How to get scouted by Zalando
Talent Relationship Manager, Stefania Tosini, reveals some of the trade secrets of headhunting design talent.
Hi. I’m Stefania, I proactively scout for Product Design talent at Zalando. I’ve been here for about one and a half years. During this time I must have spoken to more than four thousand individuals from around the world. Yes, reaching out to people is what takes up most of my time as a talent detector! Very often I’ve been asked one question: “How did you find my profile?”. Designers are always curious to understand what I search for on the internet, and what specifically attracted my attention to their social media profile or professional website. I thought I’d share some of my secrets here. How we go about finding you, and what you can do to increase your visibility. So if you want to get scouted read on.
How do we scout talent?
We do lots of research, of course. I analyse industry trends, and market intelligence to better understand people’s career decisions and recognise not only their career trajectories and choices but also their desires and expectations. I’m constantly on social channels and developer platforms, reading blogs, and attending events (or these days webinars). My radar is always on. And referrals sometimes come to me, through connections or even out of the blue. In short, I look for designers everywhere. But if there’s one “secret” to our approach at Zalando, it’s our focus on human connections. We reach out to talent to build up relationships and start chatting. We take the time to connect with talent and listen to them. We know that informal and honest chats today can lead to career opportunities in the future.
How can you stand out in the talent market?
I have been asked many times what kind of search I set up when looking for designers. Maybe you didn’t know, but headhunters use specific keywords to find talent like you, and that boolean search is what makes the difference in scouting talent. It’s not rocket science but it is mathematics. Boolean search (on Google or other platforms) allows headhunters/sourcers to narrow down the search for qualified designers, writers, researchers, sites, blogs, and even portfolios!
This ‘searchable’ aspect of your website or LinkedIn profile can definitely give you an edge. Here are my top five tips for getting noticed:
- Share key facts on your LinkedIn profile or on your website: make it easy for talent sourcers to find relevant information about you, such as location, current role, and main responsibilities. And keep it up to date. As Google maps helps you find an address, your information can help you be found more easily.
- Use the right keywords: have you ever wondered how CVs are screened by automatic systems? Well, specific keywords such as “UI Senior Designer”, “UX Quantitative Researcher” or “Product Design Manager — B2B” are particularly relevant here. Take a look at job descriptions that promote opportunities you may be interested in, and add the right keywords to your profile or website.
- Get your portfolio in place: although designers’ work is often confidential, you should try to share a few projects you worked on. Consider ways of anonymising the project, while telling the story of what you contributed. It is a strategic decision to make it visible. Give talent sourcers a great user experience: does it take a lot of time to find your portfolio? If the answer is yes, then make the navigation easier by adding links so no one can miss it.
- Tell your story: Does your profile illustrate the value and the passion you bring to those you work with? Find the aspect that differentiates you from other designers, and make sure it is communicated in your profile. It is not about selling, it is about building your personal brand and letting your work shine. You are an expert and/or a leader, and you want to communicate this by sharing your unique experiences in an authentic voice.
- Network, connect, share, inspire: I think the art of networking is all about human connections and less about career pitches. Of course, networking is a brilliant way of getting known and potentially finding hidden job opportunities in the market. However, the real purpose should be to connect with professionals in your field and to share knowledge and inspiration. Do not network because you need something: connect because of your thirst for knowledge sharing.
What are we looking for?
Talent takes diverse forms, and Zalando offers a space where such diversity thrives. That space is shaped by a mission to really make a difference in fashion, reimagining it for the good of all. So, an ambition to be part of that is certainly a good starting point for anyone we want to get to know.
In the Product Design community, we are proud of the maturity of our design practice, which our teams embody and strive to constantly improve. We raise the bar and bring to life a supportive environment that truly enables professional and personal growth.
What can you expect?
A diverse, entrepreneurial, technologically innovative environment. And a supportive, collaborative, and challenging (in the best way) culture.
Zalando is a big company, and growing steadily, and you’ll be encouraged to grow with it. You’ll be challenged and given responsibility, but also supported in your professional development, and will learn a lot. Learning by doing. This size and diversity mean that there’s lots of opportunity to work with different skill sets, so you would constantly be exposed to new ideas and perspectives. Change is a constant here, meaning you will be presented with fresh problems and opportunities to learn and grow all the time. And because it’s a company with a clear mission, you get to feel part of something big that can make a real difference. There’s a direct connection between the things that are important to Zalando — such as Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability, innovating through technology to reimagine fashion — and the projects you will work on. You can really feel you’re making a contribution that matters. Directly affecting the user experience of 42 million Zalando customers. That’s pretty thrilling to be involved in day by day!
What’s next?
If this sounds like a place where you can achieve your career goals, why not reach out to me directly and see where this conversation leads? Maybe your own Zalando journey can start here…
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