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Is a Career Change in the Cards for You? 6 Steps to Consider

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6 Steps to Consider When Thinking About a Career Change

Is a Career Change in the Cards for You? 6 Steps to Consider

If you have been working in your job for more than a few years and feel it may be time to contemplate a career change, take some time to think about your passions, the type of work you would find personally fulfilling, and how you can upgrade existing ones to bring your dream to reality. Work through the following steps when considering how best to move forward with your decision.

1. Envision a Bold New Future.

We all have career aspirations. If you know how to manage your career, your dream job may be just around the corner. Try to figure out what you enjoy and do not enjoy doing — note your strengths, weaknesses and where you would be happy. If you do not have a clear objective, try vision boarding or seek the help of a qualified career coach. They will help you uncover your attributes and partner with you on a defined approach to meeting your next challenge.

2. Explore Your Options.

Ask yourself what industries or sectors would be best suited to your skill set, personality and values. Then advance to a due diligence stage and ask people who are already working in that industry role for their perspective. Generally, people are willing to share their experience. Finally, make a dream job list, setting defined targets and job titles and potential employers. Opportunities beckon for you all the time.

3. Update Your Resume and Social Media Accounts.

The foundation in a job search is a resume. It is considered the most important sales and marketing tool you will have to portray your accomplishments, skills, and character. Be aware that resumes are rarely read by human beings today. We are in a technical age so complying with the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) is vital. Be bold, confident, and be articulate. Craft a strong message showing exactly who you are personally and professionally. This would be backed by accomplishment driven stories utilizing facts and figures, to entice the ATS and the reader to call you for an interview.

Combine your ATS compatible resume with a significant social media presence, preferably utilizing Facebook, Twitter and without doubt, LinkedIn. Always have a powerful, resonating and performance driven LinkedIn profile that tells a compelling story about you. This will contribute to calls from decision makers wanting to know more about your talent and personality. Don’t duplicate the content from your resume on your LinkedIn profile but realign the stories to advance to a conversation stage. Be sure to fill this pageless profile to the maximum including a professional photograph, customized LinkedIn URL, enticing introduction, full keyword summary, recommendations and multiple success stories.

4. Network, Network, Network.

Nothing beats in-person networking. Yes, it can be an onerous task to some, and in particular for introverts, however, brace yourself and get out to the multiple events that await you. While it is never too late to start networking, you should get on the bandwagon early and never stop moving along. Networking is for all, whether you are in career transition or gainfully employed. Never omit this important aspect in building your reputation and brand. It doesn’t matter where you live in the world, the bulk of lead generation to secure interviews is through networking. The statistics are enlightening:  79% of job leads in Canada are generated through networking; 69% in the US and similarly around the rest of the western world. Don’t ignore networking when considering a career change.

5. Craft an Exciting Cover Letter.

A cover letter is still a crucial component when applying for a job. It would be written in the personal pronoun, and so it matches your qualifications to the job specifications. You use your most persuasive vocabulary in this single page document to create excitement and show your commitment to work. Share some examples of how your knowledge of the job and the potential employer will benefit the company. Use some of the keywords from the job notice in the cover letter.

Do not ignore other types of cover letters. In addition to the job posting, cover letters are used for introductions to executive recruiters. They generate conversation as a result of a network lead, direct mail to someone who might be your future boss, or your boss’ boss. Finally, a pain cover letter, where through your network and due diligence you have uncovered some business issues that you believe you can resolve.

6. Seek Out Industry Peers.

Each sector and industry organize national and regional conferences. What better way to gain an understanding and knowledge of a particular industry or role, especially when you are changing careers, than to attend a convention or trade show. These events provide you with the opportunity to meet with multiple persons to solicit feedback on your LinkedIn profile, resume, cover letter, poise and deportment. You may even meet someone who might be influential in hiring you. Also, use trade magazines and papers, published articles or an online search engine like Google to seek out industry peers.

Remember, career change is acceptable. You can do it. But you need the tools and tricks, and sometimes the education and designations, to fulfill those aspirations. If you are anxious to advance your career, I would be thrilled to provide you with a joint LinkedIn audit and free resume critique.

The Benefits of a Personal Brand

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Do you know the benefits of a personal brand? Here are my top three. I’m fascinated by personal branding. It excites me when I work with my clients in partnership to define it because so many people don’t know even what a personal brand is. You are a product. You are sending that product to the market, and you have to define your personal brand.

1. Your Personal Brand Makes You Memorable

You need to resonate with the audience in the career world where you’re going to apply for a job. Make yourself stand out.

2. Your Brand Sets You Apart

Your personal brand sets you apart and it fortifies your competitive edge. We’re all a product. You are a product. I am a product. Personal branding also sets you apart as an authority or an expert in your field. Spend a lot of time thinking about what is your personal brand that is going to resonate with an audience and sets you apart from the other people in the competitive market?

3. Branding Makes You More Money

We all want more money.  The statistics tell us that if you have a personal brand, more people are going to collaborate with you. More people are going to be intrigued by you, and the larger audience you get, the more people will tag on to you, and the more opportunities will come your way, and therefore the more interviews and offers will come your way. I love working with my clients to define their personal brand. We go through a set process. It can be somewhat lengthy, but you will learn a lot about yourself just as I learned a lot about myself when I went through the same exercise when I took a certification in personal branding. So what is so special about you? Think about what is so special about you?

Why should I, if I was in a hiring position, choose you over Mary, Mark or Paul. Your personal brand is your differentiator, your value add.

I’d love to help you. Please email your resume on LinkedIn.

Avoid These Actions on LinkedIn if You Want to be Noticed

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Apart from the resume, LinkedIn is the most important tool or platform for you to promote yourself to key career decision-makers. First impressions count, and one error could raise red flags. Your credibility and professionalism are crucial. Avoid these actions if you want to be noticed on LinkedIn.

Showing your political leanings and ranting incessantly.

We are living in an interesting age where politics appear to be a divider more than ever before. Yes, we all have our own opinions of the way politicians should run the country. But stay clear of posting political messages, whether they be your positive or negative opinions. Hiring authorities also have their political inclinations, and your leaning maybe opposite to theirs. Yes, discrimination still exists.

Posting personal photos.

LinkedIn is a professional site where you will be judged accordingly for all your activities, posts, shares or other comments. A picture is worth a thousand words! Perhaps we should equate that to a salary? A picture is worth $400,000? Could be more, could be less.

Posting personal, family or other social pictures should be left for other social media platforms and pictures from your college activities are certainly not acceptable.

Your profile picture should show you in the attire you would wear to work. It should be by yourself, without kids, spouse or struggling fish!

Using your LinkedIn network connections to build an email distribution list.

It is totally unacceptable to add your connections’ e-mails to your list. Not only is it highly unprofessional, the action also contravenes GDPR, which requires the person’s permission to add them to your list.

Being negative about other LinkedIn connections.

This is not a site to air all your frustrations or portray your negativity. Keep your opinions about others, some of whom you may have met in-person, or even the boss who fired you, to yourself. LinkedIn is a platform where you secure and build trust and respect. Don’t blow others’ perception of you through simply one post.

To wrap it up, this is YOUR platform to drive authenticity. Use common sense in all your LinkedIn activities, and be prudent in your language, who you invite, and who you accept to connect with.

For a free, no-obligation, no sales pitch resume critique, send your resume via LinkedIn or via email to martin@aneliteresume.com

Is Your Resume in the Graveyard?

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As a resume writer, I have watched this document evolve through several format and content changes over many years.

I have also watched many people struggle in their career management and job search simply because their resume is outdated, contains the wrong information, or doesn’t sell their soft/hard skills and accomplishments.

You only have one chance to make that first impression and capture a career decision maker’s or recruiter’s attention. A resume/CV doesn’t get you the job, its purpose is to snag the interview.

Thousands upon thousands of resumes and CVs written each day end up in a graveyard. It’s a huge depository of viable, highly skilled talent waiting and wanting to be hired. But because the document’s format and content don’t meet the current standards today, the resume slips quietly into the grave.

So, how come?

Today, resume and CV processing is generally performed by a computer scanning software, Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The software is written to scan this crucial document designed and written in a certain format.

You can never beat a computer, but you can at least try and match it. Statistics state that 70% of resumes/CVs FAIL to pass the ATS screening. Isn’t that astounding?

Here are a few tips to take into account when writing your resume.

Use a plain, clean format and design. Zero charts, graphics, custom fonts, or elaborate bullets which will be scrambled by the ATS system.

Sidestep submitting the resume in PDF format unless you know that that particular system can cater to PDF. Some do, most don’t. Utilize MS Word that is compatible with all ATS systems.

Don’t use headers or footers, as the way the ATS is programmed inhibits the reading of the text within the header or footer. Therefore, if your name and address are in a header, this vital information will be missing. No wonder you aren’t receiving calls!

Ensure the resume has all the keywords or buzzwords representing both the hard and soft skills you possess and that are required for the position. Without these keywords your resume is dead and will be sent to the graveyard. Use the most important keywords to the job more than once dispersed throughout the resume.

Don’t leave off dates of employment. The latest ATS scanning software will be thrown off by missing dates, and the system is also tracking the amount of experience required for the specific job.

Finally, customize your resume to the appointment by pulling some of the words from the advert/job notice.

Which is on your agenda? The graveyard or the interview?

For a free, no-obligation, no sales pitch resume critique, send your resume via LinkedIn or via email to martin@aneliteresume.com

TERMINATED FROM YOUR JOB? HOW DO YOU INFORM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

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Negative news is always hard to relay verbally, let alone when the news touches all facets of the family. Being laid off is very emotional and trying on your mental strength and having to speak about it shortly after can be traumatizing.

Portrait of worried young businessman at workplace. Stress concept

However, don’t be like many I have heard about who have hidden their termination from their spouses and others close to them. They have brushed it aside and pretended to go to work each day for weeks after and hung around in a coffee shop all day. Then, return at night as usual as if nothing occurred.

Be smart. Be honest with yourself and others.

Open honest and constructive dialogue with those around you and all who will be impacted by the termination as soon as possible.

Lean on those around you, they can coach and champion you through this and watch as you grow and win.

Conversations will start with an emotional and perhaps tearful interaction with those closest to you and the persons who will be impacted the most. It’s OK to be upset and even angry when searching for answers. Let your frustrations out, it is part of the healing process.

However, be realistic. Once you have passed the initial shock and you are feeling more peaceful, speak with others close to you. Start the interaction by letting them know you have upsetting news to prepare their reactions.

After delivering the message, ask for their support and guidance. You want a team around you to steer you throughout the ups and downs.

Then reach out to your wider community and circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances. Time will prevail individual conversations, so be bold and open and draft an e-mail or text. Brevity is important; don’t go on and on. Say something like this:

Dear friends: I am anxious to share some unfortunate news with you. I was laid off from my work two weeks ago. Yes, it was unexpected; I am in the processing and emotional stages. During the next few days and weeks when the shock has settled, I will figure out my next career move. However, if you want to meet for coffee or something more, my schedule is open!

Stand by for many replies and calls, offers of help and sympathy. It could be overwhelming, depending on the size of your network. But, conversation, whether in-person or via a telephone call, is healthy as it provides the opportunity to air your anger and frustration. People will circle around you and generally let you vent!

The final piece of the puzzle is to share your situation on social media. This is where your extended network will be briefed about your circumstances and the social media population can provide some help and generate leads.

It’s not a sin to have been terminated. Thousands each week are asked to leave for a variety of reasons.

It’s not embarrassing. Be bold, open and honest.

On your LinkedIn profile, in the heading under your picture, tell the world you are in career transition. Write:  “Actively seeking my next challenge when I can transform the business, achieve operational and fiscal excellence.”

Stay positive, remain calm and collected as you embark on a job search. There are opportunities waiting for you.

For a free, no-obligation, no sales pitch resume critique, send your resume via LinkedIn or via email to martin@aneliteresume.com

Benefit the Future of Your Career: What Changes are you Ready to Make?

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Benefit the Future of Your Career: What Changes are you Ready to Make?

As 2019 comes to a close and you reflect on your goals for the future of your career, you will likely consider what changes you can make to improve your professional life next year. While a complete overhaul is often too extreme, you can make various changes that are right for you at this time.

De-stress

The negative impacts stress have on your career—and life—compound over time. Stress hinders your productivity by making prioritizing tasks a challenge. When you are overwhelmed by stress it also hampers your ability to accomplish professional goals. Therefore, finding ways to cope with your stress is essential. Perhaps consider getting into an exercise routine, eating right, or picking up a new hobby to combat stress. Finding something that allows you to de-stress and reach your potential will benefit your career. Consider using these tips to maintain your positivity during a stressful transition.

Make a Change…even if the time isn’t perfect

Are you currently in a position you feel lacks potential to help you accomplish your career goals? Too often, people wait to make a change until timing is perfect. And, more often than not, perfect timing proves to be elusive. Therefore, if you know a job or position change is necessary to help you achieve your goals, now is the time to take action.

Take Risks

Calculated risks often reap big rewards. Fear of the unknown only holds you back, and, if you do not act, you never know what could have been. If you shy away from taking risks, you may only end up with regret. Getting outside your comfort zone is essential to building the future you want.

Invest in Your Network

Build a solid network to connect with people who could have a positive impact on the future of your career. Take the time to strengthen your LinkedIn profile and build relationships with people within—and outside—your current industry. Building a strong network gives you something to rely on when you do not have a natural in for a position you want. In fact, your network may open up possibilities you had not even considered.

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Getting Noticed?

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Is Your LinkedIn Profile Getting Noticed

Do you question if the hassle of maintaining your LinkedIn profile is worth it? Perhaps you are not seeing the networking output  you hoped to gain via LinkedIn. Therefore, you might be feeling like, because you are not generating the results you hoped, it is  a waste to invest your time and energy when there may be other avenues with better results.

Rest assured. With a few quick fixes, you can bolster your LinkedIn profile to produce the results you are hoping for.

Five Tips to  Ensure Your LinkedIn Profile Gets Noticed:

1. Professional Profile Picture

First, your profile picture is essential to getting noticed. Unlike  typical photos on other social media sites, your LinkedIn profile picture must be professional. After all, this picture offers a first-impression of your professional personal brand. If it is less than professional, it will cause potential contacts to question your professionalism.

Secondly, you should be the focus of your profile picture. For example, if someone met you at a networking function, you want them to be able to immediately and easily identify you from your profile picture. Therefore, a picture of you standing at the top of a mountain may be nice, but it is not appropriate for your LinkedIn profile picture.

2. Customize Your URL

When creating your LinkedIn profile, you are provided a generic URL. This URL usually consists of your name followed by random letters and numbers. Personalize your URL to garner attention while showcasing your personal brand. Eliminate the default characters and shorten the URL to your firstname+lastname. Are you an EMBA grad? You could personalize to joe.smith.EMBA.

3. Use Industry Related Keywords

Similar to website SEO, it is critical to optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords specific to your industry. Through optimization your profile will appear in more searches allowing others to find and connect with you.

4. Build Connections with New Contacts

As you create your LinkedIn profile, you have the option to sync your email list. Doing so with your professional contacts will send an invite for them to connect with you on LinkedIn. This is an effective way to connect with people you already know and use those connections to expand your network.

Furthermore, expanding your network requires you to invest time to create authentic human connections. When you interact with new contacts, personalize your communication with them. Tell them  who you are and why you are interested in connecting. Most importantly, avoid generic invitations as people will write it off immediately. Connection is critical to building a strong network.

5. Promote Your Personal Brand

Lastly, consistently promote your personal brand through LinkedIn. The appearance of your page should be uniform throughout all your branding materials. Engage with articles through posting and commenting to demonstrate your own experience and expertise. This allows your connections to get to know you, engage with you on LinkedIn, and foster positive professional relationships.

Hire a Career Coach?

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Hire a Career Coach

Do you have aspirations to take your career to the next level?

Consider this: Elite athletes did not wake up yesterday ready to compete at the highest levels.

It took years of training guided by the expertise of specialized coaches to help them hone their skills and train their bodies to maximize their performance. In fact, they have coaches for various aspects of training to prepare their bodies for the highest levels of competition; they have a strength and conditioning coach, a nutritionist, and a skills coach. 

Why do elite athletes seek the knowledge of coaches? Well, they have the talent and basic skills to excel in their sport, but talent alone is not enough. They rely on coaches to not only help them know what they need to do in order to maximize their innate talent and expand their skills but also to help them navigate the world of professional sports.

Therefore, if you consider your own career, you have innate skills that have  paved the way to where you are, but a coach can help you navigate how to improve upon your skills and make beneficial career moves to maximize your potential and reach your goals.

Why  invest in yourself and your future by hiring a career coach:

Helps You Gain Valuable Perspective

A career coach listens to you in order to evaluate your goals and collaborate on a path that is best for you. Often it is hard to see the big picture when you’re attempting to do so by yourself; therefore, an executive career coach’s vast knowledge of the executive world can help you see the bigger picture of your career and how you fit in it to ensure you are truly in charge of your career.

Helps You in Transitional Moments

Finding yourself in a moment of transition elicits uneasiness. However, with the guidance of a career coach, you can assess your innate talents, expertise, and experience to leverage yourself as a quality candidate regardless of the reason for your transition. A coach who aids in career management can help you avoid boredom and burnout by pushing you to reach for positions that will ultimately lead to your ideal job. Moreover, a coach will help you navigate the hectic job search process and ensure you’re ready to tackle whatever comes your way such as creating a resume so you’re as good on paper as you are in person.

A career coach is a game-changer and will mentor you to push your career beyond what you may believe is attainable.

Reset Your Mindset When Your Career Catches You Off-Guard

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Has your career taken you in a direction that you did not anticipate?

When you find yourself in this predicament, it elicits feelings of disappointment and discouragement. These feelings are hard to shake.

However, a mindset reset can make all the difference.  

Take Time to Reset

Reset Your Mindset When Your Career Catches You Off-Guard

Before moving on, give yourself time to reset. Do things for yourself. Give yourself the time to feel disappointed and discouraged, but avoid dwelling on those feelings too long. There’s a grieving process that’s important to moving on when you are faced with unexpected changes. But, the key is to acknowledge it, feel it, and start moving forward.

Acknowledge It for What It Is

When you find yourself grappling with the why and how of an unexpected career change, acknowledge it for what it is: a turn. Change happens, and often it is out of your control. It is part of life. Yes, it’s unexpected and disheartening, but not the end of the road. It’s your chance to determine your next path. Have you been feeling dissatisfied by monotony? Take this opportunity to re-evaluate your career and goals or make the changes you’ve possibly wanted to make for a long time.

Allow this unexpected turn to take you on a new, exciting path in your career. Be open to new possibilities.

Take the Opportunity to Learn

What would you have done differently prior to this unexpected change in your career? Were you happy where you were or do you desire something more? During an unexpected career event, step back, reflect, and evaluate your future. Learn from the past and use your knowledge to set goals for the future of your career. Figure out how you can improve your leadership skills and expertise to make yourself more marketable and valuable to companies.  

Focus on the Future

The most important part is to avoid dwelling on the past. Learn from mistakes, set goals for growth, and keep your focus on the future. How are you going to meet your goals? What do you need to do to get there? Keep pushing forward and only look back with the intent to learn from the past.

Is Social Media Damaging Your Career? 3 Questions to Ask Before You Post

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Is Social Media Damaging Your Career? 3 Questions to Ask Before You Post

The world of social media is nothing new, and it seems to be evolving every day. As a result, litigations, resignations, and dismissals due to postings deemed inappropriate or offensive on social media are becoming more commonplace.

Therefore, now more than ever, it is important you take the necessary steps to ensure that social media is used to advance your career rather than hinder it in any way.

Potentially Career Saving Questions to Ask Before You Post:

Would I want my employer/potential employer to see this?

It is no secret that employers comb through social media to determine if candidates are the right fit for the job. This means that your resume can be chock full of accomplishments and your interview responses can be strong, but if something on your social media does not sit right with decisions makers, it could cost you a job.

Anything you post—from articles and shares to pictures and off-hand comments—is up for scrutiny. Take the time to think about every post or share before doing so. Be mindful of how you repost or share information on social media, and be sure to add in your own perspective if the ideas in the post could be misinterpreted.

Additionally, monitor your own posts, tweets, and comments. They reflect who you are, your values, and could end up being an employer’s deciding factor of whether or not they hire you.

Does this fit my personal brand?

Social media—especially a professional site such as LinkedIn—is a great tool to garner attention, seduce your audience, and advance your career. However, this only works to your benefit if your social media profiles align with your personal brand.

Social media often portrays your values both professionally and personally. Therefore, it is critical the content you post reflects your values as you communicate them through your personal brand.

Could my words be construed as harmful to any particular person or group?

The types of posts that generate the most negative attention seem to malign a particular person or group. Refrain from negative posts about employees, team members, former or potential employers, and any particular group. Such posts will potentially cause damage to your current position and any position you hope to hold in the future.