Find Your Dream Job: Insider Tips for Finding Work, Advancing your Career, and Loving Your Job

If you’ve wanted to work with a recruiter but you’re not sure where to start, Find Your Dream Job guest Wendy Schoen offers solid advice on what steps to take first. Wendy recommends you start by updating your LinkedIn. You need to develop what Wendy calls a profile that is “full, and ripe, and juicy.” Embracing a “just the facts” approach with your profile is a great way to get skipped right over. Even if you aren’t currently looking for a job, building a relationship with a recruiter can be helpful for years to come as you grow in your chosen field.

Wendy Schoen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/schoenlegalsearch/) is the CEO and managing partner of Schoen Legal Search (http://schoenlegal.com/), and she has been in the legal search field since 1993. She places a wide variety of attorneys into law firms, corporations, and consulting firms. Wendy’s clients range from major international law firms to start-up companies to international Fortune 10 companies. 

• To find out more about the legal recruiting services Wendy offers, visit her website at http://schoenlegal.com/.
• Your presence online is critical in order for employers to find you. Learn how to use your social media to make a favorable impression by enrolling in our free online course, How to Wow and Woo Employers Online (https://macslist.teachable.com/p/impress-employers-online/?src=podcast).

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Automation is the most prevalent trend in the job application process. It’s highly likely that an Applicant Tracking System will decide whether you even get brought in for an interview. Should we be afraid that the robots are taking over? Not quite, according to today’s guest on Find Your Dream Job, Nicolle Merrill. Nicolle says you need to learn as much as possible about how artificial intelligence affects the modern job search to set yourself up for success. In addition, you should invest time and effort into your online presence, and continue to develop authentic relationships with professional connections.

Nicolle Merrill (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicollemerrill/) is the founder of Future Skills (http://www.futureskills.blog/), a company that teaches professionals how to advance their skills and stay relevant in today’s rapidly changing working world. She is also the author of the upcoming book, “Punch Doubt in the Face: How to Upskill, Change Careers, and Beat the Robots.” (http://www.futureskills.blog/future-of-work-book/).

• Want to know more about the future of work? Explore emerging careers and more at Nicolle’s website:   http://www.futureskills.blog/

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Building a tech career in Portland can be daunting, especially for newcomers. The good news is that Portland is an open and welcoming community, even if you are new to the tech field and lack experience. The key to breaking into Portland’s tech industry is networking and meeting the people who do the hiring here, says Find Your Dream Job guest Tim Butler. Tim says that if you put in the time and do the work, you’ll find others who can help you grow your career in authentic and meaningful ways.

Tim Butler (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbutler67/) is a technical sourcer at the Portland, Oregon office of New Relic (https://newrelic.com/), a software analytics company. Tim has been in the recruiting industry for eight years after spending 20 years in insurance. His passion is helping professionals find new career opportunities that align with their career interests and goals. His current focus is on finding talented software engineering professionals.

• If you’re interested in working with Tim to find a job in Portland, head over to New Relic (https://newrelic.com/) for more information.
• The job market in Portland is competitive. My guide, How to Find a Job in Portland: 8 Steps to a Meaningful Career (https://findajobportland.macslist.org/), offers valuable tips and insights so you can find a job you love in the Rose City.

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When you apply for a job, you expect to hear back from the employer. But all too often, employers avoid  getting back to applicants unless they plan to bring them in for an interview. And even then, you may go in for an interview and not hear back about the final hiring decision. While it seems like common courtesy for employers to respond to everyone who applies, Find Your Dream Job guest Jennifer Tardy says that some hiring managers are so inundated with applicants that they simply don’t have time to reply to everyone. Jennifer shares practical tips for following up with the hiring manager in a natural, casual way. She recommends being persistent, but kind and understanding in your communication with hiring managers so you don’t burn any bridges.

Jennifer Tardy is the founder and owner of Jennifer Tardy LLC, a diversity and inclusion consulting organization in Maryland. Through her work, Jennifer is on a mission to forge successful career opportunities between employers and members of underrepresented populations such as people of color, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ, and millennials. She’s also the host of the But What About Me career podcast. 

•  Check out Jennifer’s YouTube channel for new videos every week on all aspects of the job hunt.
• Tune in to Jennifer’s podcast, But What About Me, where she answers questions about the hiring process for those in underrepresented people groups.
• For more personalized help, join Jennifer’s group coaching program, where she walks you through every step of the job search journey, from revising your resume to celebrating your job offer. 
• Do you find yourself applying for any job that you think you could do? Before you send out your next application, stop chasing every lead and get clear about your own goals. Our free guide, Finding Focus in Your Job Search, can help.

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The decision to make a career change can be full of challenges. Rejection, lack of focus, and ignoring networking opportunities can make the transition even harder. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Travis Puckett and I discuss his move from the food and beverage industry to data analysis. A desire for traditional work hours and a love of number-crunching motivated Travis to pursue an internship rather than a full-time, traditional position. Travis shares how he got clear about his goals and how faith in himself gave him the confidence to try something new. 

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When you bomb a job interview, it feels terrible. Don’t get discouraged, it’s possible that it wasn’t entirely your fault. Maybe you expected to speak one-on-one with the hiring manager and you walked into a panel of people asking you questions. Perhaps you were prepared to answer behavioral questions, but instead you received off-the-wall questions you did not anticipate. Find Your Dream Job guest Pharoah Bolding says it’s perfectly fine for you to ask the hiring manager ahead of time what your interview format will be so that you can go into the conversation prepared. Pharoah also shares how to overcome pre-interview anxiety to ensure that you present your best self to the interviewer. 

About Our Guest:

Pharoah Bolding (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pharoahbolding/) is the human resources coordinator at Reed College (https://www.reed.edu/). He’s worked with everyone from the Portland Trail Blazers to nonprofit and technology employers. Pharoah’s work focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion, mitigating bias, building inclusive work cultures, ethical recruiting, and facilitating professional and personal development trainings and discussions across the city of Portland.

Resources in This Episode:

• If you're local to Portland, check out the Portland Business Alliance Events page to find out where to connect with other young and emerging professionals. (https://business.portlandalliance.com/events/catgid/24/)
• For more information about Pharoah Bolding, visit his website at pharoahbolding.com. 
• Nail every behavioral interview question in your next interview by learning how to prepare for them. Download 100 Behavioral Interview Questions You Need to Know (http://www.macslist.org/questions).

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If you’re looking to enter a career where you can serve others and work in a variety of positions, consider working in government. Even if you’ve never held a government position, you can land a fulfilling job with a few strategies. As with most jobs, networking is crucial when trying to land a government job. Find Your Dream Job guest Kirsten Wyatt says that while the application system for government positions can be outdated, you need to shift your focus to what government hiring managers need and outline how you can meet those needs. 

About Our Guest:

Kirsten Wyatt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwyatt/) is the co-founder and executive director of the  Engaging Local Government Leaders network (ELGL) (https://elgl.org/). It’s a nonprofit that engages the brightest minds in local government. She works on behalf of ELGL members to connect, communicate, and educate about local government public service, and is also co-host of the GovLove podcast (https://elgl.org/govlove/), sharing informative and unique stories about the people, policies, and professions that make up local government. 

Resources in This Episode:

• Tune into GovLove, ELGL’s podcast that shares stories and information about local government work. Discussions range from policy issues that impact local governments, to interviews of the people doing the work and their career journeys, to the future of the government sector. (https://elgl.org/govlove)
• ELGL is hitting the road this fall for a series of hyper-local conferences. Find out more at elgl.org. 
• Your presence online is critical in order for employers to find you. Learn how to use your social media to make a favorable impression by enrolling in our free online course, How to Wow and Woo Employers Online (https://macslist.teachable.com/p/impress-employers-online/?src=podcast).

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When you begin a job search, it’s important to know what makes you stand out from the crowd of applicants. Knowing what makes you unique helps employers see how you can help them and allows you to figure out where you will thrive. But how do you discover what makes you unique? Find Your Dream Job guest Jen Anderson says you need to ask yourself some key questions. What are you good at? What do you do for fun? What do people ask you for help with? Employers hire problem solvers. When you step back and get clear on what sets you apart, you will be one step closer to finding a career that allows you to thrive.

About Our Guest:

Jen Anderson is a career strategist and coach. She teaches at Portland Community College and the University of California at Davis. Jen is also the author of the book, “Plant Yourself Where You Will Bloom: How to Turn What Makes You Unique into a Meaningful and Lucrative Career.”

Resources in This Episode:

• Want to know if your next career dream is what you should actually pursue? Get a copy of Jen’s special offer, The Pillow Test (http://jenniferanderson.com/macslist/). 

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As a vice president or C-level executive, you need to find an executive search firm that understands your industry and your expertise. Even if you are not actively seeking a new  position, a good executive search firm will continue to build their relationship with you and keep you in mind for future opportunities. Finding an executive search firm can be a challenge, says Find Your Dream Job guest Roy Notowitz. You have to do your research up-front, and identify those people in your network with years of experience and many common connections. Most importantly, you have to know what you want and be willing to build relationships over time in order to find your dream job.  

About Our Guest:

Roy Notowitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/linktoroy/) is the president of Noto Group (https://www.notogroup.com/), a purpose-driven executive search and consulting firm with expertise in recruiting for Director, VP and C-Level roles. Noto Group's executive search practice spans across business functions and channels within the outdoor, active performance, sporting goods, food and beverage, fashion and natural products industries. Roy started his career as a recruiter for Nike.

Resources in This Episode:

• If you’re an executive who’s ready to connect with a purpose-driven, executive search firm, check out Roy’s firm, Noto Group (https://www.notogroup.com/).
• To hear more about today’s topics, but from a hiring manager’s point of view, listen to Roy’s new podcast, It Takes Talent (https://www.notogroup.com/podcast/). 

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If you depend on job boards alone to help you find your next job, you are limiting your options. Only one in five hires are made through job board submissions. Job boards aren’t bad, says Find Your Dream Job guest Lisa Rangel. But if you want to get hired, you have to start by reaching out to people. Lisa also shares why it’s important to have a goal in mind when you start your job search and how to use informational interviews to discover hidden opportunities. 

About Our Guest:

Lisa Rangel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisarangel) is the founder and managing director of two companies: Chameleon Resumes (https://chameleonresumes.com/), the premier executive resume writing service; and Job Landing Academy (https://joblandingacademy.com/), which teaches motivated job seekers how to find a great job fast.

Resources in This Episode:

• Find out how to make your executive resume stand out at Chameleon Resumes (https://chameleonresumes.com/). 
• Learn how to land a job you love with help from Job Landing Academy (https://joblandingacademy.com/).
• You can avoid the resume pitfalls we consistently see job seekers make with my resource: Don't Make These 8 Killer Resume Mistakes (https://resume.macslist.org/). In this guide, I’ll show you how to avoid the most common errors and get employers to take a second look at your resume. 

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