Monster.com: Manager of Test Development, Emode (Q&A)

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Job Q & A
by Lara Peterson
[ More Job Q&As ]

Jackie Hertz is the manager of test development at Emode, a San Francisco-based Web site that provides various interactive personality tests for its users. Hertz, 25, received her MEd with a focus in human development and psychology from Harvard University.

Monster.com: Where did the idea for Emode originate?

Jackie Hertz: Emode was founded by two Harvard Business School grads, both of which graduated in June 1999. James Currier, our CEO and president developed the idea. He'd been working on the concept for a long time, and his goal was to use the Web as a means of entertainment and communication. Our site connects people by sparking conversation. It also helps people learn about themselves and those they care about.

Mc: How did you get started at Emode?

JH: Actually, James and I have a very close friend in common. She told me he was starting this company and that I would love it. I interviewed with him and fell in love with it. I started working the next Monday. The company started forming that summer, so when I began in August, it was still in its early stages. I was really lucky.

Mc: How was the transition from an analytical/academic background to a fun entertainment site?

JH: It's a fun site, but my job is very analytical. There's a very good balance between the creative and analytical, which is what I love so much about my work.

Mc: What's a typical day like for you?

JH: Writing and researching. I'm pretty much the main writer here. I write the tests, scoring engines, and analysises. We're hiring like crazy, so we'll have many more writers.

Mc: What do you like most about your job?

JH: Combining creativity with an analytical edge. This job involves everything I'm interested in. I've always thought analytically for fun and the only difference is now I write it down, and I love writing.

I think it's such a cool job. I never thought I could be doing this. It's so rewarding to know people are taking these tests and enjoying them. The instant gratification you receive by seeing your work up on the site is also rewarding.

Mc: What's your favorite test on the site?

JH: I'm attached to a lot of the tests because I've written many of them. I really love the color test -- "What's your true color?" It's based on color psychology. I'm orange, which means extraverted and very social. Every color has a different personality.

Mc: What test is the most popular with your users?

JH: "What breed of dog are you?" Consistently.

Mc: How do you come up with the ideas for the test?

JH: We do a lot of competitive research. We keep up to date on every topic that's going around in women's circles. We're pretty much a women's site: 70 percent of our users are women. We look through magazines and surf the Web for the latest information, we want to be on the pulse of what's going on.

Mc: Are you constantly thinking, "this would make a great test"?

JH: Always. I'm the type of person that loves to sit in an airport and people-watch, trying to figure out what's going on with them.

Mc: How is the research done?

JH: It depends on the topic. We work with many PhD candidates. Often we'll use their research and put an entertainment spin on it.

Mc: Are the employees at Emode predominantly women?

JH: No. It's a great mix. The thing that is consistent among the people who work here is their enthusiasm. Everyone is so excited about his or her work.

Personality is equivalent to skill when you work here. You really have to be a good fit and get what's going on here -- the purpose and mission of the company. We're a tightly knit group that's growing like wildfire. They're only about 15 of us right now, but we're planning to double in size by the end of the summer. It's so exciting.

Mc: Do people need Web experience to work for an online company?

JH:I think it totally depends because the Web is so big right now. I'm not a technical person and there's nothing technical about my job. I never thought I'd be working in technology. It's great if you have an engineering experience -- know HTML and all that stuff -- but people who don't have all that shouldn't rule out the technology industry. Every site needs content and/or pictures.

Mc: Has there been anything that has surprised you as Emode has grown?

JH: I don't think it's surprising, it's just terrific how much it's taken off. When you get involved in a startup, there's so much risk involved. When I started, we hadn't even launched yet. We weren't sure who was going to like this idea, where it was going to take us, whom our users were going to be. And all of a sudden we're in San Francisco, growing like crazy and being written about in national magazines and newspapers. We've never even done any advertising or marketing. It's funny to see us in People magazine and USA Today.

Mc: Does Emode have any competitors?

JH: Not yet!

Mc: What advice do you have for people who are interested in working in the dotcom industry?

JH: It's extremely exciting if you want a very fast-paced, young -- as in new --, and energetic workplace. It's a new industry and so there's a lot of enthusiasm, work, intensity, and risk involved, but it's so exciting. I think it's an incredible place to be right now. If you're up for the challenge and fun, I think you should go for it.