The Yao Ming of Tokyo

It's true -- I found my job on Craigslist.

What do people normally find on Craigslist?

- Apartments (mostly)
- Casual sexual encounters (or so I've heard)

And, in my case, people find jobs. I joined TheLadders in response to a relatively vague advertisement on Craigslist (I couldn't even find a website for the company on Google at the time). Turned out that someone who knew a friend of mine from home was already at TheLadders and suggested they bring me in for an interview. Two weeks later I was living on a couch in New York City and working at a company that had a little money, 11 really hardworking people, and more than just a glimmer of a huge, huge dream.

Fast forward more than two years later, and TheLadders has over 75 employees, occupies the entire 8th floor of a building down in SoHo, has money to the tune of $7.25 million in venture funding, and, yes, still writes me a check every two weeks. I'm now managing a team of 5 (soon to be 6), and reporting to a VP.

None of that though compares though to the recent news that I will be spending 10 days in Japan with Marc and 5 other colleagues this September. Marc has always preached the importance of employee development and training, and what better way to really learn the Japanese tenet of "The Customer is God" than to actually attend customer service training IN JAPAN. I'm super excited for the trip; I'm even more excited that I get to do this at a company of 75 people.

And there are rumors I will be the tallest person in the country by a good margin.