Joining Buffer has been an incredible experience and I still get a surge of excitement every time I receive an email notification from my manager, Hailley Griffis. The journey to my dream job at Buffer was filled with anticipation and nerve-wracking moments as I anxiously waited for the next round of interviews. But now, as I reflect on my first 30 days as Buffer’s newest content writer, it feels surreal that I am actually here. I made it.
When I initially considered applying, I almost held back. I knew the competition would be fierce, considering Buffer’s reputation and attractive perks that attract talented individuals worldwide. Additionally, imposter syndrome crept in. However, looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t let those doubts hinder me. Little did I know at the time, Buffer received over 1,500 applications for the role! Hailley wrote about the overwhelming response in her article “The Content Writer Role at Buffer: What We Looked For In Applications.”
Ignorance about the intensity of the competition proved to be beneficial, as it allowed me to have the confidence to apply. Let this serve as a reminder that taking a chance can lead to unexpected outcomes.
Despite the initial reservations, I’m immensely thankful that I persevered and took the leap. Working at Buffer has exceeded my expectations and has presented me with continuous opportunities for growth and learning.
The Moment of Offer
It happened on my birthday – the day of my final interview with Buffer’s founder and CEO, Joel Gascoigne. To my surprise and delight, I received the offer the same day.
As I celebrated my birthday with my family, eagerly awaiting email updates by constantly checking my phone, a Gmail notification popped up. The email was from Hailley. Initially, I thought to myself, “There’s no way they would respond so quickly. They must have already rejected me after my interview with Joel. It’s over.”
However, as I read the subject line, my excitement reached its peak: “We’d love to invite you to join the Buffer journey, Kirsti!” I couldn’t contain my joy and let out a sound that can only be described as a combination of a squeal and a squawk. My sister and her fiancé, curious about the commotion, asked what had happened. I shared the news with them, which led to tears of happiness and more high-pitched sounds of celebration. Even our waiter couldn’t help but share in the excitement.
After the initial frenzy settled, I carefully read Hailley’s email multiple times to fully grasp the details. The email provided comprehensive information about the job offer, including:
• My salary, calculated using the Buffer Salary Calculator considering my role, level of experience, and the cost of living in my city.
• My level in Buffer’s Careers Framework.
• A proposed start date, with the suggestion of taking some time off before beginning.
• Detailed benefits such as the Buffer Family Support Fund, private healthcare insurance reimbursements, paid parental leave of 16 weeks, a Kindle with unlimited books, and more.
Hailley also highlighted Buffer’s salary transparency policy and informed me that my name, city, and salary would be openly shared on Buffer’s transparent list, in line with their commitment to transparency. This was a topic Joel and I had discussed during my interview, and I was fully supportive of this policy.
Without any hesitation, I gladly accepted the offer and informed Hailley immediately. She expressed her delight at my swift response, and we exchanged messages later that night (keeping in mind the time zone difference). Hailley mentioned that Jenna Meindertsma from the People Operations team would reach out to provide further details and assist with account setup to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
My Buffer Onboarding Experience
Onboarding at a fully remote company like Buffer poses its challenges. There’s no office to walk into, no equipment to be handed, no tours, and no in-person introductions. Buffer is not only remote but also distributed, with team members spread across 53 cities in 20 different countries. Overcoming time zone differences adds an additional layer of complexity.
Given Buffer’s remote nature since 2012, they have invested significant effort into creating an onboarding process that makes new teammates feel welcomed and enables them to be productive, regardless of their location. Here’s an inside look into how it works:
Gearing Up
A few days after receiving the offer, I heard from Jenna Meindertsma, about a week before my start date. She provided a detailed overview of what I could expect in the following weeks and requested that I fill out necessary forms to facilitate the setup process. Jenna’s email also included a well-selected GIF that perfectly captured my emotions:
(GIF here)
With Jenna’s guidance, I completed the required documentation and eagerly prepared for my first day at Buffer.
To be continued…
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