Real Job Seeker Story: A Job Search at YOUR Age? YES!
By — — Posted in Job Search Tips, Networking Know How, Real Job Seeker Stories & Successes, Transferable Skills
Our world, country, economy, business world, work force and our own lives are going through massive, and sometimes scary, changes right now.
You might be facing a furlough or lay off, or your children who are young adults or teens are looking at a really challenging job market: anyone may feel rather intimidated to be a job seeker right now, quite understandably!
The idea of gaining new experience under the tutelage of a mentor is not just for kids, though. Adults can take on internships on their own or through advanced schooling to begin their careers anew, too.
Both students/new grads seeking first jobs and seasoned professionals wishing to make a career change can do so using similar approaches:
Getting training, practical experience and
highlighting transferable skills.
A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE:
A friend of mine recently started his entire career over, moving from a grueling 80+hour/week sales job to get into the medical field with no prior experience, or education beyond his diploma.
He used his connections, as anyone starting out should, and got an entry level job in a major hospital, and took a medical careers survey class at his local community college to get his foot in the door. This did take some humility on his part, but, he was motivated, so he did what he had to do.
First his direct supervisor and then a top dog at the hospital noticed him, and took him on as his protege. He didn’t stay entry level for long!
My friend is 38, by the way.
–> How can YOU reinvent yourself anew and dare to change careers?
- By calling on your network for new opportunities
- Start volunteering in the new field to gain experience and contacts
- Get the required training /new skills needed for the new line of work
As an important additional note:
Now more than ever, if YOU are in the position
to HELP someone transition into a new position
(new field or not, new grad, or not)
by mentoring, recommending,
connecting to a resource,
however you can help, *please do!*
We all need a little help right now!
-> Target Your Resume to Where You Want to Go NOW, Not JUST Where You’ve Been:
Remember, your resume will need to be changed to highlight your most applicable experience and transferable skills into your new industry – let me help you with that! It can be tricky to do so effectively on your own.
RESUME CHANGES – EXAMPLE:
For my friend changing from sales into working with patients in the medical field, we would:
- highlight his people skills & relationship building which are key in both types of work,
- same with his ability to perform well under pressure, and
- to pay attention to detail with accuracy (what he once had to do with the finer points of a sales contract and product specifications he’ll now do with patient care chart instructions, medicine dosages, precision x-ray setting and taking, etc.)
We’d change his Summary section to brand him away from sales, too, and focus on these transferable skills.
RELATED POSTS:
Check out Summaries Made Simple and
7 Transferable Skills and How to Talk About Them
Don’t let stories or even your own beliefs about “how bad the economy and job situation is out there” limit your job prospects & dreams, whether you’re new to the work world or the one who’s usually mentoring those who are.
Students/ New Grads: the same advice above for a mid-career job changer about transferable skills holds true:
Their leadership skills as a team captain or Glee Club President show that they are used to positions holding some responsibility and accountability, all great skills to have in the work world.
Showing demonstrated organizational and marketing skills when they put together acampus’ Blood Drive for the American Heart Association over 3 days with 100 student donors, and getting donations to thank them for participating highlight very marketable employment ready skills.
Many students have to learn to juggle the stress and responsibility of both a part time job and succeeding at their studies — the transferable skills here are hard work, time management, prioritizing tasks, being teachable, learning about responsibility, working with others & management, etc.
I say, all of you, young or old(ish), experienced or not, GO FOR IT.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
-Goethe
Let me help you (or your favorite student!)
prepare a powerful first resume that sells the skills
they might not know they have to offer
& get hired sooner in a competitive market!
