The expected trajectory for a Columbia University pre-med student follows a predictable path: medical school applications, residency, and eventually a white coat.
That was the path I initially pursued, influenced partly by my father, a physician who passed away during my high school years.
Shifting Gears
But midway through my Columbia education, I recognized medicine wasn’t my calling, despite my deep respect for the field.
This realization left me at a crossroads after graduating in December 2019 – just before COVID-19 would reshape everything.
Rather than immediately diving into corporate employment, I made what many considered an eccentric choice: I took a job at a horse stable in Colorado, nestled in the Rocky Mountains.
My accommodation was rustic – a small shack with a single light bulb.
Each morning began with 6 AM barn calls, followed by ten straight hours guiding tourists on horseback through mountain trails.
The contrast between Ivy League seminar rooms and rugged mountain paths couldn’t have been starker. Yet this detour provided clarity I couldn’t have found elsewhere.
Sometimes stepping completely outside conventional career paths reveals what you actually want – and don’t want – from your professional life.
The San Francisco Gambit: Networking Without a Net
After my Colorado adventure, both personal and professional factors pulled me toward San Francisco.
My girlfriend (now fiancée) was moving there, and I felt increasingly drawn to the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
In October 2020, I relocated to San Francisco without a job lined up – a move many considered reckless during pandemic-related economic uncertainty.
My strategy wasn’t to blast out applications through job portals but to leverage direct connections, primarily through Columbia’s alumni network.
After countless conversations and several dead ends, one contact finally offered a conditional opportunity:
“Learn SQL in two weeks, and I’ll give you a job.”
I immersed myself in SQL tutorials, practicing relentlessly to meet this challenge.
This crash-course approach worked – I secured the position and established my foothold in tech.
The Art of Creating Your Own Opportunities
My job search methodology challenges conventional wisdom.
Nearly every professional position I’ve held has been “off-market” – secured through direct outreach rather than formal application processes.
For those considering similar approaches, prepare for rejection as a fundamental part of the process.
Job hunting is inherently a numbers game, requiring persistence through numerous “no” responses before finding the right alignment of timing, opportunity, and personal connection.
Some conversations will end awkwardly, even abruptly. I’ve had people hang up on me when I asked basic questions I should have researched beforehand—a mistake I made exactly once.
Preparation distinguishes successful networking from ineffective outreach.
Before contacting anyone, thoroughly research their background, company, and industry.
Prepare thoughtful, specific questions that demonstrate genuine interest and engagement.
Generic inquiries not only waste everyone’s time but also signal a lack of commitment to the conversation.
The crucial insight here is that most desirable opportunities never appear on job boards.
They’re filled through connections and conversations happening entirely outside formal recruitment channels.
Breaking in requires creating your own side door through deliberate networking.
Finding My Way
My professional trajectory–from Columbia to horse guiding to tech–appears disconnected when viewed through conventional career development frameworks.
Yet these seemingly unrelated experiences contributed essential elements to my professional identity.
The horse stable job taught me resilience and the value of completely immersive experiences.
The networking-intensive job search developed my communication skills and comfort with uncertainty.
Each role, regardless of how tangential it seemed at the time, provided transferable insights I use today.
Conclusion
Now at Bulk Exchange, I’m applying this accumulated knowledge to the construction technology sector, making industry data more accessible and usable.
The path here wasn’t linear or predictable, but it was uniquely mine.
For those feeling constrained by traditional career ladders, consider that professional growth often resembles a climbing wall more than a staircase–with lateral moves, occasional backtracking, and unexpected routes ultimately leading to the summit.
The most valuable opportunities frequently emerge where conventional paths end, and you forge your own way forward.