Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Kennebrew.
Hi Kristi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
It all started when I walked into my first tech job, met my team, and looked around to see there was no one that looked like me in the room. No one that looked to share the same experiences or background as me. I started to reflect on my own tech journey and how I got to where I was. Then realizing there was a need for access. I noticed that a lot of people from my community did not have access to tech roles, recruiter contacts, or message templates. The lack of knowledge on how to use professional social media site like LinkedIn was literally holding job seekers back from financial freedom & work-life balance.
I was lucky enough to have someone take a chance on me & teach me the way, so I decided to pave the way for others. I branched out and created GetMeHiredKristi, a social media job search page where candidates have access! They can find entry-level roles, roles where they can use their transferable skills & have a recruiter contact along with the right messaging to send. This was my way of giving back & letting my community know that I will give them all the resources they need to be successful. Hence the birth of the famous phrase “Get me hired Kristi! Okay, I got you!”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all! Sometimes we can do all the right steps & still not get the results that we want. From making your resume stand out to sending the perfect message to the hiring manager, we still have to take into account some of the factors that are out of our control like headcount, niche skill sets & even the economy. GetMeHiredKristi has always been a place to encourage job seekers to keep their heads up. I always talk persistence and strategy when it comes to receiving constant “No’s” in the job search. My favorite phrase is “rejection is just redirection” and that is the theme we have as we work through the struggles of the job search.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my 5-9 people know me as GetMeHiredKristi posting on social media but in my 9-5 people know me as a Technical Sourcer at Microsoft helping engineers land their dream job! I pride myself on having a big network and being able to connect any job seeker with the right recruiter for the company. I share stories on how I transitioned from the sales industry to recruiting, letting candidates know I’m living proof that their transferable skills are real! With over 100k connections on LinkedIn, I use my platform to motivate candidates in the job search process & pave the way for others so they don’t have to face the same barriers that I did.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those looking to get into a tech role, my best advice would be to do your research first! Figure out which industry of tech you admire and where your skills align to the most. Then use LinkedIn to follow & connect with recruiters like myself that hire for the roles you are looking for. Utilize GetMeHiredKristi for templates and example messaging when reaching out & connecting with these recruiters. I really wish I would have took advantage of LinkedIn earlier on in my career. Things have changed now from what you know to who you know, so make those connections!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://calendly.com/getmehiredkristi
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/getmehiredkristi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetMeHiredKristi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kennebrew
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@getmehiredkristi
