Question: What's Search City and how did it come to be?  

Answer: May 29, 2020 marked the end of two-and-a-half years at a tech startup for me.  

For the first time since graduating, I found myself unemployed. As I buckled down and got to work looking for a job, I realized there wasn’t a tool that ticked all the boxes when it came to features job seekers need. People use an assortment of tools to handle different aspects of the process.  

I also learned that motivation is a real struggle for most job seekers. I met one man who was feeling very demoralized. His family was overseas, he was stuck inside due to the pandemic, and although he had sent out almost a hundred applications, he hadn’t been able to book a single interview. I was moved by his situation and realized there are probably many people in the same boat.  

I thought perhaps I could do something to help. The result is Search City. Search City provides tools and support to help job-seekers and career-changers be more productive and effective in their search for new opportunities. We’re a community focused on progress and motivation. 

Question: What's your best piece of advice to give other Laurier grads? 

Answer: One of the most valuable things I did during my job search was to take time to reflect on who I am and what direction my skills, interests, experience and personality were pointing me towards.  

A great resource to help with this is Richard Bolle's What Color Is Your Parachute? This was not a 15-minute exercise; it took a couple of weeks. I avoided doing it at first, because it felt less productive than sending out résumés and connecting with my network. But it led me to the realization that some of the career goals I had been pursuing didn't actually align with my values. That self-reflection has given me a new sense of purpose and direction as I work on Search City. 

Question: What did you learn/experience at Laurier that has helped you most as you build Search City? 

 
Answer: If the founders of a startup have skill sets weighted heavily towards the technical, they run the risk of focusing too much on product development and neglecting sales and marketing. As a solo founder with a technical background, I run the risk of falling into that trap as well.  

Having an MBA with a specialization in marketing has strengthened me in an area where I was weak. As I plan out my schedule and goals for each week, I devote as much time to sales and marketing as I do to product development. My goal is to build a business, not just a product.