No matter what the goal, this is a tough time to bridge to a career change. (I’ve written about this HERE.)

If you are a job seeker thinking of a change, some tips to consider:

1. Do your research. Know what skills your targeted job and/or employer value. Do you have those skills? Make sure you clearly communicate what you offer in your application materials. This isn’t your father’s job market – the resume that was “good enough” to do the job five years ago won’t even get you a second look today. It’s a competitive environment. If you expect to compete, you need to optimize your materials. Don’t approach the market before you are ready. You don’t want to waste an opportunity to get through the door.

2. Network! While it is ALWAYS important (for every job seeker), I contend that it is even MORE crucial for the transitioning applicant. You need to use what you can to bridge the gap between what you have done and what you WANT to do next. Meet people in your targeted field. Let them know what you offer. Demonstrate your interest and your expertise. If you are lucky, you’ll make a strong connection with a contact who will be willing to take a chance on you. This is not to suggest this is an easy thing to do. However, when you successfully engage in informational interviews, you open doors you would otherwise not have an opportunity to walk through.

3. Work it. I mean it! You don’t have the experience doing what you want to do? Get some. Today, I spoke to a writer who is planning to research and write some portfolio pieces in her targeted field, even if they will only be published (initially) on her own blog. I have advised clients to volunteer some time in order to get the experience they need. Internships are not just for college kids any more. There is no excuse for not getting the experience you need/want on your resume.

Stay tuned for more ideas…

What has worked for you? What ideas do you have to help job seekers cross the bridge to a new career?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by ThomasHawk

–noun

1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel.

2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues.

3. a tramp or vagabond.

4. a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition.

5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, esp. a plant, varying markedly from the normal.

–verb (used without object)

6. to live or act as a rogue.

–verb (used with object)

7. to cheat.

8. to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard).

9. to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field.

–adjective

10. (of an animal) having an abnormally savage or unpredictable disposition, as a rogue elephant.

11. no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; deviating, renegade: a rogue cop; a rogue union local.

Should you be going rogue? Sarah Palin’s new book obviously brings these questions of “rogue” to light. Let’s face it – this is probably not a word in the general lexicon before she used it in her title. Knowing the technical definitions makes it seem an odd choice.

Eve Tahmincioglu asks about going rogue, which she defines as “dogging your old boss.” Eve quotes the Wall Street Journal, which said:

“…it is for details of the McCain campaign that many readers will pick up “Going Rogue,” and Mrs. Palin will not disappoint them. She describes in particular how campaign aides muzzled her and mismanaged her family.

One of the biggest mistakes of the failed McCain campaign—and there was no shortage of them—was its handling of Mrs. Palin. Her criticisms of the campaign’s treatment of her appear prominently in “Going Rogue.”

Anyone who talks to me about transitioning knows that this is a tough time to make a career change. While I would never discourage someone from trying, with the economy being what it is, employers tend to have a choice of people who have ALREADY done EXACTLY the thing the job requires. Many people are willing to take a step back for a job and are overqualified. In either case, employers have their pick of people who can just step right into the job. Taking a chance on someone who can learn isn’t typical.

In this case, a targeted resume is key – job seekers need to make a clear case that shows their skills and accomplishments as they relate to the desired job. However, there is so much more to success than just the resume, as my client demonstrated!

Previously a copy editor, she landed a job as a development coordinator, involving social media, fundraising and grant writing. None of those items were things she had been paid to do in the past.

She noted, “The hiring manager told me she initially wasn’t going to interview anyone without grant writing experience but was so impressed with my writing skills (on my cover letter, resume and blog; don’t know if she checked out my Twitter feed or LinkedIn profile) that she brought me in just to see. Turns out she liked me, her boss liked me during the second interview, and they decided to take a chance on me! Out of six candidates, I was the one chosen. So the blog definitely helped. Go tell your job seekers that.”

There is more to this story…Stay tuned!

Please share what YOU have done differently that led to success in your job search!

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by Hawaii

Joe talks about “Networking with a purpose.” This is so important. I hear from people all of the time who insist that they have been doing EVERYTHING for their job hunt – including networking. However, upon further inquiry, it is clear that they could be doing a lot more.

