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

Julie Dalrymple moved to Portland from a small, tight-knit community in Napa, California. When she first moved to the Pacific Northwest, she missed that built-in network of connections. But from attending networking events, volunteering with local organizations and conducting informational interviews, Julie was able to build a solid network of contacts who opened up new opportunities for her career.

On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job; I talked with Julie Dalrymple about how volunteering opened up new possibilities for her career and helped her secure a job she loves. You can read more about Julie Dalrymple’s job search below in her essay for our Success Stories series.

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

I am the marketing & communications manager for Classic Wines Auction (http://www.classicwinesauction.com/) in Portland. We are a small but mighty organization that produces food and wine events to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. My job involves creating and implementing the marketing and communications strategy, promoting our events via traditional and digital marketing methods, social media, and community outreach. I do a lot of hands-on graphic and web design as well.

How long did it take you to find this job?

The entire process from the first interview to joining the organization took about six weeks. However, it took several years of searching for the right job. I have a significant background in nonprofit marketing but had a difficult time getting my foot in the door after I moved to Portland in 2014.

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

As many others will attest, networking is such a powerful force in the job market. When I moved here three years ago, I focused on cultivating connections by going to events, volunteering, and meeting new people through introductions from friends.

Several people alerted me to this particular job opening because it was so well suited to my skills, experience and interests (of course, I had already seen it on Mac’s List). Before applying and interviewing, I researched, followed their social media, reviewed their website thoroughly, and read anything I could find in the media. My prior experience and volunteerism also helped with this position, as I was familiar with the unique nonprofit model of the organization.

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

In the case of my longer-term search for the right job, the most difficult part was dealing with rejection. When I first moved to Portland, I interviewed for a number of organizations and seemed to always be the “runner-up.” I had to learn to not take these rejections personally. It’s hard not to doubt your worth when you don’t get that job offer, but a lot is happening behind the scenes that you may not know, and any number of factors can contribute to the final decision.

Also, with every job application comes a good deal of vulnerability and energy. It can be difficult to jump through all the hoops of a job search – to put yourself out there – and not know if the effort will pay off. Many organizations require detailed projects, plans and personal analysis toward the end of the process, which can be exhausting. But it can also be the key to a life-changing career move (and you can learn a lot about yourself).  

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

Find a way to get local, hands-on experience in your desired industry. And, if you’re new to an area, explore the region, meet people, volunteer and find new connections.

I volunteered a lot when I moved here – as a tour guide at the Pittock Mansion (http://www.pittockmansion.org/) (which introduced me to new friends and helped me get acquainted with the city), as a committee member for the American Cancer Society’s annual gala (http://www.portlandhopeball.com/) (which provided valuable insight into the Portland nonprofit and event scene), and as a marketing consultant for other small nonprofits (which opened new doors). I can’t stress enough the value of volunteering. It was critical in building my foundation here in Portland.

Why do you love your job?

The people, the mission, the work… and the wine. The people you work with make all the difference, and I’m grateful for great colleagues and an awesome boss. CWA is making a difference in the community, by serving worthy charitable organizations and bringing people together through wine, food and philanthropy.  I’m excited to come into the office every day and do such great work.

I’ve always loved creating memorable experiences for people, especially for a good cause, and I’m glad to be a part of an organization that shares that value.

Want to learn more about Julie? Connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedalrymple/)!

 

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Connecting salary and success can be a losing game. Don’t equate the amount of money you make with how happy you are in life. Instead, know that your self-worth is more than your paycheck. And when you do negotiate for salary, focus on understanding the market value of your skills and ask for the pay that compensates the type of work you do.

About Our Guest: Lauren McGoodwin

Lauren McGoodwin is the founder and CEO of Career Contessa (http://www.careercontessa.com/), a career site for women. Previously, Lauren was a tech recruiter at Hulu and wrote her masters thesis on millennial women and career resources. Career Contessa launched in 2013 and now helps more than one million people with career development each year.

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: How do Applicant Tracking Systems work? This article from Jobscan outlines four features of the most common ATS software. Read Taleo: 4 Ways the Most Popular ATS Ranks Your Job Application. (https://www.jobscan.co/blog/taleo-popular-ats-ranks-job-applications/)
• Listener Question: Doug Boxford of Anaheim, Calif. asked for tips about controlling his nerves during a job interview.
• More from Lauren McGoodwin: Check out the new Productivity Powerhouse (https://careercontessa.lpages.co/productivity-powerhouse-waitlist/) course from Career Contessa.
• Get Lauren’s script for asking for a raise. (http://www.careercontessa.com/advice/gimme-raise-mini-resource/)

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What do you do when you know you need to move forward in your career, but you need some direction? Many people end up in career paths that aren’t a great fit for their natural talents and passions. If you’re looking for a better job fit, start to observe yourself at work, name your strengths, and rewrite your career story to show off your enthusiasm and ability. Portland-based career coach Mary Blalock joins us on this episode of Find Your Dream Job to share tips, tricks, and resources to learn about your strengths and find your best job fit.

