Find Your Dream Job: Insider Tips for Finding Work, Advancing your Career, and Loving Your Job

Searching for your next job can lead to discouragement and even despair. Where do you find the motivation to keep moving forward when you feel like it’s too hard? On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Clarke Hylton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkehylton/) and I discuss the steps he took to overcome inertia and discouragement during his own job search. Clarke says the first step is figur...

You’ve been called in for an interview. That’s great news! Now, it’s time to prepare. Do you know how to get ready for a job interview? Find Your Dream Job guest Thaddeus B. Dunn says it starts with researching the company. Know what the company values and who the interviewer will be. Study the job description and use points from it to highlight your skills and successes. Prepare questions that wi...

Merely mentioning the words “applicant tracking system” can strike fear in the heart of a job seeker. We tend to fear what we aren’t familiar with and when our livelihood is on the line, it’s easy to understand why. But rather than fear them, Find Your Dream Job guest Matt Warzel says you need to learn how to benefit from them. When approached correctly, an ATS can help you get in front of a hirin...

If the thought of walking into a ballroom filled with hundreds of people makes you nervous, you’re not alone. But networking isn’t about the number of people you meet. Find Your Dream Job guest Bob Gerst reminds us that networking is a give and take relationship; not a Rolodex filled with names. Bob says quality networking doesn't just happen, it takes effort. And the more you do it, the easier it...

Have you skipped applying for a job you would love because you don’t have 100% of the qualifications in the job description? Before you eliminate yourself, Find Your Dream Job guest Jonaed Iqbal says you need to consider what you do have to offer. Share stories of how you’ve used your skills in past positions, including volunteer work. And make the interview a two-way street, engaging the hiring m...

It’s natural to withdraw from others when you’re jobless, but that’s not the best way to help yourself through a time of uncertainty and it certainly isn’t the best way to find your next position. Networking is more important than ever when you’re looking for a job and on this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Doug Hunter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhunterdigital/) and I talk about how he co...

Are you a recent college graduate who’s ready to enter the job market? If so, it is essential that you learn to market yourself and your skills to potential employers. The best way to begin, according to Find Your Dream Job guest Dr. Ciera Graham, is practicing for interviews. Take the time to rehearse answers to common interview questions to build your confidence. Dr. Graham also recommends doing...

Every employer says, “Tell me about yourself.” If you don’t prepare your answer before the interview, you miss an opportunity to share how your story connects with the position you’re applying for. Find Your Dream Job guest Dan Hahn suggests diving deep into the role and what it requires, and then wording your personal story to line up with the needs of the company. Share personal anecdotes that s...

For working moms looking for their next career opportunity, it can be difficult to balance parenthood, volunteer work, and their home life with the hours required to job hunt. Is there any way to make it easier? Find Your Dream Job guest Mona Johnson says yes. And it starts with saying no. Say no to the things that aren’t top priorities for this season. Say yes to consistency and good time managem...

Seventy-seven million adults have a criminal record, and while discrimination is illegal, employers do have the right to ask about your background. If you’re ready to rejoin the workforce after a criminal conviction, Find Your Dream Job guest Ty Reed suggests only disclosing if asked directly, but being 100% honest. Be prepared to describe how you have turned your life around, using specific examp...

Rejection is a part of the job search that we don’t like to talk about. No matter who you are, it stings to be rejected, especially when you thought it was a perfect fit. How do you get past those initial feelings of not being good enough? On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job , Emma Holland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacholland/) and I discuss how she dealt with rejection and eventuall...

Have you dealt with circumstances so difficult, you’re afraid nobody will hire you again? Find Your Dream Job guest, Oscar Garcia has. Oscar knows what it’s like to lose a job with no warning, and he has learned how to use that adversity to advance his career. Oscar says you begin by reframing your story; telling it from a position of strength, not victimhood. View every obstacle as a challenge in...

