Are you flying blind in your job hunting journey?

How do you empower yourself to learn new things at work or while you are job transitioning? How do you progress your career to the next level? Love for learning or love for money?.

What if you did not know how to achieve success? Could it be lack of talent or lack of effort? What if it’s just that you are merely flying blind?
It is like if I offered you a million dollars nuclear energy job right now but as you had no experience on it, you would not be able to take it; therefore, no job, no million dollars in sight.
But, what if I still paid you for something you did not know how to do? Would you be able ‘to do the math’ and learn a new skill or transfer your acquired competencies to the new situation successfully, would you be able to do so?
I have job transitioning clients that when coming to me had been doing everything they believed was right to land them the next job, the truth? Most were literally flying blind!

Competition is harder and recruiters are being stricter in the specific competencies they’d like to have in a successful job candidate, but how can you ensure you know what you are doing when everyone tells you contradictory stories? how can you transfer what you know and what's best out there to apply it successfully to your own process?

1. Identify qualified sources of information. Friends are good supporters but not subject experts. Go to career related sites and take the time to read what they’ve got to say about your job transition process. Talk to the qualified experts. Schedule a talk with someone that went through the same process and got a job. Hire a Career Coach and/or ask tons of questions to the ones that have the accurate and down-to-earth answers that would make a difference!

2. Get a Free Resume Critique. Do you know that MOST coaches offer you a free of cost resume critique with no obligation on your side? You can e-mail me your resume at career4change@yahoo.com and I’d do the same. It is a great way to get an experts’ assessments on what you could do to be more effective. I read scary statistics on the horrifying resumes that do not pass the recruiter’s screening process due to very basic mistakes such as poor formatting, lack of relevant job related content and spelling mistakes. Is your resume one of those?

3. Your Brand is not your friend’s Brand. Recruiters see literally zillions of resumes in a given week. That is why they are paid for. Their ability to screen, to blink and know who’s the one for which job and have that perfect candidate that just nailed it at an interview is vital for a successful job hunting process. What’s your unique positioning statement? Do you have a unique answer that tells them: Why You?. What have you got that make you the absolute BEST person for the job? Are you distinguishing yourself? Are you being referred to that key hiring manager/recruiter for that perfect job? Are you ready to sell your brand and close the deal or are you still struggling to articulate your key messages? Career4Change can help you go through that process, so then you are the S-T-A-R that shines above your competition.

4. Networking yourself to the top. There is a quote I absolutely identify this process with shared by Jeremiah Owyang at Web-Strategist.com:“Those who ignore the party/conversation/network when they are content and decide to drop in when they need the network may not succeed. It’s pretty easy to spot those that are just joining the network purely to take – not to give. Therefore, be part of the party/conversation/network before you need anything from anyone.” Well, do I have to say more? This is a red flag for those who got the job and think networking will have a long break in their career lives until the next roller coaster shake things up or for those that prefer handle their search in job boards. Statistically speaking, networking increases chances of success +60 to 80%!

5. Be courteous and Pay forward. I can’t emphasize enough the power of kindness on this process. Give and take is a reciprocal game. It is kind to use thank you letters but not good enough. Offer to make connections to those that help you along the way and go for it. Send that e-mail to those two contacts that do not know each other but who could potentially get some benefit if they did. Make referrals to the ones that have exceeded the task given even if they have not asked for it.

6. Be Visible, be there, be found. Use social media. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter among others are fantastic resources to keep track on the trends moving the job market. Participate actively in groups’ discussions. Get referrals posted on your profile. Dare to sell your Professional Brand at your BEST.

Mariela Tinoco-Aramburu at Career4Change counts with +15 public referrals that support a track record and service you could count on if you just e-mail us at career4change@yahoo.com.

Find out what I can do for YOU in a very personal, customized and approachable way.
Visit me also at my Career4Change Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/y2pep8k.
Best Success!

Your Professional Branding and Career Coach because…you can change what happens next!
Mariela Tinoco-Aramburu
www.linkedin.com/in/marielatinoco