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Balancing Passion and Practicality in Your Career Choice

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A few years ago, comedienne Melissa McCarthy did an incredibly funny sketch on SNL. She walked into a bank as “Barb,” seeking a small business loan for her new pizza business. The loan officer (played by Jason Sudeikis) soon figured out she was actually asking for a loan to start a pizza eating business. (In other words, she wanted to get paid for eating people’s leftover pizza.) The loan officer asked, “What gave you the idea that the bank would give you money so that you could eat pizza?” McCarthy replied, “I read that book, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow. And I said, ‘Barb, you love eating pizza!'”

It’s funny because it’s absurd…but you get the point. Yes, we need to follow our passions and pursue careers around “doing what we love,” but obviously, not everything we love to do is going to make money. In other cases, there may be a wide range of career options that allow us to do things that align with our passion. We need a bit of common sense in this equation–and that’s where practicality comes into play.

The journey of career selection can often feel like a tightrope walk, balancing between what truly ignites your spirit (your passion) and what aligns with the realities of life (practicality). Understanding these two concepts is a key step in making an informed career decision.

Passion is that deep-seated enthusiasm or intense desire for a particular subject or activity. It’s what makes your heart race with excitement and fills your mind with images of potential accomplishments. It’s the spark that can turn an ordinary job into a fulfilling career.

On the other hand, practicality refers to considering the tangible aspects of a career choice. This could be the job market demand, financial stability, work-life balance, and career growth opportunities. It’s about ensuring that your career can sustainably support your lifestyle and future goals.

Balancing these two elements in your career choice is crucial because while passion can fuel your drive and make your work feel rewarding, practicality ensures that your career is sustainable and aligns with your personal and financial goals.

Let’s dive deeper into how you can achieve this balance.

Evaluate Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Knowing your strengths can help identify careers that harness your natural abilities, while understanding your weaknesses allows you to spot areas for improvement or careers to avoid. For instance, if you’re passionate about music but struggle with stage fright, a behind-the-scenes role in the music industry (like producing) might be more practical than performing.

Make Practical Choices Around Your Passion

Bear in mind that passion and practicality aren’t always mutually exclusive–in fact, you can often get them to work together. Going back to the analogy of the musician…if you’re passionate about becoming a performer and you know you won’t be happy working behind the scenes, then the practical solution would be to seek training and/or therapy to deal with your stage fright and learn how to overcome it. In other words, don’t give up on your passion because of your weakness, but have a little patience and take practical steps to turn that weakness into a strength.

Take Key Factors into Account with Your Career Choice

When deciding on a career path, it’s also important to consider factors like job availability, income potential, and work-life balance. If you’re passionate about a field with limited job prospects or low pay, you’ll need to make a few practical decisions about how (or if) to pursue it. For example, if the low job demand is a temporary thing, you may choose to “wait it out” and see if the market improves. If your passion is teaching children, you’re choosing a relatively low-paying career, but there’s also a high demand for teachers–so if you decide to pursue that passion, you may just need to make some life adjustments so you can live within your means.

Cultivate Both Passion and Practicality

To truly balance passion and practicality, it’s essential to cultivate both. This might mean taking courses or gaining experience to make your passion more practical, or finding ways to inject passion into a practical career choice. For instance, if you’re passionate about helping people but also need a stable income, you could consider careers in healthcare, social work, or education which are practical and yet align with your passion.

Finally, between passion and practicality, it’s okay to prioritize one over the other at different times in your life. You might need to focus on practicality when starting out, then gradually incorporate more of your passions as you become more established in your career. Choosing a career path is a significant decision, but remember that it’s not set in stone. People often change careers, discover new passions, or find ways to make their current job more fulfilling. It’s during these times of change, growth, and transition that a career coach can be very helpful–and that’s why I’m here. If you want some guidance and support in figuring out a career or job that strikes that balance between passion and practicality, access my calendar to schedule a free, no obligation discovery call for yourself.

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Top 5 Things to Consider when Deciding to Change Careers

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If you are unhappy in your current career and are thinking about making a change, you’re not alone. In fact, research has shown that the average American employee will change careers a whopping 3-7 times during their working years! The reasons for this are as diverse as we are. Some of us long for more fulfilling work, others yearn for a better work-life balance, while some might be forced into a career shift due to circumstances beyond their control.

Whatever is motivating you at this moment, a new career is a big change–and change can be scary. The key to navigating change is to make a plan–because by doing so, you take control of the change. (It’s much easier, and more peaceful, to navigate a life change when you are driving the change rather than the change driving you.) That being said, let’s look at five considerations that should become part of your game plan when transitioning careers.

