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

If you are an older job seeker, you have probably wondered if your age has been a factor in not getting an interview or a job offer for a position you wanted.Ageism is a very real thing, but not every rejection is due to age discrimination. Guest Jacob Share says being the right cultural fit for a position is the most important factor in your being invited into an organization. People want to hire people they will enjoy being around on a day-to-day basis.If you are finding it difficult to get an interview, Jacob recommends using LinkedIn as a tool to find other people who have similar characteristics and experience. Observe which companies have hired them and reach out to current and past employees. Ask for a copy of their resume so you know exactly what type of information the company is looking for. Many positions in today’s job market are filled by personal or professional referrals, so networking can be an important aspect of your job search.We discussed tactics you can try to squash common concerns a company may have about your age:

• Your experience may merit a higher salary than the company has budgeted for.
• • During the interview, state how your experience can add up to cost savings in other areas.
• They may be looking for a long-term employee and think you could retire soon.
• • Make it known you intend to grow with the company and describe your loyalty to previous companies.
• You may not be able to work for someone younger than you.
• • Cite examples of how you are already working with younger people.

Jacob Share is the founder of JobMob, an award-winning blog that serves a global audience. His site offers straight-talking advice based on Jacob’s own experiences finding jobs in the United States, Canada, France, and Israel.

Get Jacob’s resource, The Midlife Job Search Report, for free when you become a JobMob insider. Jacob is working on a new book and a group coaching service.

Ben’s resource this week is an alternative to Glassdoor.com and Salary.com. Comparably.com is a tool to help you find salary ranges by job title, location, and by employer. Comparably excels at figuring out the culture of the organization.

Becky, Ben, Jessica, and Mac offer advice to Michelle Stevens from Portland. Michelle asks, “How do I keep from getting pigeonholed into roles I do well but don’t want to remain in?”

These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free. 

Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in:

• Ask your job-related question! Email it to [email protected], or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere.
• Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to [email protected], and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.
• What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Understanding who you are, the way you work, and your beliefs are all key to finding the right career for you. Core competencies and skills are important, but truly understanding what lights you up, and what you love doing, can propel you into your next career. Career coach Kylie Butler says it can also be helpful to look into your limiting beliefs and what may be holding you back.

Practical Steps to Understanding Yourself

Take the time to ask yourself these personal profiling questions.

• What do I enjoy?
• When am I in ‘flow’?
• What were my unique gifts as a child?

Do personality assessment tests.

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
• DiSC profile assessment.
• Review your CV or resume with someone you respect
• Consider what excuses you have been making around reaching your goals.

But before you leap onto the job boards you should create and develop a success mindset. It can mean the difference in finding the right job for you and finding it quickly.

Key Tools to Help You Mentally Prepare for Success

Take time to get a handle on your thinking. Is your mindset focused on success?

• Visualization — Imagine a situation in which you are successful.
• Affirmations — Daily mantras can help to keep you motivated.
• Meditation — To keep yourself calm and composed.
• Socialize — Hang out with people who inspire and energize you.

Once you have captured a good understanding of who you are, and feel mentally prepared for success, you need to do research about the industry you want to work in, using niche industry websites and LinkedIn.

This Week’s Guest: Kylie Butler

Kylie Butler is a career coach, speaker and the owner of Inspired Careers. Her

company helps people with smart job searching strategies, LinkedIn profiles, and career planning. Before starting Inspired Careers, Kylie worked in leadership positions in human resources for companies in Rome, London, and Dublin.

Kylie has created online programs to help people get themselves ready for a job or a career change, and she has a LinkedIn profile writing site. For free job searching resources sign up with your email at Inspired Careers.

Ben’s Job Search Resource: Virtual Job Shadow

Ben’s resource this week is JobShadow.com. The creator of the site has put together over 500+ interviews from people in different careers. The interviewees talk about the likes and dislikes of their job, their salary, etc., to give job seekers an inside perspective of what it might be like to hold that position. Think of it as a try before you buy option.

Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Personal & Professional Beliefs

 Becky, Ben, Jessica and Mac offer advice to Marissa Noland Lane from Tigard, Ore. Marissa wants to know: “What are the best ways to find where a company and its leadership stand on issues important to me?” 

These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free.

These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free.

Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in:

•      Ask your job-related question! Email it to [email protected], or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere.
•      Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to [email protected], and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.
•      What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re ready to find a new job but want to stay in your current company while you look for a better opportunity, you need to engage in a thoughtful and sensitive “stealth” job search. You don’t want your boss finding out that you’ve already got one foot out the door!

Recruiter, Bernie Reifkind, reminds job seekers to “trust no one” with their plan to seek employment elsewhere. Even co-workers who have become close friends should not know about your plans. If the information were to slip out, you could be terminated from your current position.

If you are networking as part of your job search (and you should be!) Bernie recommends using certain phrases which subtly imply you are in the market for new opportunities. He also recommends asking others to respect your confidentiality.

