Find Your Dream Job: Insider Tips For Finding Work, Advancing Your Career, And Loving Your Job

If you find yourself avoiding networking events, maybe you need to change your mindset around them. It’s normal to feel nervous when you don’t know anyone who will be there or you feel unsure of what to say or do. Find Your Dream Job guest Linda Van Valkenburgh says that preparation is the key when attending a networking event. Linda also advises putting together a one-pager to distribute rather than your resume, bringing business cards, and thinking through what you want to share before you get there. About Our Guest: Linda Van Valkenburgh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindavan/) is a certified executive career coach. She helps her clients plan, manage, and organize individualized career campaigns. Linda is a frequent speaker at networking and professional groups. She also has presented at the Yale School of Management and the University of Connecticut’s School of Business. Resources in This Episode: Visit Linda’s website (http://www.myexecutivecareercoach.com/) to take a career transition assessment. T

You’ve found a great job opportunity and you’re excited about the possibilities. It seems like the perfect fit for you. But is sharing your enthusiasm with the hiring manager enough to get you hired? Not always. Sometimes, the fit may be perfect for you but not for the company. How can you approach your job search keeping the company's needs in mind? Find Your Dream Job guest Susanne Aronowitz says you need to show the employer the value you can bring to the position. The more you can connect with the employer, the more likely they will be to see you as the right person for the job. About Our Guest: Susanne Aronowitz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannearonowitz/) is certified career coach. She’s helped thousands of lawyers and other professionals achieve career success. A former attorney herself, Susanne helps her clients with career exploration, transition, and growth. Resources in This Episode: For more information on how Susanne can help you achieve your professional goals, visit her website at susan

You know that you need to ask for help when looking for a job. But what do you do when the people you reach out to don’t respond? How can you get people to vouch for your credentials and become your job search champions? Find Your Dream Job guest Lora Poepping says you need to make it as easy as possible for others to help you by having a clear and articulate message about what you’re looking for. It’s also important to show appreciation for the new connections that come from your career champions. About Our Guest: Lora Poepping (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorapoepping/) is the founder and president of Plum Coaching and Consulting (https://plumseattle.com/). Lora’s company helps clients around the world with job search, career coaching, resumes, and LinkedIn services. Every member of Plum’s 13-person team has been a recruiter and knows how hiring works. Resources in This Episode: To learn more about the services Lora offers in HR consulting and job search coaching, visit her website, Plum Coaching and C

Every year, the “Find Your Dream Job” team asks listeners for their feedback on the podcast format, length, and topics. We discovered that 18 percent of listeners are interested in exploring the topic of career change, and 15 percent are interested in discussing job search strategies.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s listener survey, your feedback goes a long way towards making the show better! We greatly appreciate your support. We also received dozens of great questions from listeners about job hunting, networking, and career building. On today’s bonus episode, Mac and Jessica sit down to answer five tactical job search questions from listeners around the country. Listen in to find out how to move up in a company when you are not outgoing, and what’s the best practice for following up after submitting a job application. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve exhausted your personal network and run out of known resources, you may need to reach out to people you do not know online for the next step in your job search or career. But what if they don’t answer you? Find Your Dream Job guest Stacey Lane says that you need to make it easy for the other person to say yes. You do this by getting your ask in quickly without sharing too much backstory, not expecting too much of their time, and only sharing minimal context. Stacey also recommends finding someone whose thought leadership you appreciate so that you have common ground from which to initiate a conversation. About Our Guest: Stacey Lane (https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceylane/) is a nationally recognized career coach. She helps people with everything from networking to personal branding. Stacey is known for her candid career guidance. And her advice has appeared in local and national publications. Resources in This Episode: For free templates to help you connect with strangers online, visit Stacey’

Before you send out your next job application, you need to research standard salaries for your industry and position. It’s easy to be so determined to land a new job that you don’t stop to consider what your career and financial goals are. Find Your Dream Job guest Anica John says that you need to enter a job search strategically, playing to your strengths and desires rather than settling for any role that you're offered. Anica also shares that talking to people who are hiring for similar positions at other companies can help you calculate an accurate salary range. About Our Guest: Anica John (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anicajohn/) is a federal litigator turned serial technology entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Level Up 90 (https://www.levelup90.com/). It’s a professional development platform for women who work in technology. Resources in This Episode: If you’re ready to level up in your tech career and find more fulfillment in your work, visit Anica’s website at levelup90.com. If you wait for empl

Whether you realize it or not, you have a personal brand; something you are known for and that represents you in your career space. But if you are in the midst of switching careers, you may need to rebrand yourself. Find Your Dream Job guest Lisa Lewis says that building a new personal brand begins with deepening self-knowledge and self-assessment. Developing authentic relationships with others is key to redirecting  your career goals. Lisa also shares how to tell your story in a way that invites the listener into a real conversation. About Our Guest: If there's a job out there, Lisa Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamlewis/) has probably done it. Lisa is a career change coach and the CEO of Lisa Lewis Careers (https://lisalewiscareers.com/). She’s also one of only seven coaches in the world trained and certified in the Pivot Method. Resources in This Episode: For more information on working with Lisa to map out career transitions of your own, visit lisalewiscareers.com/macslist. Your presence onli

