Why Trying to Be The Perfect Candidate Is a Big Mistake

Why Trying to Be The Perfect Candidate Is a Big Mistake Lindsay Van Kirk, Sr. Director, Product Line Management at AppNexus, loves that her work is all about collaboration. In addition to working with the companys product development kollektiv, she works with employees in sales, marketing, engineering, finances, and operations meaning no two work days ever look the same.At AppNexus, I have freedom as I collaborate on and make decisions about how we operate as a cross-functional team working towards a common goal. While I have good judgment, I appreciate that AppNexus is an environment in which I feel panzerschrank executing on my decisions, knowing that making the wrong call on something is OK, as long as I learn from it she says.AppNexus is Hiring Browse Opportunities.We love how she describes her favorite career mistake and her outlook on work-life balanceHow long have you been in your current role, and what were you doing previously?I have been in my current role for about six m onths. Prior, I ran a sales and account management team, and before that, I worked in strategy and operations.Whats the first thing you do at work every day?The first thing that I do at work every day is check my calendar to get myself oriented around my day, check my inbox for urgent emails, and then look at the key reports on the business lines that I oversee. Whats the fruchtwein unique or interesting aspect of your job or AppNexus?For my role, I get to work with every function within the company I work with product development, our services team I partner closely with our sales and account management groups, as well as with folks in marketing, engineering, finance, operations you name it. I love working with these different groups and seeing how we all fit together as one incredible system to achieve our goals.Whats something you think most people (perhaps even current employees) dont know about AppNexus that you think they should?AppNexus is actually at the heart of how herunt erkommen media operates the internet as we know it doesnt exist without the advertising model that we come to work every day to support. A lot of people take for granted that the internet exists just as a part of everyday life, but at AppNexus, we come to work to ensure it remains an open and thriving environment for people to share news, ideas, photos, and videos. I think that most people forget that much of digital media exists primarily through the monetary support of advertising.Whats something youre especially good at at work?Im a very good translator. What I mean by that is that Im very good at knowing how to communicate with any given audience, and I can also tell really quickly when there is a gap in understanding between two people and help them figure out why. Im good at putting myself into each of their shoes and figuring out what it is about the specific problem theyre having trouble understanding. What about outside of work?Im a baker, and a pretty good one What are you trying to improve on?Im always trying to be a better manager and better at prioritization. On prioritization, Im interested in so many different things, which means that I dont always get to go as deep into a specific subject as I would want And I believe that management is something that were never done working on and that you always need to learn to flex your style for different personalities on your team.Whats your favorite mistake?When I welches a new manager, I didnt do a very good job of communicating with my team, and that was a huge challenge for them. I was lucky enough that they were all comfortable talking to me about it, so that I could address it.Whats the one career move youve made that youre most proud of?Last fall I had a really hard decision to make I had just been offered my current role, but I was really happy working with my sales and account management team. My family had also just found out that my dad had a im endstadium cancer diagnosis, and not much time left. Our CEO came to me and gave me the option of not making the change, if it was going to be too much. I decided to take the new role, and while the transition period certainly wasnt easy, it was the right decision for so many reasons. I went from being a manager of a six-person team back to an individual contributor while I built out my org. This was ultimately a really good thing for both me and my team I didnt have the extra emotional energy to be there for them the way that they would need me, and I would have felt like I was failing them as a manager.What do you love most about your job or your company?My favorite part of my job is that its about seeing others succeed in their roles as a product line manager, part of my job is to help different teams organize around an objective and move towards it, unblocking along the way. I like that my job isnt about my own personal accomplishments its all about how we perform as a team.At AppNexus, I have freedom as I collaborate on a nd make decisions about how we operate as a cross-functional team working towards a common goal. While I have good judgement, I appreciate that AppNexus is an environment in which I feel safe executing on my decisions, knowing that making the wrong call on something is OK, as long as I learn from itWhat are you currently reading/watching/listening to?Im currently reading the second in the Three Body Problem series Dark Forest.Im listening to On the Media and Hello from the Magic Tavern podcasts, and Im watching Barry, The Bridge (Danish version) and SNL.Whats your 1 piece of advice for women who are looking for jobs right now?Ive seen this advice elsewhere so its not original, but dont be afraid to not tick ALL of the boxes on a job description. Most hiring managers know that candidates they receive are not going to meet every single qualification they list out, so theyre looking for good matches, not perfect ones. So if you see a job you think you could be good at, and you have re levant experience, apply even if you dont have a personal example for every bullet point.Who is/was the most influential person in your life and why?My dad he was always my greatest coach. My dad taught me about failing, how to cope with not being the best at something but loving doing it anyway. I was a pretty mediocre basketball player when I was in high school, but I loved playing and my dad was with me at every game and would go to gymnasiums with me on the weekends to shoot around and practice free throws.He also taught me so much about work-life balance, and what is truly important about your workplace. My dad was at every game I played, every piano recital I had. He always made the time to be there. My father passed last year, and I was blown away by the number of colleagues and former employees who came to visit him at the hospital and who attended his service they all cared deeply about my dad because he had cared about them as people and not just colleagues. I try to bri ng that same attitude to work with me at AppNexus.Whats the most memorable piece of career advice youve received?My dad always told me to keep being Lindsay, and I never really knew what that meant to me as career advice until recently when I started reflecting on what it meant to be your authentic self at work. I really believe that being yourself and acting true to who you are is an important factor in success.What was the best quality of the best boss youve ever had?Candor a boss who will be honest with you about where they are at, how you are doing, what you could be doing better, and a little bit of guidance on how is invaluable.--Fairygodboss is proud to partner with AppNexus. Find a job there today