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

If you spend most of your time during a job search filling out online applications and responding to job board listings, you may want to consider more active strategies such as informational interviews with targeted employers. Find Your Dream Job guest, Lesa Edwards, says that you need both active and passive strategies for your job hunt. Lesa also shares how to organize your time, based on where you are in your career, in order to make the most of both strategies. There is no wrong strategy; it’s simply a matter of what will get you the job of your dreams faster and easier.

About Our Guest:

Lesa Edwards (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesacareercoach/) is the CEO of Exclusive Career Coaching. She’s an expert in career management and job search strategies. She also hosts the weekly podcast, The Exclusive Career Coach. Previously, Lesa was director of university career centers in Georgia and Missouri. Lesa has a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University and a bachelor’s in music education from Florida State University.

Resources in This Episode:

• Lesa’s website, Exclusive Career Coaching (https://www.exclusivecareercoaching.com/), offers high-achieving college graduates the help they need to get the job they want.
• 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 (http://www.macslist.org/focus), can help.

From our Sponsor: Sneaker School is an online certificate program that lets you explore career paths in the footwear industry and learn from some of the biggest names in the business. Visit sneakerschool.com/mac to start mapping your career in the sneaker world.

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In the digital age, nurturing our human relationships matter more than ever. This also applies to your job search! Informational interviews are a great way to begin building those relationships and to develop your network. Find Your Dream Job guest Colby Reade says that you need to think of informational interviews like a business meeting. You should go into them with a clear goal, a set of specific questions to ask, and a plan for following up. These conversations can not only help you in your job search; they can create a network that can help your career for years to come.

About Our Guest:

Colby Reade's day job has been all about communication (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbyreade/). He first built a career in journalism before launching a second career in public relations. Colby also works as a career coach and advisor. He helps professionals find and thrive in careers they love. He shares advice every week on his own podcast, Coffee with Colby (http://coffeewithcolby.buzzsprout.com/).

Resources in This Episode:

• On his podcast, Coffee with Colby (http://coffeewithcolby.buzzsprout.com/), Colby shares his own experience and research in the field of professional development, to help listeners feel more prepared to face workplace challenges.
• If you wish you had more podcasts like this one to listen to, I have good news for you: there are dozens of great business podcasts out there. But they can be hard to find if you don’t already know about them. That’s why I created the Top Career Podcast Guide (https://www.macslist.org/top-career-podcast-guide-2018).

From our sponsor: Sneaker School is an online certificate program that lets you explore career paths in the footwear industry and learn from some of the biggest names in the business. Visit sneakerschool.com/mac to start mapping your career in the sneaker world.

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When changing jobs or career paths, many people send out dozens of resumes, hoping that at least a few of them will result in an interview. If they’re lucky, they might even get a job offer. Before you send out a flood of resumes, however, you need to take some time to figure out your transferable skills and what you can offer to a company. Then use your network to discover jobs that may not have been posted or publicized. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Benny Kuo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennykuo/) and I talk about how he used his connections to find his current job. We also discuss why having an undergrad degree in an unrelated field may actually be helpful on your job hunt. Learn more about Benny’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) series.

 

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

I work in the high tech sector as a product marketing manager for CRU, Inc (https://www.cru-inc.com/).

I develop strategies for our business to grow and define the customer segments, research companies & markets, coordinate trade show events, and formulate strategies for product offerings to grow or create markets.

How long did it take you to find this job?

I started my job hunt about six months before graduation. My interview process with CRU took about two weeks, and I started at CRU a month after graduation.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most?

This was a hidden job! CRU connected with my school’s career center for a different position in the same department. I asked the professor that helped advertise this job if he could connect us. I sent in a cover letter and resume speaking to my experiences for that particular job and also what my latest work experiences exposed me to. This led to a discussion about expanding the position to fill other needs too.

Overall, I used Mac’s List, the OSU and Willamette University career boards through HandShake, and my contacts.

What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge?

