Career Transition Tips

There are multiple ways that your brand can be consumed or accessed.

It is what you say about yourself, what you have written on your resume and what’s on your digital footprint.

It is critical when you talk to a recruiter or potential employer that you always assume that they have seen your CV or digital footprint.

This means that you need to say what the CV or LinkedIn profile says. Whilst the CV and LinkedIn do not have to be absolutely identical, ensure they portrait the same brand.

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

There are three main types of resumes.

Chronological, Functional and Portfolio.

The chronological resume lists all or most of our jobs in date order.

The functional resume focuses on accomplishments and skills relevant to the new role.

The third one is the portfolio resume which contains relevant content of your work and tends to be used more for graphic designers, architects or relevant artistic applications.

It is important doing the relevant research to find out which resume will work best for what is required.  Different industries will require a different approach, there is no one resume format that works everywhere. 

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

The top interview tip is that you are comfortable with silence.

When you get asked a question, it is ok to stop and think for a moment.

You can also reframe the questions and ask if that is what they meant. Once you have provided your answer, stop talking. Just wait for the next question, or ask them if that’s what they were looking for. Or you say that you are having trouble interpreting the silence and ask if they want to hear anything else. 

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

Tell me more about yourself is not about your personal life, it’s not about your pet’s name or how many children you have. It is all about who you are at work.

This does not mean that you don’t get to bring your whole self to work, but in an interview, there is little time to convey your values. 

Stick to your top three transferable skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for, discuss recent key accomplishments and what you want to do next. This will give them an idea of who they are employing. 

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

Your resume document should be relevant, concise and consistent.

Everything in your resume should be relevant to the job. (Unrelated work information, eg hobbies, should only be included if the job requires them.)   

Keep your resume as short as possible – two to three pages at most. Assume the reader will only read the first third of the first page before making a decision; make sure your top three skills and accomplishments are easy to see (and relevant). 

Finally, ensure your resume is consistent with what you are saying on LinkedIn and your elevator pitch when networking.

Nothing erodes trust faster than inconsistency. 

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

Asking questions shows that you are interested in the organisation with which you are meeting.

Always have some questions ready to ask. You will show them that you are organised, have done some research and are comfortable holding a dialogue.

You will no doubt learn something too. If you are keen for the job, here is an excellent catch-all question, “Is there anything else I should have asked or said to make sure I land this role?” 

Your referees are an essential part of your job search; ensure you keep in touch and take care of them – you will probably need them again one day!

Only use professionally relevant referees unless specifically requested, personal referees rarely add much value. Brief your referee, send them your resume and the position description if appropriate and help them understand what aspects of you and your skills you would like them to focus on. Explain how they will be contacted and by whom.

Finally, whatever the outcome of your application, make sure you circle back and let them know. Thank them so they will be happy to help next time.

We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.

Focus on where you want to go, not what you want to leave.

Preparing and planning for your next career move is the most important part of moving forward.

It is essential to have a clear view of where you want to go next and not focus so much on what you want to leave behind. Reflect and understand when you are happiest at work, and develop clarity about where you get your fulfilment. These insights will help you identify potential suitable industries and companies for you.

The next step is to talk to your network to learn more about potential organisations for you to join. The more you prepare, the more likely it is that you will make a successful transition to a fulfilling job. 

It is important to note that there is NO SUCH THING AS AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW! 

Whether it’s a coffee catch-up, a phone call or a quick SMS, the interviewer or hiring manager is working out who you are and where your interests lie. Every interaction with you is a formal interview.  
 
Always carefully consider what you are being asked, take a moment and think about the context of the information you are giving them. Remain professional, and before the conversation, spend some time thinking about your key skills, accomplishments, and what you want to bring to this organisation.

Your only task is to get to the next round of the recruitment process. 

A lot of people are unhappy at work but they don’t know what to do.

I encourage people to do is have a think about what was going on. When they were really happy we’ve got a framework that we can help unpack what was going on and bring that forward in transferable skills.

The second thing you can do is ask those people who know you will about what they think you’re good at. What do they think you know for what do they think you should do next.

If you start with yourself and others who know you, you can build a really good picture about where you might take yourself next. We enable organisations and individuals to develop and grow, achieve results and enjoy what they do.