Nonlinear Techies Newsletter (Mar 17)
Own your career by creating your "category"
I hope you had a great weekend! I got out of the city and spent a refreshing and much-needed 2 days in nature 🐶⛰️ Underrated way to get clarity, especially if you feel stuck or at a crossroads, or just in a funk!
Own your career by creating your "category"
If you’re pivoting into tech as someone with a nonlinear career, you might be struggling to fit into a neat job title—Product Manager, UX Designer, Product Marketer. But what if you didn’t need to fit into a set role?
The best generalist roles in tech aren’t about checking a box. They’re about defining your own category.
I learned this lesson when I stopped comparing myself to others. Growing up, I was constantly measured against other kids. Later, in my career, I tried to follow the same linear paths everyone else was taking. It didn’t work.
What did? Realizing that if I built a career path (and life!) that was truly my own, no one else could compete with me. Because no one else was in my race. I was in my own category.
If you’re pivoting, stop worrying about fitting into a predefined job title. Instead, look at your unique mix of skills, experiences, and interests. The best roles for career switchers in tech—BizOps, Strategic Projects or hybrid roles —often require you to define your own value, rather than slotting into an existing mold.
So, what’s your category? What mix of experiences makes you a no-brainer hire for a role that only you can do?
Figure that out, and there'll be no competition. ✨
➡️ If you're don't know which generalist tech roles to start exploring, I made a quick video on the 5 best high paying jobs for nonlinear techies (especially if you've worked in finance/consulting!)
Tech Jobs I'd Apply to This Week
Curated US roles for generalists and career pivoters with ~2+ years of experience
Typically includes: Strategy & Ops / BizOps, GTM, Chief of Staff, occasionally Program/Project Manager, Product & Product Marketing, etc.
Here's my free Notion template to run your job search like a pro.
Strategy & Operations Associate - Nitra (Healthcare, NY/DC)
Senior Associate, Strategy & Operations – Revantage (Corporate services, Private, Dallas)
Associate Program Manager, Strategic Planning & Operations – SharkNinja (Consumer Electronics, Mass.)
BizOps – LayerZero Labs (Blockchain, Series B, Remote)
Strategy & Operations Manager – Grata (B2B SaaS, Series B, NYC)
Operations – Bluesky (Social Media, Series A, Remote)
GTM Strategy & Operations Manager – Traba (Marketplace, Series A, NYC) [Reach out to Humna Saad]
Sales Operations Lead – EliseAI (Proptech, Series D, NYC)
Sales Strategy & Operations – Verkada (Security B2B SaaS, Series D, San Mateo)
Growth Analyst – Karat (Fintech, Series A, Remote)
Platform Manager – Equal Ventures (Venture Capital, Private, NYC)
Sales Development Representative – Ramp (Fintech, Series D, NYC)
Associate, Corporate Strategy & Development – Visa (Big Tech, SF) [Reach out to Paula Alemany]
Special Projects, Office of the CEO – Paradromics (Neurotech, Series A, Austin)
Founding Agent Manager – ParaHelp (AI, YC Startup, SF)
Client Success Associate – Rokt (E-Commerce, Series E, NYC)
Senior Manager, Customer Service – Meadow (Funerary services, Seed, Remote)
Customer Success – Assembled (B2B SaaS, Series B, NY/SF)
Operations Coordinator – Dynamo AI (AI, Seed, NY/SF)
Product Marketer – Hex (Data SaaS, Series B, NY/SF)
Product Manager – Empower Finance (Fintech, Remote)
This is NOT meant to be "every tech generalist job under the sun", just roles on my radar that I want to share with you!
Other job search platforms I recommend for nonlinear techies include: YC, Wellfound, Bultin, Dice, Remote.co, and of course LinkedIn.
If you find this newsletter helpful, share it with a fellow nonlinear techie!