Each job description likely has specific areas
that are more important in the skillset of the
applicants they want to consider. Be sure yours
stands out from the stack of resumes that are
received by tailoring it to every single job you
apply for.
Next step once you have the resume revised and
ready to go is to start a spreadsheet. This will be
a document you can use to track every job you
are interested in. There are several different
ways you can organize the information, for
example, create a tab and list all job details of
positions you are interested in and create a
separate tab of all job details of positions you
apply for. In my experience, I log every job I
apply in a spreadsheet. I include company
name, position name, job ID number and date
applied.
Last step in the journey is to get out and
network! Take your business cards and look up
networking events in your field (try the
newspaper or online forums or organization
websites). Show up dressed business casual with
your business cards ready to give out to all
promising contacts you meet.
The Career Switcher
The journey of a career switcher starts on a
much different path. Once you identify the field
you want to be in, grab a sheet of paper - it’s
time to brainstorm! Create a venn diagram with
a circle of the skills you have learned thus far in
your work experience and a circle of the skills
that the field you are interested in requires. The
middle section will hold all skills that overlap,
meaning, you both have the skills and the skills
are necessary for the jobs you are interested in
applying for. To find the skills that the jobs you
are interested in require, check out some job
boards and search for the positions of interest
or look on the Careers section of the website
from companies you are interested in pursuing.
The venn diagram should look something like
this:
Current Skills
Needed Skills
Now it’s time to decide how much experience
you have for these new job positions you are
interested in. Be honest with yourself, do you
need to gain more experience for an entry-level
role in this field? Do you need more education
in this field, perhaps a certificate or degree? If
the answer is yes, don’t fret. You can easily find
a nonprofit organization or volunteer on a
committee of an organization to build
experience. As an example, let’s say I am an
investment banker wanting to career switch into
marketing. Without any experience in
marketing, I decide to keep my job until I get a
new one, studying for a certificate in advertising
at a local university in an evening program. I
also reach out to the British Red Cross and start
volunteering on the marketing committee to
advertise upcoming programs. A year later and
I’ve got a marketing certificate and experience
on my resume in marketing from my
community service efforts. I’m now ready to
apply for the marketing job of my dreams!
As a career switcher, you are determining if you
have the current experience or skills it will take
be successful in this role. No? Then put together
a plan to earn the credentials necessary. Yes?
Then you can revise your resume (refer to tips
in the above-mentioned career advancer
section) and start applying for jobs.
No doubt as either a career advancer or career
switcher, it may seem like it is a job getting a job
- but all that hard work will pay off. The real
key to success is to be persistent and keep
pursuing the job you want. Everything has a
natural habit of falling into place; on the days
that it gets tough, take a walk to clear your head,
and stay encouraged to finish this journey. A
sweet job is waiting for you at the end.
BUSINESS GENTLEMAN
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