Gaps on a resume are no longer the red flag they used to be; the COVID pandemic has made gaps more common. But how do you talk about your gaps? Find Your Dream Job guest Esther Leonard says you have to be honest. Share (as much as you feel comfortable) about why you have the gap, but also any skills you built during your absence from the workforce. Esther advises continuing to network and build your confidence that you are the right person for the role you want.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Esther Leonard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/estheryvetteleonard/) is a career coach and talent recruitment professional. Esther also hosts Beyond Her Grind (https://www.beyondhergrind.com/). It’s a weekly podcast that gets into the root of what motivates women of color to want more in their careers. Resources in This Episode:  Book a session with Esther to get your career kick-started on the right path by visiting www.estherthecareercoach.com/services (http://www.estherthecareercoach.com/services). From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

How to Talk About Your COVID Career Gaps, with Esther Leonard

Trying to find a job by sending out mass resumes will only lead to frustration in your job search. You need people who are on your side and who can help you. Find Your Dream Job guest Francina Harrison calls these R-E-A-L relationships; human-to-human interactions that lead to the information you need. As you seek out these REAL relationships, follow the advice Francina offers, “Don’t get anxious; get prepared!” by knowing three things: who you are, what you have, and what you want.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Francina Harrison (http://linkedin.com/in/careerengineer) is the CEO of The Career Engineer®. (https://tcenow.com/) Her company helps career changers, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. Francina is also the author of A Mind to Work: The Life and Career Planning Guide for People Who STILL Need To Work. (https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Work-Career-Planning-People/dp/069267294X) Resources in This Episode:  If you’re feeling anxious about finding your next job, learn more about TCE’s motto - “Don’t get anxious, get prepared!” by visiting the website at tcenow.com/.(https://tcenow.com/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)  &nbsp;

How to Build Relationships that Work in Your Career, with Francina Harrison

We all know we need to network, yet the thought of being in a room full of strangers making small talk turns many of us off. What if networking could be as natural as speaking with a friend? It can, according to Find Your Dream Job guest Katy Byrtus. Katy says the best network is made up of those people you already know. Katy suggests reaching out to former coworkers, managers, and mentors, considering that people enjoy helping others. A job search can be challenging. Don’t go it alone. Use your network to make it easier and more sustainable than staring at a computer screen for hours on end.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Katy Byrtus (http://linkedin.com/in/kbyrtus) is a creative recruiter at M+P (https://mathys-potestio.com/) who connects candidates with jobs.&nbsp; Resources in This Episode:  Get your FREE download of Katy’s Top 5 Tips for Networking (In and Out of) Your Job Search by visiting https://thecreativeparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Katy-Byrtus-MP-and-Macs-List.pdf From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

Why Your Network Matters In Your Job Search, with Katy Byrtus

Do you find yourself hesitant to be authentic in job interviews? Why does it matter? On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Shae Noble (http://linkedin.com/in/shaenoble) shares her journey to authenticity and how it led her to take on a specific role. Shae says that knowing what you truly want from a job matters more than where you end up. She suggests making a list of what matters most to you and piecing those things together to create your dream job, then pursuing the companies and positions that can offer those things. Learn more about Shae’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series. (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories)&nbsp; &nbsp;

How to Embrace Authenticity: Shae Noble’s Job Search Success Story

In a crowded job market, if you don’t stand out, you’ll miss out. The best way to network with target employers is by getting clear on your values, says Find Your Dream Job guest Claudia Bruce-Quartey. Know the type of company culture that brings out your best. Claudia also suggests you practice questions to ask in these conversations and also how you will share the value you can bring to the company. And if you feel nervous about meeting with a hiring manager for a conversation, Claudia says execution is everything. So jump! About Our Guest: Claudia Bruce-Quartey (http://linkedin.com/in/claudia-bruce-quartey)is a career coach for female professionals who want to speak confidently about accomplishments and ask for raises. Resources in This Episode:  Get your copy of Claudia’s children’s book, “My Hair, My Choice,” which helps black and brown children feel empowered and confident to show up as themselves in the world. (https://www.amazon.com/My-Hair-Choice-Claudia-Bruce-Quartey/dp/1913770281/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OQIQDZ0DCD0P&amp;keywords=Claudia+Bruce-Quartey&amp;qid=1693933856&amp;sprefix=claudia+bruce-quartey%2Caps%2C224&amp;sr=8-1) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)  &nbsp;  &nbsp;

How to Network with Your Target Employers, with Claudia Bruce-Quartey

Not every job will have us excited to get up in the morning. Sometimes, we have to take positions to pay the bills. But if you see an opening that excites you, Find Your Dream Job guest Arturo Rodriguez Flores says you should go all in on the opportunity. Arturo suggests using that excitement to fuel your cover letter writing and to research the company for the interview process. Excitement over a position will lead you to know where the company is, where they’re going, and how you can help them get there, says Arturo.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Arturo Rodriguez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturo-rodriguez-flores-992281203/) Flores is a recruitment strategist at SEIU Local 503. (https://seiu503.org/) It’s one of the largest labor unions in the state of Oregon.&nbsp; Resources in This Episode:  Want to know more about Arturo and his work with SEIU Local 503? Connect with him on LinkedIn.&nbsp; From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

Why It's Good to Find a Job That Really Excites You, with Arturo Rodriguez Flores

Are you afraid of using new technology in your job search? Don’t be, says Find Your Dream Job guest Nicole Blevins. ChatGPT is a tool that can help you be more efficient and can give you the information you need to find the perfect fit. Nicole says ChatGPT can save you hours when creating cover letters and resumes. She also recommends using it to research positions, salary ranges, and sample interview questions. The best way to get comfortable with ChatGPT is to play around with it, learn as much as you can, and discover how it can best help you in your job search. About Our Guest: Nicole Blevins (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelizblevins/) is the HR training services manager at Xenium HR (https://xeniumhr.com/). Resources in This Episode:  If you want to learn more about ChatGPT and how it can help you in your job search, Nicole invites you to connect with her on LinkedIn. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelizblevins/) From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)  &nbsp;

How to Use ChatGPT in Your Job Search, with Nicole Blevins

If you see networking as large meet-ups and one-off coffee dates, it’s time to rethink your networking strategy. Find Your Dream Job guest Sophia Wellons stresses the need for building long-term relationships through networking. Networking isn’t simply meeting someone and asking them if they have a job for you; it building relationships that will serve both parties for months or years to come. Sophia says you have to go into these settings with clarity on what you need and how you can help others, along with a willingness to do so. About Our Guest: Sophia Wellons (http://linkedin.com/in/srwellons) is a recruiter at Galois (https://lifeatgalois.com/). Her company specializes in the research and development of new technologies. Resources in This Episode:  Sophia welcomes connections on LinkedIn. You can find her at (www.linkedin.com/in/srwellons/). From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

How to Build Effective Relationships When You Network, with Sophia Wellons

What would it be like to create your own job instead of looking for one? On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Kelly Noack (http://linkedin.com/in/kelly-noack) shares how she expanded the job she was doing for one arm of a larger company. Kelly’s success in IT security and compliance gave her confidence that she could expand her role to include the family of businesses within the company as a whole. Kelly also shares how mentoring and research helped her propose the new position to her leadership. Learn more about Kelly’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series. (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories)

Innovating a Career in IT: Kelly Noack’s Job Search Success Story

Every job seeker knows that a great resume is the ticket to their dream job, but what makes a resume stand out to hiring managers? According to Find Your Dream Job guest Cassie Ademola, your resume needs certain things to stay out of the No pile. It’s crucial to include specific details about your professional achievements; spell out what you did, how you did it, and the outcome of those actions. Cassie also says that proofreading your resume is a non-negotiable, as well as listing anything about your experience that sets you apart from others in your field.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Cassie Ademola (http://linkedin.com/in/cassieademola) is a human resources leader, a career brand polisher, and a professional resume writer. Resources in This Episode:  Cassie offers several courses on her website to help you level up in your career. Find out more by visiting myprofessionalagenda.com/store/. From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

What Your Resume is Missing, with Cassie Ademola

We hear a lot about branding in the job market, but what does it mean to create a personal brand? Find Your Dream Job guest Michael Ramirez says you already have one, whether intentional or not. Michael defines a personal brand as the way you communicate your values and strengths to a company or hiring manager. Self-confidence is enhanced when your personal brand is strong and well thought out. Sharing your brand with others is as simple as developing an unforgettable elevator pitch that you can use in networking situations.&nbsp; About Our Guest: Michael Ramirez (http://linkedin.com/in/mikeramirezdesign) is a talent acquisition manager at the Oregon Health &amp; Science University (https://www.ohsu.edu/).&nbsp; Resources in This Episode:  OHSU is hiring! Find out more by visiting ohsu.edu and clicking on the “Jobs” tab. From our Sponsor: Find Your Dream Job is brought to you by TopResume.(http://macslist.org/topresume) Top Resume has helped more than 400,000 professionals land more interviews and get hired faster. Get a free review of your resume today from one of Top Resume’s expert writers. (http://macslist.org/topresume)

How to Create and Share Your Personal Brand, with Michael Ramirez

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How to Talk About Your COVID Career Gaps, with Esther Leonard

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