Who is Michelle Frechette?
In today’s digital age, the demand for skilled professionals in web development and content management continues to soar. WordPress, the popular open-source content management system, has become the go-to platform for millions of websites worldwide. Aspiring job seekers in this field face fierce competition and often grapple with numerous challenges in their quest for success.
To shed light on the intricacies of the industry and provide valuable guidance to job seekers, we had the privilege of interviewing a seasoned WordPress veteran. With years of experience under their belt, our expert, Michelle Frechette, has witnessed the evolution of WordPress and its impact on the web development landscape. They graciously shared their insights, wisdom, and advice to help job seekers navigate the dynamic world of WordPress and secure their dream positions.
So I tried to compile the in-depth responses provided by our WordPress veteran, Michelle Frechette, to a series of carefully curated questions. Whether you are a novice WordPress enthusiast or an experienced professional seeking new avenues, these answers aim to equip you with the knowledge necessary to excel in your WordPress-related endeavors.
From the nuances of theme development to the significance of staying up-to-date with the latest WordPress updates, Michelle Frechette’s expertise encompasses a wide range of topics. By delving into their responses, job seekers can gain a competitive edge, fine-tune their skill sets, and make informed decisions to shape their career paths.
Prepare to glean valuable insights from the experience, wisdom, and practical advice shared by our WordPress veteran. By incorporating these lessons into your journey, you can overcome obstacles, broaden your horizons, and elevate your WordPress skills to new heights.
Michelle Frechette is the Director of Community Engagement for StellarWP at Liquid Web.
Michelle was called “The busiest woman in WordPress.” by Matt Mullenweg at WCUS 2022.
In addition to her work at StellarWP, Michelle is the Podcast Barista at WPCoffeeTalk.com, creator of WPSpeakers.com, cofounder of underrepresentedintech.com, creator of wpcareerpages.com, the president of the board for BigOrangeHeart.org, Director of Community Relations and contributor at PostStatus.com, co-host of the WPMotivate podcast, author, business coach, and a frequent organizer and speaker at WordPress events.
Michelle Frechette lives outside of Rochester, NY where she’s an avid nature photographer.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the interview and uncover the invaluable knowledge that awaits.
1. What key skills and qualities do successful WordPress professionals possess, and how can job seekers develop or demonstrate these traits?
Michelle Frechette: One of the things that successful WordPress professionals possess is at the least an understanding of the WordPress community, and at best embracing and participating in it.
The WordPress community is unlike any other community I’ve ever been part of. People in WordPress, by and large, exhibit generosity – helping one another be successful, through Meetups, WordCamps, and social media. The community comes first, and commerce comes second. That’s not to say that sales and business don’t matter, because they do. They’re just enveloped in a community that cares about its members.
The skills needed to be successful depend on the job you’re seeking. Because it’s an entire ecosystem, there are positions ranging from human resources to marketing to developer to project manager … well, you get the idea. Having a firm foundation in the job you seek will be to your best advantage.
2. Can you share a personal or professional setback you faced in your WordPress career, and how you overcame it? What lessons did you learn from that experience?
Michelle Frechette: I started in WordPress as a freelancer – which is a great way to get started if you want to build websites for other people and businesses. I loved it. I loved learning about the different businesses and industries that I was building sites for. I learned so much!
But I wasn’t charging what I should have for those sites, for maintenance plans, for hosting, for other marketing, etc. And it made paying the bills more difficult.
I now teach others to value themselves and their work better than I ever did. You are worthy of being paid for your work. Your talent does have a price tag. And others should value you and pay for your time and talent.
3. What advice do you have for job seekers who feel discouraged or overwhelmed during their job search? How can they stay motivated and maintain a positive mindset?
Michelle Frechette: It’s a really difficult job market at the moment. You can’t let yourself get discouraged. I’m hearing that there are 300+ applicants for most positions, so it will probably take a bit longer to find a position that you love.
Keeping that in mind can help you keep from getting discouraged.
Also, share your résumé with others who can give you feedback and help you stand out. And practice interviewing. Others can give you good feedback about things you often don’t see in yourself.
I’ve created a list of resources for job seekers in WordPress here.
4. How can job seekers differentiate themselves in a competitive job market? Are there any unique approaches or strategies that you recommend?
Michelle Frechette: I’ve seen a lot of people include video links where they introduce themselves to potential employers. I’m not sure how many people might look at that, but it definitely set them apart.
Make sure everything on your application and résumé is spelled correctly, and if you’re applying for a WordPress job, make sure to capitalize the “P.” A lot of people in the WordPress community see that as important.
If you have a body of work that you can show, then build a portfolio website that you can include. Often your work will speak louder than your résumé.
5. What are the emerging trends or areas of growth in the WordPress industry, and how can job seekers align themselves with these opportunities?
Michelle Frechette: The WordPress ecosystem is like a living, breathing entity. As such, it expands and compresses with the tech industry as a whole, and the entire job market. When it’s in a time of growth, there are needs across all teams, and especially developers. In times of compression, well, we know how every industry is when sales are flat or adoption is weak. It’s those times that we see layoffs and a surge of applicants for fewer jobs.
That said, keep searching every day for opportunities. Attend WordPress meetups near you or online. Join WordPress communities online in Slack or Facebook. Pay attention to the conversations in social media. And find a job coach or mentor who can help you navigate the tough times.
It may take longer than expected, but there are opportunities out there.
Thanks, Michelle Frechette for answering these questions, you are awesome!
You can find Michelle on Twitter.
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