...

Since it's impossible to exist outside of a system, I think the fact I've never really felt a part of any system indicates a wall of fear and denial. Refusal to look at the systems I interacted with and at least attempt to understand them. I also have a feeling that it's dangerous not to understand which systems you belong to, their rules. I mean, it's a safe and friendly world - at the layer of Starbucks and Airbnb. At the layer where cluelessness is a working strategy. But if you have no idea what lies beyond that and accidentally step in there - who knows what you'll find. I'm lucky that the worst thing that happened to me was a knife pressed to my stomach.

My question to the people who have moved - wow do you find yourselves in a strange land?

What are your strategies for adapting to a new place? Are you planning to stay where you are?

Came across this lovely video. Got me thinking how often I hear 'I need to learn English first' from people who have been fluent enough to speak for a while🐣

We're used to associating a language that we've learned with a skill that we are going to be evaluated on. So we want to make sure we're good enough at it before anyone can hear us speak. But that's not what conversation is about.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), no amount of grammar exercises and learning new vocabulary will help you start talking to people.

So in case you still have this thought that you need to boost your English before you can talk to people - that's probably not true😉

How to get ready to speak English at work in weeks

Here's something I shared on LinkedIn a while ago - thought it might be relevant to some people here.

If you are on a tight deadline (suppose you've signed an offer at an international company and start in a week), here is one thing that will help you fast.

Imagine that you have to onboard a new employee joining your last company to replace you. You need to walk this person through everything you do, day to day, step by step. Explain your key areas of responsibilities, tasks in each of those areas, their frequency, deadlines, who you report them to.

Open the tools you use at work, go over your tasks, and explain the how-to in the process. Here’s a list of questions to help you start:

📍What is the task about and what’s its purpose?
📍Who assigns it? What communication tools are used?
📍What tools / software do you use to do this task?
📍How to go about it (in detail: which specific actions to take)?
📍What are some important points to keep in mind?
📍What is the deadline for this task?
📍How regularly do you need to do that?
📍Who do you report it to? Who do you ask for feedback?

You can actually record your screen and talk in the process - as if you were recording a real video for someone who’s going to learn from you. Then watch your videos, see if some things can be explained more clearly and concisely, try again.

It’s going to feel very awkward in the beginning (I’ve been there), and it’s a time consuming activity. But if you spend 2-3 hours a day practicing - in a week you’re going to feel much more confident and prepared to communicate with your new team in English.

One more thing you can do - think about what responsibilities from your last workplace you’ll have in your future position. They probably won’t match 100% but there will be some overlap. So you can focus on those overlapping activities and practice with the most relevant tasks🎯

#activity

About feeling prepared enough

A follow up on the previous post. For many people it's vital to know they are well prepared for a new challenging activity (e.g., communicating in English at a new job) - before they even consider trying it.

And fair enough - Be Prepared - as Tom Lehrer sang - only good advice from this guy. Unless you are an adrenalin seeking type, thriving on excitement bordering with anxiety - feeling unprepared will probably amp up your stress and become a major blocker. Fluency and accuracy of our speech correlate quite strongly with how secure and relaxed we feel.

But a quick heads up here - no matter how good your English is, your very first weeks in an English speaking team will probably be tough. And it might feel like your English isn't good enough. Whereas in fact you're just processing a huge amount of new information and probably have to talk about things you've never discussed in English before (if it's your first job in this language).

When I was applying to a US startup, I was like 99% confident about my English (my level, so to speak, was maybe C1+). That was probably the only thing in my life I felt secure about. And... the first couple of months I felt like I had a speech impairment. Long awkward pauses during short syncs with 2 introverted developers weren't helping. I was quite taken aback by my lack of articulation ability, since I don't have a habit of overestimating myself. Had I known how poorly I'd speak in those first weeks, I probably wouldn't have the confidence to apply for that job😅

So, what I' getting at here - I'm not saying you don't need to prepare. Just beware not to fall into a perfectionist's trap. I believe some reversed imposter syndrome might do you good - when it comes to speaking English at least🙂

If you've gone through a similar experience - or perhaps your story is very different from mine - I'd love to hear it in comments!

It's not a task, it's a story

Here's all the vocabulary you need to know if you work in an Agile team. It's also a great tutorial on how to sound confident no matter what you're saying 👑

How to stop mispronouncing words

Here is an activity you can try to avoid making recurring mistakes when pronouncing words.

I suggest using Gemini (it's preinstalled on Android 14 and you can find it in Google apps if you're outside of Russia). Alternatively, you can try GPT - as far as I know the latest model can voice its responses).

