2018 Best Career Apps & Websites To Land Your New Job

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on February 2, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Dreaming of a new job? Perhaps something more meaningful, fulfilling and with a beefier paycheck?

If you said, Yes, then the timing couldn’t be better. The unemployment rate is currently hovering at a low 4.1% and the US Economy added a healthy 148,000 jobs last month (mostly in the construction, healthcare, leisure & hospitality and manufacturing industries.

My last article in Huffington Post, 2017 Highest Paying Jobs, Best Companies and Fastest Growing Industries, has been helping many of you identify the best job role, companies and industries to work. So for this article, I’m focusing on which career apps and websites can help you find your new job.

As you probably know, it can be daunting navigating through a bazillion career websites, job boards and niche communities touting their latest and greatest job openings. As a leading career coach for the past 10 years, I even get overwhelmed! So every year I conduct loads of online research and capture the lessons learned and best practices from my clients to create a list of my favorite (and what, I believe, are some of the most effective and best) career apps and websites to help you quickly and easily find those high quality job openings.

Where can you find your dream job?

To find real-time job openings, try LinkUp.com. This site only features jobs from company websites which means that it provides a smaller pool of job openings; however, those openings are more likely to be fresh and current.

I also recommend regularly checking out these three powerhouse job search sites (and setting up your own personal job search agent for each site) to help you find more job openings –

Glassdoor – In my opinion, Glassdoor is the best site for your job search. It has tons of new job postings every day, and allows you to search by job title, key responsibilities, company and location. As a bonus, you can get insight into what it would be like working for a company by reading employee reviews on the company’s culture, CEO ratings, salary information and even job interviewing reviews to help you prepare for an upcoming interview. Simply sign up (it’s free!) and you have a treasure trove of research and reference materials at your fingertips.

Indeed – The majority of my clients get hired off of Indeed. This is a Google-like search engine for jobs and one of the most efficient sites for surveying listings since it aggregates information from a variety of job boards, online news sites and company websites. An advanced search function provides a few more filters than Glassdoor, and allows you to drill down on a location, keyword and salary range. Indeed says it has 200 million unique visitors each month and is available in 60 countries and 28 languages.

LinkedIn – Recruiters and hiring managers love this site. As of April 2017, LinkedIn had 500 million members in 200 countries, out of which more than 106 million members are active. A 2015 Recruiter Nation report by Jobvite shows that 87% of recruiters are using LinkedIn (the most popular social media networking site for recruiters) to seek out job candidates.

LinkedIn allows you to post a free profile, publish your resume and connect with other professionals. It also allows you to search for jobs, and then shows you those in your network who are currently working, or have worked, inside that organization. This makes it easier for you to find (and hopefully get) referrals which is the #1 way job candidates land a job!

You can search job openings on LinkedIn by going to your home page and clicking the “jobs” tab towards the top of the page. Search by job title, keyword, company, or use the advanced search to include additional criteria. Be sure to scroll down to view job openings and companies hiring, as well as those in your network who have worked inside those organizations. For more tips, I love this article by Amanda Zantal-Winer, 29 LinkedIn Tips for Professional Networking, Business and Marketing.

Niche job sites…

SmartRecruiters.com reports that 62-percent of jobs are posted on niche job boards. Do yourself a favor and invest some time researching their Best 50 Niche Job Boards list (which was updated in December 2017.) This doesn’t need to overwhelm you. Schedule an hour into your calendar to review the list, research the sites, and bookmark those sites with jobs that most closely align to your skills, passions and career goals.

For example, if you’re an executive looking for a new job then check out ExecuNet which features job openings starting at $150,000 annual salary and the Ladders with salaries of $80,000 and above. If you want to land a job in technology then bookmark Dice. If you’re looking for a sales job then check out SalesGravy and SalesHeads. For healthcare jobs visit Healthcare Jobsite. For a new gig in journalism, P.R. or social media try Media Bistro. Or, check out WayUp if you’re looking for an entry-level job or internship.

Freelance gigs…

Craving more freedom and control in your career? You may want to promote your expertise by becoming a freelancer or consultant. Try posting your skills and experience on sites like these –

Accenture partners with more than 75% of the Fortune Global 500 companies to provide strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations services. They serve clients in 120 countries and have made 15 consecutive appearances in Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list.

Freelancer is a global marketplace which allows potential employers to post jobs that freelancers can then bid to complete. The site boasts completing +13-million freelancing jobs to date with a 95% re-hire rate in jobs for graphics & design, websites & IT, writing & content, sales & marketing, and engineering and science.

UpWork says it posts 3-million part-time, short-term and freelance gigs annually, and their pool of freelancers are earning more than $1 billion via the site each year by providing companies with over 3,500 skills. For designers, creatives, programmers, developers, and a variety of other business services skills.

Other sites that can put some cash in your pocket include: Uber, Lyft, SnagaJob, TaskRabbit, Postmates and Amazon’s Mechanical Turk for small tasks. These sites offer marketplaces for anyone wanting to get hired as a driver, mover, courier, cleaner and basic chore-doer.

One final note – the career apps and websites listed above are great resources to help you find your next job. I recommend creating a job search agent on those sites you like so that you’ll spend less time searching and more time receiving instant notifications about jobs that interest you.

In future articles, I’ll share my favorite resources and tips to help you land your dream job by getting more job leads, referrals and recommendations, as well as tools to create a stellar resume, resume format tips, and how to nail your job interviews. But for now, I hope this article helps you get one step closer to landing your dream job.

About the author

Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker, award-winning author, and President of Career Coaching 360 (www.CareerCoaching360.com). She’s helped thousands of executives and professionals change, re-brand, advance and take their career in a whole new direction. Author of the award-winning book, “The Bounce Back – personal stories and strategies to you help you bounce back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback” which was named 2013 best career book by Indie Book Awards and “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand”. Sherri is regularly interviewed for her career strategies published in the Washington Post, the Wall St Journal, TIME Magazine, Smart Money magazine, the New York Daily Post, Investors Business Daily, and many others.

Sherri is a champion of helping others thrive and live in their best career. As a keynote speaker, she’s spoken at conferences and events around the world including the United States, Malaysia, Israel, Ireland, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam and Kenya. Throughout her career, Sherri has worked for three Fortune 500 Companies overseeing and holding various positions in marketing, IT, management training and development, and global communications. She successfully reinvented herself and transitioned into various job roles and industries including television, radio, finance, and high tech. Sherri’s website offers free video training, “15 Clever Ways to Get More Job Offers” at www.CareerCoaching360.com

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Your Personal 3-Step Checklist to a New Career

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on November 8, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Are you thinking, “I need a new job!”
Are you thinking it every day?
If you spend your days fantasizing about getting into a new career that fills you with more meaning and purpose, then it’s time to take action. I’ve successfully reinvented my own career four (4) times and I fully believethat life is way too short to stay in a meaningless job where you’re unfulfilled, unchallenged and under-valued.

As a leading career coach, the #1 biggest question I get asked is, “How can I transition into a new career without decreasing my salary?” Each time I reinvented my own career, I received anywhere between an 8% – 32% salary increase. A client of mine, Matt, just reinvented his career from being a manager in the TV industry to becoming a manager in high tech, and received a 17-percent pay increase.

So how did we do it? And how can YOU do it?

Moving into a new career means repackaging your skills, qualifications and successes so that you can transition into a new job role, company or industry. It takes a strong vision, a solid plan, and someone who can coach you through your transition, but yes, it is possible! Below are four steps I take with my clients to teach them how to reinvent their career –

Identify your transferable skills.

If you’ve been working for at least five years, then you have transferable skills. These are skills that transition from industry to industry, or from job role to job role. Examples include: managing projects, teams, clients or budgets, as well as negotiating contracts, helping a company generate revenue, save money, or gain market share.

Other transferable skills include personal characteristics such as demonstrating leadership, mentoring or training others, risk taking, being goal driven, results oriented, a problem solver, or having the ability to influence senior managers. These are great skills to have, and they transfer from industry to industry. All kinds of industries and companies value employees with these types of skills and characteristics.
Match your transferable skills to job roles.

Read job descriptions posted on Indeed.com, CareerJournal.com, CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com, as well as business journals and industry-specific websites. If you want to work for a specific company then check out their website’s on-line job postings. Learn the skills and qualifications required for various job roles.

Then, match your transferable skills to those jobs you want to go after. If there’s a gap between the required skills and the skills that you currently have, then look for ways to gain that experience such as taking on an extended assignment in your current job, or if you’re in between jobs then try freelancing, consulting, or volunteering.

Also, attend industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings. Talk to people who work in the industry to learn about their career path, key skills, and advice on how to break into the business.
Blow up your resume.

The first thing I always did before I transitioned into a new career was blow up my resume. Trying to piece together a resume that highlighted the skills I used to get my last job with the skills I needed to land my next job was like trying to weld together Lexus parts on a BMW. It doesn’t work. You need a brand new resume.

Hiring managers don’t care about every job you’ve ever had. They just want to know if you can do their job? In order to get noticed you’ll need a clean, polished and professionally written resume.

And one more tip… attitude is king! I’ve found that getting a new job really boils down to two things: confidence and passion. I’ve never walked into an interview having met all of the job requirements. In fact, for the television interview, I lacked the two biggest requirements which were a minimum of two years experience in television, and a reel to show my TV work.

There’s a kind of quiet confidence that we all have down deep inside. A confidence that comes from knowing what we’re capable of doing. If you want the job offer, you’ll need to sell yourself to the hiring manager by showing you have confidence in yourself to be successful in the job. When it comes to reinventing your career, it’s not just your skills and talent but your attitude that counts!

Want a little help transitioning into your new career?
Check out my services for personal career coaching packages, resume development and interview coaching. Potential clients can request a 15-minute complimentary consultation by writing to Tim@CareerCoaching360.com

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and award-winning author of the “2013 BEST CAREER BOOK” by the Indie Book Awards for her book “The Bounce Back – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback”. She also authored, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand” – which is on AMAZON’s TOP 50 LIST for personal branding books. Sherri is the President and Founder of Career Coaching 360 which provides resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching for executives and professionals who want to change, reinvent or advance their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

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Your Career Shouldn’t Be That Hard

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on February 20, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Nothing is worse than feeling helpless in your career. Helpless. Hopeless. Stuck.

The notion that you don’t have any career options is a myth. Every day you are making choices. Every day you make the choice to work for the company where you are. You make the choice to work for the boss you have. You make the choice to work on the projects you drive. Every day you’re making decisions about your career.

So what can you do if you dislike your company, manager or your job?

I’ve been a leading career coach and author for the past 6 years (and working at a 6-figure job for a Fortune 100 Company for the past 14 years), and what I know for sure is that when my career is moving in the right direction – it’s fun, exciting, challenging, scary (in a good way) and immensely rewarding. And when it’s moving in the wrong direction – it’s excrutiatingly difficult. That’s when I know something’s gotta give. It’s time for ME to make a few changes.

Below is a simple a step-by-step process and that even with the small changes can help you find your career flow –

1. Know what you want.

What’s pulling you toward your career right now? What’s pushing you away?

The first step in getting un-stuck is to sort through the logic and emotion of everything going on in your job right now and make a list of what all the positive things are that you’re getting in your job, such as a salary, benefits, doing purposeful work, working for a company you love, working for a manager you respect, being in an environment where you can constantly learn new things, etc.

Now make a list of things you dislike about your job such as little or no career advancement, limited visibility with leaders, feeling unvalued or unappreciated, being under-challenged, etc.

Look at both lists. Are they out of balance? Is there anything you can change on your “dislike” list? Many times it’s difficult for us to come up with solutions on our own so try brainstorming possibilities with a few people you trust such as a mentor, manager, department managers or colleagues.

What’s in your control that you could change? How could change it? Who could help you?

2. Shake things up internally.

If you like your job, but just wish one or two things would change – then see if you can make it happen. There may be some parts of your job that you enjoy, and parts that you don’t. Identify what those are and then have a heart to heart talk with your manager.

Try saying something like, “I am really enjoying my job, but there are a few things I’d like to see if we could change.” I once said to one of my managers something like, “I’m really not sure how much value I’m adding to the research project, but if you gave me those 4 hours each week, I would use them to create a new leadership initiative.” I then went on to explain the new initiative and how it would benefit me, the department and my manager. Ten minutes later he told me to, “Go for it!”

Another time I asked one of my manager’s if he needed any help with the budget and told him that I wanted to learn about managing the department’s finances. He gave me more financial responsibility and taught me everything I wanted to know!

Other great sources to help you shake things up internally could be your boss’ manager, other department managers and anyone who has, or has had, a responsibility that you would like to have. Two key things to remember are –

a. You are the only one who can make a change happen.

b. You cannot make a change by yourself – you need the support, wisdom and mentorship of others.

3. If you can’t get what you want internally – go external.

Sometimes our career requires big bold changes. If you’re unhappy in your job and you can’t get what you want inside your current organization, then it’s time to explore external opportunities.

The first step is to simply start exploring possibilities. Talk to others who are in the industry or job role that interests you. Ask them what a good day looks like, what a bad day looks like, if they have any special training or education, and how they got their job. You can learn a lot about different career options simply by talking to others.

After you identify a job role that you are really interested in, the next step is to start exploring job openings. Let your network know that you are ready to take the next step in your career and ask if they could send you any job leads, referrals or recommendations.

Also, search the job boards on company websites where you want to work. Be sure to set up Job Agents on Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com so that you’ll receive weekly job openings in your e-mail box.

Whether you make a few small changes in your career or one big bold change, you owe it to yourself to have a career that lets you do meaningful, purposeful work and makes you feel valued, appreciated and energized. You really do have control over your career – you just have to get in the driver’s seat and make it happen! 🙂

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist. She teaches others how to think differently and more proactively in their career. Her book, ”The Bounce Back” is the 2013 winner of “Best Career Book” by Indie Book Awards for independent book authors. Her first book is on AMAZON’s TOP 50 LIST for personal branding books, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a powerful personal brand.” As the Founder/President of Career Coaching 360. Sherri specializes in providing one-on-one coaching to professionals and executives who want to change, reinvent or advance their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Sherri offers personal one-on-one career coaching to professionals who want to change their career. Learn more: www.CareerCoaching360.com

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New Year, New Career!

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on January 11, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Want 3 simple tips to help you make a faster and easier career change?

As a leading Career Coach, I’m seeing that many professionals make the mistake of posting their resume on a job board, or handing their resume to a recruiter, and then just sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring. Although the economy is improving, we're still in a tough job market which means you need to be much more proactive and strategic to make a career change. My clients have had great success doubling their opportunities and cutting their job search time in half by following my three simple job hunting rules…

Think Up, Down and Sideways.

The biggest mistake job hunting professionals make is looking for a position with the exact same title they had in their last job. Instead, consider looking at smaller companies and going one-level up, as well as larger companies and going one-level down.

Additionally, many companies don’t require you to have industry experience, only expertise in a specific job function, so you can also double your opportunities by applying for jobs in a variety of industries.

For example, if you’ve been working in advertising agencies, then be sure to target organizations that have in-house advertising, marketing, or communications departments. Or, if you’ve been in sales, finance, engineering, or administration in a certain industry (such as health care, high tech, or construction), start applying for those same jobs in other industries.