If you’re in a period of stagnation at work, it can seem too hard to look for something better. A job search takes a lot of energy, and if you feel drained at work, you might not feel that you have the energy it takes. But Find Your Dream Job guest Megan Leatherman says there are always steps you can take, no matter how impossible it seems. She says the first step is to get back to self-care. It’s...

If you’re investing all of your focus into your current job, you are not setting yourself up for future success. Taking ownership of your career gives you an advantage that sets you up for success in future positions. How do you take ownership of your career? Find Your Dream Job guest Monique Betty says you begin by being deliberate - in your skills, your relationships, and your education. Monique...

Any job search is easier if you know what you’re looking for. Too many job seekers settle for a job that pays a good salary but doesn’t fulfill them. How do you figure out your passion and purpose before you try to land your next position? Find Your Dream Job guest Andrea Koppel says you have to experiment. Try out as many things as it takes to discover what you love. She recommends choosing three...

The majority of open positions are never posted on job boards, but rather, are filled in-house or through networking. Having a well-developed network opens up jobs for you, but it also provides you with an instant connection to companies you are interested in. Your network can also provide references for you if you’ve worked together in any way.  On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job , Meli...

If you’re in a hurry to switch jobs, you’re likely to find yourself in another job you dislike as much as your current one. How can you apply for the job you actually want and not just what’s available? Find Your Dream Job guest Ebony Joyce says you start by slowing down. Figure out what it is you want and what’s holding you back. Ebony also warns against lateral moves, as that can affect your lif...

Looking for a job is exhausting, and it can make even the strongest of us doubt ourselves. How can you overcome self-doubt so that it doesn’t come through in your search? Find Your Dream Job guest Juliet Murphy says you start by believing that you have something to offer. You also need to think about what your colleagues praise you for. Juliet reminds us that it’s normal to be nervous when intervi...

We’ve all been there - it’s 10:00 at night and we’re hitting “apply” on every possible opportunity we see on the job boards. It’s called panic applying and it’s harming your job search. What should you do instead? Find Your Dream Job guest Cassie Spencer says you have to start with a list of your non-negotiables. Next, make a solid plan for your job search, and remember that panic applying tends t...

What does your resume look like? Is it a list of your experience by year, followed by a summary of your past responsibilities? If that sounds familiar, it’s time to adopt a new strategy. Find Your Dream Job guest Claire Davis is here to share why your resume needs to sell you to the hiring manager. Claire explains that selling yourself is simply showing how your skills and experience are the answe...

Are you approaching your job search like a loser? Those are harsh words, but if you’re spending hours searching job boards and applying to any job you think you can get, you can’t expect to find a job you will love. Find Your Dream Job guest Rupert French says you have to take control of your job search campaign. Rupert shares how to create an advisory board, craft a mission statement, and build a...

You’re ready to switch careers, maybe even career fields. You’ve got an idea of what you want to do but you aren’t sure where to start. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job , Em Bookstein (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybookstein/) and I talk about how they overcame imposter syndrome in order to move into a new industry. Em also shares how informational interviews helped them get answers...

Job seeking in an ongoing pandemic has brought many changes to how we look for work. In-person meetings are nearly a thing of the past and online etiquette matters more than ever. Find Your Dream Job guest Renata Bernarde says your LinkedIn profile is the most important thing you have in the current job culture. She also shares the best way to connect with others on LinkedIn, and how to set up a j...

If you have a tendency to feel anxious during interviews, maybe it’s time to incorporate some well-timed humor. Humor can alleviate stress and help build rapport with others, even hiring managers. Find Your Dream Job guest Loren Greiff says you need to strike a balance between using humor and trying to be a comedian. You want to be yourself, not making jokes for the sake of getting a laugh, but ta...

One of the challenges of changing career fields is convincing a hiring manager that your previous jobs prepared you for this new industry. What’s even more challenging is accomplishing that on your resume. Find Your Dream Job guest Melanie Denny says to start with clarity; clarity on what you want and how your most recent couple of jobs prepared you for that particular position. Melanie also advis...