Episode 4 - New City, New Job - Alejandra Fraga

This is the time to make a change, but here is one story you have to hear! Alejandra Frago and her roommate moved halfway across the country with no jobs. Goodnews, they had no trouble finding them. Tune in to hear her story and get some great do's and don't when you are interviewing. 

 

Leighann Lovely  0:15  
Let's talk. HR is a place for HR business owners to share experience, talking about what's working, what's not how we can improve best practices so that companies can better attract, train and retain all generations of workers. We all know that there has been a huge shift and what people want generations are coming together more than ever, on what's important. Mental health has been brought to the forefront of everyone's mind. Let's humanize these conversations. Let's talk about how the economy has been impacted and what needs to happen to find a balance. I'm your host Leighann lovely. So let's get this conversation started. And remember, if you enjoyed this episode, follow us like us and share us and we're very excited to have my guest on today. 

Leighann Lovely  1:07  
Alejandra Fraga moved in September of 2021. From California to Wisconsin, her and her roommate decided that it was time to make a change and without a job she made a move halfway across the country. You're going to hear her tell her story of what it was like to look for a job, how she found an amazing position. Alejandra is now a member of Rogue Wave Marketing where she is the Executive Assistant to the CEO. Alejandra is a can-do person who specializes in creative content including iMovie and storytelling. She pays attention to detail and doesn't miss a beat. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Alejandra is extremely passionate about helping others when she is away from work. She enjoys writing poetry and loves music. So I'm very excited to have her on today. 

Leighann Lovely  1:57  
Welcome, Alejandra. It's so nice to have you here talking with me today. Why don't you start off with telling me a little bit about yourself?

Alejandra Fraga  2:05  
Yeah, well. Hi, Leighann. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Alejandra Fraga like you mentioned earlier, I am from San Diego, California. I was living there. I mean, I've lived there my whole life. But I  traveled up north for college. And then I moved to the Bay Area for a year. And then once the pandemic hit, I ended up moving back down to Southern California. And then I suddenly realized that I wanted a drastic change in my life. So I moved over to Wisconsin. Now I am living in Milwaukee and I am currently working for a marketing company. And that's just a little bit about myself and my background and where I come from.

Leighann Lovely  2:52  
So from California to Wisconsin, and yes, when did you make that move?

Alejandra Fraga  2:59  
So I made that move in late September. Okay. So late September, I decided to make the move on over to Wisconsin. One of my previous roommates/friends from college had actually brought up the idea of moving to Milwaukee many years ago when we were in college. And at first I thought she was crazy, because I had never heard of Milwaukee. So she kind of started bringing it up year after year. It kind of started growing on me a little and I started looking into it. And I was like, Okay, this isn't too bad. Eventually, I made my way over here to visit and check it out. And I honestly ended up really, really liking it. And so now we're both here in Milwaukee. And it's been a wonderful. I want to say three months. Is it? Yeah, a little bit. Almost. It's about to be three months. So it's been great. The Winter hasn't hit us yet. So I'm looking forward to that. But we'll see how that goes.

Leighann Lovely  4:02  
Right. You haven't experienced what it's like to truly live in Wisconsin. Yeah. Oh, no. So had you visited here and experienced, you know, the Wisconsin life? What really drove that decision to move across country?

Alejandra Fraga  4:19  
Yeah, so one, it's way cheaper than San Diego. And two, I really, really liked how you still have the big city feel with a slower pace. I feel when I was living back home in California, I was living in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley. And then I was living in, in San Diego, California. So those were very much more fast-paced environments. And I think I was personally at a point in my life where I wanted to slow down a little bit and just grab a hold of myself first and then be able to get to that point in my life. And so that's what drew me here honestly, now being here, me and my roommate, we're just talking about this, but we love how much personality this place has. It honestly blows my mind every time, I'm living in downtown area, So when I walk out, I kind of feel like I'm walking through like a Hallmark movie. So it's honestly been treating us very well. That's kind of what drew me over here to Milwaukee.

Leighann Lovely  5:26  
Excellent. And so when you came down, when you move, did you have a job? Or? Did you just make the move and decide, hey, we're gonna see what happens.

