What its like working with the most powerful people in tech

What its like working with the most powerful people in techWhat its like working with the most powerful people in techThe newly released novel Sophia of Silicon Valley chronicles the fictional world of Sophia Young, a recent college graduate navigating the Silicon Valley tech scene in the mid-90s.The book follows Sophia as shes fired from an investment bank, rises through the ranks at a top Silicon Valley law firm, and eventually becomes an investor relations guru - first, to an eccentric, passionate CEO with a penchant for jeans and black t-shirts who was famously fired from his own computer company. Later, Sophia works for a younger, genius founder who wants to build electric cars and rocket ships.If any of that sounds familiar, it should the books author, Anna Yen, worked under Steve Jobs at Pixar and Elon Musk at Tesla.So while Yens book might be fiction, the people and companies portrayed in it are based on real life. Sophia of Silicon Valley is essentially one womans account o f navigating the Valley in its heyday, and working with some of the most powerful people in tech.A perspective very few people have ever seenYen has been working in Silicon Valley for nearly 25 years, and she says Sophia of Silicon Valley is a culmination of zu sich experiences and the lessons shes learned along the way.Apart from timeline changes and tweaks to the characters - Yen says she took bits and pieces of people she worked with over the years - the book is essentially a memoir.Sophia is a toned-down version of me - I have a much worse mouth, Yen told Business Insider. But she is me. That part is very autobiographical.While Yen had considered writing a book for awhile, she said, therbeiewas one particular impetus for getting started Steve Jobs, the 2015 film starring Michael Fassbender.I actually have always had this policy, I dont read anything about him, I dont watch any of the movies - the TV movies or the films that have come out about him, Yen said. I just always fe lt like, I knew the person that I knew and thats all I needed to know. But that Michael Fassbender movie, for some reason I watched it, and I was upset by it because I felt like it was unfair.Yen said she wanted to use to book to present a perspective that very few people have ever seen and will ever get to see - the other side of Jobs, if you will.The Jobs character in the book, Scott Kraft, is demanding, eccentric, and quick to anger. In one memorable scene in the book, he asks Sophia - who had just started working for his animation startup, Treehouse - if shes stupid or fking stupid.But Kraft is also painted as a mentor and a fatherly figure to Sophia. When Sophia mulls leaving Treehouse for Ion, the electric car company, Kraft encourages her to leave in order to take on new challenges. He even presents her with an extravagant parting gift an enormous fish tank occupied by an octopus, which Kraft calls his spirit animal.While Yen declined to give many specifics about how much of Krafts character is inspired by Jobs real-life actions, she said that she wanted to portray the softer side of Jobs.I think he gets a ton of respect as an innovator and as a leader, Yen said. But I dont think he gets any respect for being a good person.A lot of the time when I say, I worked for Steve Jobs or I worked for Elon Musk, the first thing people say, no joke, is Oh, I hear hes a real ahole. I am not kidding They are tough characters, absolutely. Theyre not easy - theyre demanding, she said. But that doesnt mean theyre an ahole.Yen did verify one real-life aspect of Jobs that she incorporated into the Kraft character his nervous habit of constantly tugging up his socks through his pants, which eventually wore through the fabric.He did funny things. I dont know if anyone got it, but he used to pull on his jeans all the time. Holes, in the bottom of his pants Yen said. It was like a stress relief.Passing on lessons to the next generationYen wants people to know her book is not a salacious tell-all. It was intended to entertain and educate, she says, not to take tech billionaires to task over their behavior 20 years ago.I wrote the book based on the major lessons I learned that I always used day-to-day, Yen said. I wanted it to be fun and yet something that young women might be inspired by - and thats all I wanted it to be. I wasnt trying for more.Yen says shes the person that everyone comes to for advice - I dont know why she said. Im a total screw-up - and she wanted to pepper the book with some of the mantras she repeats to herself on a daily basis. The most notable line, six minutes at a time, is a play on how law firms bill their time, which Sophia repeats to herself whenever shes stressed. Yen uses it in real life, too.Life has not always gone my way - Ive gotten fired a ton, Yen said. But life isnt easy in general. These little things that Ive learned that helped me get through life are things that I wanted to teach my nieces and nephews, a nd everyone.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Ideal Boss