If you’re returning to work after a long break, you need to prepare long before you start looking for that perfect job. Volunteering in your community is a great way to grow professionally while maintaining your skill set. You also have a chance to meet others who share your interests and values. Find Your Dream Job guest Anneliese Davis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneliesedavis/) shares how she used volunteer work to not only keep her skills sharp but to decide what type of career she wanted. Anneliese tells us that approaching her job search with curiosity allowed her to switch careers and find a job she loves. Learn more about Anneliese’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) series. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I’m the part-time executive director (and first staff member!) for Rahab’s Sisters (http://rahabs-sisters.org/), a 14-year-old organization providing radical hospitality to marginalized women every

New college graduates often struggle with networking. They may feel that they have nothing to offer or that they’re wasting time with informational interviews. But good networking leads to career success. Find Your Dream Job guest Shawn Lipton says that the best networkers have a methodical approach to meeting and staying in touch with people. They also network even when they aren’t looking for a job. Shawn tells us why most professionals actually want to meet with new graduates and how to make that initial contact. About Our Guest: Shawn Lipton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnlipton/) is a certified master coach. His company, The Trusted Coach (http://thetrustedcoach.com/), has helped thousands of professionals land jobs and develop careers. Shawn also is the author of “50 Proven Networking Tips for Career Development Success” and two other books. Resources in This Episode: Shawn offers strategies on developing your career and landing your ideal job. Find out more at The Trusted Coach (http://thetrust

Is it ever a good idea to apply for a job when you are overqualified? Perhaps you’ve moved to a new city or you’re trying to get a job at your dream company, and you’re considering taking a smaller role to get your foot in the door. Find Your Dream Job guest Phiona Martin says you can get hired for a job where you're overqualified, but you must be able to answer a hiring manager’s specific concerns about hiring you. Phiona shares the most common questions you will be asked, how to give genuine answers, along with tips on preparing for your interview and writing a great cover letter. About Our Guest: Phiona Martin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/phiona-martin/) is a registered industrial psychologist. Her work focuses on careers, talent, and leadership. Phiona's key experience has been in the consulting, education and corporate environments. As a thought leadership enthusiast, she provides expert opinions on career development on many media platforms, including her own career advice website. Resources in This

If you spend most of your time during a job search filling out online applications and responding to job board listings, you may want to consider more active strategies such as informational interviews with targeted employers. Find Your Dream Job guest, Lesa Edwards, says that you need both active and passive strategies for your job hunt. Lesa also shares how to organize your time, based on where you are in your career, in order to make the most of both strategies. There is no wrong strategy; it’s simply a matter of what will get you the job of your dreams faster and easier. About Our Guest: Lesa Edwards (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesacareercoach/) is the CEO of Exclusive Career Coaching. She’s an expert in career management and job search strategies. She also hosts the weekly podcast, The Exclusive Career Coach. Previously, Lesa was director of university career centers in Georgia and Missouri. Lesa has a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University and a bachelor’s in music education

In the digital age, nurturing our human relationships matter more than ever. This also applies to your job search! Informational interviews are a great way to begin building those relationships and to develop your network. Find Your Dream Job guest Colby Reade says that you need to think of informational interviews like a business meeting. You should go into them with a clear goal, a set of specific questions to ask, and a plan for following up. These conversations can not only help you in your job search; they can create a network that can help your career for years to come. About Our Guest: Colby Reade's day job has been all about communication (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbyreade/). He first built a career in journalism before launching a second career in public relations. Colby also works as a career coach and advisor. He helps professionals find and thrive in careers they love. He shares advice every week on his own podcast, Coffee with Colby (http://coffeewithcolby.buzzsprout.com/). Resources in T

When changing jobs or career paths, many people send out dozens of resumes, hoping that at least a few of them will result in an interview. If they’re lucky, they might even get a job offer. Before you send out a flood of resumes, however, you need to take some time to figure out your transferable skills and what you can offer to a company. Then use your network to discover jobs that may not have been posted or publicized. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Benny Kuo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennykuo/) and I talk about how he used his connections to find his current job. We also discuss why having an undergrad degree in an unrelated field may actually be helpful on your job hunt. Learn more about Benny’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) series.   What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I work in the high tech sector as a product marketing manager for CRU, Inc (https://www.cru-inc.com/). I develop str