Alejandra Fraga  5:38  
Yeah, so I actually had no job lined up. And I just kind of had to honestly have some faith in myself and be like, Okay, let's do it. Because it's now or never. And I had saved up some money from my previous job that I was working at in San Diego. So I had that to back me up for a little bit. But I eventually knew that I needed to get on it. Because money just goes. So yeah, I came here with absolutely no job, I kind of had an open mind as to what jobs I wanted to get. I wasn't very specific, or I didn't have a specific job in mind. But like I said, no job, no family just kind of made the move over, very spontaneously.

Leighann Lovely  6:22  
Right. And well, this is the time period in which you're able to do that, there are so many jobs available. And I guess taking that leap of faith right now would be the best time because we definitely have jobs, we are lacking people, good people. And so tell me, how did you start looking for work? Where do you even begin?

Alejandra Fraga  6:46  
Yeah, so I started I want to say it was my second week living here in Milwaukee. My first week, I was just focused on getting settled into my apartment, and getting everything just just ready for myself. And then during that second week, I was like, Okay, it's time to go. I was like, I need to find a job. So indeed was the website where I was constantly on looking for jobs. Yeah, I was I was constantly on Indeed, just looking for jobs applying. I had previous teaching experience. So I knew that teaching. I mean, it's kind of a high-demand job, anywhere. So I was applying to a couple of teaching jobs. But I, in the back of my head, I kind of knew that I didn't want to go that route. I enjoy teaching, but it wasn't necessarily my passion or what drove me. And so I would apply for those jobs. But like I said, I already had the idea in the back of my head that those weren't necessarily the jobs that I wanted, ideally, but they were there just in case to back me up. And so yeah, I was, like I said constantly on Indeed, just applying my way through through the week. And like I said, it was pretty much a full time job having to find a job.

Leighann Lovely  7:58  
Right. And everybody that I talked to when you're looking for work, it is a full-time job. I remember back in the day and was starting off my mentor, then actually my dad had said to me, he goes you know, it can get hard when you're especially if you're sitting in your apartment, you're sitting he goes, change the scenery, go to a coffee shop, sit in a coffee shop. And at that time I was looking in one ads. I was I was it was newspapers that I was looking at. I don't know if some people will go Oh, yeah, I remember that other people go, what does that mean? Right. But yeah, it is a full-time job. I'm just trying to get in touch with the right people get your resume in front of the right people. Exactly. So what was the next step from there? When you truly you know, started to get those interviews? You know, what were some of your, your non-negotiables for, you know, position some of the negotiables? And how did you really start to narrow that list down for what you wanted, and the perfect position for you?

Alejandra Fraga  9:02  
Well, I'll back up just a little bit. But after applying for jobs, I think it was after the first week, I had not heard back from one job. And I was honestly terrified. I was like, Oh my gosh, did I make the wrong decision? Why did I move over here? I honestly had so many thoughts running through my head. And it wasn't until I think the second week that the ball kind of started rolling and we started hearing back a little bit more from employers just to answer your question that you asked earlier. I honestly wasn't I wouldn't say I'm too picky. I wasn't necessarily looking for something specific. Of course, I wanted, you know, a job that or employer who really valued their employees and who had a strong mission and who held that mission very close to that to themselves, but I wasn't very specific. I know there's some people who are very specific for in looking for benefits where I think in my roll as to where I was, like I said, I was a little scared. I wasn't hearing back. So I was like, Okay, let's just, you know, let's just apply, apply, apply. I'm in a new state, I moved across the country, I can't not have a job. So I wasn't necessarily too picky with that. But I guess that that's my answer for that.

