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

Physician recruiter Lori Aoki shares her job search journey, emphasizing resilience and networking. She found her current job through a friend's recommendation after a year-long search. Lori highlights the value of networking, customizing resumes, and staying resilient in the competitive job market.

Mentors can make an incredible difference in your career. A mentor can make introductions, give you advice, and provide you with a trusted reference. Our guest expert this week is Marci Alboher, vice president of Encore.org. Discover why mentors matter, how to find mentors and why you should be one yourself. About Our Guest: Marci Alboher Marci Alboher(https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialboher/), a Vice President at Encore.org(https://encore.org/), is one of the nation’s leading authorities on career issues and workplace trends. A former blogger and columnist for The New York Times, her latest book is “The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life.” (https://amzn.to/2HGMg73) Marci serves on the board of directors of Girls Write Now and as a mentor editor for The OpEd Project. Marci lives in NYC, with her husband Jay and their French bulldog Sinatra. Resources in this Episode: New tool: Online classroom Udacity has teamed up with Google to provide 12 free courses to job seekers across the globe. Explore the available courses:  https://blog.udacity.com/2018/06/udacity-launches-free-career-courses.html Listener question: Madeline Johnson from Eugene, Oregon knows that it’s all about who you know but feels awkward name-dropping in an interview. We explore how to talk about your connections authentically. More from our guest: Get Marci’s book:https://amzn.to/2HGMg73 Connect with Marci on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialboher/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may think that your most important tool for finding a new job is your resume, your cover letter or your references but that’s not the case. Our guest expert Nella Barkley shares how you can make a big difference in your job search by knowing your own skills, defining your goals and by actively advocating for yourself with clear evidence of your demonstrated achievements. Ask yourself what you can point to as impressive accomplishments and how to emphasize those achievements in the job interview. About Our Guest: Nella Barkley Nella Barkley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nella-gray-barkley-a405b5122/)  is the president and co-founder of the Crystal-Barkley Corporation (http://www.careerlife.com/) which helps people find their own personal career and life paths. She is a sought-after mentor, public speaker and coach. Her counsel is sought by Fortune 500 corporations, career changers, and international media.Nella is also the author of two books: “The Crystal-Barkley Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career” (https://amzn.to/2Mvejdq)  and “How to Help Your Child Land the Right Job: (Without Being a Pain in the Neck).” (https://amzn.to/2ygbWrY) Resources in this Episode: New Tool: If you’re introverted, don’t discount your abilities to connect with people on a deeper level. Read this guide on: “Why introverts might actually be better networkers” (https://work.qz.com/1277113/networking-events-why-introverts-might-actually-be-better-at-them/) by author David Burkas on Quartz.   Listener Question: Shelly Milos from Beaverton, Oregon asks: I’ve planned and paid for a vacation with my husband this summer. I’ve also FINALLY started getting interviews and don’t know when to bring up my trip with my potential employer. When’s the best time to bring this up and still get hired?     More from Nella Barkley: Nella’s company offers regular online seminars for professionals. Check out her Life/Work Design programs here. (https://bestworkinc.com/life-work-design/)     Visit bestworkinc.com (https://bestworkinc.com/) Connect with Nella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nella-gray-barkley-a405b5122/ Read Nella’s books: “The Crystal-Barkley Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career”   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freelance work is trending, and it doesn't have to be an exhausting, feast-or-famine career. Rethink short-term gigs by learning more about portfolio careers. About Our Guest: Anne Pryor Anne Pryor (https://www.linkedin.com/in/annepryor/) is a globally recognized online brand strategist and top 10 LinkedIn trainer. She helps clients stand out, get found, and make meaningful connections for great jobs and profitable business. Anne had written more than 10,000 LinkedIn profiles and trained 100,000 people. Learn more about Anne on her website, annepryor.com (https://annepryor.com/). Resources in this Episode: New Tool: Shortly, even the CEO will be outsourced to an online labor marketplace (https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/05/shortly-even-the-ceo-will-be-outsourced-to-an-online-labor-marketplace/?ncid=rss) from TechCrunch. Listener Question: Kathy Rees of Portland, Ore. asks, “Is it better to list (or not list) some part time jobs that I have had since I was laid off in July? I do not want to look like someone who jumps from job to job.” More from Anne Pryor: Visit Anne’s website: www.annepryor.com (https://annepryor.com/). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s world, applying for a job online means you’re bound to face some fierce competition. In some cases, you may be competing with an internal candidate. And in other instances, you may be competing with recruiters working for the hiring manager. Any number of online job postings may attract hundreds of applicants. How do you stand out from the crowd? Get expert insights from talent recruiter and owner of PDX Career Coach, Christine LaPorte. About Our Guest: Christine LaPorte Christine LaPorte has been a talent recruiter for Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Rejuvenation and R/GA. Today, as the owner of PDX Career Coach, Christine gives creative professionals the tools and strategies they need to connect with hiring managers and get competitive salaries. Resources in this Episode: New Tool: Mango (http://mangoconnects.com) is a networking app that helps you navigate LinkedIn to deepen and grow your professional connections. Listener Question: Germaine Couldis from the Bay Area has worked for the same company since she graduated from high school. Fifteen years later, she’s ready to move on but is worried her lack of a bachelor’s degree will limit her job prospects. More from Christine LaPorte: Go to pdxcareercoach.com (https://www.pdxcareercoach.com/) to connect with Christine and learn her story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who has gone through a job search can tell you that rejection is par for the course. Even the most skilled professionals have failed more than once. And even perfect candidates can lose out on a job because of something outside of their control. One of the keys to a successful job search is to maintain positivity and perspective in the face of regular rejection. To do this, you need to be vulnerable, share your feelings, and lean on your support network to maintain your confidence and keep moving forward toward bigger and better things. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, we welcomed our first African female guest, author and career coach Añuli Ola-Olaniyi! Añuli explains how to manage failure in your job search and turn rejection into a learning opportunity. About Our Guest: Añuli Ola-Olaniyi Añuli Ola-Olaniyi is the founder of HEIR (http://heir.com.ng/), a social enterprise created to help young women build capacity and learn career skills. Añuli hosts the Hire Me Bootcamp (http://nigerianwomentrustfund.org/hire-me-bootcamp-iii/), a training platform for millennials. She is certified in project management, HR, and digital skills. And she regularly speaks, facilitates and writes about jobs and careers. Resources in this Episode:   New Tool: Inspiration for workers over 50 in a new report: 10 Advantages of Retaining and Hiring Older Workers: Lessons from NYC Small Businesses (https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/research/age-smart-employer/advantages-older-workers) from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.   Listener Question: New college grad Kendra wrote in from Walla Walla, Wash. to ask if she should hide her tattoos during job interviews.    More from Añuli Ola-Olaniyi: Follow along as Añuli grows her business on Twitter at @heirwoman and @anuli Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie Dalrymple moved to Portland from a small, tight-knit community in Napa, California. When she first moved to the Pacific Northwest, she missed that built-in network of connections. But from attending networking events, volunteering with local organizations and conducting informational interviews, Julie was able to build a solid network of contacts who opened up new opportunities for her career. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job; I talked with Julie Dalrymple about how volunteering opened up new possibilities for her career and helped her secure a job she loves. You can read more about Julie Dalrymple’s job search below in her essay for our Success Stories series. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I am the marketing & communications manager for Classic Wines Auction (http://www.classicwinesauction.com/) in Portland. We are a small but mighty organization that produces food and wine events to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. My job involves creating and implementing the marketing and communications strategy, promoting our events via traditional and digital marketing methods, social media, and community outreach. I do a lot of hands-on graphic and web design as well. How long did it take you to find this job? The entire process from the first interview to joining the organization took about six weeks. However, it took several years of searching for the right job. I have a significant background in nonprofit marketing but had a difficult time getting my foot in the door after I moved to Portland in 2014. How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most? As many others will attest, networking is such a powerful force in the job market. When I moved here three years ago, I focused on cultivating connections by going to events, volunteering, and meeting new people through introductions from friends. Several people alerted me to this particular job opening because it was so well suited to my skills, experience and interests (of course, I had already seen it on Mac’s List). Before applying and interviewing, I researched, followed their social media, reviewed their website thoroughly, and read anything I could find in the media. My prior experience and volunteerism also helped with this position, as I was familiar with the unique nonprofit model of the organization. What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge? In the case of my longer-term search for the right job, the most difficult part was dealing with rejection. When I first moved to Portland, I interviewed for a number of organizations and seemed to always be the “runner-up.” I had to learn to not take these rejections personally. It’s hard not to doubt your worth when you don’t get that job offer, but a lot is happening behind the scenes that you may not know, and any number of factors can contribute to the final decision. Also, with every job application comes a good deal of vulnerability and energy. It can be difficult to jump through all the hoops of a job search – to put yourself out there – and not know if the effort will pay off. Many organizations require detailed projects, plans and personal analysis toward the end of the process, which can be exhausting. But it can also be the key to a life-changing career move (and you can learn a lot about yourself).   