How friendship can transform your job search
Finding a job isn’t just about what you know—it’s also about who you know. From recruiters and mutual connections to colleagues and industry peers, your network can open doors to exciting opportunities. One valuable resource that is commonly overlooked, however, is your circle of friends. We caught up with employees who leveraged their friendships to land the perfect role at Oracle. Keep reading to learn why you should do the same.
Exposure to the right roles
The job market is vast, and it can be challenging to spot opportunities that are a good fit. Having a familiar pair of eyes on your side can make a huge difference in finding the right role. Friends know what makes you special—your interests, your values, and your character—and where you’d thrive. They can also connect you to possibilities you hadn’t previously considered.
Take it from Oracle employees Emma le Chatelier and Riccardo Patti. They first met at Trinity College in Dublin, where Emma was a student. Riccardo had recently earned his master’s degree from Trinity and started a consulting career with Oracle. He was back on campus to discuss his postgrad experience with current students. Emma was in the audience, and the two hit it off immediately.
As their friendship grew, Riccardo learned more about Emma’s background and strengths—and how similar they were to his own. When a spot opened up on his team at Oracle, he reached out to her without hesitation.
“What led me to select her was her attitude,” he explains. “Emma had the right mentality. She had the right desire. She had the right fire in her belly.”
Emma adds, “I did not know anything about tech or a sales role before I met him, and he explained it in such a way that made it seem like something I could do and enjoy.”
Priscila Iruela, technology product strategy director at Oracle, formed a similar connection with Miguel Angel Morena four years ago at Codemotion, a tech conference in Madrid. He was an intern in our presales department—the same department Priscila had interned with at the start of her own career.
She saw herself reflected in Miguel as he spoke about his IT education, interest in technical work, and eagerness for new professional challenges. Impressed by his energy and enthusiasm, she referred him to a full-time position at Oracle.
“Finding people interested and passionate in technology is very difficult these days,” she says. “So when we find someone potentially good and passionate, we need to grab them.”
Understanding the role
The more you know about a role before applying, the greater chance you have of landing the right one. Job descriptions provide a basic overview of a role, but a referring friend can give you specific information that will set you apart in the hiring process.
“Riccardo explained everything in detail, and he helped me understand the personalities of the managers and the team and what was going to be expected of me,” Emma recalls. “Those were really important insights for the interview.”
Finding a culture fit
Workplace culture is a major determinant of your success in a new role. While job descriptions and company websites can give you some information on what to expect, nothing beats honest, firsthand insight from a friend who works there.
To help Emma decide if Oracle was a good culture fit, Riccardo offered her a holistic view of life at the company. His description of our international work environment and commitment to diversity and inclusion was a major factor in Emma’s decision to join.
He also walked her through his personal journey at Oracle, including his recent promotion and relocation to Italy.
“That’s when I thought, okay, Oracle hires people, they train them, and then they give them the chance to grow within the role in the company. That’s a company I want to work for,” Emma tells us.
Ongoing support
There’s a lot to learn in a new role. That’s why having a friend in your corner can help you start off on the right foot.
“When it comes to the onboarding, Riccardo was a big help,” Emma notes. “He was always a Slack away when I had a question or when I doubted myself. It’s really important to be surrounded by people who help you, especially in a big corporation like Oracle.”
The support doesn’t need to end once you’ve acclimated to your job; Miguel’s friendship with Priscila helps him thrive at work even today.
“Of course, I still keep in touch with Priscila—not only to continue interaction between our departments but also to look for new business opportunities.”
Though they now work on different teams, Riccardo and Emma continue to keep in touch both personally and professionally.
“I am extremely proud of what she’s carving for herself, for her future.” says Riccardo. “It’s beautiful to see somebody with talent and somebody that is a friend be successful.”
Lifting each other up
Ultimately, employee referral at Oracle is about lifting each other up. Bringing talented people into the community and watching them thrive is incredibly rewarding, and many referred employees, like Emma, pay it forward.
“Lots of people helped me when I started, and I want to do the same for others,” Priscila says.
Riccardo adds, “I think it’s a duty for me as an employee, for me as somebody that works actively and is proud of what he’s doing inside the company today, to refer people that I see as valuable.”
Are you on the lookout for the perfect career opportunity? Explore our open roles and ask a friend at Oracle to refer you.