1. Take Inventory of Your Skills and Passions

This step involves looking past your work experience to the talents and interests that you have–the things that make you good at what you do, as well as the things that cause you to enjoy certain types of work. The idea here is to get to your root motivations–your “why”–because you want to reimagine these talents and skills of yours in a new context. Simon Sinek’s books Start with Why and Find Your Why can be a great place to start.

Remember, your abilities extend beyond what you’ve learned in your current job. Perhaps you’re a great organizer or have a knack for persuasion. These ‘soft’ skills are highly sought after in many industries. Try using online assessment tools or career tests to discover your strengths and passions.

2. Research the Job Market

By this, I don’t necessarily mean look at the economy–in other words, don’t worry so much about how many jobs are available right this moment. Those dynamics change, sometimes month to month. Rather, I mean research the job market as far as discovering new industries and roles that align with the interests and passions you discovered in the previous step. Just as an example, if you are not enjoying your current job in accounting, but you’re passionate about the technology you’re using and have excellent problem-solving skills, you might consider exploring new roles within IT or software development. Focus on the parts of your job that you do like and brainstorm how those skills might serve you in a new role.

3. Evaluate Your Education and Training

Your passions should inform your new career, but you may also need some additional practical training to qualify for a new role. If you’re interested in becoming a counselor but you have a background in marketing, you’ll likely need further education. Look into part-time study options or online courses that could make this transition smoother. If no additional training is needed but you lask experience, explore the possibility of finding a mentor within your field of interest who can show you the ropes a bit and possibly open some doors for you.

4. Develop a Financial Plan

Changing careers often means adjusting to a new income level, at least temporarily. Make sure to consider your financial situation and how a potential salary change may impact your lifestyle. It’s wise to save enough money to cover living expenses for a few month months before making the switch. If necessary, talk to an accountant or a financial advisor to help you develop a strategy so finances don’t become an unwanted stressor.

5. Seek Support

Finally, it’s much easier to navigate a life change when you have a good support system versus going it alone. Reach out to family and friends you trust, let them know your intentions, and allow them to be a source of encouragement when needed. There may also be people within your network who can provide advice or insight (although you may need to practice discretion with this if your current job could be jeopardized by your intended career shift). Most importantly, a career coach can provide invaluable guidance and support during this transition. They can offer insights, help you set realistic goals, and keep you accountable as you navigate this important change.

Transitioning to a new career is not without its challenges. You’ll likely face resistance, discouragement, and setbacks along the way. However, remember that growth often comes from stepping outside our comfort zone. Embrace the uncertainty, stay resilient, and keep your ultimate goal in sight. Remember…change happens. Take control!

If you need additional guidance in transitioning to your new career, I’m here to help. To schedule a free initial consultation, just click here to access my calendar.

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Congratulations! You’ve Graduated College!…Now What?

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Earning a college degree is no small feat, so if you’re a brand-new college grad…kudos to you! Whether or not you know what’s next for you, you can take pride in knowing you’ve completed an important step for your life and career.

At the same time, graduation day can be both exhilarating and terrifying. And for many, the day AFTER graduation is more terrifying than exhilarating. What now? you wonder.

If you’re like most college students, you’ve probably been holding onto the idea that the job recruiters were going to be waiting for you at the doors to your school with open arms, rolling out the red carpet and handing you some metaphorical golden key to launch your career. While some students indeed find good jobs and internships right out of college, the harsh reality is this doesn’t happen for nearly as many students as it used to. So…if you’ve come through graduation with no job prospects and no sense of direction, don’t beat yourself up. You’re actually in good company.

The good news is that even though the path to a career might not be laid out straight before you, there are practical steps you can take to launch yourself into the job market and land your first “real” job, preferably within your area of study. Let’s talk about some practical tips to get you started.

Refine Your Career Goals

When you chose your major, you might have had a good idea what kind of field you wanted to work in and what you wanted your profession to be. Now that you’ve graduated, it’s time to revisit those goals and make sure they’re aligned with your current desires. It’s not unusual for career goals to evolve as you move through college–in fact, a surprising number of people land lucrative careers that have little or nothing to do with what they studied in college. If you’re still committed to the career path you initially chose, that’s great–you’re ahead of the game. But if you’re not, it’s okay to keep your options open.

Start by defining what you want in your career. What type of job aligns with your degree and aspirations? What industries are you interested in? What other types of work does your degree qualify you for? Refining these career goals will help guide your job search and application process.

Perfect Your Resume

Your resume is the first impression you make on potential employers, and in many cases, it’s the only thing standing between you and a job interview invitation. So make sure it’s a strong one. Highlight relevant coursework, internships, and projects that align with the job you’re applying for. Remember, your resume should be concise, professional, and free of errors. And since resumes are so easy to edit nowadays, I recommend sending customized versions of your resume to every employer–not revamping the whole thing, but tailoring specific details to emphasize what the company may be looking for.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter

A well-written cover letter can set you apart from other applicants. It’s your chance to tell your story, express your interest in the role, and detail why you’re the best candidate. As with the resume, tailor and personalize each cover letter to the specific job and company, showing that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested.

Master Online Job Search Platforms

Online job platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor can be powerful tools in your job search. (My favorite is LinkedIn because it also serves as a networking site.) Create a professional profile, upload your polished resume, and start searching for jobs that match your career goals. Use keywords related to your field to narrow down the search. Look among your LinkedIn connections for people who may already work in those jobs, then reach out to them to see if they can open some doors for you. If you don’t have connections inside the workplaces you’re interested in, try to find employees there, connect with them on LinkedIn, and strike up a conversation. You might be surprised at the opportunities that could open up there.

Build and Work on Your Network

Networking is a key part of the job search process–in fact, in my view, it’s just as important as your resume and interview skills, if not more so. Most jobs are landed through connections, not through job boards. Invest time in connecting with people in your field and create relationships with professionals who may be able to help you get that first break. Reach out to alumni, former professors, coaches, or employers who can provide references. Don’t just network on LinkedIn (although that’s a powerful tool); look for in-person opportunities, as well. Join professional organizations related to your career goals; attend events and meetings where you can meet other like-minded professionals or potential employers.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of an Internship

Many college grads often overlook internships as a viable job prospect, but they can be invaluable for gaining experience and opening up career opportunities. If you’re just starting out in your field, even unpaid (or very low-paid) internships can offer valuable training and experience.

Prepare for Interviews

Once you start landing interviews, it’s crucial to prepare. Research the company, rehearse common interview questions, and think of examples that showcase your skills and experiences. Remember, an interview is a two-way street; come prepared with thoughtful questions about the role and company.

Follow Up

After an interview, send a thank-you note expressing your continued interest in the role. This shows professionalism and could set you apart from other candidates.

Stay Positive and Patient

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind as you embark on your job search: stay positive and be patient. Job searches can often take months or even longer, so don’t let discouragement take over. If your financial situation requires you to live at home with your folks for awhile, don’t be discouraged over this–in today’s economy, more than half of young adults either still live with their parents or return home. Be patient with yourself through this process. Be persistent and consistent, and you’ll make progress toward your goals.

As a career coach, one of my favorite things to do is to help college graduates land their first real job. If you are freshly graduated and don’t know what to do next–or if you feel like you’re floundering and need some support–I’m here to help. Just access my calendar here and schedule yourself a free initial consultation.

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New Year, New Career (Part 4: Leveraging Networking and Connections)

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Over the past few blog posts, we’ve been specifically discussing strategies and pathways for people who don’t just want to find a “new job,” but to switch careers entirely. If you’ve been tracking with me from the beginning, hopefully by now you’ve made your decision to pursue a new career; done a personal inventory (including identifying your talents, finding your “why,”) to reimagine how these might inform your career path; and begun taking steps toward filling in any educational gaps you may have. Now, it’s time to build on this groundwork you’ve been laying–and one of the most important ways to do that is by developing and utilizing a strong network.

I’m going to spend a bit of time on this topic because networking is one of the most powerful tools in your metaphorical toolbox to get your new career started–whether you’re finding clients for your own business or networking to find job openings. I emphasize networking highly when helping clients find new jobs in their chosen field–but it’s just as vital a tool when launching a brand-new caeer. Here’s why:

85 percent of all jobs are filled through networking. (Hubspot, 2019)

Let that sink in a moment because that’s a LOT of jobs. The vast majority of job positions are filled, not by answering job postings, cold calling, or blasting out one’s resume, but through connections. Not only that, but according to CNBC, 70 percent of job listings aren’t even publicly posted–so the only way to find them is through networking!

Convinced, yet?

So for this final post in the blog series, let’s talk about practical and creative ways for you to build and nurture a solid network of connections and utilize that to find opportunities to launch yourself on your new path.

Start with Your Existing Network

Before branching out and forming new relationships, take some time to assess your current network. This includes friends, family members, classmates, professors, coworkers, and acquaintances, both in-person and online. Identify individuals who may have valuable connections or insights into your target industry, and make it a priority to reconnect with them.

Attend Industry Events to Expand Your Network Strategically

Industry events, such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and networking mixers, are excellent opportunities to meet professionals in your chosen field. When attending these events, make sure to bring business cards, practice your elevator pitch, and most of all, engage in meaningful conversations. Don’t forget to follow up with new connections after the event to solidify your relationship. (More on that in a minute.)

Join Professional Associations

Professional associations offer a wealth of resources, including networking events, educational opportunities, and industry-specific job boards. By joining these organizations, you have the opportunity to surround yourself with industry experts while gaining access to valuable contacts and demonstrating your commitment to your chosen field.

Learn the Art of the Follow-Up

It’s not enough just to meet new people at networking and industry events. Without a second and third contact, most people simply won’t have the mental power to remember you. So after making a new connection, particularly one with career-building potential, be sure to follow up with them. Send a thank-you note, connect on social media, or schedule a coffee date to continue building the relationship. If you’ve connected with them on line, regularly engage with your connections by commenting on their posts, sharing interesting articles, or reaching out to them with questions or updates.

Leverage Social Media to Connect with Professionals Online

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge fan of LinkedIn when it comes to making business connections–but these principles will work on any other social platforms you join. Follow industry influencers, join LinkedIn groups related to your field, engage in relevant conversations, and share content that showcases your expertise. Optimize your LinkedIn profile by adding a professional photo, crafting a compelling headline, and highlighting your skills and accomplishments.

Volunteer

If you’re looking to transition into a new field, consider volunteering or freelancing to gain valuable experience, demonstrate your skills, and build your portfolio. In addition to enhancing your resume, these opportunities can lead to new connections and possible job offers.

Request Informational Interviews with Industry Professionals

An informational interview is an informal conversation with someone in your target industry that helps you learn more about their career path, company, and industry trends. Identify some leaders in your field and reach out to request an informational interview. When you meet, come prepared with thoughtful questions. Be sure to send a thank-you note afterward to express your gratitude and maintain the relationship. Not only can this technique give you valuable insights into your new field, but in some cases you can find a helpful mentor. (Sometimes it only takes one influential person to open a whole range of doors for you.)

Give Back

Networking is a two-way street. As you work to build your connections, be prepared to offer value in return. Share job leads, provide introductions, or lend your expertise to others in your network. By being a supportive and valuable contact, you’ll strengthen your relationships and encourage others to reciprocate.

Nurture Your Connections: Build Long-Term Relationships

Networking is not just about making new connections; it’s also about nurturing existing relationships to build long-term relationships. Stay in touch with your contacts, congratulate them on their successes, and offer support when needed. By fostering genuine connections, you’ll create a network that can support your career growth for years to come.

This all may seem like a lot to remember, but as you get started, much of it becomes intuitive. After all, what you’re doing here is forming relationships, and once you get past the learning curve, relationships become a natural outflow of who you are. In this case, you’re forming relationships that can be helpful and even strategic for your career–but even when making strategic connections, those relationships can and should be genuine. Keep at it, and things should quickly become second-nature to you.

As always, if you want some one-on-one help in navigating your career change, not only can I help—I can relate. I know firsthand the excitement (and terror) of launching a new career, and I know how to help you find your way to other side of this life-changing transition. For a free, no-obligation consultation, just click here to access my calendar.

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New Year, New Career (Part 2: Taking a Personal Inventory for Career Success)

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If you’re like most people, once you’ve made the decision to embark on a whole new career, the first emotion you feel may be one of excitement and hope…followed quickly by a sense of terror. What have I done? you ask yourself. What am I doing?

Sound familiar?

Relax. (I know…easier said than done.) This is probably going to be stressful, but the emotions you’re feeling are completely natural. Making a major career change is certainly daunting. The best way to get past this feeling is to start making a plan. And that begins with what I call taking a personal inventory. With this process, you’re going to do some internal work to discover your “personal assets”–exploring your skills, your passions, and your motivations so that you can reimagine how these assets can fit into a new career. (Note: this step is primarily for people who have left their current job or are planning to do so, but they don’t really know what they want to do next. If you already have a good idea about your next career and why you’re making the change, this blog will be informative, but not essential. You’ve already done this work.)

Ready? Here we go…

List Your Strengths

The first thing to do with a personal inventory is to compile a list your strengths. Here are a few questions to ask yourself and get you thinking:

  • What are your known talents?
  • What are your acquired skills?
  • What do you consider your personality strengths?
  • What successes at your previous jobs are you most proud of?
  • How do you uniquely solve problems or come up with creative solutions?

Think about what makes you unique and stand out from other working professionals. Consider any experiences or skills you have that could be valuable in the workplace. For example, if you’re seeking a leadership role, list any experiences you’ve had in the past that demonstrate your ability to lead teams. If you don’t have much experience in the area yet, think about soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking that could be beneficial in any role.

At this point, don’t downplay anything. Every skill and talent matters! Writing down a thorough list of your strengths will help to create the basis for finding a new career.

List Your Passions

While the previous step focuses on what you can do, this next step focuses on what you want to do. Among the talents and skills you listed in the previous step, do any stand out as something you love to do more than the others?

Your passions are just as important as your strengths when taking an inventory of yourself, and possibly even more so. What drives and motivates you? What topics do you find interesting? List anything that comes to mind—even if it seems far-fetched at first—as these can highlight potential industries or roles that may be right for you. You may even find unexpected connections between passions and potential career paths once everything is laid out on paper.

Find Your “Why”

This one is going to take some work, and it may not come overnight…but it’s well worth the effort. With this step, you’re going to review your passions and strengths and try to narrow things down even further to find your core motivation–the thing that gets you up in the morning, so to speak.

Your “why.”

I’ve talked about this before, but it especially bears repeating in the context of finding a new career path. Most people know what they do, but they don’t know why they do it. Finding your “why” is key to identifying a career path that you love, one that you’re going to stick with–one that feels more like a life calling than a job. For this step, I recommend re-reading this blog post, as well as working your way through Simon Sinek’s books Start with Why and Find Your Why. Doing this work should start pointing you in the direction of a career path that is more aligned with your “why.” (For many people, it also shows them why they weren’t happy in their previous career.)

View Your Personal Assets in a New Light

Once you have listed your talents and passions, and once you’ve at least begun the process of finding your “why,” it’s time to take a fresh look at these personal assets. Ask yourself why these qualities matter to you, both personally and professionally. Why do they make sense within the context of a certain industry or job function? This is where things get really interesting–because you’ll likely begin to see options for how these abilities and motivations can fit into a new and different career that you perhaps never even thought of. (I often use myself as a personal example here: when I made my career change, I discovered that the passions and skills that fueled my decades-long career in human resources would serve me even better in my current role as a career coach!)

Believe it or not, once you get through these steps, you’ll already be well on your way to discovering a new career for yourself. In the upcoming blog posts in this series, we’ll go through some more practical steps for setting yourself up for your new career. In the meantime, this process can be challenging, and it’s typically much easier when you have someone to help guide you through the steps. If you’d like to explore the option of getting some career coaching, that’s what I’m here for. Just click here to access my calendar and set up a free 30-minute initial consultation.

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New Year, New Career (Part 1: Navigating a Major Career Change)

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As we enter a brand-new year, many of us naturally take stock of where we are in our career path. If you’re between jobs but you love what you do, finding the job you want is really just about finding the right opening and positioning yourself as the best person for that job. But what if you are looking for something completely different?

What if your New Year’s goal was “Launch a whole new career?”

I’m not going to lie: changing careers is not an easy prospect. (If it were, everyone would be changing careers at the drop of a hat.) It requires courage, and a bit of moxie, to make a major life choice to leave one career path for another. But if you are dissatisfied in life and ready for change, it can also be one of the most exciting and rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

That being said, making a successful career transition requires more than just closing your eyes and leaping of the metaphorical cliff. It takes careful planning and consideration to pull this off well, examining all the angles before diving headfirst into something completely new. We’ll cover the following steps more in detail in upcoming blogs, but just as an overview…if you’re looking to make a radical career change this year, here are some tips on how to do it right. 

Take a Personal Inventory

If you already know what you want to do for a new career and why you want to do it, you can probably skim over this step. But if you are fuzzy about the details or you don’t really know what your next move is going to be, this first step is absolutely critical.

No matter how different you think your new career will be from your old job, there will be at least one common denominator between them: YOU. Your skills, your passion, your point of view–these will all follow you into the next career and inform your choices. That’s why any time you’re considering a career transition, the best place to start is by understanding your current skill set and how it can be applied elsewhere. Take a step back and look at yourself objectively—what marketable skills have you acquired over the years that could help you in another career? What are your strengths? What are your talents? What are you passionate about? What makes you tick? (Reviewing my blog on “What Is Your Why?” may be helpful here.) Almost any new career you launch will involve a reimagining of your current gifts, talents, and passions–you’ll just be using them in a different way. This analysis will give you important insight into which jobs may be best suited for your abilities and interests. 

Make a Plan for Training & Education 

Once you’ve got an idea of what your desired career path is going to be, you may need additional education or training. Research degree programs and certifications, look into online courses, or consider taking classes at your local community college or university. Make sure that whatever program or courses you choose will match up with what employers are looking for in the field that interests you most. If you’re aiming for a specific position, pay attention to the job description—it will give you a good idea as to what classes you need to take or what credentials you need in order to qualify for the job. You’ll also want to investigate whether there are any additional steps you need to take (such as passing exams or getting professionally licensed) before launching into job applications. 

Network and Build Connections 

Networking is essential when making any kind of career shift — even more so when making such a drastic move between industries or job roles. Leverage your existing contacts as well as professional associations related to the industry you want to move into; this could include attending conferences or seminars or getting involved with related groups on LinkedIn or other social media outlets. In addition to providing helpful information about potential opportunities, networking is also important because it helps build relationships, and those connections can prove invaluable down the line.  

As exciting as it may be to consider heading in a whole new direction career-wise, let’s face it: a career shift is a major change, and change can be scary. But the key to navigating this change, as I’ve said over and over to my clients, is to have courage and make a plan. Change is inevitable; fear is optional. Being proactive in your approach to a career change will help you have more control, and therefore less fear. That’s why I always say, “Change happens: take control!”

Whether you’re just looking for a new job or navigating a major career change, if you want some support, someone to help guide you through the process, that’s why I’m here. Start the new year off right with the coaching you need so you can land the job you want. Just click here to access my calendar and set up a free 30-minute initial consultation.

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Follow These Tips for More Effective Job Networking

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News flash: There’s no set formula for landing the perfect job—although it certainly would make my job easier if there were. There are, in fact, many pathways to finding gainful employment in the career field of your choice. We’ve talked about a few of these pathways in recent blog posts, including job fairs, taking temp-to-hire jobs, using LinkedIn, etc.

But at the end of the day, the largest percentage of jobs offers still come through good old-fashioned networking. That saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know” does apply. So it stands to reason that one of the best ways to increase your chances for finding your dream job is by expanding your network and honing your job networking skills.

That said, networking is often easier said than done, and even naturally outgoing people can end up spinning their wheels. So let’s discuss some basic tips to help you refine your job networking skills and put them to better use.

Get Out and Meet People Live

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to the job search. On one hand, it does make it very easy to find and apply for jobs, and even to develop an online community. On the other hand, many people fall into the snare of letting it serve as a substitute for getting out and meeting people in person. The Internet and social media can definitely connect you to more people on a surface level—but it’s much harder to let your authentic personality come through. That only happens when you’re actually talking face-to-face with another human. So stop procrastinating and making excuses, and get yourself out to as many job networking events as you can find. If you don’t know where to look for these, sites like Meetup.com and Eventbrite can be good starting points to help you find job networking opportunities.

Hone Your Elevator Pitch

When someone asks the inevitable question, “What do you do?”, what do you tell them? If you simply say, “I’m a real estate agent” or “I’m an architect,” you’re wasting an opportunity to make a lasting impression. (Remember, they aren’t asking who you are; they’re asking what you do.) Your “elevator pitch” is your chance to tell others in a few words exactly what you can do to make people’s lives better. “I help anxious home buyers find the perfect home in the right neighborhood within their budget.” That’s what a real estate agent does. See the difference between that and “I’m a real estate agent?”

I recommend creating a 10-second version and a 30-second version of your elevator pitch. That way, you can follow up when someone shows interest from your 10-second version. Rehearse your pitches in front of the mirror until they become second nature, and practice using them at your next live networking event.

Be a Giver, Not a Taker

When you’re networking—whether in person or online—one of the best ways to nurture your network is to be the one who gives referrals, not just one who asks for them. Don’t just focus on your own needs; be quick to help other people make connections or pass along relevant job leads. It’s just another way of “doing unto others,” and I believe the universe honors it. Besides, by doing these types of favors, you put yourself top-of-mind when that person comes across a job lead for which you’d be a perfect fit.

Have a Game Plan and Strategy

If you’re a naturally outgoing person, networking might feel as natural as breathing; but what if you’re an introvert? What if you freeze up in crowds? Well, here’s some good news for introverts (and a wake-up call for extroverts): Effective job networking isn’t about personality, but about method. Outgoing people might find it easier to talk to others, but without a plan and a strategy, they can easily find themselves meeting lots of people who have no connection with where they want to go career-wise. Likewise, introverts might disqualify themselves on the networking front because of their shyness, but with a basic strategy to guide them, networking becomes much easier.

My point is, be purposeful in your networking. What types of people do you need to meet? Where do those people hang out? Who in your circle would be most likely to connect you to the type of job you want? What should you say to those people? The more prepared and focused you are about your connections and how you should interact with them, the easier and more effective networking becomes.

I’m a firm believer in career networking, and even as a career coach I continue to maintain an active network of my own. If you feel this is an area of weakness for you or if you’d like to get more focused about it, I can help you create a solid strategy for success. For a free 30-minute consultation, shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, or give me a call at 646-320-1126.

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Are Job Fairs Worth It?

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On the surface, it sounds like a perfect opportunity. You’re looking for a job, and there’s a job fair scheduled in your area where you can get into a room full of companies looking to hire. What better place could there be to find work? And yet, there are those who have expressed mixed feelings about these job fairs, suggesting that they are overrated, even a waste of time. So…are job fairs worth your time and energy?