Joe offers this advice, which I believe is right on target. (Points are his, commentary my own):

Make meeting others a priority. So often, networking is something careerists only think about when it is time to look for a job. It should be something you do all of the time, no matter what. Joe suggests setting goals of how many people to contact in a certain period of time. It is key to focus on your networking, as we all know there are so many other priorities that take our time.

Network with empathy. This is a great way to describe how to network. Joe reminds readers to focus on making networking a two-way street. What do YOU offer? This is not all about taking – be sure you are also giving.

Find a location. You can meet people in all types of groups and programs. Join groups – both professional and personal, as you never know when or where you will meet someone who is a great match.

Ask questions. A lot of times, job seekers focus on how to ANSWER questions. It is just as important to know what questions to ask! I always tell my clients to be sure to know what they WANT to know when meeting a great networking contact. It sounds obvious, but often, people go into meetings (or informational interviews) without a clear goal. Have a goal – and great questions to ask. You won’t be sorry.

Listen for Clues. Good listening is so important. I’ve written about this and cannot say it enough.

Take notes. Personally, I write down everything I want to remember. You don’t want to forget who you met, what they told you, if you should follow up…There is so much to remember! Don’t miss an opportunity because something slipped your mind. Most people will be flattered if you make a point to write something down during a conversation!

Read what Joe has to say in his book…A great read!

What do you have to add about networking well?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by mag3737

“…Act with enthusiasm and confidence – act as if it were impossible to fail. Your beliefs become your reality, and your expectations have a direct result on the outcome of any given situation. Concentrate on your strengths, your triumphs and your successes as you power up the corporate ladder”

I “met” Joe Lavelle, author of Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail – The Employee Handbook That Your Empoyer Hasn’t Given You, via Twitter and when he began to comment on this blog. He writes the Act As If Blog, which offers great advice to anyone hoping to accelerate his or her career plans. So, I was delighted to read a copy of his book.

Joe doesn’t disappoint! His book is filled with stories that lead the reader to understand his points. My favorite was the story of how Ford rolled out the Edsel, as it relates to seeking (or not seeking!) feedback and the inevitable results. How often have you thought about feedback as a gift? If you hope to propel your career to a new level, it is something to focus on. If you are not getting the feedback you need, it is time to think about how to ask for it.

Joe reminds readers that first impressions are important, but it is even more important to manage the impression you offer. In fact, he details a story of Karen, who had failed to make a good first impression, but who worked to revise how people viewed her. The point – “Every day is an opportunity to make a new first impression – to introduce the world to the new and improved you” (p. 13).

I really enjoyed Joe’s book. It is a good read, with lots of useful information to help anyone who hopes to drive his or her career bus, which is something I write about a lot and believe everyone should do!

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

The first obstacle – picking colors! For the interior decorators among you, this may be hard to believe, but choosing colors for several key rooms in the house seemed like an overwhelming problem. What if it looked bad? What needed to match? Or not match? I had no interest in making a mistake in my home.

What did I finally do? I hired an expert. Laura came in with her paint swatches, asked me what I liked and proceeded to explain what she would recommend. She has seen the colors she recommended to me in many, many homes. On the walls! I trusted her ideas and knew I could move forward confidently.

But, that wasn’t all. I still had a few choices to make. I needed to buy some samples and see how I liked them on the walls. But, being “too busy” (I really am busy – how do you think this blog gets written?!), I procrastinated. For a long time. It wasn’t until the painter I had said I would hire called back to check in that I finally went to work on making final color selections. It was easier to TALK about making a change than it was to actually make a change. Surprise!

Does this sound like you? Not about painting, but about your job hunt? Is it overwhelming to even think about starting? I hired someone to help me (trying to take my own advice to hire an expert). Should you do the same thing? Think about it – you can sit around and procrastinate or you can take some action!

Even when I had my professional advice, I still needed to actually take action and move forward. The same is true for you. No matter what, you will need to take steps to move forward. The fact is, nothing was going to get painted in my house unless I made a conscious choice – and took a bit of a chance.  Nothing happens without action.

