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

One of the toughest parts of building a successful career is finding direction. By writing down what you want to achieve, you can make decisions that will lead you to the career you were meant to have. On this episode, we learn about career manifestos, why they can be helpful in a job search, and how to create one for yourself. About Our Guest: Maggie Mistal Through her coaching, speaking, and writing, Maggie Mistal has helped thousands of people find their ideal careers. She also helps leading corporations with employee development. Maggie has own her own podcast called Making a Living. Resources in this Episode: Maggie shared her blog post about creating your career manifesto. Is your future job here? 8 New Jobs People Will Have In 2025. The team answers a question from listener Heather Fonseca on transitioning from freelancing at home to landing a full-time job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you have a job interview coming up, it’s essential to be prepared. But where do you start? Our guest, recruiter and coach Revi Goldwasser, explains the basic steps you must take to be ready for every interview, including a phone screening. It starts with understanding two things: the company’s need and the unique value you offer. Revi explains more in her conversation with Mac. Learn more at https://www.macslist.org/podcast/   About Our Guest: Revi Goldwasser Revi Goldwasser is the founder and senior managing partner of Wall Street Personnel, a financial services staffing and recruitment firm. She also owns and operates JobsOnWallStreet.com, an online job board. And she hosts a podcast, Find a Job Like a Pro. Resources in this Episode Revi shared a special discount to our listeners, offering her online course on job hunting for $47. Use code FINDYOURDREAMJOB to access. 5 Things Every Employer Wants To Hear In An Interview The team gives step-by-step guidance on the age-old question from Chris Riviers of Clovis, New Mexico: How do I transition into a new career field without direct experience?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most job seekers use the same traditional approaches. To stand out from a crowd of applicants, you need to get creative! On this episode, we share experiences and ideas for unconventional job search hacks to differentiate yourself from the competition. And guest Nissar Ahamed offers unique tips to garner attention from employers when you’re looking for a new job. About Our Guest: Nissar Ahamed Nissar Ahamed publishes Career Metis, an award winning online community for job seekers. His site includes a blog, podcast, and other resources that help people get their dream job faster. Resources in this Episode: How to Make Yourself Stand Out From All the Other Perfect Resumes Will your career survive automation? Find out: Willrobotstakemyjob.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first step to finding your dream job is understanding what activities bring you joy. Our guest is Sally Hubbard, host of Women Killing It, a podcast for women who are advancing their careers and making a difference at work. Sally advises job seekers to pay attention to joy-inducing activities to help guide what you want to do with your career. About Our Guest: Sally Hubbard Sally Hubbard is an investigative journalist, lawyer, and creator of the weekly podcast, Women Killing It! She talks to women who are killing it in their careers about what has worked for them, how they got where they are today, and what they wish they knew sooner. Resources in this Episode: 139 Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Stand Out. Do you have to include a photo in your LinkedIn profile if you’re worried about discrimination? The team weighs in on this question from listener Alison Geary of Tucson, Arizona. Sally shared the 7 Steps to Killing It Action Plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest Anita Bruzzese explains why casting a wide net is a bad job search strategy, and she shares tips to help you decide what you want to do, set priorities for your next job, and be prepared to interview every time you send in a job application. About Our Guest: Anita Bruzzese Anita Bruzzese is an award-winning journalist specializing in workplace and career issues. She has written two career-advice books and has been quoted in publications such as O, the Oprah magazine, and has been on the Today show. Learn more about Anita on her website. Resources in this Episode Anita recommended StrengthsFinder and Bureau of Labor Statistics data tools for job seekers to find focus in their careers. Here’s a great strategy to answer “Where Will You Be in Five Years?” We talk about how to answer the 5-year-goal question when your goal is to have your interviewer’s job. Thanks to listener Katie Petit of Chicago, Ill. for the question! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manners still count in the modern workplace. Whether you know it or not, the things you do - and don’t do - make a big impression on your boss, your interviewer, or your colleagues. Guest expert Lee Caraher shares essential reminders to make a great impression, and avoid disaster, by staying aware of basic etiquette in work environments. Our Guest for This Episode: Lee Caraher Lee Caraher is the CEO of Double Forte, a public relations and digital marketing firm. Her company works with top consumer and technology brands. Lee is the author of Millennials & Management, which shares how to get an intergenerational workforce to contribute to the larger goals of an organization. And her new book, The Boomerang Principle, shows companies how to build long lasting relationships with employees. Check out Lee’s books here. Ben’s Job Search Resource: How to Apologize Made a Mistake? 5 Steps to Saying "I'm Sorry" Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Salary In the Interview This week’s question comes from Sue Crawford, of Corvallis, Oregon: “I've come across several hiring employers who start the process with the question, "What are your salary requirements?". How do you address this? It seems like if you put a high number you will be cut immediately, and if you put a low number, you are selling yourself short and potentially leaving money on the table. What to do??” These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free. Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in: Ask your job-related question! Email it to becky@macslist.org, or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support! Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, the Mac’s List team discusses a New York Times article, The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews, which highlighted the flawed nature of using job interviews to make big hiring decisions. Surveys revealed inherent biases and blind spots for hiring managers in the interview process. So, if job interviews are useless, what’s a job seeker to do? It’s important to remember that an interview is only one part of a multi-stage hiring system, including the initial application process, background and reference checks. So what can you do to do well in a flawed interview system? Do structured research about issues the company may be facing. If possible, build relationships with employees of the company before your interview. Be proactive and fill in the gaps about important items not addressed by the interviewer. Recognize the interview process is imperfect and don’t take it personally if you don’t get the position. Learn more at macslist.org/podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, guest expert Mandi Woodruff highlights the common mistakes she sees during a hiring process, illuminating innovative ways that job seekers can impress hiring managers and secure an interview from the first interaction. Our Guest for This Episode: Mandi Woodruff Mandi Woodruff is the cohost of Brown Ambition, a top 20 career and money podcast. She is also executive editor of Magnify Money, and has spent her career covering the ins and out of personal finance. Previously, Mandi served as a correspondent at Yahoo Finance and editor at Business Insider. She is a graduate of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at The University of Georgia. Ben’s Job Search Resource: Opposite Jobs What is your opposite job? Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Salary Answers This week’s question comes from listener Leah Pancheri in Portland, Oregon. “Oftentimes jobs will have a salary posted, but then they will ask either on the application or in the interview about salary "requirements" or ‘expectations’... how do we best answer this question when we clearly know what they posted? What if we feel we are worth a little more, or that the job sounds like it's worth paying a little more after the interview? I'd love some suggestions/insight on the most tactful and respectful way to answer the question.” These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free. Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in: Ask your job-related question! Email it to becky@macslist.org, or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big risks can deliver big rewards for your career, whether it’s switching industries or asking for more money. While change is scary, it’s worthwhile to take smart risks in your career if you have a goal in mind. Joymarie Parker says you should be taking risks in your career, but only when you’ve done your research and have a solid plan. One risk you should definitely take: ask for more money when you know you’re worth it. Joymarie Our Guest for This Episode: Joymarie Parker Joymarie Parker is a marketer and the founder and co-host of Joblogues, a podcast and platform that offers candid career conversations with multicultural professionals and entrepreneurs. Originally from Maryland, Joymarie now lives in Brooklyn where you can catch her exploring the restaurant scene or planning her next vacation. Ben’s Job Search Resource: Are Pain Letters Over? Are pain letters on the way out? A pain letter is a different approach to a cover letter that addresses the employer’s pain point and outlines how the applicant can solve it. But Alison Green of the Ask a Manager blog says the pain letter is a “cover letter but with lots of added salesiness and a serious dose of presumption.” Read the whole post: Do Pain Letters Really Work? Find Your Dream Job Listener Question This week’s listener question comes from McKenzie O’Malley of Portland, Oregon, via email. “I would love to explore the possibility of potentially working at Under Armour’s recently established Portland-based office in some kind of administrative role (of which I have 3+ years of experience, primarily in nonprofit settings), but do not have any direct contacts or even potential connections via LinkedIn.  I was wondering if you had any additional advice, insights, or individuals in mind that I could possibly connect with to see if I could even get a small foot in the door with the company.” These segments are sponsored by Mac’s new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, and ace your next interview. Get the first chapter of this useful resource free. Be a part of the Find Your Dream Job podcast! Join in: Ask your job-related question! Email it to becky@macslist.org, or leave us a message at 716-JOB-TALK. If we use your question on the air, you will receive either a copy of our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. Share your best job resource with our listeners! Send your resource to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. What do you think of our show? Rate and review our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support! Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dawn Rasmussen, President of Pathfinder Careers shares her contribution to Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. How effective is networking? If you apply for a job online you have a 2% chance of getting an interview. If you apply through someone you know you have a 50% chance of getting an interview. Direct networking is that impactful. Are you thinking, “but I’m not a type ‘A’ networker. How do I practice?" You should be proactive and put yourself out there by: Growing an informal connection with someone through continued follow-up. Taking the fear out of talking with unknown people by making them a known quantity. Getting involved or volunteering with a business or organization that interests you. Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices