All Segments
Advice for Students and Recent Graduates on Finding Jobs – Liz Wessel of WayUp
29 segments available
Liz Wessel - https://twitter.com/lizwessel - is the cofounder and CEO of WayUp - https://www.wayup.com/. WayUp is a job and internship platform for college students and recent graduates. They were part of the Winter 2015 YC batch. Read the transcript here - https://blog.ycombinator.com/advice-for-students-and-recent-graduates-on-finding-jobs-liz-wessel-of-wayup The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon - https://twitter.com/craigcannon
Segments Timeline
The Spark of Entrepreneurship
Liz Wessel shares her journey of discovering her passion for entrepreneurship during her sophomore year at Penn. She recounts how a simple experience at a Jamba Juice inspired her to create a loyalty program for students, leading to her first business venture, the Penn Eats card. This segment highlights the excitement of creating something from nothing and the thrill of solving problems for others.
"at what point did you know you wanted to start a company um so my sophomore year of college I was at Penn and I actually started my first business at the end of sophomore year so I went to Stanford fo..."
From College Project to Startup
Wessel discusses the evolution of her college project into a successful startup. After launching a website to help students find campus ambassador jobs, she and her co-founder, JJ, realized the potential of their project. This segment emphasizes the importance of recognizing opportunities and the journey from a simple idea to a thriving business.
"thought the concept of creating something from nothing and solving a problem or you know helping people is just such a cool opportunity and why wouldn't you want to do that over and over mmm because y..."
Choosing the Right Path After College
In this segment, Liz reflects on her decision-making process after college, weighing job offers from Google and a venture capital fund. She emphasizes the value of gaining experience before starting a company and shares insights on how she sought advice from industry leaders to guide her choices. This highlights the importance of strategic planning for aspiring entrepreneurs.
"website because it was just like a kind of half-ass project but we took the insights from that and built lay up off of that okay so I'm really curious about how and when you decided to leave Google be..."
The Value of Cold Emailing
Wessel shares her effective cold emailing strategy that helped her connect with influential figures in the industry. She discusses the importance of crafting attention-grabbing subject lines and personalizing emails to increase response rates. This segment provides practical tips for students and recent graduates looking to network and seek mentorship.
"two offers and I didn't know which one to take which one would set me up for more success to start I said to HR in both of them I want you to know I'm gonna leave this job in two years I'd start a com..."
Crafting the Perfect Cold Email
In this detailed segment, Liz breaks down the elements of a successful cold email. She emphasizes the importance of research, personalization, and clarity in communication. Wessel shares her own experiences and the strategies that have worked for her, making this a valuable resource for anyone looking to reach out to potential mentors or industry leaders.
"company meanwhile the VC fund was actually like yeah we highly recommend that you do VC for two years and then get your MBA or start a company and this VC fund had had many many successful founders as..."
The Art of Cold Emails
In this segment, Liz Wessel provides insights on how to write impactful cold emails. She stresses the importance of being specific about what you want and demonstrating that you've done your research on the person you're contacting. Wessel advises against vague requests and emphasizes the need for clarity and purpose in your outreach.
"a podcast with Casey and I said about a month ago and he literally has picked your brain as a Gmail filter to trash so I would not recommend picking someone's brain I would not recommend asking them o..."
Managing a Busy Schedule
Liz Wessel shares her personal experience with managing a hectic schedule and the genetic factors that contribute to her ability to function on minimal sleep. She discusses the challenges of balancing work and personal life, and how her lifestyle choices impact her daily routine.
"alcohol I do sleep so if I have like a glass of wine I will fall fast asleep or a beer or anything but assuming I don't drink which is most nights I can go 3 or 4 hours of sleep and I'm good to go and..."
Health and Wellness on the Go
In this segment, Liz Wessel talks about her health regimen, revealing that she doesn't prioritize traditional workouts but stays active by walking around New York City. She discusses her eating habits and hydration, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle despite a busy schedule.
"more than that I don't really work out I love walking around New York so I guess that's exercise I'm I don't like taking the subway I love walking or Juber if I want to call and I need quiet but I eat..."
Common Internship Questions
Liz Wessel addresses the most common questions she receives from students regarding internships and job choices. She highlights the trend of student entrepreneurship and how it has become more prevalent since her graduation, offering advice on how to navigate these decisions.
"the most common one which is an awesome problem to have as which internship should I choose which job should I choose I get that a lot I wonder if it's because yeah like the real life story um I get a..."
Context is Key in Decision Making
Wessel explains the importance of providing context when seeking advice about job opportunities. She shares an example of a student who reached out for guidance but failed to include essential details, illustrating how context can significantly impact the quality of advice received.
"email me I think this student had seen my TED talk about like 8 things you have to do before you graduate or whatever and so he emailed me and he said I loved your TED talk I'm choosing between these ..."
Creating a Standout Profile
Liz Wessel discusses the advantages of creating a comprehensive profile on WayUp compared to traditional LinkedIn profiles. She explains how a holistic view of a candidate's skills and experiences can attract recruiters and increase the chances of being noticed in a competitive job market.
"one and this is not meant to be self-serving but we have these profiles on way up that are in my opinion a much more holistic perspective on who you are versus a LinkedIn profile that's just your work..."
The REAF Interview Strategy
In this segment, Liz Wessel introduces her REAF strategy for interview preparation: Research, Enthusiasm, Ask Questions, and Follow-up. She elaborates on each component, emphasizing the importance of being well-prepared and engaged during interviews to leave a lasting impression.
"that's wrong don't do that I for a lot more than that the market unemployment rate thank goodness is so down and you know and therefore people are really getting hired left and right especially if you..."
The Importance of Follow-Up
Wessel highlights the significance of sending a thank-you note after an interview. She explains how this simple gesture can set candidates apart and demonstrates professionalism, while also providing tips on how to craft a thoughtful follow-up message.
"brings Lee to e show enthusiasm so as much enthusiasm as you might think I have right now in this interview you are probably engaged with me because I'm showing I actually care about the conversation ..."
Navigating Interview Dynamics
Liz Wessel shares her experiences with interview dynamics, discussing how candidates can sometimes come across as overly intense or unprepared. She offers advice on how to balance enthusiasm with professionalism and the importance of clear communication during the interview process.
"like this whole broad category where even if you apply your whole model like this reef model if you come on too hot it's like whoa okay this is intense or if you just like it can't communicate quite w..."
Finding a Co-Founder
Liz recounts her journey of finding a co-founder for her startup. She shares how she identified a talented engineer through a hackathon and the unconventional approach she took to reach out to him. This segment illustrates the importance of networking and taking initiative in building professional relationships.
"for the right reasons it was a very casual but but really pleasant conversation like the one we're having right now and that's the best interview is one where it feels like a conversation on an interv..."
The Journey to Entrepreneurship
In this segment, Liz reflects on her transition from college to entrepreneurship. She discusses her early experiences with marketing and recruitment, revealing how these shaped her understanding of the job market and led to the creation of her startup, WayUp. Liz emphasizes the importance of gaining practical experience.
"where I can be impactful and not surrounded by scumbags so that not fortunately not all politicians are like that but a lot our so freshman year I'm trying to figure out what I want to study sophomore..."
The Power of Cold Emailing
Liz shares her strategy for cold emailing potential co-founders and collaborators. She recounts how she reached out to a promising candidate by crafting a relatable message, despite embellishing her connection. This segment highlights the effectiveness of direct communication and the importance of being genuine in outreach efforts.
"of broken so now fast forward my senior year I knew I wanted to start a project because I got in the offer to Google early and I ended up taking it by like October or November so I kind of had the res..."
Building Trust with Co-Founders
Liz discusses the dynamics of co-founding a startup, focusing on the trust and collaboration necessary for success. She reflects on her partnership with her co-founder and the importance of shared goals and mutual respect in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
"the only one I emailed I called email him and I told a little bit of a white lie which I regret but I did say my friends I thought to your point about creepy stalkers I thought it'd be weird if I said..."
