2024 in Review: Lessons from Job Hunting, Leading at IAG, and Launching Qpidcon
As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a transformative 2024. This year brought challenges, insights, and milestones that shaped both my professional journey and personal growth. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead product delivery initiatives at IAG, launch a startup, and navigate the intricate world of job searching. Each of these experiences has reinforced valuable lessons that I’d like to share with fellow product professionals and entrepreneurs.
A New Chapter: Joining IAG as Product Delivery Lead
Securing a new role as Product Delivery Lead at IAG marked a turning point in my career. This opportunity allowed me to channel my passion for AI-driven innovation and cross-functional collaboration into initiatives that optimize airline engine maintenance costs. Leading several teams to integrate advanced models, like large language models (LLMs) and genetic algorithms, taught me the significance of aligning cutting-edge technology with real-world business challenges.
While this achievement was immensely rewarding, it came after months of perseverance. After applying to over 300 roles, attending 92 interviews, and facing numerous rejections, I landed a position that truly aligns with my skills and aspirations. This journey reaffirmed the importance of resilience and self-belief during career transitions.
Lessons from the Job Search and Interview Process
For many professionals, job searching can feel like navigating uncharted waters. My experience highlighted several systemic issues within the recruitment process that are worth discussing to improve how we approach hiring in the tech industry.
Proactive Recruiters Who Ghost You
It’s frustrating when recruiters, who initially reach out enthusiastically, stop responding after your initial application or interview. This lack of follow-through can leave candidates feeling undervalued and disillusioned. Transparency and communication, even in rejection, are essential to creating a respectful candidate experience.
Punctuality Matters
Late calls or rescheduled meetings by recruiters undermine the candidate’s time and effort. If punctuality is a basic expectation for candidates, shouldn’t it apply to recruiters as well?
Questionable Decision Makers
Encountering interviewers who hold the same role you’re applying for but with significantly less experience is perplexing. While junior team members may provide unique perspectives, it’s concerning when their limited understanding might influence critical hiring decisions.
Unconstructive Feedback
Receiving vague or nonsensical feedback post-interview can be disheartening. Comments like "we’re looking for someone more creative" without context fail to provide actionable insights for improvement. Constructive feedback is vital for candidates to grow and refine their skills.
Unprepared Hiring Managers
One particularly jarring experience was presenting a business case to a hiring manager who hadn’t reviewed it beforehand. This not only diminished the significance of my work but also signaled a lack of respect for the effort I had put in.
These challenges serve as a reminder that hiring processes must prioritize empathy, professionalism, and efficiency. As hiring managers and recruiters, we owe it to candidates to foster a positive and transparent experience—one that reflects the values of our organizations.
Building Something New: The Launch of Qpidcon
Another major milestone in 2024 was the launch of Qpidcon, a startup born from a passion for solving meaningful problems through technology. Developing Qpidcon reinforced the critical importance of discovery, user research, and iterative learning—core principles for any product professional.
Discovery: The Foundation of Problem Solving
The journey began with in-depth discovery and countless conversations with potential users. These discussions provided invaluable insights into their pain points, desires, and behaviors. By deeply understanding the problem space, we were able to design a solution that resonated with our target audience.
Building an MVP: Testing Assumptions
We’re currently in the beta phase, with an MVP that serves as a tangible expression of our hypotheses. This stage is all about learning—collecting user feedback, observing interactions, and iterating toward product-market fit. While the path to success is rarely linear, embracing an experimental mindset has been crucial in refining our approach and ensuring we’re solving the right problems.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
For fellow entrepreneurs, I cannot stress enough the value of talking to users early and often. Even the most brilliant idea can falter if it doesn’t address a real need. Discovery is not just a phase—it’s a continuous process that anchors your product in reality and relevance.
Looking Ahead
As I step into 2025, I’m filled with gratitude for the lessons learned and the milestones achieved in 2024. Whether navigating the challenges of job searching, leading impactful initiatives at IAG, or building Qpidcon from the ground up, this year has been a testament to growth through perseverance and curiosity.
To my fellow product professionals and entrepreneurs: keep asking questions, seeking feedback, and embracing change. Each challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to the problems we’re solving.
Here’s to a new year of discovery, innovation, and impact!