Please let me know if that was helpful🧡

#activity

Here is a list of some commonly mispronounced words:

📌Tricky long words:
authentication
hierarchy
retrospective
infrastructure
architecture
repository
engagement
gamification
perspective
accomplishment

📌Vowels:
resources / source
company
consider
multitasking
sum
audience
conscious
discount
E-Commerce
Europe / European
install
launch
lawsuit
roadmap
significant
strategic
typical

📍The i sound:
biometrics
micro ...
simultaneously
hybrid
hypothesis

📍The u sound:
assuming
suitable
unique
utilize

📌Consonants:
register
agenda
brainstorm
column
niche
hundred / thousand
logistics
technical / technique / technology

📌Stress:
algorithm
component
developer
support
report
percentage / percent
purchase
advertising / advertisement
colleague
competitor / competition
complex
conduct
control
directly
expense
mobile
prefer
segment
monitor

📌acronyms (e.g., related to tech: API, ASAP, ROI, EBITDA, CEO, IPO, etc.)

It's 22 degrees (+22) and there was no sun for a week. I've been freezing and feel vitamin D deprived. To the point that bitching about it feels justified.

I honestly don't know how I survived St Petersburg weather for 27 years of my life. Well, I know how - miserably.

Anyways, this unfortunate shift in my paradise climate got me into a somewhat melancholic state of mind, which reminded me of some books fitting it.

One of them is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The story is about depression and obviously it's not fun to read. So don't go there if you don't want to go there.

But there is a unique beauty to it. I especially love this audiobook version. In my personal experience, reading about a journey to the underworld once you're already there, so to speak, can be healing. Because, just like in the Persephone myth, the narrator eventually navigates her way out.

The second book is Psychoanalytic Diagnosis by Nancy McWilliams. I believe the main audience it was intended for is counselling professionals. But the author offers very comprehensive insights into different personality organizations, their underlying mechanisms, and typical reactions. The books helps understand yourself and others, has clear structure, and despite its academic language and terminology is somehow pierced with warmth and tenderness.

#books

I went to a cafe for a breakfast today, there was music playing. I mean, there is always some music playing, but I realized that what they play here are so often the songs from my childhood. Scorpions, The Beatles, Queen, and other nostalgic classics.

Music that makes me feel good and evokes warm memories is something I've been missing hearing in Russia for many years - maybe I just never explored the places where I can find it.

Since Christmas is coming, here is a playlist that gives me Christmas vibes 🎄

What are your favourite Christmas songs?

What is your motivation to learn English?

For many people communicating in English is a 'job-to-be-done'. A tool to live in a better place, to work for better money.

That's external motivation and external motivation is good - it produces specific goals, timelines, measurable results. And don't we all love efficiency.

One of the early comments in this channel got me thinking though... When you approach learning a language strictly from the utility perspective - to perform a set of functions - it produces limited results - which are often good enough.

The language you're learning can become a tool, but not really a language you experience yourself and the world in. Speaking it doesn't feel authentic, because it's not personal, it's not a part of identity.

In my case learning English wasn't about efficiency. I started as a kid and had years at my disposal. But I had a strong inner drive, held on to this language for dear life. I never perceived it as a mundane task my parents wanted me to do - it's was a personal quest, if you wish.

Why do people need language? The obvious answer is to communicate. To connect. To belong.

But here's something I realized about myself: my motivation that drove me to put in hours and hours of work into mastering this language since I was 10 was my urge not to belong. My big FUCK YOU to the world around me and everything that was wrong with it (at that age encapsulated in my mind by 'Russia'). It was my way to dissociate from the environment surrounding me. To have nothing to do with our history and literature - I'm just an observer. To pretend I'm somehow better. Stars and stripes and shit. So that when I was walking through my school hallways, terrified of someone's remarks - I could talk to myself in English and soothe my anxiety and tell myself - I'm not gonna stay here for long. This is not where I belong. So why bother trying to fit in, socialize, connect, and give a damn?

Sounds Russophobic, but I don't think it's about Russophobia. I think it's about failing to adjust in a society. The problem of boundaries. Since I happened to be born in Russia, it was the Russian society that I wanted to escape. Thinking in categories of black and white.

English became my loophole - a sneaky defence mechanism I was praised for using (up to a certain point). No one called me out on my bullshit, very few people ever confronted my arrogance. Many supported my narcissistic part because it sang in tune with their narcissistic part.