What action are you taking to move your job hunt forward?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by jaygooby

I vaguely remember her story, which Wikipedia sums up:

Caroline Michelle “Carrie” Prejean (born May 13, 1987)^[1] is an American model and former beauty queen from Vista, California. She held the title of Miss California USA 2009, and placed first runner up in the Miss USA 2009 pageant. She gained nationwide attention over her answer to a question about same-sex marriage. She was eventually dethroned on June 10, 2009, with the producers of the Miss California USA pageant citing continued alleged breach of contract issues as the reason. Prejean called those claims false, and filed a libel suit alleging that she has been discriminated against due to her religious views.^[2][3] However, the legal battle between her the pageant officials was settled out of court on November 3, 2009 following the revelation of a “sex tape” involving Prejean^[4].

Since it would be a shame for me to take the evening off (!)…I happened to tune in to the interview when Carrie was talking about why she was fired from her role. She made it clear that she had not been released from her contract (which involved a highly confidential settlement) because of any moral considerations. Instead, she noted that it was because she was “difficult to work with.” Hmm…

I am not an expert on her case, but further in the interview, she did make a point of saying that she hopes her book teaches other young women to be careful of what they do and that they don’t do anything they’d be embarressed about down the road.

I have some career advice for Ms. Prejean – and everyone else:

Announcing that you are “difficult to work with” on national television is not a great career move. Maybe I am going out out a limb here, but I am willing to bet that there are more people out there who would work with someone who had a lapse in judgement as a teenager than people who would like to work with a self-professed “difficult to work with” 22-year old!

Ironically, the interview continued by Carrie telling Larry King he was being “inappropriate” in his questions to her, and then she almost walked off of the set when he took a phone call that she said was not part of the agreement. (Could she have just reminded him that she was not planning to take any calls?)

To me, it looked like a career lesson. On my evening off. So – there it is for you. Don’t make a sex tape. Don’t be rude on national television. And, most importantly, do NOT announce that you were considered “difficult to work with.” This is not an asset for most jobs.

—

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by cattius photo

Intuition is the apparent ability to acquire knowledge without inference or the use of reason.^[1] “The word ‘intuition’ comes from the Latin word ‘intueri’, which is often roughly translated as meaning ‘to look inside’ or ‘to contemplate’.”^[2] Intuition provides us with beliefs that we cannot necessarily justify. For this reason, it has been the subject of study in psychology, as well as a topic of interest in the supernatural. The “right brain” is popularly associated with intuitive processes such as aesthetic abilities.^[3][4][5] Some scientists have contended that intuition is associated with innovation in scientific discovery.

- Wikipedia

I’ve been thinking a lot about intuition and the job hunt. A lot of people who contact me have been looking for a job for a long time before they seek help. They realize that something isn’t working and hope that getting help will – help! But, why does it take so long? Why doesn’t intuition kick in sooner?

Which begs the question: Is intuition a skill we acquire or a talent we refine? The question, posed on LinkedIn and responded to by many people, is probably key. Clearly, some people have a stronger sense of intuition than others – about their job hunts and everything else!

So, I did a Google search for intuition in the job hunt. Not surprisingly, the first result was written by Kathy Hansen from Quint Careers, a giant in online career search resources.

Kathy shares “tips to sharpen your intuition and use it for making career choices.”(Bold from Kathy, commentary is my own.)

• Accept your gut feelings. Do you remember someone once telling you to “go with your first choice” on a standardized test? While “your first choice” is not necessarily the best one for all of life’s concerns, it is important to recognize that you have a “gut instinct.” Think about it and use it when you are navigating your job hunt..
• Know yourself. Think about it. Who knows you better than you do? Take advantage of what you know and let it guide you.
• Journal your thoughts about career choices. This is a useful way to track information you otherwise might ignore.
• Seek a calm, quiet place to ruminate on your intuitive thoughts. Kathy says, “It’s OK to wait for the insight you need to make a choice.” I agree totally – rushing to judge and acting impulsively are unlikely to help you with your job hunt. (Note the difference between “impulsivity” and “intuition,” per wikipedia:

Impulsivity (or impulsiveness) is a type of human behavior characterized by the inclination of an individual to act on impulse rather than thought.^[1] Although part of the normal behavior, impulsivity also plays a role in many mental illnesses.

