Struggling to navigate a job search alone?

Your personal brand is a combination of what makes you unique and what's highly valued by employers. You may be great at finger puppets, but that's probably not a skill employers want in a VP of Sales. If you're stuck, look at some job postings that are a great fit for you. You'll see a consistent theme, one of your traits or strengths that employers are actively seeking. That's your brand!

Está muito difícil conseguir um trabalho atualmente, mesmo com minha experiência de mais de 10 anos liderando equipes digitais e criando estratégias de conteúdo inovadoras para grandes marcas.

Your narrative needs to focus on the reader, not you directly. I know this sounds counter intuitive, but recruiters and hiring managers are looking at your resume and LinkedIn because they have a problem they want to solve. For example, when you tell your story from your perspective "I have 10 years of experience in XXX. I do XXX." It is all about yourself. If you reframe to how you address the readers' problems, then they can imagine how you are the solution they need. Here's an example: "Because AI is changing so quickly, you are eager to bring your employees up to speed on tools to increase efficiencies. This is where I come in. Together, we'll do XXX, and XXX. When I worked with XXX, we did XXX, with these results."

The process of searching for an appropriate position, researching the company, learning about the industry, understanding whether or not you are a good fit, and so on, can be intensive and time consuming. And then, if you don't do your research adequately, all of the time and effort is wasted. My suggestion is that because you are looking for a "fit" for your skills that will make you happy and productive, nothing is better than a great virtual assistant. You simply cannot do it all yourself. With the relatively moderate price of VA's in the Philippines, or in India, or Sri Lanka, the monetary commitment could be easy on the pocket book, and yet can get you ahead of the curve more than two times as fast as you could do it yourself.

Too many job seekers ignore their online persona. As I hire, I look to see if a potential candidates online linkedin and persona matches what’s on their resume. You have a fair amount of control regarding what shows up when people search you. If you are an expert in something, contribute to articles like these, create a podcast and provide value in online forums. In comparing to candidates, if one is more active, they get a slight edge in my book.

While a strong resume is essential, relying solely on it in a competitive job market is a basic approach. If you have high career aspirations, focus on building meaningful connections, showcasing your value through actions, and creating opportunities beyond just sending out resumes and waiting. Networking, personal branding, and demonstrating your expertise can open doors a resume alone can’t. To optimize your resume, I’ve created a free step-by-step guide (in Spanish). If you think it could help, feel free to ask for it!

Your resume serves as a powerful marketing tool, showcasing your skills and achievements to potential employers. To create an impactful resume, tailor it for each application by emphasizing relevant experiences. Use action verbs to describe accomplishments, and quantify your impact whenever possible. Additionally, adopt the reverse-chronological format to highlight career growth. Remember, a well-crafted resume can significantly enhance your chances of catching an employer’s eye.

Quer chamar atenção? Aposte em um currículo simples, mas com um ótimo Storytelling - se você não sabe o que é esse termo, pesquise. Contar uma história através do seu currículo é o que cativa qualquer recrutador e faz ele entrar em contato para lhe entrevistar; é como se o recrutador estivesse na biblioteca procurando um livro pela capa, e ele vai na capa mais interessante, com as palavras certas (as gírias da sua área de atuação) e então ele decide pegar esse livro e ler - momento em que ele escolhe seu currículo e convida para um processo seletivo. Selecione as duas últimas experiências ao seu currículo, no campo objetivo coloque o cargo ou área que pretende ocupar e adicione cursos relevantes ao seu CV.

Job search can be a lonely and draining process. Most candidates actually confess that job search period is one of the most difficult times of their professional life. The good news is that having the right network can be a gamechanger during job searching. If you are struggling to navigate job search alone, then engaging in activities such as industry events, being part of professional association or college alumni group can be a good way for you to connect with people who can refer you to opportunities in their companies. Finally, having a strong online network on platforms such as LinkedIn can be a potential means to help you tap into the hidden job market and a land a job quicker.

Networking plays a crucial role in job searches. It’s not only about your connections; it’s about who recognizes you. Attend industry events, participate in professional associations, and engage in relevant online forums. Reach out to alumni and former colleagues for insights and potential referrals. By expanding your network, you unlock doors to job leads and valuable guidance.

"Quem não é visto, não é lembrado", e foi assim que eu apostei em um bom networking. Não adianta você ser um ótimo profissional e entregar grandes resultados, mas ninguém está vendo que é você quem está promovendo tais resultados. Faça amigos, crie uma rede de apoio; seu colega ou ex-colega da faculdade pode ser um futuro empregador e, se te conhecer bem, pode lhe convidar para fazer parte do quadro de colaboradores da empresa dele - ou a empresa em que trabalha. Meu primeiro emprego conquistei graças a minha professora, que me indicou para trabalhar em sua equipe como Assistente Administrativo. E foi assim que aprendi que o networking será importante para minha carreira profissional.

Networking is crucial in a job search. It's about building connections and being known in your industry. Attend events, join associations, and engage in online forums. Connect with alumni and former colleagues for insights and referrals. Expanding your network opens doors to job leads and valuable advice.

LinkedIn is a great way to expand your network, but there are slow and fast ways to do it. Both work, but you need to understand the dynamics to make it work for you. The slow way is to build your reputation as a thought leader and someone people can trust. Your network will expand, but it will take time (sometimes a lot of time). The fast way is to understand that every connection has a patience-to-familiarity ratio. Less familiarity means less patience the connection has for you. If you ask for job referrals, provide everything needed to make the referral easy. If you want them to pass on your resume, write part of the email for them. By recognizing these dynamics, you can strategically expand your LinkedIn network more effectively.

Preparing for interviews is crucial. Research the company thoroughly—understand its culture, products, and the challenges it faces. Practice your responses to common interview questions, but also be ready to discuss your experiences in a way that demonstrates how you can add value to the team. Consider conducting mock interviews with a friend or mentor who can provide feedback. Confidence and preparedness are key to making a lasting impression.

I'd go so far as to say you SHOULD practice interviewing. It's a good idea to find a trusted partner that can really put you through your paces and not just ask you the 'what makes you interested in this company' type questions (If you need someone to practice with, I love to do this stuff). Interviews have a purpose: firstly, the company wants to know if you are not just a good fit but the BEST fit among many, and secondly, you want to know if the job is a good match for you and your career path. #1 tip is do the research....I can't tell you how often I've interviewed someone for a role and asked them a basic question such as 'what do you think of our home page' and had candidates stall out because they haven't even looked!

Learn the STAR or PAR method. That is Situation Task Action Results Or Problem Actions Results Then think of examples that are real experiences you’ve had. Be specific about a time that it happened. Do not do any general.

Apart from the common questions asked in every interview, one should be prepared for the questions asked by the particular company that you are getting interviewed in. You can check interview experiences, questions asked, salary expectations, and job role expectations all before attending the interview. This is as important as preparing for your tell me about yourself and the technical stuff you prepare. Go one step further and get a good understanding of what the company does what kind of work the role you apply for involves and how you can stand out from the other candidates for this role. In the end, an interview is marketing your skills to make them offer you a job. Good Luck!

Following up after an interview is crucial. Send a thank-you note to express appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position. This shows good manners and keeps you on the employer's radar. If you haven't heard back within the expected timeframe, send a polite inquiry about your application's status. Be persistent, but always professional.

Um mentor pode ser uma grande ajuda pra você que está no começo da carreira ou se sente estagnado; sempre pude contar com iniciativas de ONG's, onde contemplava seus alunos com uma mentoria on-line. Assim pude trilhar minha carreira, arriscar e ousar. Um mentor não precisa ser necessariamente um agente, ele pode ser seu professor, seu amigo ou seu colega de trabalho - desde que ele saiba que é seu mentor. Essas pessoas podem te aproximar de oportunidades que você nem imagina que pode conquistar.

Many people navigate the job search alone because they may not be able to afford a coach or have limiting beliefs that prevent them from seeking help. Unfortunately, we are not taught how to search for a job effectively in school, and lack of support can hold you back and extend your job search. Once you know the jobs and roles that could be a good match, it's time to begin a targeted job search. You want to be strategic with your applications and networking. Regarding the job interview, if you don't have anyone to practice, you can record yourself or use an AI interview prep tool to give you feedback. Send thank you notes post-interview tailored to the conversation, and avoid using boring templates. It's okay to seek help!

Dress Code (Código de Vestimenta) Seguir um código de vestimenta pode ser um diferencial, tanto na entrevista on-line quanto na presencial, pois mostra que você é profissional e a pessoa certa para aquela vaga! Se você perceber que a empresa não tem um código de vestimenta específica, aposte em roupas básicas - camisa sem estampa ou logo muito evidente, calças escuras ou pouco chamativas, calçados fechados.

Stay away from paid communities around job-sarching, paid consultants that will teach you how to look for a job and paid online courses about job-searching. Those are all scams. The best communities are free, "in real life" and certainly not online.