Switching Careers & Job Hunting with Joy and Colleen Gray
On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, our host is Joy, a North Carolina-based Financial Trainer, and she is joined by her client Colleen Gray. Colleen works in career services, is one of the warm-up callers at The Gym, and is also a career coach. Today, they are going to talk all about switching jobs, resumes, interview tips, and all things in between.
More now than ever, folks are leaving their jobs in what is being called, ‘The Great Resignation’. If you are thinking about looking for a new job in your field or jumping into a new career entirely, you certainly aren’t alone. Colleen works as a career coach and brings us lots of great tips for navigating the search all the way to the interview.
WHERE TO START
If you want to make a switch, take some time to sit down and reflect. Try to figure out what your passion is and what you want to do professionally. Is there an area you have talent in that you haven’t explored yet?
If you are happy in your field, but looking for a new position, start reaching out and making connections.
Utilize LinkedIn and other platforms and start talking to people. Sometimes opportunities are really about who you know.
WHERE TO SEARCH
Job search engines like Indeed and LinkedIn are a great place to start. Google is also an amazing resource for searching for jobs.
Search to see if your field has a niche job opportunity site, many of them do!
Career and job fairs are also a great place to search. Lots right now are virtual and could help get your foot in the door or make new connections.
Always check the job description to see what skills / experiences are ‘preferred’ and which are ‘required’
Even if you don’t think you’re qualified, apply anyway!
It’s all about getting your foot in the door. You can sell yourself in the interview.
RESUME TIPS
Ensure you’re using a professional resume format. This could be chronological, functional, or a mix of both.
Use the keywords from the job description in your resume. While this can be time-consuming, having a unique resume for each job is the best practice.
Some companies use Applicant Tracking Software to scan resumes, and ones without keywords are passed. This isn’t always the case, but it is something to be mindful of.
When including keywords, make sure they are skills you have. Assume an employer will want to talk in-depth about the information on your resume, be honest.
If there are gaps on your resume, explore your experience to fill in that gap. Many skills are transferable, even if the work wasn’t from a ‘traditional job.’
You can hire someone to help you write your resume, Colleen offers this as part of her coaching work. Always take the time to make sure whoever you hire is a good fit for you! Some folks are more hands-on, while others are more transactional.
INTERVIEW TIPS
Do your research!
Get to know the company you are interviewing with. Look at their mission statement and core values. The more information you have going in, the better!
Prepare before the interview day. Sit down with a blank paper or word document and recall some previous professional experiences.
A time you went above and beyond, a mistake you made and how you recovered, or a time you experienced conflict are some examples.
It’s pretty common to freeze in the moment when asked to recall a previous experience, so preparing beforehand helps you be ready.
Have a list of soft skills and hard skills, 6 with a mix of both is sufficient.
Soft skills include time management, attention to detail, and organizational skills. Hard skills are more technical or related to your field.
Avoid talking negatively about past employers during the interview
Come prepared with great questions to ask the interviewer. This is an opportunity for you to see if they are a good fit for your life and goals!
Joy interviews candidates for The Gym and confirms having really great questions as a candidate is impressive during the interview.
Do practice/mock interviews. As with anything, the more practice, the easier the process becomes. You can do this with a coach like Colleen, a friend, or record a self-tape.
GENERAL CAREER SEARCH TIPS
Be confident in yourself
Know your worth and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Employers expect you to negotiate, do salary research before your interview.
Looking for a job can feel like a full-time job. If you’re able to hire someone to help you, that’s a great option. If not, set aside some time. Even if it is just an hour at night. The process can take time and it’s important to dedicate the energy.
Working with a professional career coach is a great option. Colleen helps clients do it all, from the job search to interview coaching. When working with a coach, use the initial consultation to ensure they’re a good fit for you!
Connect with Colleen
Email: colleengraycareers@gmail.com
Instagram: @colleengreycareers
Meet The Trainer
Joy Liu