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Ideal BossHow to Answer Interview Questions About Your Ideal BossAs part of theinterview process, employers might want to assess how youll respond to supervision if youre hired. Theyll try to determine whether you have any issues with authority, so your interviewer might ask questions aboutyour preferred teamberaterinin an attempt to figure out how well youll work within the companys management framework. Whether youve had great past experiences with bosses or they were a collective nightmare, answering this question can admittedly be a little like walking a tightrope. It can help to have a firm plan going in for what youll want to say- and not say. What to SayTailor your response to the job youre applying for- for example, your response should lean toward independence when applying for a job where youll be largely expected to work on your own.Take the fence and mention something good about both sides of the equation, working independently vs. with a very hands-on supervisor.Make your answer about you, focusing on your strengths rather than potential problems with management.What Not to SayNever criticize them in these conversations, no matter how awful your previous bosses wereLess is more- and less can go wrong- when you keep your responses short and sweet, so refrain from getting too wordy.Try to focus on just one or two past bosses/employers so you dont come off as a job-hopper. Try to Strike a Balance Youll want to emphasize your ability to work independently as well as your comfort with taking direction from a boss. You dont want to come across as needing too much or too little supervision. Think about the job youre interviewing for before you answer, and try to estimate how much management the employer will expect that youll require. Use this to guide your answer. Emphasize Your Adaptability Share how youve thrived with a variety of supervisory styles in your past. Be prepared to give examples of how y ouve been productive with different types of bosses...but not too many. You dont want to come off like a job-hopper with a mind-boggling, long list of previous jobs. Never Criticize a Past Supervisor Your prospective employer will probably assume that youre a difficult employee if you offer up a list of complaints, no matter how well-earned they might be. You dont want this. Even when an interviewer asks you to describe your least favorite boss, focus on how you were mucksmuschenstill successful in this environment and emphasize what you look for in a manager rather than the qualities you dislike. Dont Get Too Carried Away With Your Answer Keep your answer brief. Dont imply that you have unrealistic expectations for some superhuman manager or that youll be too needy as an employee. The less you say, the less likely it is that youll trip yourself up. By the same token, one-word responses wont do. Try to balance your ability to take direction from a boss with your ability to w ork independently when youre answering these questions. Avoid criticizing any of your former employers. Hiring managers will wonder if youll do the same when its time to discuss their organization. Sample Answers Describe your ideal boss. My ideal boss would encourage clear communication between herself and her employees. I believe that communication- in person, as well as via phone and email- is critical to a successful relationship between an employer and employee.What types of managers have you worked for, and what type do you prefer? Ive worked under employers with a variety of management styles. Ive had some employers who encourage lots of independent work, and others who prefer to give clear, specific instructions. I thrive in both environments. I work very well independently, but also know when to ask questions. Describe your worst boss. I value an employer who communicates clearly with his employees. Im a strong written and oral communicator and I appreciate employers wh o value those skills. In the past, I have had some employers who have been less than clear in conveying their ideas and directions. Although I work very well independently and I dont require excessive supervision, I do appreciate employers who speak clearly to employees. mora Interview Questions About Bosses If you knew your boss was100% wrong about something, how would you handle it? Best AnswersWho was your best boss and who was your worst? Best AnswersWhat do you expect from a supervisor? Best AnswersHave you ever had difficulty working with a manager? Best AnswersWhat is the biggest criticism youve received from your boss? Best Answers

How to Handle a Case Job Interview

How to Handle a Case Job InterviewHow to Handle a Case Job InterviewJob candidates seeking positions in management consulting firms or investment banking companies are increasingly facing what is known as the case interview. In behauptung special job interviews, job seekers are asked to apply their skills to provide possible solutions to a real business challenge.If you have such an interview coming up or have done them in the past, here are some great ways to handle it.What the case interview will be testingIn a case interview, you will be expected to prove your abilities to analyze and solve problems while showing your ability to apply logic and strategy.At the same time, the case interview is used when companies are looking to assess your creative thinking, listening skills, level of common sense, and overall comfort with having your ideas openly interpreted or discussed with a professional demeanor.Finally, from time to time, you will be asked to present a case that assists with a past, present, or future issue the company will need you to work on.Before the case interviewBefore even thinking of how to present your case, you must first understand the companys mission, product, services, and ideally, prior case studies that may appear online or in public media. The Internet and social media have made it fairly convenient to research a companys financial strength, leadership, and previous success stories with problems the company solved.Get to know how it all works now, and worked in the past. When you have all this down, and you have created the case which companies may give you before the interview, be sure to practice, practice, and practice some more.Research online articles about other cases and interviews. Make yourself an expert on the topic, if not sick talking about it. You want to be that person in a case interview who is calm and cool under pressure.The day of the interviewMake sure you are well-rested. No caffeine, coffee, stimulants, or anti-stim ulants that alter your emotions and ability to think clearly. Practice one more time and make sure all is in order. Remember some case interviews have been as short as 15 minutes and as long as 4 hours. You will need your strength.During the case interviewThe company is going to judge you on your answers. Therefore, you must project clear thoughts, a practical judgment of the case itself, and do so professionally. A great way to approach the case interview when it startsAsk questions to clarify the issues at hand, if you are unsurePoint out your underlying thoughts and assumptions on the issueDo not ramble. Summarize specific findings.Provide recommendationsOutline your steps with expected resultsMost importantly, job seekers in a case interview are expected to have an enjoyable and effective discussion. Obviously, you do not work for the company, yet, so you cannot have the perfect answer. However, you must bildschirm your logic and thought processes for the case interview is suppo sed to be a test of a real case dialogue.More to do during the interviewListening skills takes more than just not talking and putting on your best listening face. Take notes, write questions down, develop a hypothesis, and compose your thoughts. You want to structure an analysis into a logical story and walk the interviewer through your assumptions and thinking.Engage the interviewers in conversation. Never panic if you do not like their responses (thats why no caffeine beforehand). You want to show your ability to think outside the box and prioritize issues or objectives.The case interview questionsDuring the case interview, you will hear questions focused on the followingMarket numbers caseProblem caseBusiness operations caseBusiness strategy caseResume case based on your own business experienceLogic case to test your IQNever be afraid to give a wrong answerWhen you are done presentingDo not panic if the interviewers sit in silence, or if you take a moment to collect your thoughts before hearing more questions. You want to show you are calm and take the time to think before speaking. Do not avoid talking for several minutes, as it will make the silence awkward.And never forget the classic interview tipsYou have to display confidence in your case interview. Show enthusiasm, keep eye contact, and project confidence. These are just the classic interview tips you hear all the time and they still apply in a case interview.