The Exclusive Career Coach

Muhammed Imran Khan, an insightful voice on LinkedIn, sheds light on the rising threat of online job scams that cost Americans $490 million in 2023. He discusses various types of scams, including phishing schemes and fake job offers that require upfront fees. Khan emphasizes the importance of safeguarding personal information and recognizing red flags to avoid falling victim to these schemes. From pyramid schemes to resume harvesting, he provides practical tips to help job seekers navigate the treacherous waters of online job hunting.

Imposter Syndrome can strike at any stage of your career, making you doubt your achievements. It's not just a one-time experience; it can vary based on different situations. The common symptoms include self-doubt, isolation, and burnout. Author Clare Josa highlights the 'four P's: perfectionism, paralysis, people-pleasing, and procrastination. This discussion offers valuable strategies to shift your mindset, boost self-efficacy, and build support systems to overcome these feelings.

Learn how to succeed as a manager with a terrible boss by managing your team effectively, recognizing signs of a bad boss, and maintaining a positive relationship with your superior. Navigate challenges with self-care and positive leadership strategies.

Discover five effective ways to use AI in your job search, such as researching companies and gaining industry insights. Learn how to leverage ChatGPT for valuable job search tools, while being cautious of solely relying on AI-generated content for applications.

Discussing whether to apply on LinkedIn or through the company's website, emphasizing the importance of customized resumes. Highlighting the benefits of LinkedIn for easy applications but promoting quality over quantity. Encouraging connections with individuals at the company or hiring manager for a personalized approach.

Learn about the importance of building relationships with recruiters, the different types of recruiters like Contingency and Executive, and tips for maintaining these connections for long-term career success. Strategies include making a positive impression, effective communication, interview preparation, and networking.

Bob Tiede discusses the importance of asking great questions in leadership. He shares his favorite questions, the power of personal questions, and the significance of leading with questions to engage and motivate teams. Learn how asking the right questions can enhance leadership effectiveness and boost team morale.

Explore the importance of know, like, and trust in a job search, focusing on showcasing achievements, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, and building meaningful connections with potential employers.

A listener reached out to me about this topic and it resonated with me. At the beginning of the year, I started casually looking for a part-time job in Tallahassee – not so much for the money as for the human interaction. As a solopreneur working from home, I feel pretty isolated. I thought a few hours a week would help me meet some new people, possibly make some new friends, and have more human contact.  I set up a search on Indeed.com – and what I’ve received since then has been pretty pathetic. Granted, I didn’t do much to refine my search because I was open to any number of things. Mostly what I knew was what I DIDN’T want – full-time, inflexibility with my schedule, being a front-line contact for people.  I got custodial jobs, server jobs, and delivery driver jobs. Of course, these are important roles and someone needs to do them – just not me.  So when the listener suggested this title, I put it on my list of topics I wanted to explore for an upcoming episode. So here goes.  What exactly are you looking for? Some definitions are in order. There are professional part-time jobs for people who want to pursue an opportunity within their career field – just not on a full-time basis. They could be downshifting into retirement, raising children, or helping with an elderly parent.  Then there are part-time jobs for professionals – perhaps to make a bit more money, to (like me) fulfill an unmet need in their regular job, or to pursue a passion.  It is important for you to assess why you want a part-time job and what your non-negotiables are for that job – just as you should do for a full-time position.   Where should you look? Most job boards have a filter for part-time positions, so you’ll want to utilize that. When I tried LinkedIn, I was able to filter for part-time, mid-senior level, and in-person; I could have also filtered for a salary range.  I tried this out on Indeed as well, but wasn’t able to simultaneously filter for as many criteria as with LI. With part-time, I couldn’t find a way to also search for a type of job – and when I did, it reverted to full-time positions. Perhaps Indeed isn’t the best place to look for a professional part-time job, but could work if you are looking for a part-time job as a professional.  I didn’t try other mainstream online sites, but most if not all of them should have the part-time filter – the question is what other filters you can engage at the same time.  There are also sites that cater to part-time work, like flexjobs.com. Many sites have cropped up since Covid specifically for remote work, so if that’s what you are looking for, here are a few good ones: -remote.co-ratracerebellion.com-weworkremotely.com There is also the gig economy with sites like Upwork if you have a skill set that lends itself to this type of work.  I want to briefly mention turning a hobby or passion into something you get compensated for. When I was in higher education, I started a jewelry business – I had no background in it but started beading and fell in love. I quickly realized I could either have a very expensive hobby or start selling my work and so I did. It was time-consuming and in no way easy, but very flexible and it provided a creative outlook my job just didn’t.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the option of multilevel marketing – now often referred to as network marketing or direct selling. While this industry is often painted with the broad-brush stroke of pyramid schemes, many are legitimate and it can be a very flexible source of additional income. Because it is commission-based, this might be a better option for someone who doesn’t have to rely on a certain amount of steady income.  The question then becomes: How do you find the non-scammy opportunities? I found a good article on this topic on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-choose-network-marketing-company-ion-ivanciu/ This article talks about how to determine the type of MLM you might want to choose. I took it a step further and Googled “best MLM Companies in 2023.” I won’t mention any results because those will quickly be dated and should not be your primary driver, but a little research will show you the possibilities. You could also try a search like “Best MLM companies in ___.”   How else can you find opportunities? -Look for small, local employers – particularly if you want an in-person job, although remote work might also be an option. Companies that have a wide range of work to be done, but not necessarily enough of any one skill set to require a full-time employee, would be ideal. I have a friend who works Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., doing administrative tasks for a glass company. She’s 79 years old and loves it! Network for these opportunities.  -Are there solopreneurs you can provide services to in your area of expertise? The field of Virtual Assistants – known as VAs – has grown exponentially since Covid, so that’s a pretty crowded field these days. However, perhaps all you want is a couple of solopreneurs who each need a few hours a month of bookkeeping work or website support. Network for these opportunities.  -Look into cultural, religious, or community organizations – again, these may be leanly staffed and would welcome part-time help. Museums, theaters, arts-agencies, churches, temples, and libraries all tend to rely heavily on part-time staff. Network for these opportunities.  -Other areas that hire part-time workers are education, healthcare, and sales. Could you be an adjunct college professor or teach online courses? What about part-time clerical work at your child’s school? Could you get a second part-time nursing job? What about part-time sales? Network for these opportunities. As I began working on this topic, I realized just how vast it is and how much information is out there. I covered the what – what you are looking for; the where – where to look online for these jobs; and the how – how to look for these opportunities. I didn’t touch on the networking process, how to apply, how to follow-up; I’ve covered these topics in other episodes.  I realize now how much I missed the boat in my initial search – a lesson that no matter how experienced we are in an area, we still have more to learn. Humbling, but an important lesson.  

In this podcast, the host debunks the myth of never talking about negative experiences in job interviews. They emphasize the importance of honesty while advising on how to share negative details professionally. The episode explores the delicate balance of being truthful without jeopardizing job prospects.