Leighann Lovely  10:17  
Okay. But I mean, and as far as what, and when I say non-negotiables, there had to have been a certain threshold as far as I have to make X amount. Oh, yeah. You know, I have to be passionate about Yeah, the work that I'm doing, whether that be, you know, XYZ, so there had to have been something that that drove you to have interest in certain things. And you said, I was applying to some childcare I was applying to or, I'm sorry, not child. My apologies. So, you know, what, what were those? What interested you or what drove you to apply to the jobs that you were applying to,

Alejandra Fraga  10:57  
Like you said, a pay was definitely a huge one. So I wasn't applying to anything under like 18. And below, I wanted, definitely something above that pay range. So that was a huge factor. Aside from that, let me think I was looking for a, I want to say hybrid position, or more so of a more remote position, just because I am newer to the area. So I wasn't very familiar with, you know, my surroundings. And I know I've heard from many people here that winter gets very, very tough. So I was like, Okay, if that's the case, then I think I want to work from home. I mean, initially, the job that I have now is a hybrid, and I am extremely thankful for that. Because getting out of the house has been so so helpful to my well being and just my mental state. And, in general, when I first came into the office, I honestly was a little taken back, because I hadn't socialized that much in so long, to the point where when I would come home, my social battery was like a 2%. And I was done for the day. And so that was definitely I mean, it was it was a drastic change for me, especially just being at home all day. And you know, just applying to jobs, applying to jobs, and just literally being with myself and my roommate. But now looking back, I am extremely thankful that I took on that hybrid position. But yeah, that's that's one of the things that I was looking for when applying for jobs. I know my roommate, she was very specific for him looking for a specific pay range. Aside from also looking at benefit packages. I know that she was very specific with with what she wanted in that sense, where I wasn't necessarily as picky. I think specifically as well. Because the jobs that I was applying to, I think I was a little I would say, Well, I don't I don't want to like bring myself down, but I was a little under qualified for those positions. And so because of that I wasn't too too picky in that sense. Because I was working for I mean, back in the day, I was teaching and I was taking on those kinds of roles where as to the new jobs that I was applying to sure I had teaching positions, but I was also applying to a lot of job positions that were not within my scope. And when I when I refer to that, I mean, like marketing manager or or things like that, that I honestly hadn't necessarily gotten a lot of experience. And and so that's why, like I said, I wasn't necessarily too picky with that.

Leighann Lovely  13:23  
And it's interesting that you say that, you know, you said I don't want to bring myself down. But you know, I've talked with a lot of people who are coming from like a teaching background or were teachers, there are so many of the skills that you learn from that, that are so transferable because, I mean, honestly, teachers have to have so many qualities that so many people are I mean, patients, there are a lot of people out there that I mean, that is really just something that I I struggle with on a daily basis to have a level of patience that you have to have a lot of those skills are extremely transferable. And I've talked with a lot of people who have said, I'm, I've been a teacher for many years, what can I do? Like, okay, well write down all the skills that you have, because Oh, my God, there's a ton of soft skills in that. There are a ton of technical skills in that. So don't ever sell yourself short on that one.

Alejandra Fraga  14:17  
Yeah, that's something I'm definitely learning how to do. I think it's just valuing myself as not just a human being because I feel like I'm very good at in that aspect. But when it comes to valuing myself as an employee and learning what I bring to the table, I think these past two months by working at rogue wave marketing, I've honestly been so impressed with myself. I was just looking back today and I was like, Oh my gosh, like I'm really doing all of this with like I said, you know, very minimal experience, but it's all those transferable skills, like you mentioned, that do transfer on over so it's something that I'm kind of just learning how to reflect on and analyze and like I said just kind of barely myself a little bit more than that sense

Leighann Lovely  15:00  
Well, that's great you're working for, you know, I know the company a little bit I've met the the CEO that you're that you support. She's an amazing person. So I think that you're, you're in the right spot. But so, you know, you talked a little bit about when, you know, the second week when you hadn't, hadn't quite heard heard back, you started to hear back, you kind of were like, in that emotional state, you know, walk me through kind of what that felt like, and you know, how how, I guess the end result, which is, wow, I'm now in a job that, that you're seeing so many, you know, things, awesome things come from yourself, you're obviously proud of yourself.

