Job Changing Success Tips

by Robin Ryan

Job search success doesn’t just happen –- you need to make it happen! But what a wonderful future awaits you when you do. A new job….greater satisfaction….a bigger paycheck! OK, stop fantasizing and let’s get to work on achieving this goal for you.

I have worked with many clients who have overcome major hurdles to make their career dreams come true. Stephanie had a demanding job that she loved working as general counsel until the companys hired a new CEO. She and the new boss didn’t click at all. He began to push her out. She was miserable and feared losing her job. Rather than wait to be fired, she set her sights on a new job. We created a new resume, practiced interviewing, and developed a strategy emphasizing her top strengths. Indeed, she landed a dream job with a $25,000 raise.

Matt wanted to get an interesting job and live in Europe. A recent graduate from college, had only a small amount of work experience. Determination (along with a superb resume, effective cover letter, and practiced interviewing skills) earned him the opportunity to move to Paris.

Tanya, a hurricane Katrina survivor and college registrar sought me out after her college president closed the doors for good. She HAD to job hunt. But her type of job is rare -- most colleges have only one person in that role. She targeted Atlanta, but only thirty such jobs existed in all of the Atlanta area. She had a needle-in-a-haystack chance of finding the right position. We created a topnotch resume that really emphasized her talents, strengths and skills, and we groomed her for the interview. I was thrilled as I read her email that said, “I got the job!!!” If she can be successful in overcoming horrific circumstances and against all odds, you can do it too.

Goals are the secret to accomplishing great things.  These guidelines will help foster your success:

• Set your goal. Write it down along with specific and measureable objectives clearly. Set a deadline for obtaining your goal. Outline everything you need to do to achieve your goal -- step by step. Be specific; state the job, title, and salary you are going after. Be realistic but aim high. Identify what obstacles you will need to overcome and note how you’ll overcome them, and make a list of people who might be able to help you.

• Know what you want. Employers are being flooded with unqualified people applying for everything under the sun. Clearly, the type of job you want. Do some self-analysis. Determine what accomplishments, strengths, and skills you possess that are most appealing to an employer and focus on promoting those.

• Learn what is effective. Don’t waste time on websites like Monster or sending out generic resumes and cover letters that don’t work! Your resume must have numerous ACTIONS=RESULTS statements to capture attention. Your resume gets only a 15-second glance so be sure your resume is easy to read and offers a strong summary of qualifications that has four to six sentences encapsulating your top skills and experience. There are great websites listing good job openings. Try your professional association website and go to www.RobinRyan.com/tools where we have listed high-quality sites that can help you find openings.

• Be prepared to ace the interview.  Write out answers to potential questions. Do develop specific examples of past work experience to handle those tough situational questions like, “Describe a mistake you made that your boss criticized you for.” Rehearse your answers and keep them brief. Employers lose interest fast so never talk more than 60 seconds when responding to a question. If you want to test how well you’d do in an interview, take Robin's Interactive Interview Quiz. http://robinryan.com/quiz.htm

• Picture your success.  The American Psychologists' Association noted that writing out and envisioning a goal’s outcome does lead to its success. So today, you must do something – anything – to get started. You can only fail if you never try. Give this your best effort and success will be yours!

© Copyright 2008 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

Need more assistance?  Robin is available to help you achieve your goals and dreams with individual career counseling. Click here to learn more.

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil and is considered to be America’s top career coach. Robin has a busy career counseling practice providing individual career coaching, resume writing services, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and outplacement to clients nationwide. She is the best-selling author of : "60 Seconds & You're Hired!," "Soaring On Your Strengths," "What to Do With the Rest of Your Life," "Winning Resumes," and "Winning Cover Letters." A dynamic national speaker, Robin has spoken to over 1200 audiences sharing her insights on how to improve their lives and obtain greater success. Contact Robin at: 425.226.0414, or email: robin@robinryan.com, or visit her website: http://www.robinryan.com

Reprints release: Newspapers, magazines, online websites are granted permission to reprint this in part or whole but are required to credit the author including author's bio, book credits, and include author's website information (with link if online); PLUS email author at robin@robinryan.com and state when and where reprint publication will occur. Questions: contact author at robin@robinryan.com or 425.226.0414.