The most difficult part of the search was feeling productive and staying engaged. Finding the balance between taking a breather and productively searching for a job was a challenge.

I overcame this by breaking the job search into segments and celebrating small wins, like meeting with the CEO of a company or learning more about a company I didn’t know much about.

What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job seekers?

Seek out recruiters and stay connected with your network. I worked with two recruiters a few months before graduation to understand the job market in Portland and identify what my skills were worth. It was also helpful to hear what skills trends and hot markets they had seen the prior few months, so I could start working on any skills gaps for the specific market I was entering.

Why do you love your job?

I love the growth opportunities at CRU. I’m already engaged in several projects and utilizing what I learned in business school. In my second month, I had already presented an analysis at an all-hands meeting including the board of directors.

 

Want to learn more about Benny? Connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennykuo/)!

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As a culture, we are more disconnected than ever before. We move often and change jobs quickly. Many people don’t think about networking until they need help in finding their next job. It’s vital to stay connected to others and to nurture our network even when we don’t need help. Find Your Dream Job podcast guest, Karen Wickre, says a great network can provide you with many benefits other than a lead on a new job. Karen also explains how daily networking habits can keep you from feeling overwhelming and can make a real difference in your life and the lives of your professional connections..

About Our Guest:

A long-time communicator and connector, Karen Wickre (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenwickre/) has spent more than 30 years in Silicon Valley as an editor and collaborator. Her new book, “Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introverts Guide to Connections That Count,” reflects her lifelong interest in making meaningful connections. An avid media consumer, Karen also serves on the boards of several organizations supporting journalism and news literacy.

Resources in This Episode:

• Karen wrote “Taking the Work out of Networking: An Introvert’s Guide to Connections that Count” to help people get past their fear and dislike of “networking” in favor of a more authentic, friendly way to nurture connections with people you know and people you want to know. Get a copy of the book at https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Work-Out-Networking-Connections-ebook/dp/B07CL5ZWL9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545246526&sr=8-1&keywords=Networking%3A+An+Introvert%27s+Guide+to+Making+Connections+That+Count

Discover more about Karen and the services she offers at her website, karenwickre.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: macslist.teachable.com/p/impress-employers-online/?src=podcast

From our sponsor: Jobscan is an online tool that optimizes keywords and customizes your resume for greater chances of landing an interview. Visit www.jobscan.co/dreamjob for a 10% discount.

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If you walk into an interview ready to answer questions but don’t have any of your own to ask, you are not taking full advantage of the interview process. You have a responsibility to not only answer questions but to ask them of everyone you talk to within the company, from the HR staff to the team members, to the hiring manager. The answers you receive will tell you a lot about how things really work inside the company. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, my guest Michelle Neal says that if you get conflicting answers to your questions, especially from the team and the hiring manager, that is your sign to run. It can be hard to walk away from a job offer if you’ve been out of work for a while but just remember, you can’t change people, and working in an unhealthy environment doesn’t benefit anyone.

About Our Guest:

Michelle Neal (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelnealmpa/) is a career coach and the owner of Consulting with Integrity (http://www.consultingintegrity.com/). Her passion is helping people become successful through strategic coaching. Michelle uses her talents of honesty, openness, and empathy to guide individuals to a successful outcome.

Resources in This Episode:

• If you are in a job transition or you need help planning your next career move, Michelle offers consulting and strategic coaching through her business, Consulting with Integrity (http://www.consultingintegrity.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, the free Mac’s List resource that will give you a solid foundation for any question an interviewer may ask. (http://www.macslist.org/questions)
• From our sponsor: Jobscan is an online tool that optimizes keywords and customizes your resume for greater chances of landing an interview. Visit www.jobscan.co/dreamjob for a 10% discount.

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It’s natural to feel discouraged if you’re unemployed. But if you base your identity on what you do for a living, you may self-sabotage when looking for a new job. Feelings of worthlessness or desperation can lead you to apply for jobs that aren’t a good fit or cause you to bomb an interview because of your low self-esteem. Find Your Dream Job podcast guest Kali Rogers says that one way to stay positive during a job search is to remain curious. Treat your job hunt like a research project. Kali also says that it’s a big mistake to not tell others when you are looking for a job; if people don’t know you’re looking, they can’t share with you possible openings they may know about.

About Our Guest:

Kali Rogers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalirogers/) is the founder of Blush Online Life Coaching (https://joinblush.com/). Kali helps women grow self-confidence, get over nasty breakups, and work on better relationships. She’s also the author of “Conquering Your Quarter-Life Crisis," (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072L3GC23?tag=thougcatal0c-20).

Resources in This Episode:

• If you’re ready to focus on your strengths, create positive habits, and build a game plan for your future, visit Kali’s website (https://joinblush.com/coach/kali/).
• Learn about the symptoms of the quarter life crisis and how to combat them in Kali’s new book,“Conquering Your Quarter-Life Crisis," (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072L3GC23?tag=thougcatal0c-20).
• 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 How to Wow and Woo Employers Online (https://macslist.teachable.com/p/impress-employers-online/?src=podcast), a free course from Mac’s List.
• Jobscan is an online tool that optimizes keywords and customizes your resume for greater chances of landing an interview. Visit www.jobscan.co/dreamjob for a 10% discount.

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It can feel frustrating to hear that you are overqualified for the job you want. Hiring managers may feel it’s a waste of both time and money to hire you if you have more experience than the job requires. There are ways around this, including doing your research to understand where the company is heading and taking advantage of any connections you have within the company. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Johnny Hartman (www.linkedin.com/in/johnanthonyhartman/) and I discuss how he tapped into his personal network to overcome two specific challenges in his job search: skills that were seen as being too specialized and being overqualified. Learn more about Johnny’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories (www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) series.

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

From feature films to interactive virtual worlds, I’ve crafted media experiences both commercially for some of the biggest brands on the planet, as well as for entertainment properties.

As a cross-platform or transmedia producer, I develop workflows and resolve technical issues while maintaining the project’s creative vision. As the Director of Research and Development for Elevate Pictures, I look to the future to understand the coming media landscape and develop solutions to address the problems of tomorrow.

I am currently building out the Story Atlas – a storytelling platform and methodology that pulls consumers into the intersection of brand and entertainment, integrated with industry tools of the trade to improve workflow. The Story Atlas integrates transmedia and production planning with creative assets to maintain the canon of the narrative. It runs on cloud services and uses A.I. to optimize media and maintain narrative control and is a solution that allows your story to flow while holding true to canon.

How long did it take you to find this job?

Ten months.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most?

My personal network led to this job. I started out consulting and then was asked to take this position. I used quite a few resources online in my job hunt but none were as powerful as my relationships. I did have success using Linkedin and was offered another position before this one but it would have required me to move so I turned it down.

What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge?

My struggle came from over-qualification and specialized media experience. More than once I was told that “they did not know what to do with me” or they were “afraid I would ‘get bored and find another job.’” I overcame this by embracing my experience and looking beyond the Northwest. I reframed the conversation to be about the BIG picture in media and got concise with my focus.

What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job-seekers?

Do what you love! Follow your passion even if you have to learn more about it while you work your current role. Find the path to that passion and be specific about how you can achieve your dream.

Why do you love your job?

I love being able to create stories that reach and connect with audiences, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

 

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If you are preparing to return to work after some time as a stay at home parent, you may feel unsure about where to begin. How do you explain the gap in your resume while also showing what you’ve accomplished during that time? Find Your Dream Job podcast guest Stephanie Smith says a smart job search strategy starts with getting your career documents in order. Stephanie also stresses the importance of using online tools like LinkedIn to help you stay in touch with industry leaders. And you should never underestimate the value of connecting with others through parenting groups or volunteer opportunities. Parenthood is a powerful experience that brings people together and those relationships can help you not only personally, but also professionally.