• Take baby steps. You probably want to rush. Getting a job is important. Going slowly is okay.
• It’s OK to use both intuition and rational, analytical thinking to make career choices, especially if you are not highly intuitive. Kathy suggests, “Use reason to test your hunches. Once you think you’ve made an intuitive choice, ask yourself the logical questions that draw on your powers of reason. You can also visualize possible outcomes of your decision.”
• Be positive and assume you have the resources to make a good choice. You can’t really underestimate the importance of having a positive attitude.
• Ask the right questions. What are the right questions? I’d suggest – “What brought me to this point, and what, if anything, do I want/need to change?” Also – “What steps can I take to bring me closer to my goal?
  

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by lefiaf.geo

When job seekers contact me and don’t know what they want to do next, I tell them I can’t help them. Actually, that’s not exactly what I tell them. I do explain that I only work with people who know their next target job. I don’t write “general resumes,” nor do I do what I call “find your bliss” coaching. If clients need help figuring out their next steps, I can offer some suggestions about how to go about finding jobs you might not even know existed (maybe a topic for a future post), but otherwise, I will refer those clients to work with a trusted colleague and advise them to come back to me when they are ready to focus on a job search.

So, I don’t usually write about the topic of “figuring out your next step.” A few recent occurences have made me think about this, though…

A friend of mine, who has been running her own business for the better part of the last several years, recently took an opportunity to do some work that was very similar to what she used to do before her current gig. The money was too good, so she couldn’t pass it up. Unfortunately, she admitted to me how BORED she is with the work. Remembering her talk about her previous job, it never occurred to me that she had disliked it, so I pressed her to explain.

It turns out that she had really LOVED this job in the old days. It felt challenging, different every day – even thrilling at times. Now, that same work is so boring, she can hardly get anything done without something running in the background.

What changed? She realized where her TRUE passions lie in the interim. It’s a different type of work, a different type of interaction with people  that excites her now. If the money were not so good, she would not even consider going back. Maybe, some would say, she should STILL not go back, even for the money, but I’m about practicality, so I’m not one of those voices!

Coincidentally, I recently had the opportunity to meet Rick Smith, author of 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers and The Leap. Rick’s focus is on showing people that “3 simple changes can propel your career from good to great.” He launched what he calls his “primary colors” assessment, which he says helps people identify where their passions should take them. In fact, he believes that working to find your passions (or your “primary color“) and then working to move in the direction of that passion is the first step to success (p. 192).

Rick’s personal story (basically, he was laid off from his recruiting job and wound up founding an elite senior executive networking organization) and those of the people profiled in his book can certainly inspire anyone to take that “leap” into doing something different. What I really like about Rick’s idea is that the “leap” does not necessarily need to be into entrepreneurship. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that people who recognize what they love doing will be able to direct their job search in the right direction.

I enjoyed The Leap…If you are struggling with your next step, I think you will, too. (Be sure to watch Rick’s video. It is pretty inspiring!) Learn more about Rick and his book HERE.

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

One has been out of a job for almost a year. She is really tired of looking for work, and chafes at the idea of ramping up her networking. She “doesn’t have time” to optimize her LinkedIn profile and focus on using Twitter for the job hunt. Even thought she has a great resume and terrific experience, she has a tough time getting engaged in the hunt and she has nothing good to say about how things are going.

Our other job seeker has also been looking for work for almost a year.  She went at it alone for most of the time, doing what she thought was right (it wasn’t) and banging her head against the proverbial wall. When she reached out for help, she was frustrated, but open to new ideas. She understood that “you can’t expect to do the same thing and expect a different result.” That really made sense to her.

She was actually HAPPY to know that there were things she had NOT tried. It energized her to have new networking plans and suggestions about social networking tools to use to fuel her hunt. Her attitude is upbeat, and although she’d most like to land a job TOMORROW, she knows that she is on the right track now and will find a job that is right for her soon.

Look in the mirror. Do you recognize yourself in these profiles? Which job seeker do you think is likely to land more quickly? Not to be a doomsday predictor, but even well qualified people can easily be out of work for extended periods if they do not conduct an optimized search.

Additionally, don’t forget  how important your attitude is in the job hunt. I worry about my clients who seem too wrapped up in the negative to take advantage of all the resources available to them.

Think about it – NOW is the time to make a change. It’s not too late to have a good attitude and to move forward confidently with your search. WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?

I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by escape to christel