About Our Guest: Mary Blalock

Mary Blalock (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryblalock/) is a Portland-based career coach and co-founder of Ladies' Night PDX (http://ladiespdx.com/). She helps women advance in their careers through coaching, classes, and events. Previously, Mary was a recruiter and worked with Amazon, Microsoft, Nike, Adidas, and many more. Learn more on Mary’s website (http://maryblalock.com/).

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: Landit (https://landit.com), an online platform offering resources for professional women to guide their careers. Read more about how Landit started in this Forbes article, How This Founder Is Creating A Career Playbook For Women (https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2018/02/01/how-this-founder-is-creating-a-career-playbook-for-women/#6d21014a5590).
• Listener Question: Corey Wade of Portland, Ore. has a broad, general skill set. He asks for advice on how to show employers the value he offers as a generalist.
• More from Mary Blalock: Get Mary’s free guide, “Ladies' Badass Salary Negotiation Cheatsheet.” (http://maryblalock.com/salary)

 

• More resources mentioned on this episode:

• Where Are the Boss Ladies (https://www.wherearethebossladies.com/boss-list) is an awesome crowdsourced list of women-owned and women-led creative companies.
• Austin Kleon’s (https://austinkleon.com/) book “Steal Like An Artist” has good advice on creative journaling to inspire your brag sheet.

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Each new job on your resume presents new opportunities, new challenges and new setbacks. In this episode of Find Your Dream Job, we discuss the best ways to capitalize on your first few months in a new position with human resources executive and business coach Joey Price. We also dive into the six steps you can take to turn career setbacks into personal growth.

About Our Guest: Joey Price

Joey Price is an award-winning human resources executive, business coach, and professor. He’s the founder of Jumpstart:HR, a consulting practice for small businesses and startups. Joey Is also the host of Business, Life, and Coffee (www.businesslifeandcoffee.com), a weekly podcast, and the author of “Never Miss The Mark: Career Search Strategies Provided by HR Pros.” 

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: Explore transformative resilience in your career with The 6 Steps to Turning Setbacks Into Advantages from The New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/smarter-living/six-stages-of-setbacks-help-growth.html 
• Listener Question: How do you hone skills to build the career you went to school for when your job has ventured into new territory? That’s the question of the week from Alex of Madison, Wisconsin.

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What’s holding you back from the pay raises, promotions, and new work opportunities you really want? For many of us, it’s about a fear of being shot down when we ask for it. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, our guest Kate White encourages you to raise your hand at work. Ask your boss “what’s missing?” Volunteer for new projects. Document your accomplishments and build a case for the compensation you deserve.

About Our Guest: Kate White

Kate White (www.linkedin.com/in/katemwhite/) is the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines, including Cosmopolitan. She’s also The New York Times bestselling author of several career books, including “The Gutsy Girl Handbook: Your Manifesto for Success.” And Kate is also the bestselling author of 12 mysteries and thrillers!

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: Top 8 Tools You Need to Use For Salary Research from The Job Network: www.thejobnetwork.com/top-8-tools-salary-research-012017/
• Listener Question: Brooke Jacobs of Redmond, Oregon asks: "Is it OK to ask for a salary review shortly after starting a new job that is more demanding than advertised?"

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You’ve heard it again and again: it’s all about who you know. Especially in a job search, experts encourage everyone to reach out to their friends and professional connections to find work opportunities through word of mouth. That’s the Hidden Job Market. But what does it look like in action? Doug Wells (https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-wells-ba51696/) lays it out for us.

On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job; Doug explains how he reached out to his network with curiosity and openness to find new opportunities, including the job he landed, and loves, as a Director of Organizational Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org/).

Doug says it’s important to be patient, and discusses the pros and cons of being interested in everything. Listen to find out how he gained focus without losing variety in his career.

 

Read more about Doug’s job search in a post he wrote for the Mac’s List Success Stories series: https://www.macslist.org/success-stories/patient-relentless-doug-wells-job-search-success-story

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Nobody enjoys a long job search. To speed things up, many candidates put more and more time and effort into the job hunt. Our guest expert this week is recruiter Jim Stroud. He says if you want to find your next job faster, you need to work smart. Jim says there are three steps you can take now to find your next job.