A confidential candidate resume is one way to send your resume to respective employers while keeping your personal data hidden. Make sure your resume is world-class, then replace your name with “Confidential Candidate,” set up a new email account and remove any and all personal information.

During a stealth job search:

• Lock down your LinkedIn with privacy options.
• Keep your activities private from your current colleagues.
• Never use a company computer to search.
• Be cautious about responding to blind job postings.

Our Guest for This Episode: Bernie Reifkind

Bernie Reifkind is the founder of Premier Search, Inc. His company offers career counseling, strategic planning, and executive recruitment services for clients in healthcare and other industries. His clients include CEOs, mid-career managers, and recent graduates.

Bernie is about to launch a new website for C-Suite executives. You can find out more by following @Guru2Interview on Twitter, or connecting with him on LinkedIn.

Ben’s Job Search Resource: Employee Referrals

Ben’s resource this week references one of the most powerful tools you can have while searching for a job: an internal referral. The U.S. News blog post, 7 Things You Should Know About Employee Referrals, describes why an employee referral increases your chances at getting the job.

Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: “Cold Resumes”

Becky, Ben and Mac offer advice to Melody Dawn, from Portland, who wants to know: How can I make my “cold resume” stand out from the stack of applications?

These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free.

Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast!

• Ask your job-related question! Email it to [email protected], or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere.
• Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to [email protected], and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.
• What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone has distinct interests, skills and passions. But when it comes to work, most people are looking for the same general thing: a career that is meaningful, engaging, and (ideally) well-paying. Most of us want a balanced life full of work that brings happiness and prosperity.

 On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Chris Guillebeau, author of Born for This and The $100 Startup, explains the three things that contribute to this sense of balance. To find the job you were born to do, you need to focus on:

• Joy: A job that makes you happy
• Money: A career that is is financially viable
• Flow: A livelihood that maximizes your unique skills

You can find more useful job search insight in Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, now available on Amazon. To preview the first chapter for free, visit www.macslist.org/anywhere.

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some people make success in the workplace look easy. Others struggle and fail in spite of great talent and ability. This week’s guest, Lolly Daskal, believes that they key to success is knowing your strengths and mindfully acknowledging your weaknesses. Successful people lead from their strengths and avoid getting stuck in their gaps.

Your unique capabilities and your competencies are what give you confidence. Your self-doubt keeps you from mastering your leadership abilities. These self-doubts, or gaps, are what make you feel small or inadequate.

Everyone, at some time, feels like an imposter. Awareness and a daily reflection practice can help you to assess the things you did well during the day and consider how you can improve on it in the future.

Our Guest for this Episode: Lolly Daskal

Lolly Daskal is the founder and CEO of Lead From Within. She’s an advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs and boards, and has coached the leaders of hundreds of companies, across 14 countries. Lolly has written online articles for many publications, including Inc.com, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Psychology Today. She is the author of a new book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness.

Ben’s Job Search Resource: Transferable Skills Worksheet

Ben’s resource this week is a transferable skills worksheet, developed by Portland State University. This sheet provides a structured way to identify your transferable skills, particularly if you are considering moving into a different field.

Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Covering Resume Gaps

Jessica, Ben, Beth, and Mac offer advice to Kim Morrison, from Portland, who wants to know: What to do on resumes that have gaps because of downsizing and layoffs. And, what to do in cover letters and job applications to explain the gaps.

Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in:

• Ask your job-related question! Email it to [email protected], or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere.
• Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to [email protected], and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.
• What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are a lot of reasons why you might resign from your job. Maybe you’ve outgrown the role and have found a new position that better fits your interests. Perhaps another organizations is willing to pay you more for the same work. Or maybe you’ve just had enough with your current employer.

Whatever your reason for resigning, departing on a positive note should be your number one priority. This isn’t a time to air long-brewing grievances or slack off as you daydream about your next position. Instead, use this time to reinforce your relations with your supervisor, co-workers, and the organization as a whole.

The best thing for your career is to ensure the the transition goes smoothly for yourself, your manager, and the company you are leaving. So says this week’s guest, Joseph Liu, a career coach and host of the podcast, Career Relaunch. Your behavior and attitude the last few weeks leave a lasting legacy. Make sure people remember you as someone who covered all the bases before leaving, not someone who burned bridges.

This Week’s Guest: Joseph Liu

Joseph Liu is a career consultant, keynote speaker, columnist, and host of the Career Relaunch podcast. He believes you must be willing to make a brave leap to create positive changes in your career.

Tapping his previous experience as a global marketer, Joseph has helped hundreds of professionals and business owners build and relaunch their personal brands to pursue more meaningful work.

Read a blog post and download a worksheet of Joseph’s 3-step Resignation Process. He is also launching online courses about designing and pitching a personal brand.

This Week’s Job Search Resource

Ben’s discusses an article by Liz Ryan on the ”Five Good Reasons to Quit Without Having Another Job.” Sometimes there’s a very good reason to quit before having another gig lined up!

