From Zendesk to Coupa, Reltio to ZoomInfo: Lessons in Career Transitions

CX Nexus Podcast

In this enlightening episode of CXNexus, hosts Nicole Saunders and Chris Detzel share their recent experiences transitioning to new roles in the customer experience and community management space. Both having just made significant career moves, they offer valuable insights and practical advice for professionals navigating job changes in the tech industry.

Nicole discusses her move from Zendesk, where she spent seven and a half years, to Coupa as the new Senior Director of Customer Experience Marketing. She shares her approach to entering a new organization, including how she prepared for the role and her strategy for the first few weeks on the job. Nicole emphasizes the importance of listening, asking key questions, and quickly identifying patterns and priorities within the new company.

Chris reveals his transition from Reltio to ZoomInfo, where he'll be starting as a Senior Community Manager. He details his proactive job search strategies after his position at Reltio was eliminated, highlighting the crucial role of networking and personal branding on LinkedIn. Chris offers creative tips for standing out in the job application process, including creating personalized presentations and leveraging existing connections.

The hosts dive deep into several key topics:

1. The importance of personal branding and "working out loud" on platforms like LinkedIn to attract opportunities.
2. Strategies for networking effectively, including reaching out to connections and asking for help.
3. Techniques for preparing for a new role, such as researching the company and creating preliminary strategies.
4. The emotional aspects of leaving a long-term position and starting fresh in a new organization.
5. Practical advice for the first few weeks in a new job, including meeting key stakeholders and identifying quick wins.
6. The value of bringing ideas and potential roadmaps to a new position, especially when building programs from the ground up.

Throughout the episode, Nicole and Chris share personal anecdotes, challenges they've faced, and lessons they've learned during their recent transitions. They offer encouragement to listeners who may be considering a job change or find themselves unexpectedly in the job market.

This episode provides valuable insights for professionals at all stages of their careers, particularly those in customer experience, community management, and related fields in the tech industry. Listeners will come away with practical strategies for job searching, interviewing, and starting strong in a new role, as well as a renewed appreciation for the power of professional networks and personal branding in career advancement.