Job Search and Career Transition

You just landed a networking meeting. You say, "I'm ready for my next role! What do you think?!" In my experience, your networking contact will first ask you what job you want to target. You must be prepared to answer this question and not say, "I have done it all! I can do anything!" This is a Swiss Army knife approach. You should also expect questions like these: Why Are You Transitioning?: What are the reasons behind your career transition? This could provide context for your decision and help them offer relevant advice or connections. What Skills and Experience Do You Bring?: They will ask about your current skill set and professional background to assess how your existing capabilities align with your desired transition. They might offer how you can leverage your strengths and apply it to the next job. What Steps Have You Taken So Far?: Networking contacts often want to know what proactive steps you've already taken in your transition. This could include courses, certifications, workshops, or any research you've done on the new industry or role. Have You Identified Potential Employers or Industries?: Again - this goes back to your target. Do you have clarity around this? If not, let them know you are trying to "get smarter" about what industries, companies, or types of roles you're targeting. How Can I Assist You?: Many people will ask how they can help! Have you thought about how to answer this question beyond, "Yes, please keep an eye out and let me know!" It is difficult to gain effective support if you can't articulate your ask. Find out more about why most times you want to lead with your sharp tool vs. your Swiss Army knife with this interview I conducted with Jennifer Davis: https://lnkd.in/gg-mv9tH #careers #jobs #management

I was a TAP (Transition Assistance Program) Facilitator 13 years ago. Have the thoughts changed? Let's take a look in this little series of instruction material I recently found. Here are my thoughts on how things have changed or stayed the same in 10+ years. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 (𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎) 1. Relying on one strategy (ie Internet job search only) - Agree: I believe that meeting people and building relationships is the best way to learn about opportunities and sell yourself. -- Attend events, open up, talk, network. 2. Lack of focus/career objectives - Agree: So many want to be a "Program Manager". -- That example is very broad and I hear if for other professions also. -- Target, define, and pursue specific career objectives for success. 3. Failure to identify and use network - Agree: This is still about focus. Discover who you should be communicating with and engineer those relationships. -- Don't go for the ask right away. Mold it into something that is solid. 4. Targeting only large employers - Maybe: For this I really believe it is dependent on your personal choice. -- However, they keyword is 'only'. Once again target your objectives. -- Take this time for self-reflection to determine what is your best fit. 5. Unprofessional materials or appearance - Agree: You are creating a personal brand. That aligns with your overall appearance, approach, and atmosphere of your personal or professionalism. -- Your LinkedIn Profile, Resume, and application process needs to align. 6. Impersonal or disingenuous approach - Agree: Never go straight in for the 'Ask'. Create a conversation and then meld it into your request. -- Also, this is a two-way street. Always be willing to give more than take. 7. Underestimate time needed to search for a job. - Agree: My thought on this has changed a bit. Searching for a job is more than applying. -- You need to research the companies, reach out to current employers, become a referral. It is so much more than the application process. -- Stop searching and start marketing. What are your thoughts on how things have changed over the years. I was a bit surprised at how they are agreeable. However, the approach has slightly been altered.

I’ve looked at 100+ resumes and interviewed dozens of candidates over the last 3 months. Meeting candidates is one of my favorite parts of what I do. Yet so many people show up for an interview without having prepared to stand out and be relevant to the opportunity. So I want to share my process, in the hopes that it helps those going through interviews right now. And share what candidates who stand out do. First, before every interview I do a few things. I know candidates are taking their time to apply and then show up for several interviews. Interviews are a two-way street, and as a hiring manager I do my part too. Here are a few ways hiring managers can prepare, with a social media lens as that’s what I hire: 1. Read the resume, cover note if there’s one. 2. Visit their LinkedIn profile, posts and conversations. And the rest of their social footprint. 3. Explore the social media feeds of their current/past companies. 4. Experience their past company cultures on social media. 5. Research accomplishments and accolades highlighted in the resume. Now it’s your turn. Want to stand out and get the offer? Here are six things I look for: 1. Learn about the company you’re interviewing with so you can integrate relevant points for the role into the conversation. Example, if you’re applying for a social media role, look at the company’s social channels and come prepared to demonstrate your skills, highlight something that resonates, ask questions, etc. 2. Slow down, it’s not about answering questions the fastest. It’s about demonstrating that you’re a direct fit for the role through your answers. If you’ve not done it before that’s ok. Show your interviewer that you’re prepared to do it. 3. Share why you want this role at this company. Shared values? Connection to colleague culture? Speak to how it connects into your career goals, etc. 4. Lead with your skills and how they equip you to deliver results and impact for what the job description outlines. You may not have direct experience but skills are transferable, put that front and center. 5. Demonstrate that you understand the strategy behind your work, IE the ‘why.’ By doing this you show how your goals align to your team’s goals which align to your company’s goals. It speaks to your growth mindset, and that separates you from the pack. 6. Focus your resume to emphasize your skills and relevant experiences in relation to the job accountabilities. No relevant experience? That’s ok, lead with headlines that put your transferable skills front and center. Applying for job opportunities and the interview process can be can be stressful and intimidating. But when you get that interview it’s your time to shine! What tip can you add to help candidates land their next career experience? Please share in comments. #career #futureofwork #interviewtips #jobsearch

I had coffee with someone who wondered how I could be so productive and positive after such an exhausting experience. They’ve been out of work two months before me; I understood the weariness in her typically youthful face and the sadness of her voice. I explained this is the second time in 27 years being part of a management misalignment, re-org/layoff. I remember so vividly the shock and paralysis in 2008. No one says it’s normal to feel like you’re in a haze, you’re angry, you’re hurt. It’s grief and that is normal. I gave her 4 steps that I took to recover and these 4 steps became muscle memory everytime I transitioned from one place to another thereafter. The same 4 steps will save you emotional pain when you know your compass, aka your core values, are being tested or misaligned. - first, start with your why. Why do you work? Why did you want to work there? Why this job? Why this career? - second, what. What did you bring to the team? What did they give you/or what did you learn? What would you do again? What would you do without? What are your non-negotiables? - third, assess. Spend one week assessing if you are up to speed with the market, latest trends in industry, familiar with the newest tools. Go toe to toe with the job descriptions and evaluate yourself. Then get acquainted with the stuff that is missing. Webinars, free conferences, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera + certifications. As you are applying + interviewing, keep learning and apply what you are learning to the conversations. Building your own plane and flying it at the same time; businesses do it all the time! - fourth, create your compass. What motivates you to get up and work? And what do you need to see/feel/hear to be excited about aligning your personal brand with theirs? How will you know if what they say rings true for you? What kind of environment do you need to thrive in? Then use these answers to sort through the jobs, use these answers to reframe your resume, use these answers to refine your networking skills and use these answers to interview opportunities for your career prospects. Use these answers to dissuade your negative thoughts and the people around you who might not understand your compass.

Networking can help you make ANY career transition ↔️ I've made a handful of small/minor career pivots myself, and I have friends & family who have made even BIGGER career pivots. There is one common element that helped each career pivot/transition story, and that is NETWORKING ✨. This Forbes article by career expert Caroline Castrillon captures this element perfectly and discusses how strategic networking efforts can help you make a career change or pivot! Remember, networking should be a consistent effort, almost like a habit. Don't just start when you need a job or when you have some obvious agenda. When you try to network with an alternative or hidden agenda, it comes across as inauthentic and disingenuous. With that said, here are the high-level of Caroline's five tips for networking for a career transition and my take on them + real stories of how they actually work 💁🏻♀️ ~ 1️⃣ Give contacts a chance to help. Reach out to people you already know and let them know that you're transitioning, or even make a post about it on LinkedIn! Let the world and the universe know your status and what you're up to! You'd be amazed at the people that come out of the woodwork and want to help you. When I started putting it out into the world that I wanted to do more speaking engagements, opportunities started coming my way! Just try it and see what happens! 2️⃣ Get valuable career advice. When my Dad realized that law school was something of interest, after a full engineering career (30+ years, 2x PE & MBA), he talked to lawyers he knew, including one of his former colleagues at his previous job. A good question to ask, specifically if you're making a career change, is, "If you were just starting out, what actions would you take to kickstart your career?" 3️⃣ Meet other career changers. Talk to other people who have transitioned into your target career, and if you can, find someone with a similar path/trajectory i.e SWE ➡️ PM. This way, you can learn about proven, tested strategies that have actually worked for people. 4️⃣ Practice your transition statement. I like to think of this as an edited, curated version of your "elevator speech," and remember to frame it as a story. Storytelling is crucial in interviews, and when you're making a career change, it's important to tell that story in a compelling way. 5️⃣ Build confidence. I think Caroline captured it perfectly when she said, "...confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It’s a skill that can be developed." When my mom was transitioning from civil engineering to real estate sales, she built her confidence by working under another broker and building her resume. I built my confidence through a product fellowship and 2 product management internships! TL;DR Build confidence through experience and projects! https://lnkd.in/gA8ihBtu

Do you struggle with talking about gaps or layoffs in your interview? Most do (I did, too) and there is no shame ...in either scenario. The next time you're preparing for an interview, try this approach: Ask yourself -- 1// What were you working on or toward in that role (or role prior to your gap) 2// What stakes were at play? What were you up against? 3// Simply state the reason for your gap/the layoff that occurred (short and sweet) 4// What did it teach you? 5// How has this new understanding prepared your or clarified your experience as an asset for the next company you're targeting? Everyone loves a comeback-kid. Make your layoff or gap work FOR you.

Here is another nugget of wisdom for our transitioning military, veterans, and spouses. Not sure how many times I have stated this, but it is innefective to randomly message recruiters with a variation of the “Hey does your company have anything for me” message. It is not a recruiter’s job to stop what they are doing and try to figure out an applicant’s needs and then career search for that applicant.💯 That is what the career sites are for.😉 Coporate recruiters are tasked with sourcing for our individual requisitions and screening the talent that applies as well as maintaining the relationships with the hiring leaders and teams whom we support. Quick tips on a more effective career search: 1. Figure out what you want to do 2. Target the company career sites for advertised roles that you are seeking. 3. Tailor resume to that Job Description if you have the relevant skills 4. Apply to the position 5. Reach out to a recruiter with the job number and inquire. Let them know you applied. 6. Keep looking…companies and hiring managers are all on different timelines for Hiring…do not put all your eggs in one basket. Often I get messages that are like, “I wanted to talk to you first before applying”. 🤦♂️ Our schedules can be busy. While you are waiting hours or days to talk to us, your peers are applying to the job already. Now when you finally apply, you are applicant 300 in the stack instead of 1-25. Time waits for nobody. Hopefully this helps someone in their search. #dodskillbridge #military #veteran

“I’m trying to change careers. What advice do you have?” I get this question in my inbox almost daily. The time has come to put all my advice in one post. (Quick context for credibility: I pivoted from teacher to #ProjectManager this year. Before teaching, I worked in several roles, including in non-profits, as a Program Director and hiring manager). Here’s my advice to #JobSeekers: ✔ Always check out the Featured Content of someone you reach out to. They may have already answered your questions there. For example, here’s what I include in my Featured Content: -Link to my TopMate site and calendar for calls  -Link to my PMP ebook and free #CareerPivot resources (resume, template) -Long list of resources and who to follow if you are pivoting careers -List of successfully #transitionedteachers to several different industries -Carousel on how to career pivot your resume -Link to PM-Mastery podcast episode where I share my #PMP story -Posts where I share how I pivoted from #teaching to #ProjectManagement -Steps on how to tailor your resume -11.5 things I wish I knew when I first joined LinkedIn -Viral post on 3 resume changes I made that led to multiple interviews After perusing Featured Content and doing research, Here’s the rest of my advice: ✔ Get clarity on the role you want. It’s hard to do next steps without this. ✔ Don’t expect anyone to “take a chance” on you.  ✔ It’s on you to spell out your value and connect the dots. ✔ Start now and give yourself time. Transitions can take months. ✔Check out Teal. They offer fabulous resources for job seekers, like an application tracker and tools for tailoring your resume to a job description. ✔ Check out Better Career. They share resources for your job search and especially tech pivots. (Message me for more info and links to a Free Workshop and Job Accelerator Program). ✔ Optimize LinkedIn and know how to use it.  (Hint: it’s not Facebook. Don't underestimate your headline.) ✔ Ed Herzog, Scott Hinson, NCDF, and Yuji Higashi have helpful resources ✔ Remember: every post, every comment, every like, can be seen.  Use your presence wisely. ✔ Update your resume/LI to the language of your desired role/industry ✔ Start networking. And never stop. -Find people who post valuable content. -Interact in comments and provide meaningful contributions. ✔Make a plan (this may include upskilling). (I offer 1:1 calls to go over all of the above and/or help you make a plan!) ✔ Don’t pay hundreds of $ for content you can get for free/cheap ✔ Research your resources!!! And finally: 💡 Take breaks. 💡 Don’t give up. 💡 Know your non-negotiables. 💡 Know your worth and your “why.” 💡 Give yourself grace; career pivots are not easy. 💡 Don’t compare your journey to others; everyone has a different story. ✔ Reach out for help! A 30-minute chat might be what you need to get clarity and motivation. 🎤 To my LinkedIn Network: What advice would you add? Share below!

Thinking about a career change? Here’s how to actually make it happen, step by step. I’ve spoken with hundreds of people stuck between “I don’t want to do this anymore” and “But where do I even start?” Here’s the truth: Changing careers isn’t about starting over. It’s about repackaging what you already know, and proving you can solve a new set of problems. Here’s how to do it (with examples): 1. Start with your story. What’s pulling you away from your current path—and what’s pulling you forward? ✅ Example: “I’ve spent 6 years in education, but what I really loved was designing systems and learning tools. I’m now pivoting into UX design for edtech.” Make the shift clear and intentional. 2. Identify your transferable skills. You’ve built real value, name it. ✅ Example: Sales → Relationship-building, persuasion, handling objections Ops → Process design, cross-functional collaboration, execution List your strongest 4–6 skills and align them with your new target role. 3. Learn the language of the new industry. Every field has its own lingo. Start speaking it. ✅ Tip: Search 10 job listings in your target role. Write down the top 5 repeated words/phrases. Mirror those in your LinkedIn, resume, and pitch. 4. Rewrite your resume to match the direction, not the past. Lead with relevance, not chronology. ✅ Example: Add a “Career Summary” section: “Operations leader transitioning into product management, with 7+ years leading cross-functional teams, driving process improvements, and delivering results.” 5. Build proof fast. Don’t wait to get hired to show your skills. ✅ Options: Freelance Volunteer Build your own project Take a short course and create a case study Demonstrate that you’re not just interested, but also taking action. 6. Apply smart, not just often. Instead of applying everywhere, focus on quality roles in flexible environments. ✅ Pro tip: Use DailyRemote to find legit, remote-friendly roles across industries. It’s especially helpful for career changers who want fresh opportunities and a bit more breathing room. 7. Network with purpose. Start with conversations, not asks. ✅ DM example: “Hi Alex, I saw your post about transitioning into UX. I’m making a similar shift from content strategy. Would love to hear about your journey, no pressure at all.” Career changes take courage. But they’re absolutely possible. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. Now package it with purpose, and go get what’s next.

Before you enroll in that degree/certificate program for that new role or industry that you're thinking of #pivoting in, do the following: 1) 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. I know too many people who immediately enroll in a program because they were told that the need a certificate or degree for their line of work. They enroll, invest their time and money, only to find out that it's not really their jam. So, before you do this, talk to people in the role. Ask them, "what they did to get in their role? Do they enjoy their role? Did they have formal training in the role? What skills - both the hard and soft - do they use the most?" 2) 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭. After speaking to those that are actually in the field, along with conducting your own research, conduct an audit on your skills. You may already have many or some of the skills that are needed for the targeted role. Identify what you have and what you need. 3) 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. You may need additional skills. You may already have the skills that you need. Wherever you are on the skills bank, you now need a plan. Your plan may require you to learn new skill; it may not. Maybe you just need to learn how to communicate the skill set that you have and meet people. This is what I recommend. Don't skip or jump any steps. Know where you are and what you have in relation to what you want. For those that have successfully pivoted, would you recommend any other steps? #thecareergem #ExecutiveCoach #careertips