I love “how to’s”. All the theories in the world are useless unless we know how to apply them and make a change. I have always been a practical career coach who ensures that what I suggest really works for my clients. Twenty years ago, I designed a CV format that opened up loads of new opportunities for me. I therefore shared it with more and more people who experienced the same dramatic improvement in their job-hunting experience. I remember trying to bash down doors with my old CV and then having to turn job offers down with my new CV.
However, something strange happens when you try something new. The whole situation seems to get a whole lot worse for a while. I coined the phrase “it sometimes gets worse before it gets better” years ago. A simple illustration of this is when you wash a pan under the tap, the mess seems to get worse before it gets better.
Examples:
- We think about changing job and then we lose our current job.
- We think about getting fit and then we sprain an ankle.
- We think about improving our relationships and then we end up in an argument.
Sometimes the problem we face helps to move us in a different direction. Applying for jobs myself years ago led me to running Career Consultants for the past twenty years. Problems allow us to see and understand more about a situation. They help us to recognise our unique talents too.
Finding a job quickly can follow this pattern. I advocate every job hunter and career-minded person to harness the power of LinkedIn these days. It is the new way to find work and has proven to be very effective indeed for my clients. Searching for jobs via LinkedIn doesn’t just land you a job quickly, it also brings you into contact with ex-colleagues and associates. The job hunt can therefore take you in a different direction – one that you didn’t expect. If your job-hunt is approached in the right way, it will put you in touch with new people and new opportunities.
If you have experienced the scenario I describe above, don’t despair. It is a sign that things are changing and that the process of change is really working. You may notice how the things that you held onto in the past, suddenly fall away.
Do you need to update and re-brand your LinkedIn profile? To help you, I run a 30-day LinkedIn Career Programme for just £99 starting at the beginning of each month. The programme is delivered through a series of email exercises and advises you on how to ensure that your profile attracts the attention of potential employers. I also provide unlimited individual support and advice throughout each programme. For further information and details of my 30-day LinkedIn Career Programme.
BY: Sarah Berry
Free CV Scan and Analysis
Choosing your CVs Fixation Points
Putting the perfect CV together proves to be a challenge for most people. Unlike most documents is it rarely read from beginning to end. It is more like a webpage than a book. To help you, Career Consultants provide a free CV scanning and analysis service. All you need to do is upload your CV below and tell us a little about yourself.
It is quick, easy and free and can make all the difference between your new getting a positive response from employers and recruiters and no response at all.