Only once I became comfortable thinking in English - a feeling of shame crept in. I'd be embarrassed to tell my mom how well I could speak it because I felt like a coward and a traitor. Because deep down I knew why I needed it so much.

So that was my motivation to learn English. What's yours?

Since most of the world is celebrating Christmas today, I thought it might be interesting for some to listen to a discussion about the significance of this story.

Here is a reading of the Bible fragment depicting the birth of Christ, along with the following discussion of that story and its interpretation from different perspectives, introducing both secular and religious points of view.

Merry Christmas to everyone✨

How I landed a job at a US startup

Over the last 3 years I've been working with people looking for a job abroad. The necessity of getting that offer seems so obvious now that I sometimes forget that a few years ago that wasn't yet a thing. Or maybe it wasn't a thing in my bubble.

Me getting a remote offer at an American startup was totally random. It was the first COVID year, before the unfortunate events that followed.

I had just moved out of my parents place where I was crashing during summer, and rented a flat with my friend. She had a part time job and just started her Master's. So she didn't have any consistent income, and I didn't have any income at all after burning out at my first job and quitting.

I didn't feel like building my career in marketing and didn't care much where to apply - whatever could pay my bills while not being completely exhausting would do.

So I analyzed my qualifications and made a list of possible positions: a marketing manager, an SMM manager, a copywriter, a model, an English tutor. I think there was something else, but I can't recall now.

A couple of highlights of my job search included coming to a job interview which turned out to be for webcam and recording an English lesson for preschoolers wearing a Supergirl costume 🦸🏼‍♀️

Still have that video - my male friend told me I had a huge potential in escort... But I passed on that opportunity. I passed on the webcam option too, even though it seemed like a great chance to boost communication skills.

In the meantime, I also applied for a new grad position at a US startup, which I found in my school's graduates career channel. The job ad was posted by Grintern - they mostly work with junior specialists.

Their selection process wasn't too tough - a typical screening conversation, a couple of interviews and a testing task. Granted, I was somewhat overqualified and the job description didn't seem that exciting, but my American dream was all the motivation I needed. The salary was OK too.

I got the job.

Point is, you never know when and where you'll find an option that works for you, so keep an open mind🙂

#story

Rituals are important. Sharing a meal with people you trust is probably the most important ritual there is. Every person from Russia I talked to yesterday was pretty much going through the same steps, preparing the same meals.

Somehow, for the second year in a row, I neglect the whole traditional New Year routine and happen to be in places which just don't look like winter, hanging out with people who don't know what оливье is...

It's a bit weird, patterns aren't matching. But I feel like in order for something to be built empty space is required first. So cheers to building the life that feels authentic🥂

I wish you to belong and feel capable wherever you are. To find balance in the chaotic world. To feel that the place you're currently at is your place, and surround yourself with people you enjoy being with.

And not to have any language barrier to connect🤗

Happy New Year!✨

I want to share a movie I watched. It's the best one I've seen, perhaps, in years.

Naturally, different stories resonate with us in different periods of our lives. So partly it might be about timing. Partly - because I've been to Japan, and what the character finds there is familiar.

The movie is esthetically stunning. And it is an adult movie.

I also learned a word in German: ‘Fernweh’. It means the opposite of homesickness - ‘far-sore’ or ‘farsickness’. English has a word 'wanderlust', but it's not quite the same. The word is about pain, not lust.

Watch it if you have the mood for it - it's a drama and a thriller. Although the trailer alludes to a worse ending than there actually is.

#movie

I wish I could say I was having amazing vacation, but, in my best habit, I went down with something like COVID instead.

It seems that with this sickness my psyche has returned to some default state. I don't feel like I'm travelling anymore. In fact, when I wake up, for some minutes my brain can't even tell where I am, or when. Could have been in my grandparents' summer house.

I got very comfortable with my lovely and consistent neighbours - Molly from Vietnam and Kathy from Philippines. They've been here almost as long as I have.

So one of these mornings - well, actually it was late afternoon - I was sitting in the kitchen in half trance, methodically finishing something that I ordered from Grab the previous night. The local cat was purring on my lap - as usual, totally disregarding my need for personal space.

And then the weirdest thing happened - two WHITE WESTERNERS entered our homestay. Yes, I'm also white, and yes, I'm also technically a westerner, but they seemed like they stepped out of some alternative reality, the other side of a TV screen. And fuck their beautiful British and American accents.

Smiling and offering me hands to shake, they asked me if I'm also staying here. My brain short-circuited.

