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

Are you unhappy in your current job and considering a career change? How can you know whether you should change careers or just switch jobs within the same field? Find Your Dream Job guest Cynthia Pong says you need to know why you want to make a change before starting over. You begin by asking questions about why you’re unhappy and what your career goals are. Cynthia recommends making small pivots unless you’re paralyzed and feeling miserable in your job. If that’s the case, Cynthia says to go ahead and make any change and course-correct later.  About Our Guest: Cynthia Pong (https://www.linkedin.com/in/embracechangenyc/)is a feminist career strategist, speaker, and author. Cynthia is on a mission to help women of color to get the money, power, and respect they deserve. Resources in This Episode: Check out all the free resources Cynthia offers on her site, embracechange.nyc/covid-19-career-guide-women-of-color-job-seekers (https://embracechange.nyc/covid-19-career-guide-women-of-color-job-seekers) If you

All too often, we see layoffs as a problem instead of an opportunity. Yes, you likely need a steady income, but if you take any job you can find, you’re going to be unhappy down the road. How can you spend the layoff time productively? Find Your Dream Job guest Simone Morris says you start by getting in the driver’s seat of your career. Find gig work to put food on the table and then get serious about figuring out who you are, what you want, and where you want to be. Simone says you need to be proactive in developing relationships, learning new skills, and building your personal brand. About Our Guest: Simone Morris (https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonemorris/) is a speaker, author, and coach. She helps job seekers with career planning, partnerships, and branding. Resources in This Episode: Learn more about the career services Simone offers by visiting her website at www.connectwithsimone.com.(http://www.connectwithsimone.com/) If you’re ready to be in the driver’s seat of your career, tune in to Simone’s p

If you’re looking for a job you will love and where you can make a difference, you need a custom resume and cover letter for every application you turn in. Find Your Dream Job guest Monica Haut says custom application materials begin with the specific company name, the keywords used in the job listing, and the unique skills you bring to the table. Monica also stresses the importance of keeping the resume concise, with plenty of white space. Custom applications give you the greatest opportunity to find your dream job.  About Our Guest: Monica Haut (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-haut-4735449/) is the human resources manager at  Hopworks Urban Brewery. (http://www.hopworksbeer.com) It’s a family-owned and operated company that employs more than 100 people across the Pacific Northwest.  Resources in This Episode: Learn more about Hopworks Urban Brewery at www.hopworksbeer.com. (http://www.hopworksbeer.com) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresum

Do you wake up every morning dreading going to work? Not because of a bad boss or work environment, but because you aren’t fulfilled in the work you do? If so, Find Your Dream Job guest, Anuja Sinha, says it may be time to reinvent yourself. Reinventing yourself is a deeper process than merely switching jobs, says Anuja. It’s about figuring out who you are and what you want. Your job impacts your entire life, so why stay in a position that is draining you? Anuja recommends taking the time necessary to discover your purpose and finding a job that suits that purpose. And if you do it right, you’ll never have to do it again.  About Our Guest: Anuja Sinha (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuja-sinha/) is the human resources generalist at Boys & Girls Aid. (https://www.boysandgirlsaid.org/) It’s a foster and adoption agency that has built lifelong connections in Oregon since 1885.  Resources in This Episode: For more information on the services offered by Boys and Girls Aid, visit their website at boysandgirlsaid.o

If it’s been a while since you did a job search, you might feel a bit rusty. And that’s completely normal. One of your first priorities should be identifying the people who will help you work through the process, whether that’s through introductions to others in your chosen industry or simply standing by as emotional back-up. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Chris Ling (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurisuringu/) and I talk about his move from lawyer to data engineer. Chris shares how networking with others and practicing the skills necessary for his new career helped him achieve his career goals. Learn more about Chris’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series. (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you submit a job application, you’re adding your resume to a stack of resumes. Is there any way to make yours stand out to a recruiter? According to Find Your Dream Job guest Samantha Kennen, the answer is yes. Samantha suggests beginning with enthusiasm. Show your excitement for the position by being specific about what you would bring to the job. Samantha also recommends sharing numbers to quantify your skills whenever possible, as well as listing clear objectives or career goals near the top of your customized resume.  About Our Guest: Samantha Kennen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthakennen/) is the human resources director at Grand Central Bakery. (https://www.grandcentralbakery.com/) Her company’s hand-crafted breads and pastries are beloved locally and recognized nationally.  Resources in This Episode: Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/samanthakennen/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthakennen/) To learn more about Grand Central Bakery, visit their website at www.grandce

If you’re one of several hundred applicants for a job, you can’t afford to stand by and hope your resume gets noticed. You need to find a side door to get in. But how do you find it, and how do you best use it when you do? Your first step, says Find Your Dream Job guest Dana Pratt, is to tailor your resume for the specific company. Next, Dana recommends using business tools and resources to see if you have a connection inside the company. Don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone, online or in person, who could make an introduction for you.  About Our Guest: Dana Pratt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danacpratt/) is the founder of DCP Training and Talent Development. Her company helps employers with performance consulting, leadership development, and talent management.  Resources in This Episode: To learn more about the services Dana offers, visit her website at https://www.dcptraining.net/. (https://www.dcptraining.net/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/

One great way to find your dream job is by getting in on the ground floor of a new field or industry. In today’s job market, the cannabis industry is wide open for growth and expansion as adult-use is legalized in more states. If you want to get into the field of cannabis, Find Your Dream Job guest Ryan Rosenfeld suggests you begin with education. Then, figure out which arm of the industry you’re most interested in, from growing to the C-Suite, and reach out to cannabis companies to inquire about hiring opportunities based on your skillset.  About Our Guest: Ryan Rosenfeld (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-r-rosenfeld-greenforce/) is the president of Greenforce Staffing. It’s a full-service full-service staffing and employment agency for the cannabis industry.  Resources in This Episode: Find out more about how you can get into the cannabis industry by visiting Ryan’s website at greenforcestaffing.com. (https://greenforcestaffing.com/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.

If you start a job search by saying you’re open to anything, you’re really saying that you have no idea what you want. And if you don’t know what you want, how will you convince a hiring manager that you’re the right fit for a job opening? Instead of being “open to anything,” Find Your Dream Job guest Corbin C. says you have to be focused on finding a job that you will enjoy and that you are qualified for. Corbin advises not wasting time applying for jobs you don’t actually want, and learning to apply the experience you have to a specific position, even if that’s mostly volunteer experience.  About Our Guest: Corbin C (https://www.linkedin.com/in/corbinc/) is a career and technology advisor at Boly:Welch. It's a B Corp that offers recruiting, staffing, and executive search services.  Resources in This Episode: For more information on the workshops that Corbin and his colleagues offer for job seekers, visit https://bolywelch.com/jobseekers/. (https://bolywelch.com/jobseekers/) From our Sponsor: Find Your

Finding a new job can present many challenges for anyone, but for those job seekers who are older, those challenges can sometimes seem insurmountable. While ageism is illegal, it remains an obstacle for many people hoping to change careers. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Lisa Lawrence (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-lawrence-77806211/) and I discuss how she overcame the stigma of being an older worker and used her years of experience to her advantage. Lisa also shares the necessity of educating yourself on your chosen field and finding common ground between the career you’re leaving and the one you’re hoping to begin. Learn more about Lisa’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series. (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you are currently searching for your next position, what is it that you’re looking for? Are you interested in moving up to the next level or do you want to change fields? Perhaps you want to explore a new location. Before you apply for a new job, Find Your Dream Job guest Felicia Rivers says you have to figure out what’s driving you to make the change. After you identify your driver, choose companies that will meet that desire. But, Felicia says, don’t skip doing your homework. Going into an interview unprepared is a sign to a hiring manager that you aren’t really interested in the position or the organization.  About Our Guest: Felicia Rivers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciarivers/) is the director of talent at the Tillamook Creamery Association, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative headquartered in Tillamook County, Oregon. Felicia has almost 20 years of experience in talent acquisition. Resources in This Episode: From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.o

If you’re applying for certain jobs just because you think you should, maybe you need a new strategy. It’s easy to let fear hold you back or make you think you have to settle for a position that’s not going to fulfill you or meet your needs, says Find Your Dream Job guest Jackie Mitchell. What you need, Jackie says, is a mindset shift. You need to get clear on what you want and develop the confidence to go after it. Focusing on what you want instead of what you think you should accept is much more likely to land you in a fulfilling and satisfying role.  About Our Guest: Jackie Mitchell is a certified career coach. She helps professional women feel fulfilled, achieve financial goals, and have well-rounded careers and lives.  Resources in This Episode: If you’re a high-achieving, professional woman and you’re ready to take your career to the next level, check out Jackie’s services at www.jackiemitchellcareerconsulting.com/.(https://www.jackiemitchellcareerconsulting.com/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream

If you’re a job seeker in the current market, you know how crowded that market is. Excellent references and a professional resume are no longer enough to get you the job you want. To stand out to an employer, you must be strategic about communicating your unique skillset, says Find Your Dream Job guest Sarah Friedell O’Connell. How do you do that? Sarah says you start by developing your personal brand. Get clarity on the positions you’re interested in and on the value, you bring to a company. Sarah also recommends using branding exercises to build your confidence in what you have to offer.  About Our Guest: Sarah Friedell O'Connell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfriedelloconnell/) is an executive coach and the owner of ChangePoint Advisors. (https://www.changepointadvisors.com/) It’s a firm that helps senior executives navigate career changes.  Resources in This Episode: Are you a senior executive working through a career transition? Find out how Sarah can help you by visiting her website at www.changep

If you don’t have the exact skills a job posting lists, do you still have a chance to be hired for the position? It’s definitely possible, especially if you can communicate that the skills you do have can be applied to the job. Find Your Dream Job guest Ian Yee says that one of the best ways to talk about your transferable skills is to answer questions with stories of how the skills you possess meet the requirements. Ian reminds us that all of our experiences provide us with skills and abilities that we can use in our workplace. He also stresses the need to highlight those abilities in an interview.  About Our Guest: Ian Yee (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianwyyee/) is the safety and employment coordinator for Janus Youth Programs.  It’s a  non-profit that changes the lives of young people in Oregon and Washington.  Resources in This Episode: To learn more about the mission and services of Janus Youth Programs, visit www.janusyouth.org/.(http://www.janusyouth.org/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is

One of the toughest parts of switching from a for-profit position to the nonprofit world is communicating that you have the skills necessary for the job. Nonprofit jobs can be very specific in the skills they require. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlan-glazier-anderson/) shares how she matched her transferable skills to the job descriptions of the positions she was interested in. Ashlan also invested time into personalizing her resume for each job she applied to. Learn more about Ashlan’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regardless of your age, you could face discrimination in your job search. Is ageism illegal? Yes, but that doesn’t mean it no longer exists. The good news is there are practical steps you can take to overcome the stereotypes about older workers. Updating your technical skills should be your first priority, says Find Your Dream Job guest Debbie Lipton. Ditch the AOL email address, update your LinkedIn profile, and use online training sites for specific skills. Debbie also recommends showing how you can work well with colleagues of any age, and why you want the job you’re applying for.  About Our Guest:  Debbie Lipton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deblipton/) is the founder and owner of Lipton Career Management. Before starting her company, she worked as a career counselor, hiring manager, trainer, and staffing specialist.  Resources in This Episode: If you need help learning how to be a better job candidate, visit One-Stop Career Center. (https://www.careeronestop.org//) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream J

If you’re looking for a job, self-awareness is the most important thing you bring to an interview with a hiring manager. Knowing what you know is important. But even more important, says Find Your Dream Job guest Tia Coachman, is knowing what you don’t know. Tia says you have to be willing to share what your limitations are and what you need to learn in order to reach new levels. Admitting what you don’t know shows a potential employer that you are teachable and that you have the humility necessary to do the work required to level up to higher responsibilities.  About Our Guest: Tia B. Coachman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbcoachman/) is the Founder/Principal Consultant of Affirma Consultancy which provides bespoke HR Advisory and Executive Search services. Resources in This Episode: If your company needs assistance with HR, learn more about the services Tia’s company offers at www.affirmaconsultancy.com/. (https://www.affirmaconsultancy.com/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by T

If your job search is taking longer than expected, you may notice some unpleasant symptoms like anxiety and sleeplessness. These things, in turn, can lead to poor decision making. And poor decision making can lead to a hiring manager noticing your stress levels and wondering if you can do the job. If you find yourself in a downward spiral, Find Your Dream Job guest Chase Sterling says you can change it by developing a healthy daily routine. Chase also shares how mindfulness and gratitude can be key ways to lower your stress and anxiety. About Our Guest: Chase Sterling (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasesterling/) is the Founder of HHP Cultures, whose mission is to improve the world by improving workplaces. Resources in This Episode: For a healthier workplace, check out Chase’s website for HHP Cultures, hhpcultures.com/. (https://hhpcultures.com/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land m

COVID-19 has put a damper on in-person networking events. But networking is still a crucial component of finding your next position. Have you ever considered all the ways LinkedIn can be used for networking? If not, you’re missing a huge opportunity, says Find Your Dream Job guest Ana Lokotkova. Ana says we need to look at LinkedIn as more of a social media platform than just a place to drop your resume and leave. She shares how to create a plan to help you reach out to others and the importance of developing a creative profile and headline.   About Our Guest: Ana Lokotkova (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alokotkova/) is an international career advisor, speaker, and LinkedIn branding trainer.  Resources in This Episode: If you need help preparing for your next job, get more resources at Ana’s website, https://www.cvlabs.ca/. (https://www.cvlabs.ca/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land

If your job search has been going on for longer than you expected, you might find yourself discouraged. It can be demoralizing to go to interview after interview and never be offered the job. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Heather Back (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherback/) and I talk about her two-year-long job search and how she finally landed a job. Heather shares the changes she made in her job search strategy, which included finding new networking opportunities after moving to a new city and narrowing down the exact type of position she wanted. Learn more about Heather’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series. (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices