I burst into Big Tech and doubled my salary at $ 250,000 at 36 years old

I was 36 when I changed the industries entirely. During the first 13 years of my career, I worked as editor in agencies and in internal marketing teams in Los Angeles.

My last years in the editorial staff have been devoted to complete misery, despite a decent salary of $ 120,000. I was on everything about work.

I struck Rock Bottom in 2018 after being dismissed by a manager with whom I did not agree.

Now I am a senior recruiter at Airbnb, which is double my former writing salary.

After being dismissed, I reassessed my career

I asked for unemployment, then I asked myself a sincere question: Do you hate your work or do you hate your career?

You could hate your work because of a microgeser or a brutal journey. Finding a new job can solve this problem. Do you hate your career? No new job can help.

I knew that the title I really wanted to the creative director would never happen. I didn’t have what it took to get or succeed in work. I have always failed and my self -confidence fell even further.

It is difficult to admit that you are not good enough, especially after 13 years of testing.

I decided to try something completely new

I could keep the course and earn a decent life, but imagining myself as a 55 -year -old editor who arguing with a much younger social media manager for punctuation on an Instagram message was downright depressing. I had to change career.

To start, I identified what was important in my next step:

• I wanted to increase my gains potential in Big Tech
• I didn’t want to go back to school
• I didn’t want to be in a field where my work was subjective

I threw my goal of becoming a technological recruiter. No lessons was required for the entry level posts, and I would be judged by hires, and not by someone who loved one of the tags of tags that I wrote for a product that I did not care about at random.

I considered programs management and business learning and development. Most of my options focused on my strengths as a person who likes to guide others. In the end, I felt that it was only advisable to become a recruiter: I could help others in their career after dying mine.

Targeting a specific career has been a next critical step

People who envisage career changes often ask me: “What do you think I could do if I am (insert a job)? Or they will send a curriculum vitae and say:” I am open to everything you think is fit. “”

This is not an effective approach – not knowing where you want to go to wandering. While I got closer to the forties, I did not have time to try different things.

I adapted my curriculum vitae to highlight the professional achievements that I thought I was precious as a recruiter: launch and manage customers and work in tight deadlines.

In addition, I searched LinkedIn to find recruiters in companies that I admired and noted the responsibilities they have listed on their profiles. I then filled my curriculum vitae with similar responsibilities that I had as an editor.

I contacted recruiters who had found me as an independent editor and asked if they were looking for trainees. I applied for agencies accepting entry -level candidates. I have cold recruitment managers in companies I liked to see if they took trainees. I wrote motivation letters for the first time in a decade.

I also defined realistic expectations

Many people wishing to change their careers do not want to make significant salary discounts, or only target dream companies. It is just to have standards, but starting again takes the sacrifice.

I had the chance to ensure that a work partner supports me and some sowings of the sow of my last job – I recognize that these are luxuries that many do not have.

After a few months of research, I won an associated role in a technological recruitment agency called Binc for $ 60,000, half of my previous income.

I built confidence quickly

I put a lot of pressure on me to succeed, but I quickly learned age and experience can be enormous advantages.

Many of my peers I trained with were 10 to 15 years younger than me. They were all impressive recruiters, but I had more a decade and more experience in project management and relationships.

I was at ease to work with customer engineering directors because I was dealing with demanding advertising customers for years – being around their age has helped build and maintain the relationship.

My mental health has improved considerably

I was enthusiastic about the work and learning of new skills daily for the first time in years. Despite my salary reduction, I could not have been happier.

Luck was also on my side: I pivoted just before technological growth was parabolic, and my very first agency provided first -rate training while letting me acquire experience in startups like Affirm and Robinhood.

I fell for 6 figures in 2 years

After only two years in Binc, I earned $ 100,000. I could not believe that I was doing almost as much as I as an editor with almost 15 years of experience.

In another luck, Binc was acquired by Robinhood in 2021, and I became an employee of one of the most popular technological companies in the Bay region. Since the pandemic was still fresh, Robinhood was distant and that no one had to move.

I obtained limited action units for the first time and my remuneration approached $ 200,000. I was even able to discover the IPO of Robinhood and the sadly famous Gametop short pressure from the interior.

Now I work in my dream business

In 2022, I picked up a new role in my dream company, Airbnb, where I am now a main recruiter. It’s been almost eight years since I started this trip, and my total remuneration exceeds $ 250,000 per year.

The alternative version of my life – the one where I turned into a 55 -year -old editor writing publications on Gen Z slang for a much younger social media manager – will never manifest. I made sure.

The views expressed in this room are those of the author and do not represent Airbnb.