Hello!

16 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 30,2021 at 1:30PM UTC

   I will start out by saying a lot of employers are looking for a unicorn. It seems to be a common trend but they have that right.

   As for advice - are you tailoring your resume to each job that you apply to?

   What about growing your network? Via LinkedIn, Career Events, Etc.

   Both of these can help some!

2. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 10:24PM UTC

   Hi Liz! Thanks for the suggestions. Just curious where I can find a horn to attach to my forehead? I’ll do it if that’s what it takes!

   In all seriousness, though, this is one area that I and my job coach disagree on. I used to do the resume and cover letter tailoring thing, and still never moved beyond the application stage. My response to that was to hire the job coach. She advised that one no longer needs to tailor the resume because I’m the same person with the same skill set, and a better thing to do is to include key words that no matter the industry will showcase my talents.

   I did that. Two months ago. And now, I’m pretty sure I wasted the money that I thought I was investing. I’m at the point where I’m seriously considering hiring a headhunter.

3. AnonymousOctober 4,2021 at 1:21PM UTC

   While I agree with the coach that your skill set is the same, each job is looking for different skills specifically and that is what you can highlight especially in a cover letter. You may not have 100% of the skills they are looking for and that is okay but you want to specifically talk about the skills they want that you do have.

   Using keywords is important but it changes for each job description you have. Which is why it is important to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job. The employer can enter keywords or use a sample resume to enter keywords they are looking for into the ATS and often times it is what they use in the job description.

   It is often more about changing your keywords in your resume than changing the entire thing. Sometimes the same skill can be worded differently.

   I have a "master resume" saved that has 20-30 bullet points per job. This allowed me to use the ones I felt fit the job descriptions best for the resume I planned to apply with. Without constantly having to completely re-write everything.

4. Beverly RuyleSeptember 30,2021 at 2:32PM UTC

   It is hard to rebrand yourself. Have you identified what it is you want to do now or what industry you are interested in? You may be coming off as wishy-washy due to lack of focus. Does the school have job placement/careers services?

5. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 10:16PM UTC

   Hello Beverly! Thanks for the reply. I haven’t identified specifically which industry I’d like to try, mainly because all I know is healthcare. I love to use creative thinking to solve problems, but beyond that, I’m not really sure what direction to go in. It’s very intimidating to leave a sector that’s so well defined and step into an unknown (to me) sector.

   As for career placement, yes, they do… and I’ve put my hat in there as well. The jobs they seem to have access to are on the other coast and I am not in the position to be able to relocate at the moment, although remote position would be a definite possibility. I will keep knocking at that door, for sure.

6. Trie AngelevaSeptember 30,2021 at 3:24PM UTC

   I'd be curious about your resume and cover letter — I know you say the former was "renovated" but it and your cover letter are your foot in the door so they need to be really clear in showcasing what you're after now and the value you'd bring to it. Same with your LinkedIn profile. All kinds of ways to feature your new focus there. Good luck!

7. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 10:11PM UTC

   Hello Trie! Thanks for the reply! You’re right. Both are very important. I have tried several versions of each one. My coach even renovated my LinkedIn profile. I’m about at the stage where I wonder if hiring a headhunter would be in my best interest. Thoughts?

8. Trie AngelevaOctober 3,2021 at 2:01PM UTC

   Hi Jennifer! Without knowing more about your exact situation, I couldn't say, though if it were me I'd find ways to showcase my expertise via activities like writing articles on LinkedIn, developing a personal website that makes my expertise clear and connecting with my network effectively. I'd also get strategic about reaching out to people who are in the field I want to be in and asking them for informational interviews — excellent way to learn more, expand one's network and gain insights on upcoming opportunities.

9. Aurora MeyerSeptember 30,2021 at 3:44PM UTC

   Are you emphasizing your why? Are you aligning your current responsibilities and experience with what's in the job description? A lot of organizations are weeding out resumes and cover letters using an algorithm and then only send the ones that pass to a human. If you'd like to try a different way to write a cover letter, here's a template of what I prefer to read: https://wp.me/pOLQ5-1Nh

10. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 10:06PM UTC

    Hello Aurora! Thanks for the response and template. ATS are the bane of every job applicant, I’m sure. I often don’t even get to state my why. I’m certain that the ATS kicks it out long before even reaching a human. I will try your template and see what comes about. Thanks again!

11. Aurora MeyerOctober 2,2021 at 3:58AM UTC

    Fingers crossed you have more success!

12. AnonymousSeptember 30,2021 at 6:51PM UTC

    Are there specific industries you are interesting in breaking into? Are there networking possibilities or volunteer opportunities that would be related?

13. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 10:03PM UTC

    Hello! Great questions! I’m fascinated by the Disney business model. What fascinates me about it is not so much the Disney name as it is that essentially Disney is one giant project after another. I am really good at tapping into creative solutions, and businesses that rely on a certain amount of creativity excite my inner project manager. I’m open to just about any sector, (and wouldn’t necessarily turn down healthcare),if the right opportunity to think creatively came about.

14. AnonymousOctober 1,2021 at 12:57PM UTC

    In project management, you sometimes need to be ready and willing to “pay your dues”, which is basically working your way up through the company. You may need to be applying to more entry level positions at first. After a year or so of experience at said company, you can start working your way up. Maybe this is antiquated advice, but that has been my experience in project management , especially when entering a new sector.

15. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 9:57PM UTC

    Hello! Thank you for your response. You bring up a very valid point, and I don’t think it’s as antiquated as you think. I have applied for several entry level positions and when I’ve read the job descriptions, they’re often things that I’ve done either on a smaller scale, or in my day to day function in my current role. Even if the specific job description is not one that I have immediate experience in, I’m a quick learner. It’s just very frustrating to see “entry level” on the job description, and then get an autobot reply “sorry but you don’t meet our qualifications”. I will keep plugging away at it. Thanks again for the suggestion!

16. Jennifer JonesOctober 1,2021 at 9:52PM UTC

    Hello! Thank you for the reply! I will take that quiz. Thank you for the suggestion.