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

On February 4, 2016, the New York Times published an article, “Walt Bettinger of Charles Schwab: You’ve Got to Open Up to Move Up,” in which the CEO revealed a very interesting interview tactic. Before hiring an executive-level candidate, Bettinger takes them out to breakfast. The trick? He pre-arranges for the restaurant to mess up the food order so he can see how the candidate reacts.

What would you do if you were the candidate in this situation?

On this seven minute bonus episode, the Mac’s List team talks about the unorthodox interview tactic. From food allergies to how you want your potential boss to view you - Mac, Ben and Jenna cover it all.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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

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Do you know how to get a job you love? It’s OK if you don’t. Most people do not believe it is even possible. A traditional job search includes scouring job postings and identifying with skills an employer is looking for. Today’s conversation turns the table on tradition and encourages job seekers to first identify and then search for a job they will love.

Guest, Scott Barlow uses putting a puzzle together as an analogy for identifying which type of job you will probably love.

Signature Strengths are your inherent qualities which give you a natural and unfair advantage over another person. These strengths can be seen as the corner pieces of the puzzle as they are easy to recognize. Identifying these strengths is the first step in the process of finding a job you love. To assist you in figuring out what your strengths are, try:

The ideal work environment for you is a company which values the same things you do. Think about a workplace you would flourish in. These are the edge pieces of the puzzle, the framework of what you should be looking for when you search for a job. If you pre-identify the companies which closely match your ideal work environment, you can make contacts within the organizations before a job is posted online. You can place yourself first in line when a position becomes available.

Go after the things you are great at and focus on the things you place the most value in!

Scott Barlow Bio

Scott Barlow is the founder of Happen to Your Career, a company that helps you stop doing work that doesn’t fit, figuring out what does fit and then teaching you to make it happen. Scott has been helping people develop their careers and businesses for more than 10 years. Scott is also the host of the Happen to Your Career podcast.

Visit the Figure Out What Fits site to obtain the 8-day video series for creating career change. This is a FREE gift for Find Your Dream Job podcast listeners.

Ben’s Job Search Resources:

Apres Group is a community-based website for female professionals who have taken a career break and are looking to re-enter the workplace. The site is designed by Jennifer Gefsky and Niccole Kroll. The site’s resources include coaching, success stories and employers who are looking to hire. The site is free for women who want to register and perform job searches.

Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:

Ben, Jenna and Mac provide detailed feedback to answer Leta Muncie’s question - “What is the general career path a person might have before becoming an Executive Director of a nonprofit?”

These segments are sponsored by the 2016 edition of Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond). Now available in all formats!

If you would like the team to answer a job-related question send it to [email protected]. Or, if you found a job resource you think everyone should know about send it to [email protected] and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

Networking events can be, for an introvert, a worst case scenario. This is why introverts need to be prepared, strategic and have a clear goal of what they want to accomplish before attending a conference or event. Today’s guest expert, Trina Isakson says that introverts gain energy from being alone and a common misconception is to think of introverts as socially awkward or shy.

In business today, most networking events are designed around the ‘spray and pray’ method of handing out business cards to a copious amount of people. Introverts may see this exercise as a vampire slowly draining their energy levels, both mentally and physically. Trina shares her tips which allow an introvert to make the most out of a conference or live event. And, she reminds us the true goal of networking events should be to build meaningful relationships which add value to our lives and the lives of others.

Tips for introverts to get the most out of networking events:

• Attend the same conference year after year
• The conference topic must be interesting to you
• Focus energy on building deep and meaningful connections
• Identify people who can be a beneficial strategic connection
• Be generous to those who hold less power than you
• Have a purpose by volunteering for a position at the conference
• Stay in touch with purpose

Trina stresses that quality contacts matter more than the quantity of contacts you make. Introverts who may feel they are bothering their newly made contacts can maintain a professional relationship with a quick email in place of a meeting.

Trina Isakson Bio

Trina is a strategist and researcher who works with nonprofit leaders and social innovators. As founder and principal thinker at 27 Shift, her clients include government, higher education, and national nonprofit organizations. She has also taught university courses on community development, leadership and management, and is the founder of the Quiet Changemaker Project, the Quiet Change Maker FB Group and the Do Good Better Podcast. Thank you, Trina, for contributing to this Introvert’s Guide to Networking podcast.

Ben’s Job Search Resources:

The Introvert Entrepreneur is the work of consultant, Beth Buelow. The site is designed to assist introverts by amplifying their strengths. The accompanying The Introvert Entrepreneur Podcast has been ranked one of the Top 10 Business Podcasts.

Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:

Ben, Jenna and Mac provide their feedback to answer Jonathan Chambers’ question “How do I set myself apart from college grads when I have 7 years experience running a successful company but no paper degree yet?”

These segments are sponsored by the 2016 edition of Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond). Now available in all formats!

