Eric's Career Playbook
Seattle, WA (PST) | [email protected] | LinkedIn
Leveraging extensive tech industry experience across major US cities, Eric Crawford provides personalized career guidance, best practices, and resources to help you achieve your goals.
Career Coaching Services
Career Strategy & Growth
Personalized career path guidance.
Personal Brand Makeovers
Optimize LinkedIn, resume, and portfolio.
Startups & Ventures
Support for startup careers.
Interview Preparation
Job search strategy and interview coaching.
Helping clients in 40 countries land roles at top companies like Adobe, Amazon, and Meta. Comprehensive, tailored support for career strategy, interviews, and brand building.
Job Search Strategy Framework
01
Target Companies
Identify ideal companies and demonstrate how your skills solve their problems or drive specific business outcomes.
02
Networking
Expand your network through LinkedIn and relevant communities. Reach out for informational interviews to build connections.
03
Case Studies & Projects
Develop prototypes or projects to showcase your skills and initiative, helping you stand out.
Personal Branding Essentials
Resume Excellence
Your resume should clearly and concisely tell your career story. Highlight your unique value proposition with specific, quantifiable results (releases, customers, revenue, efficiency). Include links to public work and use tools like Teal or Huntr to manage versions and track applications.
LinkedIn Optimization
Sync your refined resume content to LinkedIn. Make your headline specific and targeted. Optimize your profile photo and use a professional background image with contact info.
Add 2-3 work samples to your Featured section and ensure job entries display your most significant, quantifiable accomplishments.
Summary Headlines
Communicate your unique value in 3 bulleted headlines or 1-2 sentences.
Quantified Impact
Be specific with numbers: industries, brands, products, revenue, savings, and timelines.
Visual Storytelling
Include clear thumbnails for work samples and press. Ensure all links are effective.
Effective Job Search Tactics
Video & Creative Pitches
Create compelling video or media pitches (1-2 minutes) for target companies. They showcase your human side and make a memorable impression beyond text.
Written Communications
Ensure all employer communications are well-written, concise, and grammatically correct. Draft reusable templates for easy customization.
Interview Briefs
Prepare a brief on your perspective of the product, role, and company. This guides interview discussions and demonstrates thorough research and interest.
"Ask yourself, what is your dream job? What do you want to do on a daily basis that will excite you and energize you?"
Consider the ikigai philosophy when thinking about your ideal role—find the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Interview Preparation Guide
Research & Outline
Outline your research, preparation, and fit. Share your screen during interviews to naturally reference notes, simulating a real meeting.
Product Experience
Experience the product and read reviews to identify improvement areas. Research competitors, key features, and differentiators.
Culture & Leadership
Review company mission, values, and culture. Research leadership and interviewer bios on LinkedIn for common interests to reference.
Prepare Questions
Prepare 1-2 questions per interviewer on scope, culture, or industry trends. Thoughtful questions demonstrate genuine interest.
Pro Tip: Record yourself answering common interview questions. This practice refines delivery and builds confidence.
Common Interview Questions
Prepare for these essential interview questions by internalizing your answers and practicing confident delivery.
1
Tell me about yourself
Highlight your unique career journey.
2
What are you looking for in your next role?
Align your career goals with the opportunity.
3
Why do you want to work at this company?
Show genuine interest through research.
4
What are your salary requirements?
Base your response on market research.
5
What is your experience working with engineers?
Share examples of cross-functional collaboration.
6
What is your experience making data-driven decisions?
Provide examples of using data for strategy.
Utilize the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions to demonstrate capabilities and achievements effectively.
Product Management Best Practices
Documentation Excellence
Create a main "product one-pager" for each project, detailing overview, problem, solution, user stories, designs, metrics, plan, risks, and go-to-market. Maintain high standards for clear requirements with Design and Engineering.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Facilitate collaboration across all teams. Provide continuous feedback and share product vision to foster investment and ease everyone's job.
Data-Driven Decisions
Conduct regular product reviews using usage data and customer feedback. Explore dashboards daily, testing hypotheses with existing data.
Clear Communication
Provide clear, concise, and transparent answers regarding product status. Maintain accessibility with all stakeholders to build trust and alignment.
Essential Resources & Tools
Job Search Platforms
Wellfound (startups), Y Combinator, Glassdoor, and We Work Remotely for diverse job opportunities.
Application Management
Teal & Huntr for resume customization and tracking; Hunter Email Verifier for contact verification.
Creative & Productivity
Gemini & NotebookLM (AI); Miro & Figma (storyboards); Canva & Visme (infographics); Loom (video); Gamma (presentations).
Learning & Inspiration
This Week In Startups, All-In, The Prof G Pod, and Acquired LP Show for industry insights.
"The Feynman Technique: The best way to learn anything is to explain it in simple terms. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Career Growth Planning Exercises
Utilize these exercises to map your career journey and visualize your goals for the coming months and beyond.
1
30 Days
Optimize job application materials (resume, portfolio, LinkedIn, case studies).
2
60 Days
Actively apply, manage applications & interviews, refine pitch based on feedback.
3
90 Days
Secure interviews at target companies, demonstrate value, negotiate offers.
4
6-12 Months
Excel in new role, build relationships, deliver impact, develop skills.
Identify Strengths
Map your core strengths and unique value you bring.
Address Weaknesses
Assess areas for improvement and create a development plan.
Leverage Tools
Identify tools, resources, and mentors for your development plan.
Your career is a continuous journey. Stay curious, embrace learning, and reach out to Eric at [email protected] for guidance.