How To Get A Job At Spotify

Anyone that has searched for a job knows there are countless ‘how to’ guides, books and articles on how to land that dream job. For some, this is a precise and targeted process, meaning you may have shortlisted companies you’d like to explore. If one of those companies is Spotify, you are one of 60,000 people per month that share the same interest.

Although there’s no predefined path that guarantees you’ll land that dream job, what we can offer is a roadmap that will support you to get the most out of the experience.  Let’s dive in!

Who Am I?

At this point, you are likely scrolling back to the top of this blog post to confirm you haven’t accidentally landed on another post. Don’t go anywhere – you are in the right place. To best understand what opportunities are worthy of your interest, you should take a step back to assess what makes you tick first. I encourage you to spend some time to reflect on the following:

1. What is my personality?
2. What are my values?
3. What are my strengths vs opportunities for development?
4. What brings me joy?
5. What type of work environment do I thrive in?

As you think through, take note of your answers as you’ll need this for the next phase on our journey.  Be mindful to not let others’ opinions or expectations guide you. Your aspirations and career are yours to own. Period.

Get to know us

I know what you are thinking, and no, this is not a blog post about dating. However, who you work with and work for is a relationship that should be taken just as seriously. As a next step, the research begins. In my opinion, the fun part!  Take some time to review your notes from the previous exercise and keep them front and center while reviewing spotifyjobs.com:

• The Band Manifesto: It explains our mission, our beliefs, our culture, our values and everything else in between.
• Diversity & Belonging: Don’t just work here. Belong here.
• How we hire: We hire people who are good at what they do, but just as important for us is: ‘are they a good culture add’?

As you read through these materials, compare who we are with your own personality, values and life aspirations. Consider making a list of where and how you feel connected and prioritize the areas that bring you the most joy.

Decision Point

I’ve always been a visual person, so process flowcharts help me understand how to get from point A to point B and are typically filled with decision points. We’re arriving at one important decision point right now. Do you continue exploring? At this stage, you have a clearer understanding of who we are and how it intersects with your core drivers. Don’t over complicate it. Ask yourself how it feels. If it feels good, if it feels right – proceed. If not, it’s still positive news: you’ve learned something and can apply the same methodology to other companies that peak your interest.

Which Role Should I Apply For?

Prior to starting with what – let’s focus on your mindset. There’s a frame of mind where more is better because it’s more likely to yield a result. This approach might work in some cases, however I recommend quality over quantity. Invest the time in reviewing all of our opportunities with the following lens:

• What skills do I have that add value?

• Based on my interests and expertise, what functional areas might be a potential match?

• Where do I want to be and what role do I qualify for today that increases the probability to achieve this?

• What excites me and what challenges me?

• Where in the world do I want to live my life?

Taking all of the above into consideration, start plugging keywords into your search filtering by the regions of the world you want to live in and explore the results. Be mindful to balance what you’re qualified for versus what is a stretch. Circling back to one of our earlier points, shortlist the opportunities that align with the answers to the majority of the above questions versus applying to everything you set your eyes on. Demonstrating a high level of self awareness is a trait many of us don’t index on often enough.

Game Time

This is it, you received a phone call, email, LinkedIn message or maybe a text. You’ve been invited to interview. Focus on putting your best foot forward. The rest is out of your control.  Preparation is key and will be noticed. With the time you have prior to the exciting day, consider the following to position yourself in the best way:

1. Don’t wing it – practice!  Review your resume and rehearse telling your story, come prepared to provide concrete examples that best articulate your skills and prepare questions that demonstrate you have researched what role you are interviewing for.
2. Be authentic and connect your examples to how you personally see yourself in our mission, culture and core values.
3. Prepare questions to ask those interviewing you to build rapport and further illustrate your interest in the company.
4. Don’t stress, there are no secret handshakes.  Be present, show your enthusiasm and most importantly, have fun!

When the interview process is complete, take the time to think about what you learned.  Regardless of the outcome, what you take away from the process is up to you.

The Decision

The decision phase goes both ways. We interview you and you interview us. Think about your experiences and interactions with The Band. They are a reflection of what your day-to-day will feel like. Thoroughly consider whether or not the opportunity advances your personal and professional aspirations, presents you with an opportunity to learn and grow while surrounding you with people you want to spend your days with.

Lastly, I encourage you to send follow up notes to those you’ve met with and stay connected even if you don’t join The Band. The world is small and you never know who you might cross paths with in the future. If you do join The Band, remember what you read in our Band Manifesto as you get started. There are no egos here. We are a Band working together to deliver an experience like no other.