Alejandra Fraga  15:38  
Yeah, it was funny because me and my roommate joke about it. But we say it was the longest month of our lives, where we kind of sort of felt like we were just on hold for a second. But I think something that was so helpful, was having her with me, and we were literally on the same boat. At that very same moment, we had moved across the country, we were looking for jobs together. And so just knowing that we had each other was extremely helpful. So on the days where we did feel down, we just be like, you know, what, we just moved across the country, we did that, let's just, you know, Let's applaud ourselves for that and keep on going, let's not get down on ourselves. And although there were days where we felt a little helpless and a little anxious, in a sense, where it's like, okay, we were not familiar with what's going to come our way, but just having, I guess, some faith in ourselves, and, and not losing hope, in the fact that what was coming our way was exactly what was meant for us. And so, you know, I think it was having each other that really helped us out at the end of the day there.

Leighann Lovely  16:40  
That's excellent. And, you know, it's great that you had somebody and, you know, to be able to support you. And there's a lot of people out there that that don't necessarily have that roommate, but there are so many groups out there that that, that do offer that type of support. So anybody who's listening to this, you know, I urge them to seek out support in that, you know, in that sense, there are of people who are in the same situation where they can go and talk about those types of things. So, definitely, so where other people can learn where you can help educate employers, you've obviously just recently been through interview processes you've been, you know, through the applying and all of that, through this process. Were there things that certain companies did really well, that were there things that companies did, you were like, Oh, my gosh, here's, you know, this is was just done poorly, or feedback or whatever it might be. And, and I'm not asking you to name any employers, just asking, Hey, is there any constructive criticism that you can give to employers out there that might be looking to hire and how they can do it better?

Alejandra Fraga  17:48  
Yeah. So personally, for me, I was in about I want to say four or five interviews. And I would say when employers just come prepared to the interviewer, and they know what they bring to the table, it's extremely intriguing to the employee, or to the potential employee, when they they're prepared. And they come in with their whatever it is their mission, their values, they kind of showcasing what they provide their employees with. I love that sense of culture within the company. And so that is a big, big plus, for me, making sure that there is that culture within a business or within a company it's huge, it's honestly a game changer for me. Another thing that I would say as well, a sense of professionalism. I feel like there's been plenty of interviews where there is just maybe, I don't know, they asked me about one or two questions. And the I don't know, I just feel like there there has to be some type of sense of professionalism within the the interview itself. Another one, I would say, so I had a couple of zoom interviews, and I had a couple in person interviews. And in person interviews are 10 times better than the Zoom interviews, I think. I mean, there's, you know, there's so much psychology or psychology studies behind the Zoom aspect of interviews and what goes on behind that, but it's just a game changer when you're in person, and you're able to see that person's body language and you're able to see, you know, body language with their words, whatever, just everything that comes together is definitely a different provides a different sense of safety, if that makes sense. And then so those were two things I know, for my roommate, and this is, you know, stuff that I'm talking about just because I did live this through with her but she had an employer who she had applied for sorry, yes, an employer that she had applied to and she was extremely extremely so my roommate had applied to this company that she was really, really looking forward to She got her first interview in extremely excited, they called her in for a second interview, she was like, Okay, this will work I can do this second interview, after they asked her to come in for a third interview, she was like, What's going on here? She's like, okay, she's like, I'll come into the third interview. But by this point, her excitement had already gone all the way down. And then she was also waiting to hear back from another company at that moment. And so she was kind of stuck in between, do I keep waiting for this company to probably lead me on to the fifth interview? Or do I just take this job that I have right here that has only interviewed me about two times. And so her excitement, like I said, had totally, totally gone down by the time that that company that she was extremely excited about to begin with, had already asked her for about the fourth interview. So she ended up going with the other employer. So one thing that I would definitely say is, don't how do I say this? Don't extend the process? If it doesn't need to be? I think, I mean, I've been on the other side, where I've been interviewing, interviewing people. And I can probably tell within the second interview that okay, you're a good fit for this company. Let's get you in. So I've been on that side. So I know what that's like. So I would say just don't extend the process of it doesn't need to be extended that long. Because by the time that they're on to that fifth interview, the employees, potential employees, excitement has already gone all the way down.