If you would like the team to answer a job related question send it to [email protected]. Or, if you found a job resource you think everyone should know about send it to [email protected] and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

Freelance writer, Jen Violi, shares how to make genuine connections in Oregon - or anywhere.

Even if networking makes you queasy, you can make connections with others on a personal and professional level.  We say this at Mac's List all the time, 80% of jobs are never posted, so chances are you're next dream job will be found by networking with someone in your field.  

Check out Jen's simple tips for making connections in a new city--from volunteer opportunities to fiestas.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this shoe, 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.

A job loss due to layoffs or conflicting interests can be a shock to our system. A person may feel thrilled to be apart from their previous employer at first but a flood of emotions generally follows shortly after. Today’s guest, Career Coach Marsha Warner, shares tips and techniques to transform your first days of unemployment.

If you find yourself in this situation Marsha advises:

• Don’t start to market yourself for a new position immediately.
• Take the necessary time to equalize your emotions.
• Just breathe.
• Be prepared to tell your story pragmatically and end it with a statement of moving forward.
• Friends and family can serve as a much-needed support system.

Only after rectifying your emotions should you align yourself with possible new employers. Statistics from the Department of Labor anticipate each US worker will have six job changes from age 30 to age 55.  Understanding you may find yourself transitioning jobs more than once makes a good case for having a high-level, personal career plan. Taking personal responsibility for your skill set and keeping a larger perspective empowers you when your job search begins.

Remember to: Stay engaged with your existing networks! Take a class to enhance your skills!   

Marsha Warner Bio

Marsha is the owner of Career Factors (www.careerfactors.com). She is a coach, resume writer, and recruiter. Her clients range from college students to senior executives. Marsha is a popular educator and speaker at career events and a frequent contributor to career blogs and podcasts. Thank you Marsha, for contributing to this How to Cope with a Job Loss podcast.

Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:

Ben, Jenna and Mac chime in to provide Jonathan Chambers expert advice when answering his question “How do I transition from being an entrepreneur to a 9-5 employee?”

Ben’s Job Search Resources:

Career One Stop (www.careeronestop.org) is a U.S. Department of Labor website designed specifically for the unemployed job seeker. The online tool  provides customized information for your specific situation and includes guides on how to file for unemployment benefits.

Mac’s Pro-Tip:

Unemployment benefits are NOT tax free. Set aside a portion of your earnings to offset the taxes due on April 15th.

These segments are sponsored by the 2016 edition of Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond). Now available in all formats!

If you would like the team to answer a job related question send it to [email protected]. If you found a job resource you think everyone should know about send it to [email protected] and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

Do you want to work at home?  Thanks to the Internet, jobs that used to require you to sit in an office can now be done online.  Our guest expert this week, Sean Ogle, teaches people to a make a living online.

Remote work opportunities can offer flexible or part-time schedules. And that can be important for people who need time for family or other interests.

But how do you get started? You can look for employers who hire online workers. Or you can create your own job.  Whether you’re an online freelancer or a corporate worker looking for a more flexible work arrangement, Sean’s tips will help you ideate, start and grow a profitable online business.

In this 30-minute episode you will learn:

• How alternative career choices can provide a valuable income stream
• How to overcome roadblocks like inconsistency, time management, and fear of launching
• The three steps to launching an online business that makes money
• How to find a mentor who will  help you grow
• Why you don’t have to be an expert, just a relative expert (and what that really means).

This week’s guest:

Sean Ogle (Twitter | LinkedIn)Owner, Location Rebel

Portland, Oregon

In 2009 Sean’s life sucked. So he quit his job, moved to Thailand, built a business, and started living life the way he’d always wanted. Location 180 documents the journey and teaches you how to do the same thing.

Listener question of the week:

• Do you think it’s appropriate to change your job title on a resume? - Teresa Peltier

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Jenna Forstrom, Mac’s List Community Manager at [email protected].

Resources referenced on this week’s show:

• The 25 Best Sites for Finding Remote Work
• Barnes & Noble
• Location Rebel
• BreakingEighty.com
• Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond)

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you’d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac’s List Managing Director at [email protected].

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Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

Mike Russell, owner of Pivotal Writing, shares how to hook your readers attention with that first sentence of your professional bio.  We all know Portland loves quirky, colorful personalities, from “Keep Portland Weird” to “Keep Portland Beered” to “Keep Portland Bearded”.  Hiring managers are no different.  Whether it’s your bio statement on your website or your LinkedIn summary.  In this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Mike Russell shares his tips on how to make a strong first sentence to hook your reader’s attention right away.

If you’re looking for more advice on how to network, check out our book, Land Your Dream Job In Portland and Beyond. You’ll find everything you need to get a great job whether you’re in Portland Oregon, Portland Maine, or anywhere in-between. For more information on Land Your Dream Job In Portland and Beyond, visit macslist.org/book.

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like this shoe, 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.

Job hunting take a lot of time, energy, and attention to detail. It’s a job in-and-of-itself!  You might start your day reading several job boards. Then you complete and send a job application.  Next you email requests for informational meetings. And that’s followed by writing thank you notes.  After all that? Perhaps you have a job interview. But your day isn’t over. Your evening may include a networking event, too.

How do you juggle all this activity while keeping your energy and enthusiasm high? Above all, are you using your time as best you can?This week we’re talking with Mike Vardy, a productivity expert. He’ll share his best tips for how you can use your time to get the results you want.

In this 32-minute episode you will learn:

• Why batching your time to specific tasks is key to productivity
• Why “To Do” Lists might not be the best way to accomplish daily tasks
• How to use a calendar effectively
• How a Daily M.A.P. (Mode - Action - Project) can help you plan out your day
• How digital trackers and analog journals can help you manage your daily plan.
• Why reflective journaling is a key to increasing your daily productivity
• Tips on how to avoid burnout through time management

This week’s guest:

Mike Vardy (Twitter | LinkedIn)Owner, Productivityist

Victoria, BC, Canada

Mike Vardy is an author, speaker, and productivity and time management strategist (or 'productivityist') based out of Victoria, BC, Canada. His company is Productivityist, and the company's mission is to help people stop 'doing' productive and start 'being' productive through a variety of online and offline resources that he facilitates.

Listener question of the week:

• I have some great experience in my industry, but I’m a graduating senior. How do I convince an employer that I’m worth a job and not an internship at their company? Should I apply to both positions (intern and a job position) or just the job position? - Hannah Alkad

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Jenna Forstrom, Mac’s List Community Manager at [email protected].

Resources referenced on this week’s show:

• Productivityist.com
• RescueTime
• Susan Rich Episode
• ToDoList
• Asana
• Trello
• DayOne
• Journey
• Evernote
• BeyondProductivity.com
• MikeVardy.com/now
• World Domination Summit
• Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond)

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you’d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac’s List Managing Director at [email protected].

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Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

We talked in an earlier show about what you can do to prepare for and nail a job interview. But what happens next after you’ve impressed your interviewers?  The steps you take next can make the difference between getting a job offer or a terse rejection letter.

This week we’re talking about what you need to do after you leave the interview room.

Our guest this week is Deena Pierott, founder and CEO of Mosaic Blueprint. Deena provides recruitment and on-boarding services for employers, and she knows what companies are looking for in candidates. She discusses what you can do after your in-person interview to improve your chances of landing the job.

In this 33-minute episode you will learn:

• Unusual ways that organizations determine whether you are a good fit for the office culture
• Why you absolutely must send a handwritten thank you note after your interview
• How many times you should follow-up after an interview
• Why you need a champion and advocate within the organization
• The fine line between being persistent and being a pest
• How to get feedback when you didn’t get the job

This week’s guest:

Deena Pierott (@deenapierott | LinkedIn)Recruiting, Onboarding, Diversity, and Inclusion ConsultantOwner, Mosaic BlueprintPortland, Ore.

Deena Pierott is the CEO of Mosaic Blueprint, a boutique firm that specializes in recruiting and on-boarding, multicultural communications, outplacement services and career counseling. She is also the founder of iUrban Teen and has been named a champion of change by the White House and included in Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list.

Listener question of the week: 

• A prospective employer has asked for references from my last three jobs. The problem is, I haven’t told my current boss that I’m looking for other work. Should I tell my boss now--even though the new job isn’t 100% in the bag--or ask the prospective employer to not contact my current place of work?

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode? Please send your questions to Jenna Forstrom, Mac’s List Community Manager at [email protected].

Resources referenced on this week’s show:

• The Receptionist is Watching You | Wall Street Journal
• Mosaic Blueprint
• iUrbanTeen
• Wonder Women in Tech Conference | July 15-17, 2016
• Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond)

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you’d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac’s List Managing Director at [email protected].

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Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.

Many job seekers are interested in a nonprofit career as a vehicle for rewarding, socially-impactful work. But landing a nonprofit job isn’t easy. Competition is fierce – particularly for the most desirable positions. And the nonprofit sector itself is sometimes quite insular, with the the most plum jobs going to well-connected candidates.

Finding a nonprofit job requires a strategic approach, solid networking, and a clear understanding of what you have to offer social impact organizations.

On February 28, 2016 Mac Prichard, founder and publisher of Mac’s List, explored these issues on the Non Profit Hour, a radio program produced by the Portland-based Media Institute for Social Change. Mac discussed the history of Mac’s List, the unique challenges of finding rewarding work, and his own experience as a job seeker.

He also shared some of his favorite work-themed music. (Spoiler alert: Mac loves Dolly Parton!)

In this bonus episode you will learn:

• Why connection is the key – organizations hire candidates they know trust
• How to recognize and communicate the value of what you have to offer others
• Why online job boards are only a small part of the job hunt
• How hiring is a two way street – for the potential employee and the employer

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. 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.