TCW #047 | 12 gift ideas for tech professionals
When you're in a career transition (new job, laid off, job searching, first job, newly promoted, new function, becoming a manager), you want tools and support. Here are 12 of the best, vetted by me.
Hey, it’s 📣 Coach Erika! Welcome to a ✨ free edition✨ of The Career Whispers. Each week I tackle reader questions about tech careers: how to get one, how to navigate them, and how to grow and thrive in your role.
If you’re new, here are the 5 most popular free posts to date:
TCW #032: The 4-hour Job Search
TCW #007: The Not-so-Subtle Art of Job Searching in the Open
TCW #010: Debugging your Job Search
TCW #005: The Subtle Art of Networking with Hiring Managers. Part 1: Find Them (and Engage)
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I love holiday music, a lot. I always have.
So much so that I themed this post after one of the most iconic holiday songs of all time: The 12 Days of Christmas. (you know, the one with the partridge in the pear tree!)
In college, I remember running into my friend Devaki while hustling to class during December finals week. Like most students, I was listening to music — wearing my (corded!) headphones and my iPod nano (in a baby blue leather case). In those days, I carefully curated my playlists in iTunes and then manually loaded them onto my prized iPod.
We didn’t have pervasive WiFi or streaming services back then, so it was a major effort to have a dedicated Christmas playlist on one’s iPod.
We hugged in greeting, and as we pulled away from each other, she delightfully squealed, “Erika, are you listening to Christmas music?!”
I felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t exactly “cool” to rock out to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on repeat. My “cool” peers certainly weren’t curating playlists of classic Christmas jingles in their iTunes and gleefully uploading them onto their iPod to “get into the mood” for the holidays.
But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve embraced these and other personal quirks, and today I’m proud to share my love for Christmas music.
So, yes, I loved writing this post for you, and I hope you love it too 🎵
Fair warning: this list is naughtily self-serving — I include a lot of links to my own products — but I believe in them and hope that you find a gift in here for yourself or a tech worker whom you adore 💛
1st day
On the 1st day of job searching, with bright-eyes and abundant energy,
My partner gave me a Takeya 32oz water bottle, to ensure hydration was a priority.
2nd day
On the 2nd day of interview prep, overwhelmed by the abundance of dubious internet advice,
My bestie gave me First Round Ready, so my preparations would be calibrated and precise.
3rd day
On the 3rd day of mock interviews, I was starting to feel 80% steady,
My friend Fannie gave me a Logitech webcam to get me 100% camera-ready.
4th day
On the 4th day of practice technical interviews, my brain quite askew,
My mentor gave me four Hanayama metal puzzles, to use play to sharpen my logic anew.
5th day
On the 5th day watching endless videos of behavioral interview Q&A,
My housemate upgraded us to YouTube premium, no more ads, hooray!
6th day
On the 6th day of applying to roles on LinkedIn jobs, the rejection emails rolling in steadily,
I hired Coach Erika to glam up my resume, and now my job applications get accepted, readily!
7th day
On the 7th day before my big interview, the nights were growing long,
My work bestie gave me all of Coach Erika’s interview prep workbooks, to keep my focus strong.
8th day
On the 8th day as I crafted multiple case studies, my files hard to search,
My Type A friend gave me 8 tips on using Notion, to pull me from the lurch.
9th day
On the 9th day waiting for a final offer, my anxiety dialed to the max,
My partner gave me a Calm app subscription, to help me to relax.
10th day
On the 10th day after new job onboarding, after too many free office snacks,
My new work bestie shared a bomb green smoothie recipe, to get my nutrition back on track.
11th day
On the 11th day in office air conditioning, my skin parched and dry,
My mom gave me eleven Salt & Stone UV lip balms, to keep my lips soft and spry.
12th day
On the 12th day on the new job, my imposter syndrome raging,
My neighbor gave me a gift subscription to The Career Whispers newsletter, chock full of insider tips on tech career navigating.
Closing Thoughts Melody
🥂 That’s a wrap for 2023,
An inaugural newsletter year, full of infamy,
Now, go have fun with your (chosen) family,
and I’ll write to you all again, come January!
Subscribe to stay tuned as we kick off TCW 2024!
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This was so fun! Reading it after Christmas and still appreciating it.
I have absolutely loved reading your writings this year - thank you❤️