My ramen got cold while I was getting ready for another interview.
I had moved back to New York and spent about a month booting up a real job search. After a few years working in other states, I felt disconnected from the New York market. The obvious move was to start calling people I had known forever and tell them I was back.
I sent a lot of notes that started with some version of, “Been a long time!” I attached a very simple resume and explained that I was looking for the next product and technology leadership role, ideally at an early or mid-stage company.
The harder part was explaining what box I fit in.
I had been in C-level roles for more than ten years, but I was still happy to consider the right early VP role. I could run product and technology together, or lean into either side. At Aaptiv I had joined as employee eight and CTO, with four engineers plus me. I was comfortable managing a large organization, but I was equally comfortable with engineers reporting directly to me and no extra layer in between.
That does not fit neatly into one recruiter search. It also takes longer to explain than “CTO” or “CPO.” One recruiter call was so useful that I thanked him for the most helpful conversation I had had in the first 30 days of looking.
I joked to an old colleague that I was free during working hours all the time. Technically true. The calendar still filled itself.
One week had two interviews and a movie on Tuesday. Wednesday was another interview plus painting two closets at the beach. Thursday was a conversation with someone at Andreessen Horowitz and dinner with friends. The closet installation was Friday. The weekend rolled into dog-sitting in Harlem. Any open gaps went to calls, errands, or rebuilding the bikes that were spread across the apartment.
The interviews were getting more serious too. Ad Hoc Labs was moving toward a final conversation. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee wanted three separate 45-minute calls. I was genuinely excited about both for very different reasons.
Then I looked up, realized I had not eaten before the next interview, and found the ramen sitting there cold.
The search was moving. I ate it anyway and opened the next calendar invite.