Career Change Guide - How to Get Unstuck, Create a Vision of the Career You Really Want and Land Your Dream Job.

Are you tired of waking up each day, dreading going to work? Tired of staring into your lunch, wondering if there’s a better job for you?

If so, this article is for you. It's also a general guide to help you navigate the career change process. Read the entire thing or the section that interests you most:

• Getting Unstuck
• Vision Statement Story
• Networking
• Resume - What story is it telling the reader?
• Cover Letter
• LinkedIn
• Interview
• Negotiation

Getting Unstuck

Getting unstuck and gaining clarity about where you want to take your career 

Many times in our career, our lives can get the best of us and fear can hold us back. We get locked into our thoughts, and fear restrains us from even making a move. It can feel like, If I do this, then that thing will happen. But, if I make this move, then I can’t do that over there. It feels like you’re stuck with no way out.

I’ve felt like that, too, but I navigated my way to doing work I love. Like looking at a map, you need to know where you currently are before you can start moving.

The Steps to Getting Unstuck

Do you know where you want to go? If you don’t, it’s fine – many people hit points in life where they don’t know the best direction to take. Yet, most people know where they DON’T want to go and that’s where you should start.

Write about why you want to leave your current job. Next, step back and review that. Sometimes we need to vent a little to work out our current frustrations. Is it the job duties you don’t like? Is it the people? Can you not do the work any longer? Does it not pay enough? Get clear on that.

Then, from that new knowledge, you’ll be able to point yourself in the direction you want to go: A job you will be happier in and the beginnings of the new path.

Maybe you’ve determined it’s the people you want to get away from, but you enjoy what you do. In that case, you should focus on the same type of work, but in a new setting. If the people are fine, but the work itself is the issue, then it’s time to see what other interests you have.

If it’s money, then it’s time to ask for a raise or look at other companies (and review your finances, too). If it is the skill and you’re tired of doing it, then it's possible you're ready to teach or mentor people. That’s a natural progression for someone who has mastered a skill.

Vision Statement Story

Let’s create your vision of the new job

Complete the following questionnaire; your answers will be used to guide you in creating a vision statement. Answer as if you had a magic wand and could make the perfect job for yourself. If you don’t know, it’s okay to leave it blank as this process will help uncover those hidden areas. If you get stuck, skip that question and move to the next one.

Questions with Examples

Who do you serve or help in your new role? People who are stuck in their careers.

What pain points or problems do you solve for people? They are not finding work they want to do.

How are their lives better because of your contribution? People wake up happier once they change their mindset and create an action plan.

How do you feel in this new role? I feel like I am contributing to people’s lives and feel great about that.

What industry is your new job in? The career and employment industry.

What kind of company is it? It’s a small team with a passion for helping others succeed and a service-first mentality.

What’s the culture like? We have fun while being of service to others. The team collaborates and has a culture of trust.

Do you work with people all day or by yourself? Most of the time, I work by myself, but with the help of other teammates when we collaborate.

Are you inside or outside? I work inside.

Is it an active role or behind a desk? I sit at a computer.

How much money are you making and is that satisfactory? There is a pay increase and it’s where I need it to be.

Now that you have a better picture of your goal you can create the outcome you want to have in your life, let’s create the vision statement story you’ll be working toward.

You're going to create this story in a different way from most goals – you will create it as if it’s already happened. For example, you’re out to dinner, talking to a friend about a month after you landed your new job. You’re going to describe it from the point of view of already having landed the job. Doing it this way will help your brain work in the background on your goal.

Vision Statement Story Example

“Robert, let me tell you about the new job and how I got it. I remember getting clear on the career I wanted and decided to be a career coach. I chose to be a career coach in the employment industry because I love helping others do what’s important to them. I realized I feel great doing this work. The team I work with is awesome, and it’s a small company. In fact, the company has a great, fun culture and I get to work by myself, but I love the support of the team whenever I need to collaborate on something. I am getting paid more than I was at my last job and the benefits are great, too. I’ve been there for a little over a month now and each day feels great. I love who I get to be.”

This is your vision and it contains your end goals! Tell this story to yourself every day in your job search.

Networking

The next step is networking to help you land that job

Do you already have a network? Even if you do, let’s create a network strategy. Answer these questions:

·     Where would the hiring managers hang out?

·     Where would the company hang out?

·     Where would they hang out online? This could be LinkedIn groups, Quora.com conversations, industry-specific forums, etc.

·     To what events would they go?

·     At which meetup.com events might they be?

·     Is the job industry you're interested in having a career fair in your area?

Once you’ve discovered a few places where they hang out, go to those events and meet people. Before you go, write an intention of why you're going and be clear about it as you walk into the event. Be curious about the people you meet and show you’ve researched a little about what they do. Be helpful and knowledgeable.

Then, ask the contacts you made if you could have coffee sometime. Use that time to build a relationship with them. Get to know them and share your story with them. Share why you're creating a new job.

Reach out to your network and share your vision with friends, family, and past work colleagues. They might have connections you’re not aware of.

Consider contacting hiring managers using the technique described on The Muse. This technique is a proven way to go around HR and get the attention of the hiring manager. Note that HR doesn’t say yes to hiring someone; the hiring manager does. Spend your time building the connection there rather than with the folks in HR. HR is the gatekeeper to the person who can get you the job.

Want help? Set up a time to talk here.

Resume - What story is it telling the reader?

The marketing piece that helps get your foot in the door

What story is the reader going to craft about you when they read your resume? Remember, they don't know you and you only have a page or two to show who you are. You only have a short period of time to grab the reader’s attention. And that's only if it makes it past the applicant tracking systems (the ATS – more on that later).

Your resume should be in the following order for most job types:

·     Name and contact info

·     Career summary

·     Career highlights

·     Professional experience

·     Education

·     Extracurricular activities

Name and Contact Info

This is self-explanatory.

Career Summary

This area summarizes your career and is your chance to showcase your career from a bird’s eye view. First state how many years of experience you have and in what areas. Add a couple of high-level accomplishments in your career. Also, add any specific skills that are relevant to the job.

Career Highlights

In this section of the resume, you’ll want to list out three of your best career achievements. When you list them, focus on the difference you made for the company or people. Put them in the order of relevance for a company – revenue, growth, customer satisfaction, etc. It’s okay to share awards as long as that isn’t the focus. This will convey that you are someone who is a humble winner. What story is this section telling the reader?

Professional Experience

This section showcases your career experience and should be in reverse chronological order. Your latest job should be the first job they see.

The name of the company should be written first. Why? Because recruiters and HR personnel scan to see what companies you’ve worked for. Impressive companies will stand out before a job title. After that, put a small summary of what you accomplished, then your title.

Next will be your bullet points. They should focus on your accomplishments. Quantify them if you can. Again, revenue, market growth, customer satisfaction, employee retention, sales, cost reduction, etc. are all relevant here.

Education

In this area, you’ll want to list schools, degrees, certifications, and school projects.

Extracurricular Activities

Include a short list of experiences with volunteering, foundations, charity work, non-profits, clubs, publications, media appearances. Only list these if they’re applicable for the position, company, or its mission.

Bonus Resume Tip – Beat the Applicant Tracking System

Nowadays, ATS tracking systems are the gatekeepers to reaching the HR personnel. If your resume doesn’t pass that system, your resume will never be viewed by a human. Period! You should do three things as you are writing your resume.

First, you want the resume to be a good match for the job description. Imagine you're the hiring manager and you wrote the job description. Then you picked up your resume…would your resume match what the company is looking for? Do the keywords match? Would you want to pick up the phone and call this person to say you want to talk more? It doesn’t have to be a perfect fit by any means, but good enough for them to think, This candidate has what we need.

Second, get a friend to read it and ask what he notices first. Then ask, “If you were the hiring manager, would you want to reach out to me?” Find a friend who’s brutally honest.

Third, use websites like jobscan.co or skillsyncer.com . These are designed to compare your resume to the job description and how the ATS system will score it.

When you’re done with those steps, update your resume as needed and repeat until it’s a good fit.

NOTE: If you're making a big career change, you should focus the majority of your time on networking.

Cover Letter

Your first impression on the employer

The purpose of your cover letter is to grab the attention of the reader and get them to reach out to you. It’s NOT a full work history or a place to beg for a job. It has just a few key components to it.

Start with the reason you're reaching out, then share who you are and why you’re interested in this position. You can share a quick and powerful story of your why here. Show excitement for the job.

Here are two articles with advice on writing a cover letter that will grab their attention:

The Muse – Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter Examples

The Muse – 5 Secrets to Making Your Cover Letter Stand Out

LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile can be another marketing piece for you

You should treat any social media as a marketing tactic, but especially LinkedIn. Your profile should be warm, friendly, and welcoming. Choose a picture that is professional and friendly. Even if you don’t like your smile, use a picture with a nice smile instead of a serious picture. Research shows that people who see a smile are much more likely to form a positive opinion of that person.

Show your accomplishments – they should have numbers to back them up. Numbers grab attention and the longer a reader stays on your profile, the more likely they are to reach out.

Use the Summary section much like your professional summary of your career. Avoid overuse of buzzwords in your industry. Is it telling a story?

Avoid any political or controversial posts unless you work in that industry.

Make recommendations for your friends and colleagues first. But don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations from people who know your work, too.

Again, like your resume, ask a friend or colleague to review it. What did that person notice first? What feeling did she have after reading it? Did she feel compelled to know more?

Interview

The culmination of all the work you’ve done up to here

The best resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn Profile won’t get you hired if you don’t show up ready to be your best. I specialize in helping others feel confident in interviews. Here are a few great tips to help you show up confident.

Dress

Dress for the job you want and do your research about the company. If they wear suits, so should you. If it’s a casual environment, it’s best to still dress up, but you may not need to wear a suit. Default to your research in either case.

Mindset

This job isn’t the only job that’s out there and you should treat it like this. The world keeps moving and new jobs are posted every day. If you walk into the interview being attached to having that job, you’re already at a disadvantage. Walk in with the attitude of This will be good practice and I will do a great job, regardless of whether I get an offer.

Show up prepared and ready to share who you are but be unattached to that specific job. You want to interview the company, too. It’s a two-way relationship. It’s your job to find out if they are a good fit for you. And it’s their job to find out if you are a fit for them.

There’s a reason for the job being open – they need a human being to fill it. I know that seems obvious, but it’s easy to forget. They could use you as much as you could use them.

Prep

Be prepared and do your research on the company, its history, its goals, and the position. Have questions ready for them about what’s important to you. Know why you want to work there and why that’s important to you, aside from simply earning a paycheck. Know the role and help tell a story of how you’ll be a great fit for it.

Research about the team you are going to work with, too. Dig on LinkedIn for info about the hiring manager and find out if you have anything in common.

Use Glassdoor.com to check out the company before you go. They list common questions about interviewing and salaries, and job seekers and employees can leave reviews of the company.

Be prepared for the STAR method in an interview. If they use the STAR method, you'll be asked questions in the following way:

·     Tell me about a time when….

·     What would you do if…?

·     Have you ever…?

·     Describe a time when you…?

S.T.A.R Definition

S - Situation - What was the situation?

T - Task - How did you take responsibility for this?

A - Action - What actions did you take to solve the problem or situation?

R - Result - What was the result or outcome you achieved?

Have a few go-to stories ready to share that show how you’ve accomplished something in your career. I like to frame them like this: “Here is where I started, and here is what I achieved along the way. This is how things changed as a result of what I did.”

When sharing your story, add in little anecdotes about things that happened in the process. Add in some funny moments. The stories should feel compelling to the listener.

Want to blow their socks off?

Prepare a 30/60/90-day plan for the job you’d like to have. Keep it high-level but detailed enough to show that you took the time to be prepared. This will show that you will do what it takes to get the job done.

When finished with the interview, and assuming you still want the job, it's okay to ask where the company is in the hiring process. This will give you a better expectation of what to expect after this.

Want help? Set up a time to talk here.

Follow-Up

When you’re done with the interview, follow up with a thank you note to the hiring manager. I found this simple but powerful follow-up note from TheMuse.com and think it’s worth passing along. If you haven't heard anything, try it out.

Again, don’t be needy, but show your enthusiasm for wanting the job.

Negotiation

Negotiating doesn’t have to be difficult or awkward

When they offer you the job, you should already know what that position is paying in your area. Check out Glassdoor.com and Payscale.com and do your research.

Here are a few tips:

Never talk about salary up front in the process or interview.

This is a two-way street. If they like you, they will pay more and if you like them, you might be willing to take less. So, it’s important to understand what value you add to the company. Remember, they are hiring someone for a reason. They need a person to do the job, and if you can show you will bring in tremendous value, they will offer you more.

Know the whole picture of the offer. Consider vacation time, training opportunities, travel, benefits, the team you’ll work with, your start date, and what future opportunities might arise. Take all that into account when negotiating. Does it all align with your original vision?

Remain flexible. That doesn’t mean giving up your values. This is a relationship you’re building.

A note of reference is that the HR person isn’t the person in charge of the salary. That’s determined by the department you will be in. HR will know the salary range to negotiate within. If you're especially awesome and they want you, they will need to get approval to hire you at a higher salary.

Give yourself time to respond and let them know when you’ll respond, too. When you’ve come to an agreement, thank them, sign the offer, and celebrate that you just landed a great new job!

Want help? Set up a time to talk here.

Thanks for reading. If you found this helpful, I hope you’ll share.