Our mission here at The Muse is simple: to help you find your dream job. So, there’s nothing we love more than hearing about it when you do!
Today we’ve picked the brains of not one, but three, women who landed amazing new jobs at video ad-tech company Virool. Read below to learn more about their stories and hear their secrets for finding your dream job, then check out Virool’s offices and see how you can land a great new gig of your own.
Tell us about yourself! Give us your elevator speech!
Liz Speight: I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Human Resource Management in 2011. I’m a Jersey girl at heart but have moved from coast to coast since graduation for a variety of exciting job opportunities. I have worked in almost all verticals of HR in different industries, including aerospace and defense, pharmaceuticals, and technology. I have decided to focus my career on recruiting because I love being the face of a company and I have a sincere passion for helping people finding the perfect career move. I’m now am excited to help other people find their place at Virool as the company’s Lead Recruiter!
Lindsay Lynch: I’ve spent the past six years working in ad-tech and branding, helping brands in the U.S. and U.K. manage their marketing campaigns. I’ve done it all, from CRM management to sales strategy to event planning to sales training to actual selling. I’ve always taken on jobs that were new to the company, which is part of the reason I was attracted to come on board at Virool as its new Account Executive, working with clients who are brand new to the digital video space and new to Virool.
Katie Andresen: I’m excited to have just made my transition from politics into the ad-tech space as a Recruiting Coordinator for Virool. I grew up in the Bay Area but moved back east for college where I became very interested in international relations. After graduating, I worked in politics for a few years before deciding to move to London to get my MA in dispute and conflict resolution. I moved back to the Bay Area and wanted a change of pace. I developed a strong interest in mediation and conflict resolution while in London and found recruiting to be an exciting way to tap into an interesting field and utilize unique skill sets I learned through mediation.
What were you looking for in a job?
Liz: I was passively looking for new opportunities when I came across Virool on The Muse. I wanted an innovative and forward-thinking company in an industry that I could relate to. I really needed my next position to be starting at the ground level to help strategically build a department and processes from scratch.
Lindsay: Having greatly contributed to the previous startup I was working at, I was looking to once again join a company in early growth stages in a role where I could fully turn my attention to sales.
Katie: I was looking for an opportunity and company that were a great cultural fit. Ultimately, I wanted a place where I could really take ownership of my responsibilities, wear multiple hats, and enjoy the people I work with. I also wanted a role where I would be interacting with people and using my skills of understanding their motivations to help them succeed.
What attracted you to Virool when you found it on The Muse?
Liz: Virool excited me because it was on the verge of enormous growth. I felt like every person I spoke with was genuinely passionate and excited about the company and its mission. Unlike some companies I had spoken with, leaders at Virool were invested in growth and the role I was interviewing for.
Lindsay: I like the fact that Virool started out as a self-serve platform that anyone can use. That sense of transparency and high-quality user experience with our platform is unique and what a number of brands are looking for as they plan their marketing campaigns.
Katie: Virool was a great fit for a few reasons. First, I liked that the company is on the smaller side; I felt I could make an impact. Second, I clicked with the team. From the first phone call with Talent Acquisition Lead Greg Detwiler, I got the sense that Virool wants the team and its individuals to succeed. Greg spent a lot of time understanding my own path up to the point, as well as getting to know my future aspirations and motivations. That was so key after I had been on a lot of interviews where it seemed like the recruiter was only focused on his or her company’s needs.
Learn more about Virool and check out open jobs!
What’s something most people would find surprising about working at Virool?
Liz: Virool is fearless. Startups are known for taking risks, but it shocked me when I started working here that we are not afraid to try new things that are completely outside of the box and unconventional. Virool works with huge publishers and brands, and being fearless can put business at risk. Despite this, nothing is off limits, and Virool finds a way to make anything possible and impress the industry. Anything from performing magic tricks at worldwide advertising conventions to actually getting on one knee and proposing to world leaders in advertising—the team here is fearless and will do anything to separate themselves from the competition.
Katie: Even though we’re a very small company, we’re a strongly international company. Alex Debelov, our founder and CEO, is Russian and thus, we have an office in St. Petersburg. As an IR major, I thought it would be amazing to continue working with people from all over the world in a really direct way. I’m getting great at converting times back and forth between San Francisco and St. Petersburg’s time zones.
What’s your favorite part so far about working at this company?
Liz: I have learned so much already. Virool is full of people who come from all over the world and have knowledge in so many different fields and industries. The ad-tech business is very complicated, and I feel like I am learning from amazing people who are the best in all aspects of the business.
Lindsay: I enjoy meeting with my clients face to face and hearing their feedback. It’s great to get out of the office and meet with the teams that are creating fantastic video content.
Katie: Everyone here contributes on a daily basis to the welcoming, dynamic culture of the company. My team members have been really enthusiastic in teaching me about my role, but I’ve also had great experiences with other members of the larger Virool family. Plus, people contribute outside of just our discrete roles. One of the Viroolians leads a meditation session every morning before we start work. It’s such a great way to start the day!
How did you use The Muse to help you in your job search?
Liz: I love The Muse. Being a recruiter and a job seeker, I have a lot of experience with career and job-focused platforms. The Muse has companies that I hadn’t even heard of that I was able to research and apply for amazing opportunities at (including Virool!). It gives you a genuine understanding of each company’s culture and what opportunities are available without a lot of the noise you find on other job boards.
The Daily Muse also was (and is) a great resource for me in my career development‚I subscribe to the newsletter, which is a quick reminder each day that there is always something new to learn to improve myself.
Lindsay: I had been at my previous position for nearly five years, so the Muse helped give me advice about how to update my resume and best position myself for new roles.
Katie: I had an interesting experience crafting my story to explain my motivation for the move from politics into recruiting and ad-tech, so the articles I found on The Muse were incredibly helpful. I also really like how the site features each company in depth, complete with videos and write-ups about team members. I felt like I understood Virool’s culture much earlier than some other companies because I found it on The Muse.
What advice would you have for someone who wanted a job like yours?
Liz: Recruiting is the best job when you love where you work and who you work with. So do your research! I have researched hundreds of amazing organizations. There’s no such thing as the perfect job or company, but be sure that what you want to learn can be supported by the next role you take and that you are passionate and proud about what you will be doing.
Lindsay: Ad-tech companies love hiring former agency folk, not just because they know the ins and outs of the sales cycle, but because they truly understand what makes the client tick and how to give exemplary customer service—so if you have any of that know-how, make sure to highlight it.
Katie: Don’t get discouraged and keep trying! Also, it’s really important to find a company that’s just as excited bring you on as you are excited going to work with them. I was really lucky because Virool was able to see how my previous experience translated into the recruiting role. A lot of companies today don’t take that time to explore candidates with translatable skills and instead go for the easy hire. Ultimately, it’s about patience and perseverance.
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