Susan Loth, Digital Quality Assurance Specialist, covers job search strategies and ideas for using personal connections to search for positions in QA and software testing.

1. JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/SUSANLOTH/

2. DON’T SPRAY AND PRAY
• Affectionate term for sitting at your computer and applying/submitting online
• Only 10% of jobs are gotten through online application
• Waste of time

3. MY JOB SEARCH STRATEGY
• Identify a position of interest by using Indeed (key word search, mine is OTT QA or Localization QA)
• Look at who you know at the Company of above listing (Example: North Highland Company)
• Based on LI Results, decide who to reach out to (James)
• Send email or LI chat message with Job URL and express interest
• Ask if they would be up for a conversation or if they could find out anything more on the Job Posting
• Ask Next Steps- should I send you my resume? Do employees get a referral bonus?

4. INDEED
• Key Search Words- what makes you unique: Skills, Tools, Industry
• Please don’t answer something like: Three words: Passionate, Detail Oriented, Results driven
• Does location matter?

5. HERE’S MY LINKEDIN CHAT

6. HERE’S THAT RESPONSE:

7. TAKE A VACATION- SERIOUSLY!!!
• You just got laid off- if you are angry or sad or bitter, you can’t present your BEST SELF
• Take a vacation- seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Worked for me: Mark example
• Self-care
• See friends- if you can’t afford a coffee or lunch, do a Walk & Talk (exercise & conversation, bring a
Notebook for Accountability)
• DD example next

8. WHO IS LOOKING AT YOU ON LINKEDIN?

9. RESUME
• Resources in your community:
• Laid Off- did you get Outplacement Services? Use the HELL out of it
• Job Seeker programs at Churches, Synagogues (RUMC or NPCC)- in-person
• Have a colleague or 3 proofread it for you

10. LINKEDIN
• Complete Profile (photo, jobs, education, >100 connections)
• 3 Recommendations: Boss, Peer, and Subordinate (while you are requesting these, have the
conversation of what you are looking for)
• Be active by shouting out others or sharing an article or Event

11. LEVERAGE LINKEDIN

12. NETWORKING
• PNSQC- In-Person is best
• Chambers of Commerce
• (Adjacent) Meetup Groups: Agile Users Groups or Browserstack or LocLunch or Accountability groups

13. ELEVATOR PITCH
• What is yours? 30 seconds
• Here is mine:
• I like the intersection of Localization (language, specifically European/French/Spanish) and
Streaming QA (with various devices for cross-browser testing). Think Connected Devices or
Over The Top (OTT) like Roku, FireTV and AppleTV. It would be a great niche that makes me
happy. Companies that would be targets might include PlutoTV where they were going
international or the Olympics (Sports+language+Streaming even better). I can pass for a
European in French (per my host father I don't 'sound American'). Throw in Volleyball or
Baseball and I would be in heaven (as well as knowledgeable).

14. YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR A JOB
• Let me say that again: YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR A JOB but You ARE Building Relationships/asking for
their help (mutually beneficial)
• Coffee chat- again IN PERSON is best if feasible, phone if not; Walk & Talk- if you can’t afford coffee or
go to their office where the coffee is free (remember to make it easy for them)
• You are asking for more information i.e. the best way in to the company, do employees get a referral
bonus?
• What you ULTIMATELY want is that they internally SUBMIT YOU (shortlisted)

15. T-LETTER
• Example on my profile (with email and phone removed for privacy but do include them)-
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanloth/overlay/1635490779437/single-media-
viewer/?profileId=ACoAAABGpwcBPWF2VU8bWwCDpCiCP8RyT2L0nJA
• Left column is job requirements in bullet points
• Right column is how you fit each one
• VERY time-consuming so only do it for ones that you really want or are a good match

16. SAMPLE T-LETTER ON MY LI PROFILE

17. RECRUITERS
• I have a shortlist of 4 Recruiters- 2 IT and 2 Marketing Agency World that I trust
• Don’t post Resume (or post an old copy) on Job Boards so they have to come to you for new copy or
you will be Reactive vs Proactive
• If you aren’t a good match, refer them to 2 others that are looking and could be a good match. Both
Recruiter and Referred will be grateful!

18. QUESTIONS?
• I’m here for it!
• Sue.Loth@pnsqc.org
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanloth/
• Oh and did I say that I am the Volunteer Coordinator, come lend a hand!
• See what I did there?