Lessons from YC and Team Management
In this segment, Liz shares insights gained from her time at Y Combinator and the challenges of managing a growing team. She emphasizes the complexities of hiring and team dynamics, revealing that even in a recruiting business, building a strong team is one of the toughest aspects of entrepreneurship.
"I still do yeah I mean obviously our co-founder right so now you you guys are three and a half years in you said just under three and a half I'd say three months three years in a few months okay so pr..."
Recruiting Insights
Liz discusses her experiences working with recruiters and the lessons learned about effective hiring practices. She shares the importance of understanding the recruiting process and how it can impact the growth of a startup, providing valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to build their teams.
"Saturday and did a whole talk to a group of like 30 entrepreneurs who are all five employees or less all about how we came up with our way up culture values and this and that and they all raised their..."
Managing Diverse Personalities
Wessel shares her insights on managing a team with diverse personality types. She discusses her preference for type-A personalities and how she navigates the challenges of working with individuals who may not align with her management style, emphasizing the importance of balancing different strengths within a team.
"so they teach you about a thing called a scorecard where you create a set of a criteria for any role of things that they have to be able to have weather skills or culture or you know soft skills hard ..."
The Importance of Focus
Liz Wessel talks about the challenges of maintaining focus in a rapidly evolving industry. She highlights the need to prioritize core objectives amidst numerous opportunities and distractions, particularly in the HR tech space, which she describes as being behind the times.
"the company does or what the cultures like no one wants to work for an the second thing I would say is definitely convincing them that the business has legs and that the business is a great idea that ..."
WayUp's Unique Approach to Job Matching
Wessel explains the three components of WayUp's platform: a job board, candidate sourcing, and content advice. She emphasizes the importance of personalized job recommendations and how WayUp aims to help candidates find jobs that truly fit their skills and aspirations, showcasing their unique approach in the competitive job market.
"business and the list goes on and so what about this is something that I had difficulty with like managing people whose personality type doesn't really jell with mine I find you know if you say they'r..."
Creating Targeted Content for Job Seekers
In this segment, Liz discusses the significance of creating unique and targeted content to attract job seekers. She shares insights on how to combat misconceptions about certain industries and the importance of highlighting unique job opportunities to engage diverse candidates effectively.
"have been able to tell cool and this is a problem that I'm trying to figure out at YC all the time like what is the most effective content for the most amount of people and in our shoes it's like gett..."
The Shift in Educational Expectations
Liz Wessel expresses her enthusiasm for the changing landscape of employment, where companies prioritize skills over degrees. She reflects on her own unconventional path into product marketing, highlighting the value of passion and learning over formal education.
"specific reader so we try to do a little bit less at skill content and a little bit more targeted content around this piece of content we hope engineers who also happen to be diverse you know some kin..."
Attracting Talent to Startups
Wessel outlines key strategies for startups to attract fresh graduates. She emphasizes the importance of a compelling mission and a strong team culture, noting that candidates are often drawn to the potential for meaningful contributions rather than just compensation.
"so broadly how do you feel about the where education is going in terms of preparing yourself to be employed or starting a company I love how many companies are snow longer obsessed with a college degr..."
A Vision for the Future
In a reflective moment, Wessel shares her aspirations for the next decade, focusing on making a positive impact in the world through her work at WayUp. She discusses personal growth and the balance between professional ambitions and family life.
"study okay and if you're a small company say you're like you just did YC and you're gonna make your first hire how do you make yourself look attractive to all these you know fresh like wide-eyed colle..."
Finding Career Fulfillment
Wessel offers advice to students on how to find fulfilling careers. She stresses the importance of pursuing passions over monetary incentives and encourages early exploration through internships to discover what truly resonates with them.
"are you working on right now to get better at I hope I'll be a better everything team member manager thinker product person market or sales person I mean I'm improving in literally every area at all t..."
The Value of Early Experience
Wessel reflects on the significance of gaining early work experience, even if it means facing challenges like unpaid internships. She highlights the evolution of internship opportunities and encourages students to start their careers in vibrant cities to maximize their exposure.
"that I love mm-hmm and so for yeah for a college student like someone who was in your shoes or is in your shoes how do they find the thing that they really care about I mean obviously doing as much as..."