As a culture, we are more disconnected than ever before. We move often and change jobs quickly. Many people don’t think about networking until they need help in finding their next job. It’s vital to stay connected to others and to nurture our network even when we don’t need help. Find Your Dream Job podcast guest, Karen Wickre, says a great network can provide you with many benefits other than a lead on a new job. Karen also explains how daily networking habits can keep you from feeling overwhelming and can make a real difference in your life and the lives of your professional connections.. About Our Guest: A long-time communicator and connector, Karen Wickre (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenwickre/) has spent more than 30 years in Silicon Valley as an editor and collaborator. Her new book, “Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introverts Guide to Connections That Count,” reflects her lifelong interest in making meaningful connections. An avid media consumer, Karen also serves on the boards of several org

If you walk into an interview ready to answer questions but don’t have any of your own to ask, you are not taking full advantage of the interview process. You have a responsibility to not only answer questions but to ask them of everyone you talk to within the company, from the HR staff to the team members, to the hiring manager. The answers you receive will tell you a lot about how things really work inside the company. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, my guest Michelle Neal says that if you get conflicting answers to your questions, especially from the team and the hiring manager, that is your sign to run. It can be hard to walk away from a job offer if you’ve been out of work for a while but just remember, you can’t change people, and working in an unhealthy environment doesn’t benefit anyone. About Our Guest: Michelle Neal (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelnealmpa/) is a career coach and the owner of Consulting with Integrity (http://www.consultingintegrity.com/). Her passion is helping peopl

It’s natural to feel discouraged if you’re unemployed. But if you base your identity on what you do for a living, you may self-sabotage when looking for a new job. Feelings of worthlessness or desperation can lead you to apply for jobs that aren’t a good fit or cause you to bomb an interview because of your low self-esteem. Find Your Dream Job podcast guest Kali Rogers says that one way to stay positive during a job search is to remain curious. Treat your job hunt like a research project. Kali also says that it’s a big mistake to not tell others when you are looking for a job; if people don’t know you’re looking, they can’t share with you possible openings they may know about. About Our Guest: Kali Rogers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalirogers/) is the founder of Blush Online Life Coaching (https://joinblush.com/). Kali helps women grow self-confidence, get over nasty breakups, and work on better relationships. She’s also the author of “Conquering Your Quarter-Life Crisis," (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072L

It can feel frustrating to hear that you are overqualified for the job you want. Hiring managers may feel it’s a waste of both time and money to hire you if you have more experience than the job requires. There are ways around this, including doing your research to understand where the company is heading and taking advantage of any connections you have within the company. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Johnny Hartman (www.linkedin.com/in/johnanthonyhartman/) and I discuss how he tapped into his personal network to overcome two specific challenges in his job search: skills that were seen as being too specialized and being overqualified. Learn more about Johnny’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories (www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) series. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? From feature films to interactive virtual worlds, I’ve crafted media experiences both commercially for some of the biggest brands on the planet, as well as for entertainmen

If you are preparing to return to work after some time as a stay at home parent, you may feel unsure about where to begin. How do you explain the gap in your resume while also showing what you’ve accomplished during that time? Find Your Dream Job podcast guest Stephanie Smith says a smart job search strategy starts with getting your career documents in order. Stephanie also stresses the importance of using online tools like LinkedIn to help you stay in touch with industry leaders. And you should never underestimate the value of connecting with others through parenting groups or volunteer opportunities. Parenthood is a powerful experience that brings people together and those relationships can help you not only personally, but also professionally. About Our Guest: Stephanie Smith (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieannesmith/) is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Livelipath (https://livelipath.com/#/index). It’s a software company that customizes your resume and cover letter for any job applica

One of the biggest challenges older job seekers face is connecting with younger hiring managers. Too many older workers look for jobs with the wrong employers and are not clear about the value of their experience. Today’s guest on the Find Your Dream Job podcast, Ruth Winden, says that if you have trouble working with younger hiring managers, you can fix it. Ruth encourages older workers to begin by focusing their job search on companies that hire people from multiple generations. She also says it’s important for older workers to emphasize management experience and any evergreen skills they have. As an older worker, it’s up to you to find ways to connect with younger hiring managers and to be prepared for your next interview. About Our Guest: Ruth Winden (www.linkedin.com/in/ruthwinden) is a career coach for professionals in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. She helps older workers overcome age bias and land new jobs with clarity, focus, and confidence. Ruth is also the author of the forthcoming book, “101 Ways t

There are many reasons why you might stay in a job you hate. You may be worried about what others will think or perhaps you feel that you’ve invested too much time in the position to walk away. Quitting can be good for your career, however. It can be one of the tools you use to carve out the career and life you want. Today’s guest on the Find Your Dream Job podcast, Lynn Marie Morski, says that quitting your job can improve not only your career, but also your health and your relationships. In order to quit well, you need to understand the difference between quitting and giving up. Lynn Marie tells us how to quit in a thoughtful, strategic way. About Our Guest: Lynn Marie Morski (www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-marie-morski-md-esq/) is a physician, attorney, and speaker. She’s also a lifelong quitter. Lynn Marie is on a mission to help people carve out a successful life through strategic quitting. And she’s the author of “Quitting by Design.” Resources in This Episode: Major life change almost always requires qu