“So I'm a morning matcha drinker,” shares Kriti Mira Adhikari, Strategist at Co: Collective. “I love matcha with goat milk and honey. And I love iced matcha with honey on top where it gets kind of caramelized. It's like a treat to begin the day, but also a slow caffeine buzz.”
For many, it may be hard to tell when it’s time to try something new: from what you drink in the morning to taking the next career step. Kriti was not only ready for a new role but was actively chasing growth in her future position. She sat down with us, fresh with matcha energy, to discuss her goals and expectations when job hunting.
Whatever happened to leaving room for growth?
For many, when thinking about the roles we’ve taken or considered over the course of our careers, it is quite common to be 100% qualified. This means that everything on the job posting is a skill set that has already been developed or mastered. In other words, for many, we end up accepting positions that we are fully capable of doing with little to no room for growth without a promotion. Are we doing this right?
This was at the forefront of Kriti’s mind as she began interviewing for new roles. “Some of the roles that I was considering would say after the interview, ‘You nailed it, you knocked it out of the park.’ They didn't give me feedback on what I could do better.”
Kriti noticed that during her interview process, one team stood out. “There were so many thoughtful questions and follow-ups coming out of the work that I shared with the Co team in my interview that made me feel like, ‘Okay, I'm not just gonna be comfortable here, I'm gonna continue growing as an individual, learning new things.’ I can see a future there versus something that I'm already fully equipped for.”
When considering a new role, Kriti’s process is a stark reminder that we shouldn’t be interviewing perfectly, and we shouldn’t already have all the answers. If you start a role fully experienced in every aspect of the work, how long until you outgrow the position?
I really believe in the idea that there's a growth threshold for individuals, and you can only grow when there is room to grow. If you're 100% successful, 100% of the time, you're not really growing.
Kriti’s strategy is something every job hunter should consider. So many outstanding candidates end up taking roles that are a 100% match, then within a year they hit their ceiling. They’ve accepted a position that has not provided any room for growth.
The same goes for the hiring company: in an eagerness to hire the “perfect match,” we end up seeing solid candidates leaving teams much earlier than anticipated because they are simply over-qualified, and they outgrow the position quickly.
We all have something to learn from Kriti’s experience: the job market should be designed to offer candidates positions with growth potential so that both individuals and companies can hit their future goals.
Kriti was able to find this balance at Co: Collective, an agency that partners with purpose-led brands to help them unlock fresh creative and strategic potential. During her time in the new role, she has already been able to both learn and contribute.
“I have joined a part of the team that has been working a project for months,” Kriti shares, “but having me as a new individual come in, shake things up, challenge them to rethink what they've been doing besides just continuing on the path that they've been on, and also getting to know the clients has been my value and something that I'm proud of as well.”
Embracing the Challenge
As Kriti interviewed her way to her ideal role at Co: Collective, she had faced an interesting and unique challenge: she had received offers from a number of companies. She had a tough decision to make, and looked to Lead Consultant Chelsea Power at Bamboo Crowd for a little guidance.
“My experience working specifically with Chelsea Power really made my job search and the cycle of it so different from the past. I felt she was looking out for me as an individual. She gave me world-view advice, not just about whether or not I should take this specific role, but what was it that I wanted as an individual, where did I want to go? Where would I be most happy?," Kriti recalls.
Chelsea was an ally, a mentor, a recruiter, a matchmaker, so many things in one. And I think this Swiss Army approach from Bamboo Crowd is what made me enjoy working with the team so much.
It’s important for job hunters to be sure they are truly considering not only what is a fit, but also what it is you want. There are so many aspects of a position to consider, and it’s okay to get specific and extra detailed when it comes to taking your next career step.
Overall, Kriti feels like she has found a work home that checks every box. She is bringing fantastic experience to the table, while also leaving room to learn and grow, plus bonding with a team that continues to value and encourage her.
I love working with the people at Co: Collective. They're people that I respect as professionals. They're people I want to share my reading list with, be part of a book club with, hear what inspires them. They're really well-rounded individuals, not just as professionals, but in who they are. And they're all so dynamic- so interesting. I’ve never felt like I had to earn my seat at the table. That balance of enjoying the work you do with people you actually enjoy is really quite special.
Want to learn more about opportunities with Co: Collective and talk all things Strategy, Research, and Creative? Be sure to connect with Lead Consultant Chelsea Power for more info. And why not have it all? Discover how the Bamboo Crowd team can work alongside you to find the position you’re looking for - sign up here.
