Today's episode, is about Changing Careers the SMART Way. We are talking with someone who did just that. Holding nothing back, our guest shares his struggles, successes and techniques. If you are in the middle of a career change or even thinking about one, you will want to take notes for sure.

Robert shares his secret sauce for making a career change. He understood that 80% of all positions are filled without ever being advertised or posted on job boards. Robert is progressing in an amazing career that he loves and every one of his positions have come as a result of SMART networking.

Knowing what to wear to an interview can really improve your chances of getting that new job. But if you make some common mistakes, you could be out of consideration before you answer the very first question. Your personal appearance doesn't necessarily reflect who you are on the inside or guarantee you will get hired. However, being well groomed can keep the employer from being distracted by an unacceptable appearance and help them focus on the value you bring to their organization. That's what really counts!

Let's face it, we don’t interview every day. It's difficult enough to prepare the right answers and now you have to worry about how to dress. We don't even know the employer's expectations. So let's take the edge off and explore reasonable ways to present a professional image.

It is time to speak about a few daily rituals that will enhance your search and are often overlooked. But trust me, they make all the difference in the world.

1. Plan the night before

2. Get to bed at a reasonable time

3. Wake up early

4. Reserve the first hour of the day for you ... no technology, no telephone calls, no social media, NO EMAIL! Spend this time praying, meditating, taking a walk, exercising, or appreciating nature. This time is just for you ... do something that nourishes your soul.

We heard from a veteran recruiter about the best way to interact with recruiters. They are a valuable resource from a long term perspective when you are contacting them. However, when they contact you, take the call. You never know when something wonderful is about to happen.

In order to have an effective Job Search, it is imperative that anger, bitterness, resentments and such get resolved. Be honest with yourself about your wounds. These can negatively impact the way others view you. Acknowledge the impact they have had on you. Realize that you have the ability to choose how to interpret the situation. Do everything that you can to move on and allow others to do the same.

The typical way most job seekers submit resumes for consideration don't work. In this episode we discuss why you should consider another way that will get you much better results. In fact, by using this method, your resume is more likely to reach the person that makes the hiring decision instead of getting stuck in Human Resources.

There’s a big difference between Duties and Accomplishments.

Duties:

- Are all the routine things you do in the performance of your job.

- Are done as a part of the minimum expectation in the performance of your job.

Accomplishments:

- Are those achievements beyond the daily routine.

- They bring added value and benefit to your employer.

In order for your resume to get you the attention you deserve,

1. Format your resume properly keeping ease of reading / scanning in mind.

2. A resume is a marketing brochure, not an auto biography.

3. Use a Professional Overview in the place of an Objective.

4. Focus on Accomplishments rather than putting so much emphasis on duties.

5. Use Keywords that match the position and culture of the company.

This hidden job market refers to job openings that are not posted online or advertised and can be tapped by being self aware and confident about the value you have to offer a company. This is a brief outline of the concept. You should consider using a Career Coach or out Career Portal for details on how to effectively conduct this kind of job search. This is networking on steroids. The show notes can be found at http://www.JobSearchThatWorks.com/005

Among the reasons that conducting a Job Search on Job Posting sites is so frustrating are:

Job Boards are in the business to sell advertising to companies and make a profit for their investors.

Applicant Tracking Systems screen out candidates whose resume and application don’t match the keywords in the job posting.

A general lack of understanding about the roles each participant in a job search plays can cripple the chances of a successful outcome. The Job Seeker, Career Counselor, Recruiter, Human Resources and Hiring Manager all have distinct responsibilities. Understanding what they do, why they do it and how they do it will have a direct impact on the way a job search is conducted.