First of all, I don’t feel there’s a blanket right or wrong answer here. In my experience, it’s not a matter of whether job fairs are “worth it.” As with so many other things in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you go into a job fair unprepared and directionless, chances are you’ll walk away without any legitimate connections, and certainly no job offers. Many of the people who berate job fairs actually fall into this category. They didn’t put in the effort (or didn’t know how), so the opportunity was wasted. It’s always easier to blame someone or something else.

That said, I also would say there are better ways to land a position than by going to a job fair—for example, getting referred to a company through your network by someone who works there. But that doesn’t make a job fair a waste of time, any more than it’s a waste of time to cold-call a company and ask to send your resume. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Some techniques are simply more effective than others. The key is to do everything you can to make the most of the opportunity, so let’s make that our starting point.

The Pros and Cons

Let’s begin by listing the advantages and disadvantages of job fairs so you at least know what you’re up against:

The Pros

  • The companies represented at the fair are definitely looking to hire.
  • You have opportunities to speak to representatives that you might not meet otherwise.
  • You have the opportunity to apply to multiple companies or firms at once.
  • You get to chat and ask questions in an informal setting (in other words, you’re not on the “hot seat” like in a formal job interview).
  • You get to practice your elevator pitch.

The Cons

  • Everyone else is there for the same reason you are. In other words, your competition is also at the fair, which means you could get lost in a shuffle of applications UNLESS you find a way to stand out.
  • You have to work harder to be remembered. (Remember, recruiters are talking to a lot of people throughout the day.)
  • There are usually fewer job openings than people present at the fair.
  • Job openings at job fairs are quite often “entry-level,” so it might be less relevant for someone with more work experience or a specialized skill set unless the company is specifically looking to fill that kind of position.

Tips for Making the Most of a Job Fair

Now that you sort of understand what you’re up against, if you choose to visit a job fair, the more you can prepare beforehand, the better your chances of successfully landing an interview or a position from the fair. Some tips that may help:

  • Get a list of all companies to be represented at the event, and pick out a few that you’re particularly interested in. This helps you target your time and energy better.
  • Research the companies on your hot list. Figure out how you can contribute meaningfully and how you can present yourself as an asset.
  • Prepare your elevator pitch. Be prepared to share a little about yourself in a confident way, but not pushy.
  • Write a cover letter for each company on your hot list. Put it in an envelope with one of your business cards and hand it personally to the representative at the table. (Bonus points if you can find out the representative’s name beforehand address the letter directly to them.)
  • Dress for success. Dress as you would for a job interview.

Again, hiring rates from job fairs aren’t always as good as when you have direct opportunities to make contact with the company—but you can improve your chances of making a lasting impression by preparing beforehand using the tips above. And remember, everything is networking. You may not get hired by the company you pitched for, but you never know whom you’ll meet at a job fair who may eventually provide a lead to the perfect job.

If you’d like more personalized help in landing your dream job, I’m here to help. For a free 30-minute consultation, shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, or give me a call at 646-320-1126.

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College Grads: Don’t Count on Your Degree to Get You a Job

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As springtime approaches, we can almost hear the buzz of college seniors finishing up their last assignments, getting ready to graduate and transition into the workforce. College students approaching graduation tend to fall in one of two groups:

GROUP ONE: They approach graduation with a sense of optimism, even giddiness.

GROUP TWO: They approach graduation with a sense of terror and dread.

Those in the first group are giddy, either because they’re among the few grads who actually have a job offer waiting for them, or because they are blindly optimistic that a job will magically appear once they graduate. The second group realizes that there is no promise of a job after graduation, and when they think of how much student debt they’ve accumulated—it’s enough to make them panic, wondering what the hell they’re going to do with their lives.

Actually, neither approach is the right way to face the future. The truth is somewhere in the middle. But we’ll get to that.

Welcome to the Real World

The fact is, college students have been led to believe that you go to school for four years (or maybe six or eight, if you’re getting an advanced degree), and employers are basically waiting at the other end of the graduation line, ready to hire you. If that was true at one time, it isn’t anymore. While it does still happen that way for a few people, the fact is most employers are placing a lot less stock in your college education. A few years ago, an eye-opening Gallup poll revealed that by a wide margin, employers think a job candidate’s knowledge and experience are more important than their college degree! This is a huge sea change from a few decades ago when the whole go-to-college-get-a-job mindset really got started.

Bottom line—while a college degree still matters (at least in some fields), there’s certainly no guarantee that your degree alone will land you a job. Welcome to the world of today.

The Student Debt Problem

Another issue that is plaguing college students these days is the skyrocketing levels of student debt. As college tuition rates climb higher than they ever should, the government keeps backing loans of higher and higher amounts to students who otherwise would never qualify to borrow that much money. As a result, overall student debt has surpassed $1.52 trillion dollars (more than our entire national debt in 1980). A whopping 44.2 million of us now carry student debt, and more than two million graduates have debt that exceeds $100,000. Some graduates even report that they’re paying more in student loan payments than they are on rent! When you consider that most college grads who do find work start in entry-level jobs—that’s a huge burden to bear.

The News Isn’t All Bad

If you’re a student getting ready to graduate, I hope I haven’t just moved you from group number one to group number two! I know the news is a little hard to take—but there is hope. The fact is, there are jobs available for college graduates—including lots of good, high-paying jobs. You just can’t rely on your degree to get them. In this day and age, you have to approach your job search a bit differently, a bit more creatively. I have a whole coaching system dedicated to helping college students find their way into lucrative careers, but for starters, here are a few tips to get you thinking the right way:

  • Prepare in advance. Don’t wait until a month before graduation to start thinking about your job search. Do some research into your chosen job market. Find out which firms or companies are the best in your field to work for, and form a “short list” of companies you want to apply for.
  • Start networking now. Most jobs these days are filled through connections, not by advertising. Build a compelling LinkedIn profile and start connecting with other professionals in your chosen field. Start building your contact list with those with whom you already share a common bond—namely, your professors, classmates and alumni. Attend local business networking events. Start forming a network of your own so when you’re ready to start the job search, you already have a structure in place.
  • Focus on your skills and strengths. You probably don’t have enough work experience to impress an employer yet, but all experience is potentially valuable to an employer, not just job experience. For recent college grads, I recommend putting together a functional-style resume—one that highlights your skills, strengths and experience gained through college projects, part-time jobs and student activities.

Those college grads in Group One are probably in for a rude awakening. But for those in Group Two, the future is not as bleak as it might seem. The right job is waiting for those grads who are willing to be positive, creative and proactive. If you need help preparing for your first real job out of college, I’m here to help. For a free 15-minute consultation, give me a call at 646-320-1126.

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4 Smartphone Apps to Enhance Your Job Search

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When utilized smartly and kept in its proper place and context, technology can be a beautiful thing. Yes, we all tend to spend too much time looking at screens, and you definitely need to look up from the phone once in a while. But when it comes to looking for a job, never have we had a better set of tools than we do right now—many of which we can access right from our smartphones.

If you’re on the hunt for a new job or career, there are literally hundreds of job search apps you could browse through, and of course, going through all of them would be counterproductive. So for now, let me narrow it down to four job-related smartphone apps that are at least worth a look.

1. LinkedIn Job Search

First of all, if you aren’t already using a LinkedIn profile as part of your job search, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. (Look for a separate post on using LinkedIn in days to come.) This app focuses specifically on the job listing section of LinkedIn, lets you narrow the search by location and category, sends you alerts of job openings based on your preferences and even lets you apply with a press of a button. Having the app on your smartphone frees you from your desktop so you can check the latest listings anytime.

A couple of additional tips to make the best use of this app:

  • Go into your LinkedIn account, go to the “Jobs” section and fill out the “career interests” section. Then at the top of the page, where it says, “Let recruiters know you’re open,” turn the switch to “on.” This helps people who are looking for your skill set know you’re available and reach out to you.
  • When you look at job opening on LinkedIn, it also displays people on that page whom you may know in that company, whether from school or a direct LinkedIn connection. Make a point of reaching out to mutual connections as they may have an “inside scoop” on what the company is looking for.

Find the app here: iTunes or Google Play

2. Indeed Job Search

Indeed.com is currently the most comprehensive job listings site on the web right now, so it only makes sense to utilize its companion app to help with your job hunt. No super-deep features or innovations here—it’s basically a mobile extension of the website tailored for your smartphone—but it’s definitely worth having simply due to the number of job openings available at any time.

Find it here: iTunes or Google Play.

3. Switch

Do you use Tinder? (Don’t answer that.) Point being, if you like Tinder, you’ll love Switch because it’s like Tinder for job seekers. It uses a similar swipe-left-or-right engine to connect employers and employees. Browse the listings; swipe left if you’re interested in the job, swipe right if you’re not. On the other side, prospective employers are doing the same thing. When both you and the employer swipe right, you’ve got a match—along with a possible job interview.

Find it here: iTunes or Google Play.

LinkUp

Not to be confused with LinkedIn (seriously, maybe find a better name?), what this app does is better than how it’s named. LinkUp only aggregates job openings from legitimate company websites, virtually eliminating the scam element. The app itself is currently only available for iPhone, but it’s worth checking out the website version if you use Android.

Find it on iTunes.

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