This Week’s Listener Question

Jessica, Ben, and Mac answer a question from listener, Suzanne Van Amburgh

“What is the best way to find out which staffing agency the company I want to work for uses?” 

If you would like the team to answer a job-related question or if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about email it to [email protected] or call at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice.

If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

LinkedIn is more than just a collection of professional profiles; it is increasingly a publishing platform where people share articles and ideas. With an audience of over 450 million users, LinkedIn has become one of the best tools for building your professional brand with insightful content.

On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Joshua Waldman, founder of CareerEnlightment.com and author of Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies, explains how you can use LinkedIn’s publishing tools for your professional advantage.

Whether you’re sharing an interesting article, commenting on someone else’s post, or writing your own thought piece, adding new content helps you stand out from the crowd. You’re no longer just another lifeless, corporate profile. It shows you stay informed and that you have something to say!

Plus, LinkedIn articles tend to generate a lot of reader feedback. This helps you to build your online network and supports your job search.

Start by sharing an article with your own commentary included. It’s a simple way of growing your personal brand and getting your skills and ideas in front of others.

You can find more useful job search insight in Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, now available on Amazon. To preview the first chapter for free, visit www.macslist.org/anywhere.

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a job seeker, you need both a resume and a LinkedIn profile. These two documents shouldn’t be mirror images of each other. Each has their own particular purpose and, together, they function as a complimentary review of your work history.Your LinkedIn profile is a broad overview of what your professional value proposition is. Your resume should be customized around particular job opportunity. It’s important to use keywords from the job posting in your resume so when the hiring manager knows you are familiar with the language and the culture of the opportunity.

Our guest expert this week is recruiter and career coach, 
Ed Han. Ed says you need to be consistent when talking about yourself online and in your resume, but that you need to customize each piece.

Here are two areas where your resume and LinkedIn profiles should differ:

• Keywords: On LinkedIn, you should use industry-specific keywords. (What search terms would an average recruiter or hiring manager be searching for when they’re looking for someone with your skills. In your resume, mimic the keywords and language found in the job description. (The terms that are most likely to get you past the company’s applicant tracking system.)

• Accomplishments: In LinkedIn, you should list your biggest accomplishments in the summary section or headline, as these are the most commonly read parts of your profile. On your resume, each accomplishment should be associated with the relevant job.

Ed also recommends having a master resume with a complete inventory of your work, educational experience, and accomplishments. It makes customizing a resume for a specific opportunity easier, and you can see all of your amazing accomplishments at a glance.

This Week’s Guest: Ed Han

Ed Han is a recruiter with a passion for networking and helping people put their professional best foot forward, especially on LinkedIn. His own career includes stints with a major Wall Street firm, an international fashion brand, and a publishing company. You can find Ed Han on LinkedIn or at his Land Faster job search and support Facebook group.

This Week’s Job Search Resource

Ben’s shares a blog post from LinkedIn: 101 Great Words to Use in Your Resume (and 5 to Avoid) by Mike Figliuolo.

This Week’s Listener Question

Jessica, Ben, and Mac answer Darroch Cahen’s question: “How do I pursue a dualcareer, both professionally and on LinkedIn?”

If you would like the team to answer a job-related question or if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about email it to [email protected] or call at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice.

If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s the first question in a majority of all interviews: “Tell me about yourself.” While it seems like a simple prompt, it can make or break the rest of your interview. Mess it up and you’ve ruined your first impression with the employer. Ace the question and you’ll set the tone for the rest of the meeting.

The question is so important that job coach, Katherine Burik, has written an entire book on how to craft a winning answer. Katherine shares the “Cliffs Notes” version of her strategy this week on the podcast.  

The foundation of Katherine strategy is to is to plan ahead. Think about what the interviewer wants to hear, and share ideas and experiences that speak to their needs. You’ve got to be honest, but you can shape your experience in a way that will resonate with the employer.

To ace the “Tell me about yourself” interview question, Katherine offers a five step approach:

The trick is to communicate everything above in a concise and direct way. Your entire answer shouldn’t take more than two minutes. The best way to ensure you have a tight, well-tuned response is to practice, practice, practice!

This Week’s Guest: Katherine Burik

Katherine Burik is a partner at The Interview Doctor. She works with both job candidates and employers, and speaks frequently about career development and successful job search methods. Katherine has published three books on job hunting, as part of The Job Seeker Manifesto. Her a fourth book, Talent Search Marketing Plan, is in the works.

This Week’s Job Search Resource

Ben shares a list of 10 Jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago to highlight why you have to be flexible and adaptable in your career. You can’t predict the new career opportunities that will emerge in the future (or which jobs will simply disappear) so you have to stay informed and open to change.

This Week’s Listener Question

Jessica and the team answer a question from listener, Andrew Cameron:

“I’ve heard feedback on a number of my interviews that I’m overqualified. I’d be really interested in hearing your thoughts on what that means, and what I might be able to do about that.”

If you would like the team to answer a job-related question or if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about email it to [email protected] or call at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice.

If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!

Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.