Teacher to Google Big Tech | Keith Anderson
What separates those who talk about making a big move – even a pivot from those who actually do it?
Being unreasonable. Tenacious and not quitting when that goal is non-negotiable.
Keith Anderson - was an English teacher – with a love for linguistics (find out why this matters and how he used it) making $27k annually. With sights on working at Google and a coach who told him it was impossible. His fire was lit.
How’d he do it? That’s what this episode is all about.
From Futility to...
Teacher to Google Big Tech | Keith Anderson
What separates those who talk about making a big move – even a pivot from those who actually do it?
Being unreasonable. Tenacious and not quitting when that goal is non-negotiable.
Keith Anderson - was an English teacher – with a love for linguistics (find out why this matters and how he used it) making $27k annually. With sights on working at Google and a coach who told him it was impossible. His fire was lit.
How’d he do it? That’s what this episode is all about.
From Futility to Strategy
Keith started out messaging 125 strangers with "I see you work at Google. Can you refer me?" That landed with 125 rejections.
Trials and errors brought on the breakthrough when he stopped treating his job search like a transaction:
- He spoke like an insider using industry vernacular that signaled belonging
- He humanized his resume by placing quirky personal details (like winning a pie competition) at the top
- He limited rejection exposure by confining job search activities to 2 hours daily
- He measured progress objectively rather than emotionally
The results - hardly overnight – but earned positions at Google, and later worked at Facebook, YouTube, and Uber.
The Reality Behind the Dream
The fantasy of "making it" quickly gave way to the reality of long hours and relentless production demands. Dreams achieved often look different than dreams imagined.
Your Excuses Don't Matter
"Don't believe what everyone says," Keith advises. "Don't believe everything you read. It's people's perception, their reality. But that doesn't need to be your reality."
While others debate whether the job market is good or bad, someone is getting hired somewhere today. Why not you?
"What's wrong with people," Keith says, "is they believe they can do well by just getting by when they need to aim for the highest."
The permission to be unreasonable in pursuit of what matters might be the only permission worth seeking.
You can hire Keith to help you with your job search https://careeralchemylab.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithand/LinkedIn
Chapters:
00:00 - 01:45 - Introduction
01:45 - 04:18 - Keith's Background and Burnout
04:18 - 09:01 - The Spark of Interest in Tech
09:01 - 14:00 - The Job Search Strategy Evolution
14:00 - 19:04 - Resume Transformation
19:04 - 23:25 - Making Your Resume Human - Quirks Work
23:25 - 27:16 - Handling Rejection and Almost Quitting
27:16 - 30:25 - Reality Check at Google
30:25 - 32:49 - Finding the Right Path in Tech
32:49 - 37:00 - Key Advice for Career Transitions
37:00 - 39:34 - Closing and Business Information
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