What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job-seekers? Find a way to get local, hands-on experience in your desired industry. And, if you’re new to an area, explore the region, meet people, volunteer and find new connections. I volunteered a lot when I moved here – as a tour guide at the Pittock Mansion (http://www.pittockmansion.org/) (which introduced me to new friends and helped me get acquainted with the city), as a committee member for the American Cancer Society’s annual gala (http://www.portlandhopeball.com/) (which provided valuable insight into the Portland nonprofit and event scene), and as a marketing consultant for other small nonprofits (which opened new doors). I can’t stress enough the value of volunteering. It was critical in building my foundation here in Portland. Why do you love your job? The people, the mission, the work… and the wine. The people you work with make all the difference, and I’m grateful for great colleagues and an awesome boss. CWA is making a difference in the community, by serving worthy charitable organizations and bringing people together through wine, food and philanthropy.  I’m excited to come into the office every day and do such great work. I’ve always loved creating memorable experiences for people, especially for a good cause, and I’m glad to be a part of an organization that shares that value. Want to learn more about Julie? Connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedalrymple/)!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connecting salary and success can be a losing game. Don’t equate the amount of money you make with how happy you are in life. Instead, know that your self-worth is more than your paycheck. And when you do negotiate for salary, focus on understanding the market value of your skills and ask for the pay that compensates the type of work you do. About Our Guest: Lauren McGoodwin Lauren McGoodwin is the founder and CEO of Career Contessa (http://www.careercontessa.com/), a career site for women. Previously, Lauren was a tech recruiter at Hulu and wrote her masters thesis on millennial women and career resources. Career Contessa launched in 2013 and now helps more than one million people with career development each year. Resources in this Episode: New Tool: How do Applicant Tracking Systems work? This article from Jobscan outlines four features of the most common ATS software. Read Taleo: 4 Ways the Most Popular ATS Ranks Your Job Application. (https://www.jobscan.co/blog/taleo-popular-ats-ranks-job-applications/) Listener Question: Doug Boxford of Anaheim, Calif. asked for tips about controlling his nerves during a job interview. More from Lauren McGoodwin: Check out the new Productivity Powerhouse (https://careercontessa.lpages.co/productivity-powerhouse-waitlist/) course from Career Contessa. Get Lauren’s script for asking for a raise. (http://www.careercontessa.com/advice/gimme-raise-mini-resource/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you know you need to move forward in your career, but you need some direction? Many people end up in career paths that aren’t a great fit for their natural talents and passions. If you’re looking for a better job fit, start to observe yourself at work, name your strengths, and rewrite your career story to show off your enthusiasm and ability. Portland-based career coach Mary Blalock joins us on this episode of Find Your Dream Job to share tips, tricks, and resources to learn about your strengths and find your best job fit. About Our Guest: Mary Blalock Mary Blalock (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryblalock/) is a Portland-based career coach and co-founder of Ladies' Night PDX (http://ladiespdx.com/). She helps women advance in their careers through coaching, classes, and events. Previously, Mary was a recruiter and worked with Amazon, Microsoft, Nike, Adidas, and many more. Learn more on Mary’s website (http://maryblalock.com/). Resources in this Episode: New Tool: Landit (https://landit.com), an online platform offering resources for professional women to guide their careers. Read more about how Landit started in this Forbes article, How This Founder Is Creating A Career Playbook For Women (https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2018/02/01/how-this-founder-is-creating-a-career-playbook-for-women/#6d21014a5590). Listener Question: Corey Wade of Portland, Ore. has a broad, general skill set. He asks for advice on how to show employers the value he offers as a generalist. More from Mary Blalock: Get Mary’s free guide, “Ladies' Badass Salary Negotiation Cheatsheet.” (http://maryblalock.com/salary)   More resources mentioned on this episode: Where Are the Boss Ladies (https://www.wherearethebossladies.com/boss-list) is an awesome crowdsourced list of women-owned and women-led creative companies. Austin Kleon’s (https://austinkleon.com/) book “Steal Like An Artist” has good advice on creative journaling to inspire your brag sheet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each new job on your resume presents new opportunities, new challenges and new setbacks. In this episode of Find Your Dream Job, we discuss the best ways to capitalize on your first few months in a new position with human resources executive and business coach Joey Price. We also dive into the six steps you can take to turn career setbacks into personal growth. About Our Guest: Joey Price Joey Price is an award-winning human resources executive, business coach, and professor. He’s the founder of Jumpstart:HR, a consulting practice for small businesses and startups. Joey Is also the host of Business, Life, and Coffee (www.businesslifeandcoffee.com), a weekly podcast, and the author of “Never Miss The Mark: Career Search Strategies Provided by HR Pros.”  Resources in this Episode: New Tool: Explore transformative resilience in your career with The 6 Steps to Turning Setbacks Into Advantages from The New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/smarter-living/six-stages-of-setbacks-help-growth.html  Listener Question: How do you hone skills to build the career you went to school for when your job has ventured into new territory? That’s the question of the week from Alex of Madison, Wisconsin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices