Career Search: Adjust Your Resume and Cover Letter to Reflect Your New Career Path
Aug 31, 2010 · ByComments (0)
I want to share with you ways to adjust your resume and cover letter to reflect your new career path. This message is the third of 5 steps to reinventing yourself for your job search or career transition. Listen to this one to help you figure out how to have an effective resume and cover letter.
I had a client in one of our coaching groups recently say to me she didn’t know what her challenges were or things she had to improve on. And, she wasn’t sure what her talents were either. I’ve been there, done that! Until we know what our talents are, it’s hard to define what career is right for us-and know how we stand out from the crowd.
Here are 2 great ways to get answers to these questions-by seeing ourselves through other’s eyes.
This comes from DailyOm. Blurb below and 2 examples of how to do this:
“Being with others is a wonderful way to learn more about ourselves. When we see the world through the eyes of other people we become more open to new ideas as well as differing viewpoints, since we are sometimes bound to our own opinions about how the world should be. This sense of blindness lifts when we are with other people, for the more open we are to them, the more we are able to see the various parts of ourselves that we have covered up. Others become a mirror reflecting parts of ourselves back to us and allowing us to see what is both wonderful about ourselves and what we need to improve.” DailyOm.com
1) A great way to uncover hidden skills or talents you don’t realize you have is to ask people who know you well. Ask them this week, what is my greatest strength or what do I do better than most people you know? Listen closely to what theu say. Take it in and don’t argue with them.
2) Also, don’t brush off compliments. We tend to do this in an effort to be humble. Guess what-you can be humble and also graciously accept a compliment. Let it in, say thank you when someone says they’re proud of you, or when they say you have a talent for something. Smile and truly accept it.
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Career Advice and Help
I really want to highlight this article written by Sabine Francois because it has positive points for recent college graduates and other job seekers: http://blogs.wsj.com/hire-education/2010/08/19/whew-a-part-time-job/
Sabine shares that although she has not found her dream job, she was able to get a part-time job. She now is able to relax a little because of having some money coming in and is hoping to be able to do an internship in a field she is interested in part-time.
Like Sabine, you may not have landed your dream job yet. But, her story is very encouraging as she points out the positives of even getting a part-time job in your local area while you search.
Having a part time job allows you to gain work experience and building your resume. Even if this part-time position has nothing to do with your chosen field; you have the opportunity to be interacting and networking with clients, co-workers and supervisors. You also do not have a huge gap of no work experience in your resume.
A part-time position can also give you a confidence boost (like it has with Sabine), especially if your job search has been going on for awhile and you’re feeling frustrated. Most certainly, even a part-time job brings financial help and support.
With a part-time job, you have many options. You will still have some free time and a schedule that allows you to continue the search for your ideal career. In Sabine’s case, her part-time job will enable her to take on an unpaid internship in her chosen field when she’s not working.
And last but, not least: When you do find that perfect position, you will be accustomed to being on a schedule, as opposed to having to go from full-on vacation mode to full-time work mode.
So even if you can’t find your dream job right now, look into some part-time jobs, while continuing your job search strategy.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach Atlanta
If you need help with you job search strategy check out our Job Search Program for Professionals: Networking and Online Strategies for the 21st Century.
I was talking to a client Terry this week about her ideal career and how important it is to see things from a different perspective to clarify your career direction. This powerpoint show of different places in Europe from the air reminded me of this – you don’t realize how different things can look if you simply take an alternative perspective AND when you allow yourself the time and space to really dream.
To identify your ideal career, you need to dream big. You have to think outside of the box, think beyond the jobs you’ve had before, and think creatively to effectively brainstorm possible career ideas.
What do you love to do? How can these things relate to a career? Dream big and think big. Don’t play small here. If you play small, you may not identify career ideas that could be perfect for you.
Enjoy this cool slideshow and work on your dream career!
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach Atlanta
Request our free career report “Top Three Tools to Identify Your Ideal Career” and discover the 3 most important tools to help you clarify your career direction.
In one of our coaching groups last week, a participant was concerned with being active in his job search while currently employed. He joined the group to help him get clear on his ideal career because he was not in a career he enjoyed. However, he still needed the dollars from his current job until he could land a new one. His company has a policy where they generally fire someone on the spot if they find out that person is searching for a new career. He wasn’t sure, but he thought some of the higher-ups even checked social networking sites, every now and then.
The sensitivity of job-hunting while employed–and keeping the process under wraps–varies from industry to industry and from employer to employer. So, if you’re looking for a new job while you’re still employed (like the gentleman in ours): I’m going to share some tips to avoid being caught by your employer.
I found this article, “Eight Tips for Stealth Job Hunters” in Forbes.com yesterday about this topic: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/job-employment-career-forbes-woman-leadership-hiring.html . All the tips are really helpful in this article. I especially liked the “Eight Tips for Stealth Job Hunters” slideshow. Be sure to check it out: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/job-employment-career-forbes-woman-leadership-hiring_slide.html
As a certified career coach, I frequently advise clients how to best seek out new opportunities while holding a full-time job. Here are some tips I want to highlight:
- Do your job searching on your own time as much as possible, not your company’s. Do it during lunch brakes or evenings.
- Never use a business phone number, email etc. Use your personal cell phone – if possible, use a smart phone with email and other job search applications will make job searching easier during the work week.
- Don’t work on your resume at work – save that for your home computer.
- Network, network, network. Networking is good whether employed or not. You should always be networking; particularly if you are trying to find job quietly. Spread the word that you are in job search mode among your friends, family, former co-workers — anyone that you know who could help with your job search. Dig up names from internships or summer jobs and reach out to those people.
Yes, job-hunting and interviewing for new positions while still employed full-time can be tricky. But, by following these helpful tips you can search for your ideal career and not get busted by your current employer.
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
Continutation of the 5 steps to reinventing yourself to find your dream job: STEP ONE WAS DEFINE YOUR UNIQUE TALENTS. STEP TWO: Conduct an effective Brainstorming session to identify career ideas. So here’s the deal. I was speaking to my client Kim in Atlanta recently and she said, I have so many career ideas I can’t choose just one! I understand what she’s saying, I felt that way AND, I hear this all the time from my clients! People get confused when they’re brainstorming career ideas-they come up with so many and it seems like they’re going in all different directions. This is normal—and it’s not going to help you. What you need to do is learn to conduct an effective brainstorming session that doesn’t leave you spinning like you’re in the dryer on spin cycle. They key is to Scructure your brainstorming time.
I found a column posting that helps to answer a very common question amongst career seekers: “Why is there such a thing as a hidden job market?”?
The author, Matt Krumrie, has a great answer. Here’s the first part of his answer:
“Recruiters certainly want to find the best fit for the jobs that are available, but the last thing they want to do is sift through 200 to 300 résumés by advertising every position they have open. Human resources departments are no different than other departments within an organization. Many are often understaffed, and many human resource personnel wear multiple hats. Hiring is only one aspect of their job.”
Read the rest of his answer here: http://www.startribune.com/jobs/career/96832544.html
He gives advice on how to get in front of the hiring manager: “Find out who the hiring manager is at companies you would like to work for – even if they aren’t hiring for positions that fit your skills and experience. Try to make contact with them to introduce yourself and let them know about your background and experience.”
I have a client who recently found a company he really wanted to work for. At the time they weren’t accepting applications but he introduced himself to the hiring manager and spoke with her for a few minutes. A month later they had an opening and he filled out an application. He brought her coffee when he went in. She had remembered him from a month previously when they met, looked over his application and set him up for an interview. She also appreciated the extra touch of the coffee and they spoke a little about his application as they both drank coffee (pre-interview). Now when he goes in for his interview next week, he has already made a good first impression.
If you need help with your job search, I recommend that you check our our Job Search Program for Professionals.
Here’s to having a career you love!
