Hey Reader, I was working with a client recently who felt stuck. Great at his job.Reliable.Respected. But every time we talked about his next step, he was like... eee, I would like to, but it feels so comfy here... Not because he didn’t know what he wanted. He actually did! He just didn’t know how to let go of the role he’d been in for years. So during one of our sessions, we mapped out what staying would really cost him.Not in money.Not in the status he had in the company. But in time,...
28 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Little Pineapple,You probably think companies avoid giving feedback because they’re lazy (and that's the most gentle description I can think of). And I'm telling you it's not exactly true.Here's my story from the times when I used to believe I could fix recruitment and tried to change the system. Chapter 1 - The Experiment I was working on a role with 2 mandatory, non-negotiable requirements: You must be based in Europe You must have Unity experience with F2P mobile games Clear. Simple....
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey Dear, Today I want to talk to you about values. Yes I know. You heard it multiple times. You know it's important to identify them. But have you?Can you confidently name them? Because let me tell you something(and I will die on this hill): Values are the most important thing when it comes to building a proper career. Values aren’t some “nice extra” in your career.They’re the system underneath everything you choose. When your work goes against your values, you can still have a “career” on...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Imagine you’re in prison.You’ve been there for a few years, but you’ve done everything right.Good behavior. No incidents. Even the guards say you’ve got a real shot at early release.Your parole hearing is coming up soon, and you’ve heard your judge is fair and friendly.So you go in, answer all the questions, and try to stay calm and respectful.And then… the judge looks at your file and says, “Denied.”You’re staying in.They break for lunch.After the meal, another inmate goes in.Same crime....
2 months ago • 5 min read
Hey Dear,I had a completely different idea for this week’s newsletter,But then I had this interview.It started out like any other.I hopped into the call, a little tired but still enough in the tank to go in with a smile and energy.Said hello, made small talk, and sensed it would be tough.And I was right.I’ve interviewed enough people to know within the first minute when it’s not just going to be an interview.It’s going to be a battle for focus.A mental struggle for the next 30–45 minutes.And...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Dear, Last week, we talked about the hidden job market - all those opportunities that never make it to job boards. But there’s something even more interesting. Sometimes, the role doesn’t just stay hidden. It doesn’t even exist yet. It’s created through a conversation. That’s what I call co-designing a role. WTF, you're talking about, Patryk? Ok, let me explain. There are situations where you are talking with the company, but they aren't really looking for anyone. Your profile seems like...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Dear, There’s a very high chance that at some point in your career, you’ve heard that not all jobs are advertised. And maybe you even know someone who got hired “out of nowhere.” The company wasn’t hiring, there were no open roles, but the timing and the match were too good to ignore. That’s not a fairytale. That’s exactly what happened to me. The birthday party that turned into a job offer Back in the days when I was still doing recruitment directly for game studios, I got a job that was...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Dear, 5 weeks ago, I packed my life into one suitcase and flew 11,230 km away from home.I've always wanted to experience the life of a digital nomad. I've had this dream for years. But I thought it was just a whim, a fantasy. So I buried it deep down. Until life happened and turned it into a now-or-never moment. There wasn't going to be a better time. So I bought the tickets. To Bali.For two months. I’d never lived outside Poland.Never even been to Asia. No plan B.Just a ticket, a pulse,...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Dear,In my first corporate gig, I had a boss who taught me everything. She was extremely understanding and taught me everything I needed to know about the job, the behaviours, and literally everything I needed to know about navigating the corporate world. And then, when our project ended, she gave me such a good recommendation to the other manager that I got the other job I was applying for. Literally, months after I was hired at the other project, he told me that the process was down to...
3 months ago • 2 min read