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Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/20/20 at 9:06PM UTC
in
Career

Stating your "ideal job" now is harder than before

Does anyone else struggle to say what kind of position they are going for right now? I feel I have to remain open to different paths/categories of jobs in order to increase my odds of finding employment again, so I list 3-4 different categories of jobs, but I fear it might also make me come off as being unfocused/too general. Does anyone else feel the same?

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J Acharya
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198
Project Manager
07/27/20 at 1:58PM UTC
Definitely! I have the same issue, though my reason is different - I’m just not sure what I want to do long term, especially given how rapidly the job market is changing! Instead of answering this type of question with specific jobs, I instead describe attributes of my dream job. I say something like - “The IT landscape is changing so rapidly that it’s hard to say what specific role I want to be in five years from now - it’s possibly that role isn’t even created yet - and I wouldn’t want to limit myself by working towards only one role. I see myself in a leadership and management role, someone who works with people a lot and executes company strategy. I also really enjoy work related to data and analytics so I’d love to continue working in that space.” By describing specific attributes of your ideal job you can keep it a bit more open and vague when it comes to the actual role, without sounding unfocused. Hope that helps!
Kelli
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1.46k
Helps senior-level women make career changes
07/28/20 at 11:43AM UTC
Love this way of thinking!
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/27/20 at 4:11PM UTC
That's a good approach! I did speak to a career coach and she said something similar...to say the characteristics of the job vs. the actual titles, it shows that you know what you want to do without needing to be married to a title/industry. Thanks for responding!
Therese Lyons
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19
Program and Change Management | Washington D.C.
07/24/20 at 3:14PM UTC
As someone who is also on the job hunt, I understand the desire to “cover your bases” and continue to experience that from time to time myself. Where you may find more confidence and resilience is first focusing on your transferable skills (rather than types of jobs) and especially those skills that you really enjoy using. Many skills from organizational to project management to EQ (and many others!) are vital to a “job well done” in all types of jobs and industries. And by focusing on the skills that you enjoy using, you may start to feel a shift away from fear (i.e., “increasing the odds”) into confidence (focusing on something you enjoy) which will in turn open you up to more possibilities and networking opportunities leading you to not only a job but also a job that you enjoy.
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/24/20 at 6:02PM UTC
That is good advice. I have some sense of my transferable skills, but could likely use some further drilling into them so I have them super top of mind...I do see the shared space between a lot of what I have done, across different types of roles...they all have some key traits in common.
Kelli
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1.46k
Helps senior-level women make career changes
07/23/20 at 3:39PM UTC
Hi Heartie - have you done a deep self-discovery dive to figure out what you really want to be doing? I would try that first. Once you have that in your head, you'll be able to focus your efforts in a more niche area. Yes, while there are a lot of companies/areas not hiring, there are many that are. Take some time to figure out your true calling and then jump back in to find the right roles...that way you won't be in this same position a year from now.
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/23/20 at 6:11PM UTC
Thanks Kelli! I've been (re)doing some self-discovery work and getting closer to understanding REALLY what kinds of roles I want and naturally excel in...just need to own up to it and be okay with focusing on those, and not the others that I "could/sort of could" do. Thanks for the encouragement to continue digging a bit deeper :)
Kelli
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1.46k
Helps senior-level women make career changes
07/23/20 at 6:54PM UTC
I LOVE hearing this! What type of roles are you finding you're interested in?
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/24/20 at 5:59PM UTC
Generally I’ve been drawn to/applied to (and was runner up for one of) Donor Relations, Partnerships, Community Engagement, as well as some campaign work (ie for CSR or mission based initiatives)
Denise Lennon
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30
Accounting professional
07/21/20 at 8:48PM UTC
I believe it shows you're flexible and easily adapted to change. This is a great considerating industries are needing candidates that can showcase their varying talents.
Elianet Oliva
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278
Make things happen!
07/20/20 at 9:15PM UTC
Yes, I totally feel the same, I have been an financial analyst, a sr business intelligence analyst and operations manager, everyone of these experiences are in different parts of the business. I have an MBA, which is kind of a very broad term for everything business, but find it hard to just say I want operations, cause I really don't like the operations lifestyle, if I look for finance positions, the feedback is I wasn't in finance in my last position. I was watching a video the other day that described this as a spork, and recruiters don't like sporks, they like forks or spoons. :( I feel I have a lot to give in any of those fields and any other as well.
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/21/20 at 2:05AM UTC
Huh. A spork! Never heard of that metaphor, but it’s a good one, even tho it may not be good to be one! I am also a spork...I think some industries are more accepting and perhaps embrace us sporks than others...like start ups or nonprofits, but of course there are trade offs with that. Many people switch careers/have eclectic paths and it has traditionally been “ok” to do that, but I suppose it may be a little harder in this climate. I would like to think it’s still possible though?!
Elianet Oliva
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278
Make things happen!
07/21/20 at 3:04AM UTC
thats what I keep thinking for the right position for you, people won't care about all those things, they will want you for what you are. At least that has always been my experience.
jylewis77
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82
QA Auditor for Mortgage/Home Equity products.
07/20/20 at 8:47PM UTC
I'm in school now working on a BS in Business Admin w/ a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The first thing everyone wants to know is what kind of work am I trying to get with that degree. I don't know. I didn't choose the major with a specific career in mind, just an idea of the kinds of things I like to do...and those things can be done at any job. As I work on my resume I'm trying to focus on transferable skills rather than specific positions.
Jen Flanagan
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38
Marketing Specialist in Boston
07/20/20 at 8:39PM UTC
I'm experiencing this same feeling, and I appreciate you sharing this and being open about it. Your emotions are valid and I personally don't think you will appeared unfocused. In fact, I think you will appear even more focused because you're showing flexibility, adaptability and ambition during what is such an emotional and uncertain time. Good luck!
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/21/20 at 1:54AM UTC
Thanks for the vote of confidence! That’s what I’m hoping ;) it’s all in the same field, just different roles (some more comms/marketing and others more partnerships and fundraising)
Jen Flanagan
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38
Marketing Specialist in Boston
07/21/20 at 12:38PM UTC
You're very welcome, good luck! Yes especially if it's in the same field, you are totally fine!
Rebecca Lee V
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2.22k
Operations Analyst
07/20/20 at 8:33PM UTC
I know what you mean. I feel like I've hit a wall and really don't know what to do. I have revised my resume repeatedly, and I can do it again, but I'm starting to feel like I'm wasting my time. I'm focusing on specific jobs with specific skills and getting nothing back even when my resume is a match.
Heartie Look
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126
Partnerships|Program Management|Communications
07/21/20 at 1:53AM UTC
That sounds so frustrating, and I hear you! It really seems now more than ever before we have to find someone we know, some kind of in, into the company...or just more creative with how we market ourselves so stand out from the crowd. I’ve also found that job posts may appear “new” (i.e. on LinkedIn) but upon further investigation they are no longer in the hiring process. Make sure to cross reference sites, if you aren’t already
Rebecca Lee V
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2.22k
Operations Analyst
07/21/20 at 3:31AM UTC
That is good advice.
Andrea Parrish Renner
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81
Business Solutions Evangelist
07/20/20 at 7:51PM UTC
I have to say that having been unemployed now since late April, I tried focusing on a specific niche, and honestly wasn't getting any responses. I'm now casting a wider net, and am finally getting responses. It's an interesting job market out there, and the theme I keep picking up on is that - it's all about marketing yourself as a product.

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