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

LinkedIn is the dominant social media platform for professional networking, and employers have taken notice. Nearly 80% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates.  They are searching for specific skills and when they find the right fit, they won't hesitate to reach out--even if the person isn't actively looking for work. If you've never been contacted by an employer on LinkedIn, you might not be using the right job titles and keywords in your profile. This week's guest expert, Marc Miller, argues that you've got to optimize your LinkedIn profile to make it easy for employers to find you. He explains how to use keywords in your job title, summary and headline that an employer would use is key. Marc shares how to use tools like Tag Cloud or Wordle to identify the keywords that most resonate with prospective employers. Then he identifies explains exactly where to use these keywords in your LinkedIn profile. His most important point: take advantage of all the available space in your 120-character headline and the 180-character job title. These are the most searched fields on LinkedIn. If you're leaving white space in those areas, you're missing a huge opportunity! This Week's Guest: Marc Miller Marc Miller has worked at IBM, taught high school math, and had a near fatal bicycle accident that changed his perspective forever. Marc credits his varied career with teaching him a vital lesson: Most people don’t know what makes them happy. Marc now helps others — especially Baby Boomers — find careers that they can grow into for the decades that lie ahead on Career Pivot. Marc’s updated Repurpose Your Career book is available for pre-order on March 15, 2017, and his Repurpose Your Career Podcast episodes are released every Monday. Resource of the Week Ben’s resource this week is the article titled, "LinkedIn Profile: First Person or Third Person?" There is no empirical data on which is the correct version, but the Mac’s List team, and many people on LinkedIn, prefer the use of first person on the social media platform. Listener Question of the Week Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Gregory Rouse who is looking for guidance on how to talk about being fired. If you would like the team to answer a job-related question or if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about email it to ben@macslist.org or call 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 or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing 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

"To apply, contact Human Resources."  These words are enough to induce a groan from many job seekers. For many people "HR" is an impermeable, mysterious gatekeeper, standing between them and the job of their dreams.  But sometimes you simply can't avoid working through a human resources department--especially in larger, most formal companies. And, if you play your cards right and get HR on your side, you have a strong advocate within the organization. In this bonus episode, Melissa Anzman, CEO of Launch Your Job, shares her contribution to Land Your Dream Job Anywhere. She takes a scientific approach to working with HR and her advice will help you move along in the hiring process. Here are Melissa's three keys to success: A personal value proposition - Know what value you bring to the table and put your best marketing and showcasing efforts forward. Networking and outreach - The HR person needs to be interested enough in you to want to meet you in person. Understanding your audience - Your conversations with HR should be high-level in nature and save the nitty, gritty details for later.  You can find more useful job search insight in our new book Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, now available on Amazon. To preview the first chapter for free, visit www.macslist.org/anywhere. 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

Have you ever had a prospective employer ask about your desired salary? Or inquire about your salary history? Companies ask these questions to weed out applicants and (sometimes) get the upper-hand in pay negotiations. This week’s guest, Jim Hopkinson, argues that your response to salary questions can be the difference in whether or not you get an offer and how much leverage you have in future pay discussions. The employer does not necessarily hold all the cards when it comes to negotiating salaries. Jim recommends finding out all the facts about the job before you even start discussing salary. You may find there are job responsibilities which warrant a higher pay scale. And if you are the right fit for the job, you can enter the salary discussion knowing you have something of exceptional value to the company. Here are Jim’s recommendations if you are required to enter your desired salary in an application: Respond with a phrase like “negotiable,” or, “To be discussed during interview.” Try adding a nonsense number like “$0” or “$1,000,000” to show you are purposely not answering the question. If the system doesn’t allow a nonsense number use a numerical range. If you are unsure which salary range you fall into, Jim says there are five different ways to research how much you are worth: Go to salary sites. (Glassdoor.com, Payscale.com, etc.) Look at industry salary guides. (Robert Hath) Go to job sites and search your title. Internal networking with people you know. External networking with people you don’t know. Pro Tip — Job seekers should be spending 4 out of 5 days at job fairs and other face-to-face networking events. This Week's Guest: Jim Hopkinson Through his Salary Tutor website, Jim Hopkinson teaches people how to negotiate their salaries, and get paid what they are worth. He’s the author of Salary Tutor: Learn The Salary Negotiation Secrets No One Ever Taught You, and the co-author of How To Quit Your Job - The Right Way: A 5-Step Plan To Ditching Your Day Job. His free introductory course, The Negotiation Mindset, is available on his website. Resource of the Week Ben’s resource this week is a blog post, How to Respond to Salary History Requests, from the U.S. News and World Report Careers Blog by Alison Green. He also shares a related news story from the New York Times entitled Illegal in Massachusetts: Asking Your Salary in a Job Interview. Listener Question of the Week Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Jeff Croxford, who asks: “What current platforms and skills would be transferrable to most IT careers?” If you would like the team to answer a job-related question or if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about email it to ben@macslist.org or call 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 or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing 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

What do you want to be when you grow up? It's OK if you are still unable to answer this question, argues guest expert, Srinivas Rao. There's always time to change paths and find a more personally rewarding career that resonates with your passions. Most people try to create a linear career path; each new job is a stepping stone to ever increasing levels of responsibility. This thinking is driven by the chase for money and the expectations of others. But the real problem is that a linear career doesn't always lead to interesting jobs. Our interests change as we age, so we need to create opportunities to explore new directions in work. Choosing a job you enjoy allows you to thrive. You may get paid less, but you will be more productive, engaged, and happy. Of course, money is an always an issue. When planning a career, consider what jobs may increase your long-term earning potential, even at the expense of short-term salary. If you are a recent college graduate or have been let go from a position, use the time to evaluate what matters to you and prepare yourself for the job you want. As Srinivas says “sometimes it takes a disruption to initiate change.” If it feels like you are being herded in a particular direction to go along with the crowd, get a decent-paying job and settle in, it’s because you are. Social norms often dictate what people with normal jobs do. To find a compelling interesting career, you need to break the mold and focus on your own personal passions and interests. This Week's Guest: Srinivas Rao Srinivas Rao is the host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative podcast where he’s interviewed more than 600 thought leaders and people from all walks of life.  He’s also written multiple books including the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Art of Being Unmistakable. Srinivas is currently working on his second book, which is about the creative habits and the creative process. He says, “it will be a map of how to create in a distraction-driven world.” Resource of the Week Ben’s resource this week is the article "The 21 Most Valuable Career Skills Now" put together by Money Magazine and Payscale.com. The authoritative list includes which skills generate the highest increase in pay. They found employers willing to pay more for the ability to make sense of big data, the ability to manage the bottom line, the ability to leverage new technology and strategic thinking skills. Listener Question of the Week Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Anne-Marie Sheridan, who asks: “How do you know if a company reaching out to you on LinkedIn is a scam?” If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her at 716-JOB-TALK. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing 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

In this bonus episode, certified career coach Hallie Crawford reads her contribution to our new book, Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, the complete Mac's List guide to finding work you love.  Hallie urges all job seekers to start their search with some deep personal analysis. This begins by building a "Career Contrast List" to figure out their true career wants. This helps in two ways: People realize there may not be as many barriers to their career path as they initially thought. It helps job seekers become more rational and practical about what they need to do next. Next, she has people construct an ideal model for their career. This means: Exploring career values and enjoyments of job seekers.  Confirming (and sometimes attaining) the qualifications needed for the dream job they are considering.  The goal of these exercises are to complete a comprehensive analysis the job seeker can use to take action in their job search. You can find more useful job search insight in our new book Land Your Dream Job Anywhere, now available on Amazon. To preview the first chapter for free, visit www.macslist.org/anywhere. 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

This episode is about explicitly about first jobs, but the lessons we share can apply to just about any job, no matter how established you are as professional. The average worker will have 8-11 jobs over the course of their lifetime. Each position can (and should) be a stepping-stone to a bigger, better opportunity in the future. But to make this happen, you need to do more than just show up and collect a paycheck… you need to network! Our guest expert, David Mariano, recommends building relationships within your company, both inside and outside of your immediate job environment. These connections will benefit you immediately with additional understandings of how the piece parts of your organization work together; they will also prove beneficial to your future endeavors. Getting to know people in various positions is a tried and true networking technique. Today’s middle manager could be tomorrow’s VP. If you consistently treat people the way you want to be treated, you will gain influence. Also, asking for help and asking a lot of questions can lead to great insights. You will find people are willing to help if you have an honest motive. It is advisable in today’s work environment to find a mentor. Look for someone with the character you want to have when you reach a level you want to someday attain. It may be someone outside your current organization. To further your business acumen, listen to podcasts and read leadership books. Pro Tip — Many companies have groups or clubs during non-work hours, find an event you can attend. David Mariano Bio David Mariano is the founder of Finance Career Launch, a career development site that includes a podcast, course, and other resources. He is also a director with Western Reserve Partners, a middle market investment bank. In his career, David has worked with company owners, CEOs, and CFOs, as an advisor, part-owner, or executive. Sign up for a free 7-part video course, The Seven Pillars of a Successful Career in Finance. The content includes skills, habits, and mindsets found in the most successful people. Ben’s Job Search Resource: Ben’s resource this week is from Adweek. The post entitled "6 Common Mistakes Recent Graduates Make and How to Avoid Them," by Molly Folse is applicable to any worker at any age. Failing to negotiate, impatience about paying dues, gossiping or griping to fit in are common mistakes. Check it out to see if you have made any or all of the blunders, and how you can avoid the mistakes you haven’t made yet. Jenna’s Listener Question: Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Taireez Niswander, who asks today’s Listener Question, “What are the skills and knowledge necessary to know to prepare me for future employment?” If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her at 716-JOB-TALK. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing 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

Successful job searches require time and effort. Spending time customizing job applications, targeting a job search, and a goal-oriented personal brand, will help job seekers find success more quickly, says career advice expert, Amanda Augustine. She advises job seekers to pick one goal for their job search, and then make sure all materials they create reflect that goal. In today’s world, a professional resume is not enough. Job seekers also need to have an online presence that tells a consistent story. 90% of employers research job applicants online before deciding to interview them. This means social media accounts should have the proper privacy settings and your LinkedIn profile should closely match your job search goal. You are selling the most important thing you will ever sell in your life, which is your experience and your talents. Even if you are considering a short-term job to pay the bills, look for the jobs that make the most sense for your long-term goals. If you are overqualified or underqualified for a job, but have reasons for pursuing it, utilize a cover letter to explain your reasons. Amanda suggests leveraging your network. A Career Crossroads study found job seekers are 10 times more likely to get a position, when an application is accompanied by a referral from an employee. Mix these 3 methods of job searches for best results: Online job listings. Leverage a personal and professional network. Outreach to recruiters. Applications and resumes will more than likely go through a piece of electronic software known as an applicant tracking system. The systems are designed to screen and rank resumes before sending them to the recruiter or hiring manager. If your resume is not formatted to make it through the system, a human may never read it.  Do online research to make sure you include the right keywords to pass the initial gatekeeper system. Pro Tip — Make sure the must-haves of a job description match your qualifications closely. Amanda Augustine Bio Amanda Augustine is the career advice expert for TopResume. She gives job search and career guidance to professionals who want better careers, and to find the right job, sooner.  Amanda blogs regularly about career advancement on the TopResume website and also contributes to The Huffington Post. Her blog post, 7 Important Questions Every Job Seeker Should Ask Themselves inspired today’s podcast episode. Ben’s Job Search Resource: Ben’s resource this week is Cold Turkey. Cold Turkey is commitment based software that blocks websites you use as diversions, such as Facebook or other social media. The program includes a timer and once you set the timer you are unable to access the websites you submitted for up to 8 hours. Job seekers can use this to block notifications from job list websites that send out hourly notifications. Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Thomas Ewing, who asks today’s Listener Question, “Should a recent college graduate go directly to graduate school or get job experience first?” Listen to this podcast resource for additional information on the topic: How to Transition from College to Career with Satya Byock If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her 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 or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. Ben and Jenna’s segments are sponsored by Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (to be published February 1, 2017). The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, ace your next interview, and more. Join the pre-publication list and get the first chapter of this useful resource free. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support! Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com. Tweetables: “Find the right job, sooner with the Mac’s List Land Your Dream Job Anywhere book.” “The sooner you have a targeted job search, the sooner you will get a specific type of job.” “Your job search is a sales job, and the product you are selling is you." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, the Mac’s List team reacts to a recent New York Times opinion piece, Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It, written by Cal Newport. Mr. Newport, who acknowledges that he's never had a social media account, argues that tools like Facebook and LinkedIn can hurt your career. He bases his argument on three general ideas. Interesting opportunities and useful connections are not scarce. Therefore, social media is not needed to find them. Social media is not harmless--it takes time and energy away from other things you should be doing  Social media is a passive approach to professional advancement Mac, Ben, and Jenna, respond to each of these points and try to find some practical guidelines for optimizing your use of social media.  If you found this analysis interesting, share your thoughts with the Mac’s List team on our Facebook page. Then, sign up to get the first chapter of Land Your Dream Job Anywhere for free and early bird access to the entire book on its launch date, February 1st. 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

Contrary to popular belief, women don’t need to be coders or programmers, to get a great job in the tech industry, says guest expert, Allison Esposito. The tech industry is full of sales, marketing, and engineering positions that need to be filled. Even if a woman has never worked in the tech industry, she has transferable skills that apply to tech jobs. Breaking into the tech field can be difficult because big tech companies have so many competitive applicants. It can be hard for a person to stand out, especially if they don’t have any experience in the tech field. Allison suggests women apply to smaller startups, to gain experience and to build their resumes. The gender gap in the tech world is quite large. It can be seen in small startups, all the way up to big companies. Big companies report a ‘Pipeline Problem,’ which means they don’t believe women are out in the job market, or that their skill level is not up to par with the men applying for the same positions. Allison doesn’t believe it’s a pipeline problem, she thinks it is a connection problem. To see where you might fit in the tech world, consider what you are already doing, and see where your skills fit. To make the switch to a career in tech: Make sure you are using the product or service of the company you wish to work for. Jot down what you would do differently if you worked for the company. Join online groups, and follow people who have the type of jobs you want. Absorb as much as you can in the media and at meetups. Women can often be intimidated to attend IT meetups because they don’t feel they fit the traditional mold of young, male IT employees. Allison says if you go to a networking event with small goals and low expectations it will be less intimidating. Pro Tip — Make a list of the companies you want to work for, and start building your network within those companies. Allison Esposito Bio Allison Esposito is the founder of Tech Ladies, a community that connects women with the best jobs in technology, and companies with the best women tech makers. Allison is also a branding and marketing expert, who has worked for Google, Foursquare, and other tech firms. In 2017, Allison will be gearing up her product roadmap and event calendar for ever-evolving Tech Ladies Community. Ben’s Job Search Resource: Ben’s resource this week is the blog post, Top 8 Signs an Employer is Family Friendly. Ben consistently receives questions from parents about how to find out if a company is family friendly before they apply for a position. This article is loaded with tips, including look for a company with a high percentage of female executives and female employees. Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question: Jenna, Ben, and Mac offer advice to Mindy Hoffman, who asks today’s Listener Question, “How to ask for a raise without seeming pushy, yet maintain your assertiveness?” The Mac’s List team recommends Ramit Sethi’s Ultimate Guide to Asking for a Raise and Negotiating Salary, the podcast episode with Jeff Weiss, 3 Steps to Take in Any Job Negotiation and the Josh Doody episode, How to Get Your Next Raise.If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to If you would like the team to answer a job-related question, email it to jenna@macslist.org, or call her 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 or a Mac’s List Coffee Mug, your choice. Or, if you’ve found a job resource you think everyone should know about, send it to ben@macslist.org, and tell him how it has helped you find your dream job. Ben and Jenna’s segments are sponsored by Land Your Dream Job Anywhere (to be published February 1, 2017). The book offers practical, actionable, and proven tools to help you get clear about your career goals, find hidden jobs, ace your next interview and more. Join the pre-publication list and get the first chapter of this useful resource free. If you like this show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. We appreciate your support!Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo, www.freddytrujillo.com. Tweetables: “Get the first chapter of the Mac’s List Land Your Dream Job Anywhere book free.” “You don’t have to code or be a programmer, to get a job in the tech field.” “‘Salary negotiation,’ and ‘wing it,’ are two phrases, which should never be linked together.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you are looking for your dream job everyone always says, “You need to go to a networking event!” This is great advice. But it's not enough simply to show up at an event and hang out at the hors d'oeuvres table. To make the most of a networking event—and really kickstart your job search—you've got to use this opportunities to meet and connect with fellow professionals.  It can be difficult to make these connections, especially in a crowded room where it can seem like everyone already knows each other. One tool that can help you break the ice and quickly connect with others is a killer elevator pitch. If you don’t have an elevator pitch—or even know what one is—then this podcast is for you! A focused elevator pitch is essential for a job seeker who wants to leave the best impression of themselves in the shortest amount of time, says this week's guest expert, Jeff Kleid. Jeff argues that a good elevator pitch gives you have the best shot at positioning yourself for a job. The basic elements of good elevator pitch are: Telling the other person who you are. Telling the other person what you do. Telling the other person what you have to offer. People stand out if they have a connection with the job they are seeking. And, leading with an anecdote or a true story about the type of person you are helps to position you for the job you want. In less than 60 seconds you should relay: What you do — "I’m a …" Who you are — "My name is …" What you are able to accomplish — "I like working …" Make it memorable — "Like the time I …" To feel confident when delivering your elevator pitch, Jeff recommends three things, Practice, practice, and practice. Practice in front of a mirror. Practice with other people. Practice your pitch in front of an objective person. Most importantly, be authentic! Wear your transparent and open; honesty is the best policy. Pro Tip   Be sure your pitch works for different audiences.   This Week's Guest Jeff Kleid is a motivational speaker who delivers workshops and online training classes that teach businesses how to engage, connect, and grow. He is also the author of the book, Networking with the Cards You Are Dealt.   Resource of the Week Ben’s resource this week is "30 Brilliant Networking Conversation Starters". This blog post from the Muse can really help you if you are nervous at networking events, but want to make the most of your time. Ben, Mac, and Jenna share their favorites.   Listener Question of the Week This week's question comes from Jacob Arnold, who asks: “I am changing careers. What are some potential red flags I should avoid on my resume or in interviews?”   Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job. If you like the show, please help us by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. I appreciate your support!   Opening and closing music for Find Your Dream Job provided by Freddy Trujillo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices