It feels like I’ve been there forever. There’s something familiar about working at The New York Times. My colleagues, my boss, the building… it’s as though I’ve walked through those halls before. Perhaps I was there in a past life or in a dream.
December was action packed.
I flew to San Francisco to propose my dissertation research to my committee and received approval. Two years have gone by since my Dad left this world, and it was the first time my Mom and I spent an extended period of time alone.
Upon returning back to NY, Jay and I decided to move out of the studio apartment we were in. We loved the space but hated the upstairs neighbor who thought it was smart to place a subwoofer on his floor. After months of going back and forth with him and calling the police, we decided it was better for us to move. It turns out, we were able to find a great apartment in the same neighborhood that is bigger and has a yard for Butters and Rosie. Ultimately, the idiot neighbor did us a favor.
Then there was a matter of job hunting. I knew that at this point in my PhD program, I would need to start working. Coincidentally, a large pharmaceutical company reached out to me via LinkedIn about a global director-level role. I had several phone interviews with the VP to assess whether or not I should pursue the job. He graciously considered me for three different opportunities. The third position seemed most relevant to my experience and we scheduled for an in-person interview for early January.
While my mind was open to seeking out a full-time role, I signed up for LinkedIn’s premium membership. A bit of advice, if you are looking for a job, I would 1) highly recommend becoming active on LinkedIn and 2) sign up for the premium membership. It was through this membership that I saw an opportunity with The New York Times.
To my amazement, the job was exactly the type of role I wanted to have. I applied through LinkedIn and within a few days, I got a call from the Executive Director of Talent Acquisition. We had a brief conversation and over the course of a few months, I made my way through several face-to-face interviews at The Times.
My final interview in December was with the Vice Chairman of the company.
The week of Christmas, I got the job. The first Monday after 2016, I started working.
Each day, I look at the view of the West Side and wonder how I got here. I can’t pinpoint the exact path but I am grateful beyond words.
This photo below was taken in 2013… when I saw this building, I wanted to work there. I didn’t know how or when but that was a dream I dared to dream.
My office
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