About Our Guest: Jim Stroud

Jim Stroud is the global head of sourcing and recruiting strategy for Randstad Sourceright. He has consulted on recruiting for such companies as Microsoft, Google, MCI, Siemens, Bernard Hodes Group and a host of startups. He’s also the host of the It’s All Recruiting podcast (audioboom.com/playlists/1268507-its-all-recruiting) and the author of “The Number One Job Hunting Book in The World: Job Search Strategies for Unemployed, Underemployed and Unhappily Employed People,” (www.amazon.com/Number-Hunting-Book-World-Underemployed/dp/1508741824/ref=la_B00M5CKX5S_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521743408&sr=1-4)

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: 100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2018, from FlexJobs: www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/100-top-companies-with-remote-jobs-in-2018/ 
• Listener Question: Candace Thomas of Portland, Ore. asks, “Here's the good news: I just found my dream job posted online. Here's the bad news: the job was posted 3 weeks ago. Is it too late to apply?”
• More from Jim Stroud:  Jim recommends that job seekers set up more web pages to get found by recruiters. Setting up an about.me page is one way to boost your presence for free. For example: about.me/jimstroud

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We can all learn from the success of those around us. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, our guest Polina Selyutin shares common themes she has heard in dozens of conversations with successful women who love their careers. From having an abundance mindset to approaching networking with the goal of creating real connections, these lessons will resonate for anyone feeling stuck or discouraged in the job search.

About Our Guest: Polina Selyutin

Polina Selyutin is the cofounder and host of the podcast, I Want Her Job (www.iwantherjob.com/podcast), with Brianne Perleberg. Previously Polina worked in operations and business consulting for tech companies in San Francisco's Bay Area.

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: Ageism in hiring is real. But do you know what’s protected and what’s prohibited under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act? Take the Age Discrimination Quiz from the AARP: http://aarptek.aarp.org/age-discrimination-quiz?intcmp=AE-WOR-W50-FLXSLDR-SLIDE3-RL1-WORKJOBS-ADEA2017 
• Listener Question: When talking to recruiters, listener Brenda Michel says she gets asked about where else she’s applying and interviewing. Should she show her cards to every recruiter who reaches out? Jessica shares advice, plus another resource from an insider:
• More from Polina Selyutin:
• • Polina is launching a new podcast on relocating to new cities. Check out 'New Roots:' http://new-roots.launchrock.com/
  • Polina’s favorite books for job searching and building a career:
  • • “Designing Your Life,” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
    • “Resilience,” by Eric Greitens
    • “Road to Character,” by David Brooks
    • “How Women Decide,” by Therese Huston
    • “The Willpower Instinct,” by Kelly McGonigal
    • “The Success Principles,” by Jack Canfield
    • “First, Break all the Rules,” by Jim Harter
    • “High Output Management,” by Andy Grove
    • “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by Stephen Covey
    • “The End of Average,” by Scott Rose
  • Polina’s favorite career podcasts:
  • • How I Built This
    • A16Z
    • HBR Ideacast
    • Recode/Decode
    • Running Through Walls
    • Glambition

Find Your Dream Job!

The Tim Ferriss Show

On Being, for a spiritual break

Oprah’s Super Soul, for a spiritual break

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When you apply for a job, your competition is probably pretty similar to you in terms of experience, expertise, and credentials. But we all have something unique to offer, and that’s what you should sell in your professional bio. Tell your story in your bio! There’s no other story like it, and it will help you stand out from the crowd. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, William Arruda explains why your biography matters more than a resume.

About Our Guest: William Arruda

William Arruda is credited with turning the concept of personal branding into a global industry. One of the most sought after speakers on the topic, he has delivered hundreds of keynotes in 27 countries on six continents. Combining 25 years of branding experience with his passion for people, he founded Reach, the global leader in personal branding with representatives across the globe. William’s latest book, “Ditch. Dare. Do!” has been called the instruction manual for career success. He is also the author of “Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand.”

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: The Cool New Way to Tell Your Story in Your Job Application is a new, free resume template from Prezi. Create your own animated, interactive “Prezume.”
• Listener Question: Listener Kelli Baldwin asks how she can separate her personal brand from a former employer with a bad reputation.
• More from William Arruda: New articles: Move Over Resume, You’ve Been Replaced and Six Things Beyond Your Resume That Will Land You the Job of Your Dreams.

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Applicant Tracking Systems get a bad rap. That’s understandable, since job seekers receive competing advice on how to “beat” or “get through” an ATS screening. It’s difficult to determine the best way to work with an ATS, but our guest Marie Zimenoff says it’s important for job seekers to understand why and how employers use an ATS in the first place. Marie explains some of the common misconceptions people have about Applicant Tracking Systems.

About Our Guest: Marie Zimenoff

Marie Zimenoff is the CEO of the Career Thought Leaders Consortium and Resume Writing Academy. She trains career professionals around the globe in resume writing, career coaching, and business development. Marie has delivered hundreds of presentations for career service providers, job seekers, and business leaders. She is also a frequent presenter at national conferences and the host of The Career Confidante podcast.

Resources in this Episode:

• New Tool: Understand hiring tech and automation in this article, 'Dehumanising, impenetrable, frustrating': the grim reality of job hunting in the age of AI  
• Listener Question: Why do employers use vague, even misleading, job titles when they hire? That’s the question from Garry Rodgers of Medford, Ore.
• More from Marie Zimenoff: Two ATS Myths That Are Hurting Your Resume Results

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