About Our Guest:

Stephanie Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieannesmith/) is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Livelipath (https://livelipath.com/#/index). It’s a software company that customizes your resume and cover letter for any job application. Prior to Livelipath, Stephanie created the concierge career services firm, Career Muse. And she ran multi-million dollar recruiting programs for Amazon and other Fortune 500 clients.

Resources in This Episode:

• Stephanie’s company, Livelipath, provides customized resumes and cover letters to help you get back to work with documents tailored to the job you want.
• If you have been out of the workforce for a significant period of time, there are several resources available to help you. Companies like Power to Fly (https://powertofly.com/), The Mom Project (https://themomproject.com/), and iRelaunch (https://www.irelaunch.com/) serve parents who are returning to the workforce.
• Jobscan is an online tool that optimizes keywords and customizes your resume for greater chances of landing an interview. Visit www.jobscan.co/dreamjob for a 10% discount.
• You can avoid the resume pitfalls we consistently see job seekers make with my resource: Don't Make These 8 Killer Resume Mistakes (https://www.macslist.org/podcast-cta-dont-make-8-killer-resume-mistakes). 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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One of the biggest challenges older job seekers face is connecting with younger hiring managers. Too many older workers look for jobs with the wrong employers and are not clear about the value of their experience. Today’s guest on the Find Your Dream Job podcast, Ruth Winden, says that if you have trouble working with younger hiring managers, you can fix it. Ruth encourages older workers to begin by focusing their job search on companies that hire people from multiple generations. She also says it’s important for older workers to emphasize management experience and any evergreen skills they have. As an older worker, it’s up to you to find ways to connect with younger hiring managers and to be prepared for your next interview.

About Our Guest:

Ruth Winden (www.linkedin.com/in/ruthwinden) is a career coach for professionals in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. She helps older workers overcome age bias and land new jobs with clarity, focus, and confidence. Ruth is also the author of the forthcoming book, “101 Ways to Overcome Ageism in the Workplace.”

Resources in This Episode:

• If you’ve hit 50, 55, or 60 and you wonder where the time went, it’s not too late to follow your dreams and make a difference. On her blog, Older Yet Bolder (olderyetbolder.com/), Ruth shares articles and resources to help you figure out what’s next.
• Not knowing what to do next isn’t an excuse to give up at any age. Ruth offers personalized coaching for those who aren’t ready to contemplate retirement but who desire to continue working and interacting. Visit olderyetbolder.com/start-here

I have created a free resource for those of you worried about facing negative stereotypes that employers have about older workers. It’s called How to Fight Ageism in a Job Interview. Download your free copy today at macslist.org/fightageism.

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There are many reasons why you might stay in a job you hate. You may be worried about what others will think or perhaps you feel that you’ve invested too much time in the position to walk away. Quitting can be good for your career, however. It can be one of the tools you use to carve out the career and life you want. Today’s guest on the Find Your Dream Job podcast, Lynn Marie Morski, says that quitting your job can improve not only your career, but also your health and your relationships. In order to quit well, you need to understand the difference between quitting and giving up. Lynn Marie tells us how to quit in a thoughtful, strategic way.

About Our Guest:

Lynn Marie Morski (www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-marie-morski-md-esq/) is a physician, attorney, and speaker. She’s also a lifelong quitter. Lynn Marie is on a mission to help people carve out a successful life through strategic quitting. And she’s the author of “Quitting by Design.”

Resources in This Episode:

• Major life change almost always requires quitting one thing to start another. Lynn Marie’s book, “Quitting by Design” (www.amazon.com/Quitting-Design-Lynn-Marie-Morski/dp/1641825375), is a step-by-step guide to quitting successfully and transforming your life.
• Lynn Marie’s podcast, Quit Happens (https://quittingbydesign.com/quit-happens-podcast/), provides listeners with concrete action steps to help them quit their way to success.
• 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. Download it today at macslist.org/focus.

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