Leighann Lovely  21:28  
Right. And I've I have heard that more times than trust me, this is not the 10th time, it's probably the 15th or maybe 30 of time that I have heard that said, Yeah, companies, typically, especially as the employee who is going through that process, you're right, they get really excited about something, then they interview somewhere else, they get really excited about that. And they go oh, wait, did the other interview was I really excited about that, then they hear from them again, they get really excited again, and then they hear, I'll have to go through another interview. And you're right, there's that up and down excitement. And eventually, it slowly starts to fizzle out when they're going through the process of other organizations. And eventually, the one that keeps pushing them through more and more and more and more trust, I just recently experienced this, I had a job change as well. And you're, you're completely right. And I am an advocate of if you if you want multiple people to interview this person at a company, then book it for a 90 minute interview panel interview of, hey, we need to have this many people come in, meet them, do a 20 minute meet and greet, and make a decision. Because now in this job market, you just can't You can't bring them back for five interviews, you can't bring it back for even three interviews at this point. Yeah, and I get it, the first interview, if you want to do a quick pre screen over zoom, bring them in second interview, you're making a decision, or that person's going to go somewhere else. And again, that's it. I'm not trying to slam any companies. And I do understand if we're getting up to the extremely high level here, I'm making a decision on my C suite employees, it might be a very different situation. Definitely, if we're talking about somebody who's on the, you know, entry level management, I had, I had one interview with somebody. And within that one interview, I knew this was the company I was going to work for. He called me and said, after we talked, I knew I was going to offer you the position. And he was I was just waiting to hear what you thought of it. And that's where I work today. Nice. Yeah, it's a rough. It's it's a rough world. But connections if it's a true true connection, and it's the right person at the company doing that interview. So it's there. Yeah. What about the company that you're working at? Now? How did that? I mean, what was the feeling there?

Alejandra Fraga  23:55  
Yeah, so it's actually really funny, because I don't think the CEO even saw my resume. I don't know if till this day, if she seen I actually Yes, I did send it to her after I received the job, but she had not seen my resume. So let me backtrack to the very beginning. So ideally, I was applying for nonprofit jobs. I've always been super into nonprofits. I love the idea of just being part of something bigger and leaving a legacy, all that fun stuff. And so I had applied to a company. Originally, I had actually applied to a nonprofit organization called good friend, and they had actually called me in for a second interview, and I was extremely excited about this job really looking forward to it. And at my second interview, one of the founders ended up giving me a tour of the office and so there's different office spaces within the building. And while we were walking through she actually had shown me an office that was Is roadway marketing. And I was like, Oh my gosh, you know what I've actually seen their ad on Indeed, I believe she's like, You know what, yeah, they're looking actually looking for an assistant at the moment. If you're looking for, you know, another job because I was looking for another job at the moments and some good friend would only be part time. She said, You know, you can definitely come in, I believe they're having a seminar tonight. So it was that same day of my second interview. And within two hours, I was back at the same building, I ended up joining it was a group interview, which I actually it was like a presentation and a part group interview. And so I joined that I was there for about an hour, I met the see Oh, and she started talking to us about, you know, the company, how it started, the mission, their values, all of that fun stuff. And I was like, okay, you know, this was really intriguing. They even ended up having us read this, I want to say it was like a 10 page article on going the extra mile. So even just little things like that really grabbed my attention. I was like, Wow, I'm a very deep person. So I like, you know, reading deep articles, or any, any kind of any type of material that relates to that. And so, I was really intrigued automatically. Sarah had this very infectious energy to her. I really, I really go, how do I say this? I really am drawn towards energy. And so after that, I I ended up coming back home. And I was like, Yeah, I'm not getting that job. I it was a group interview with a another young lady and she had assistant experience, I had no assistant experience, other than being a nanny. So I came back and I was like, Yeah, I don't I don't think I'm going to get that job. But it's okay. You know, I at least I went, I tried, it's all good. gave it my all. And I actually ended up hearing back from, from the CEO, I want to say a couple of days after that interview, she pulled me in for a second interview, and actually offered me the position they're on on the spot at our second interview. And so that's kind of how it came to be. Yeah,

Leighann Lovely  27:14  
That's great. And that's the way that it's supposed to happen, where, you know, she obviously saw something in you, you obviously connected with her. And and it happened it happened the way it was supposed to happen. Exactly. Yeah. And typically those are the the jobs or the best ways to get, you know, a position because yeah, you guys connected in some way on a deeper level where she, you know, she's interested, she saw something in you.

