A Community Of Professional Discovery

We have heard different variations of this for months, but times are changing. The way we communicate, learn, and grow with one another has become digitized. 

This post is intended not only as advice to maximize your user experience on the Blind platform but also as a flourish culturally  in our highly digital world. This post is not intended to act as community guidelines, but rather as advice as to how to get the maximum use out of using the TeamBlind platform. 

When you joined Blind, you signed up not only to an anonymous platform, but to engage as an active participant in a community of professionals and learners. 

THERE IS STILL A PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ANONYMITY

Engaging with the community on Blind is a form of inductive and discovery learning. You discover career paths, economic/ political events, and experience the workforce by observing examples, advice, and the experiences of professionals in different roles. When users bring respect, honesty, and integrity to every post within the community, that is when the most genuine and collaborative dialogue is sparked. When the user is still holding themselves accountable for their personal behavior, behind the anonymity, the more powerful networking occurs.  

ADD VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY

This level of accountability will allow you to dive even deeper into this rigorous professional ecosystem found on Blind. When the user posts give as much as it takes, that’s when the community flourishes. We recommend that our users really put in the time to develop a fresh understanding of the professionals around them, there is still a way to network from within your home. 

BE OPEN TO LISTENING AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO SPEAK

The Blind platform works best when every user invests heavily in the experiences of others in the community. To get the most out of the platform, every user should commit to sharing, listening, and learning from each other. This platform’s diversity provides a unique opportunity for users to experience new perspectives and career paths while also strengthening your own. The best way to discover and develop your network is by asking questions and interacting with other professionals on the platform. They will be your greatest resource for exploring new career paths, ideas, considering contentious matters, and developing new principles. 

QUALITY QUESTIONS BEGET QUALITY ANSWERS

High-quality questions will enable you to receive direct feedback from your peers. However, responses to these questions also require the same attention to detail as does writing the original question. 

Example of an effective post: I read that the average salary for a product manager is $X; however, my offer letter is 20% less. Any clarification on this?

An effective response: Your offer letter is 20% less because of your physical geography. Many times compensation is tied to geographic locations. It may also have to do with a range of skillset or the investment needed to develop your skills. What is the job function, and what is your experience? 

Why does this work? This response clarifies the possibilities of salary variations, while also asking specific follow up questions to develop a dialogue. 

An ineffective response:  As a product manager, I make 20% more than the average salary. 

How can this post be improved? This response only incrementally moves the discussion forward. While not entirely ineffective, there are no action items or specific direction others can implement. 

1. The user could have taken steps to improve the quality of their response.
2. The user could have provided a real-world example and more information to support their post further. For instance, they could have noted the years of experience they possess, their geographic location, and specific skill sets. 

As we evolve professionally and digitally, we should challenge ourselves not to engage in a way that creates a constructive dialogue. To actively listen and respond with feedback that moves the conversation forward.