No, I'm not staying here, I'm LIVING here, this is MY kitchen, MY cat, and that used to be MY room where you're heading.

At that point I realized that it's probably time to get my own place. A cozy little house somewhere in the rice fields.

But then who's going to buy meds and fix food for me when I'm sick? Whose cat it going to annoy the fuck out of me by demanding food and forcing me to cuddle?

Maybe I'm not ready for a place of my own just yet.

A friend sent me a reel with this app. And there I was, naively thinking my accent didn't sound Russian.

Apparently, Oracle's AI can determine your accent and, unless you're a native speaker, kindly suggest you pay for its service and work on your pronunciation😄

But diagnosing is for free, so have fun!

I got an email from levels.fyi with the annual salary report. (That's the startup where I used to work). Thought it might be interesting for you to check out 🙂

These guys collect salary data for digital jobs across the US, Canadian, and European markets.

Unlike similar platforms with salary data (LinkedIn or Glassdoor), they provide a very clear structure which takes into account a job family (e.g., software developer, PM, UX/UI designer, ...), seniority level (e.g., junior, middle, senior, lead, principle ...), location (country / state), company - ensuring you can get as many details as possible. Total compensation is broken down into 3 components: base salary, bonus (sign on / performance), and stock.

Also, there are algorithms that track and remove outliers, and there is a huge database of verified offers (real offers submitted anonymously), so the data you see is pretty accurate.

Another cool thing is that you can compare average total comp across companies for the same level of seniority. This information is important to know because the total comp in your offer is often determined by company's salary band fixed for each level. So, naturally, your experience affects your level of seniority (the scope of responsibilities you'll have) - but it's not something determined during a job interview. Typically, when they are interviewing you, they already know which level of seniority they need for this position and how much they can pay for it.

So suppose a company is looking for a Senior Software Engineer - and you have that level of seniority, so you're an eligible candidate and your experience fits the role. They have a range they can offer fixed for this level. So how much you get isn't about how good you are as a professional (it's been determined you're good enough for this position) - it's about how much you ask for.

If you name a number too big - outside of their comb band - they can't afford you. If your number is below their maximum - you'll be lowballed.

So it's safer to name a range, not a number. But the best strategy is to find out exactly how much you can expect to be compensated for a specific position, location, and company.

Here are some great articles on salary negotiation, what total compensation includes, what you need to know about equity in your offer.

I remembered another story about interviewing for the American startup.

You guys heard about the STAR method of answering behavioral questions, right?
If you haven't - check it out here. It will definitely help you prepare for a job interview in any language.

In a nutshell, you need to tell a specific story, using the past tenses, explaining the situation, your task, your actions, and the result that followed. Hence the abbreviation. If it's a failure story - add what you've learned. The idea is that your behavior in the past is the best predictor for your behavior in the future.

It's this type of interview questions that start with: Tell me about a time when... you fucked up made a mistake. Or achieved something great.

These 2 are actually the most common questions. I got both of them in my final interview with the cofounders. I handled the mistake question well - years of self-loathing, scrutinizing my faults and why I suck and what I should have done differently helped me there.

But the success story question - that one was trickier. Mind you, I prepared. I picked a story - since I was interviewing for a new grad position, I figured I'd talk about my bachelor's thesis project. I did research on brand positioning and price perception for a small B2B coffee company, using conjoint analysis to calculate the exact adjustment in price for each product position and yada yada yada.

I did actually think I'd done a decent job on that project. Put a lot of work and ingenuity into it, it showcased my analytical and problem solving skills. That was a good story, which I confidently ended with the predicted increase in ROI that I had calculated.

And then, after an awkward pause, Zaheer (one of the co-founders) smiled and gently prompted me:

— so, amm, I guess the company has implemented your recommendations on their pricing?

Well... I highly doubt that, because as I was giving birth to my thesis, the CEO of that company was giving birth to a baby and my project was probably the last thing on her mind. I was kind of surprised she even made time to talk to me. But anyways, I have no idea what happened next, because I got hit by a car 4 days after presenting my thesis, spent the rest of that summer learning how to walk again, fell into depression, and didn't stay in touch. — my brain helpfully offered.

— amm, it so happened that I didn't really stay in touch with them... — I managed after some seconds of painful silence.

... more silence

— oh I see, well...

I don't remember how that conversation ended. Probably with more awkward pauses. My point here is: don't be like me, make sure your success story actually has a proper and conclusive happy ending😄

Good luck with your next job interview, whenever it happens!