Alejandra Fraga  27:40  
Yeah. And it's funny, because I still see good friend around all the time. And we're, I love them. So in a way, I still get to be a part of that family, which I'm very, very happy about. And it's it's funny, because I actually reflected on this the other day, and we ended up attending a conference named growth club up Amina and good friend was there as well. And we had this raffle. I was actually the first person to win a raffle prize at the event and go figure it was from good friend. And I kind of stepped back after that. And I was like, Oh my gosh, they literally and figuratively gifted me a gift. They gifted me the gift, you know, that I won there at the raffle. But they also gifted me the gift of being able to work for roadway marketing. And so it was kind of like, Uh huh. Like, this is where I'm supposed to be kind of moment.

Leighann Lovely  28:32  
Right? Yeah, yeah. Things things always shake out the way they're supposed to. Exactly. Yeah. So I have one final question. This is the question that I'm asking everybody of the season. If you could pinpoint a time period in your career that made a huge difference in your life or career path. One would that be and why?

Alejandra Fraga  28:53  
That is a great question. And for me, this is definitely a no brainer. I had a mentor back in college, he was actually my boss as well. I worked for a calling center. And this was my second job ever. So I was very fresh. I was very new to the job world, I was going to have to call strangers and ask them for their money. And that was really scary to me. And so I got the job. And I remember it was, I believe my second week there and I ended up calling someone and they were just like the rudest people ever. It was just like, why are you calling me right now? Da da da and I broke down. I broke down. I was like, I can't do this. I remember I walked out of my little booth. And I you know, walk out and my boss pulls me into his office and I'm just I'm just like, I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry. I you know, this job just isn't for me. You and he looked at me and he told me one thing that I will forever remember, and he told me whether you believe you can or you can't, either way you are right. And after that moment, and I swear to you, I have lived by this every time that I believe I can do something, I do it. And every time that I believe I can't do something, I don't do it. And so it's just that that's, you know, mental reminder to myself that whether you believe you can or you can't, either way, you are so right. And so that was a game changer. Within my, my personal experience, my career experience, it's something that I've kept with me, honestly, ever since then. So that is, that is what has stuck with me for a very long time.

Leighann Lovely  30:51  
That's amazing, you know, and when, throughout my career, I have had multiple mentors. And it is, it is the greatest thing that I've ever experienced to be able to have somebody who takes interest in you who will sit down when you are either at your lowest, and be able to raise you up, or somebody who will sit down with you when you are at your highest, and continue to encourage you to even do better. And one day, hopefully, you'll be able to pay that forward. And when somebody is struggling, you'll be able to walk up to him and say, Hey, how can I help you? In business, that's what we all need, right? We all need to continue to, to help each other in, you know, in whatever way we can. There's always, you know, ways that we can continue to learn and always ways that we can continue to help people. And that's, and that's what business, that's what friendship, that's what life is all about. So that's an amazing story. I'm glad that you shared that.

Alejandra Fraga  31:42  
That's the ultimate goal, just being able to help each other, build each other up and help each other grow at the end of the day. And that's something that I totally did it mentioned earlier on in our interview, but growth opportunities within a job is extremely, extremely huge. That is something that I really, really look into when applying to a job, how can I grow within this fits within this business? And how can I help others? So sorry, I didn't bring that up earlier. But that was a huge factor as well, that just popped into my head.

Leighann Lovely  32:12  
Yeah. Well, it sounds like you, you're a very determined person. And I think that you've found your way into an awesome opportunity and awesome job. And I really, thank you so much for taking the opportunity to talk with me and tell me your story today. And hopefully somebody who's listening will you know, get a gold nugget out of this. Hopefully an employer or somebody who's interviewing will be able to take something away from it. So thank you so much.

Alejandra Fraga  32:37  
I really hope so, thank you for having me here

Leighann Lovely  32:45  
Thank you again for listening to Let's Talk HR. I appreciate your time and support. Without you the audience this would not be possible. So don't forget that if you enjoyed this episode to follow us like us or share us. Have a wonderful day.

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