money?

Yes. The engagements vary in cost but on an average of about $20 an engagement. 

Why would I pay for an engagement if it didn’t guarantee me a job?

Great question. Purple Squirrel provides you with the opportunity to meet employees of companies that are highly desirable to work at but majority of their jobs don’t get posted. A lot of these companies hire through employee referrals. The hope is that you make a big enough impression that the employee feels confident to refer you for a job in the company. Plus, what is $20 anyway? I’ve spent more money on an Uber ride. 

What if I have more questions?

Ooo I’ve only ever actually heard Angel With a Shot Gun but I love that song

Band: 7/10

Favorite Song: Angel With a Shot Gun

Favorite Album:

URL: 10/10 excellent I giggled

Theme: 7/10