Finally, it’s not mandatory for you to meet 100-percent of the requirements in a job description before you apply. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 75-percent of the skills and experience required, and express in your cover letter and interviews that you’re a quick learner, flexible, and passionate about the position and the company. Your resume will get you an interview. Your attitude and confidence will get you the job.

2. Create a strategic job search plan.

It’s easier to catch fish when you know where the fish are, and it’s easier to get hired when you know which companies are hiring. Find out where your potential employers are by reading job boards (CareerJournal.com, theLadders.com, etc.), as well as industry publications, business journals, and company websites. You’ll be able to learn which industries are hiring, which companies are hiring and what the hot jobs are!

•Company websites.
Create a list of companies where you would like to work. Visit their website weekly for on-line job postings, and announcements for departments expanding.

•On-line job boards.
Some job search sites are notorious for listing outdated jobs, or jobs with no contact information. Why waste your time? Instead, make a list of job search sites that offer high quality jobs. Conduct a search on Google or Yahoo for the job role and the city you want (example: marketing director, Portland). Review all the sites listed on the top three or four pages, and bookmark only those sites that list promising job opportunities.

You’ll find that each site varies in the quality of positions listed (lower-level to senior-level, as well as salary ranges), plus the type of industries, or vertical sectors, listed. Some sites may also do a better job than others updating their lists, or publicizing openings in your city. Focus your attention only on those sites.

Once you’ve created a list of your targeted companies and favorite job boards, make a commitment to review those sites weekly.

3. Work your NetWORK.

The #1 way job candidates are getting hired in today’s market is by getting a referral within the organization. That means, you need to make it a priority to get connected, and stay connected, to people who could hire you, or introduce you to others who could potentially hire you.

Get re-connected with past employers, customers, and colleagues. Meet new contacts by attending industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events, and association meetings that target the industry (high tech, health care, etc.), or the job role (marketing, finance, management, etc.) you want. Try to attend a couple of events each month.

Also, you never want to give the impression that you’re hungry for a job. Instead, you want to be seen as someone who’s resourceful, knowledgeable, and has a wide network. Send out personalized notes and e-mails with information that you think would interest them such as links to reports, case studies, press releases, videos or websites. Invite them to business networking events, and introduce them to other movers and shakers in your network. Influencers are drawn to those who are resourceful.

The goal is to create a pull relationship with your network so that they are drawn towards you (not running away from you!)

When you’re searching for a new job, remember to stay focused on what you want, stay positive, and believe in yourself. It takes persistence and patience – but you WILL find those companies who jump at the opportunity to hire you!!

Your Assignment… Create your “job search strategy.”

Expand your career opportunities by researching job openings across various industries advertised on company websites and job boards (such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com). Read a variety of job descriptions to determine if you have the right mix of skills, experience and expertise. If you match at least 75% of the job requirements – then apply! (Nobody meets 100% of the job qualifications except the person who just left that job! )

After you find a job you want to apply for, then customize your resume to meet the job description and ask your network for recommendations and referrals.

By following these three (3) strategies you’ll be well on your way to a new career!

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist. She teaches others how to think differently and more proactively in their career. Her book, ”The Bounce Back” is the 2013 winner of “Best Career Book” by Indie Book Awards for independent book authors. Her first book is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a powerful personal brand.” As the Founder/President of Career Coaching 360. Sherri specializes in providing one-on-one coaching to professionals and executives who want to change, reinvent or advance their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Sherri offers personal one-on-one career coaching to professionals who want to change their career. Learn more: www.CareerCoaching360.com

Need a little help with your career change?

Check out some of these popular resources to help you reinvent and re-brand yourself…

Brand new “Six Week, Six Step Career Change Program”

Designed for professionals and executives who want a new career. The perfect gift for someone who needs help getting hired into a new career, and includes the “Career Change Boot Camp” 2-CD program, the e-book “Interviewing Smart – Insider Secrets to Getting the Job“, professional, customizable and proven resume templates, and “The Salary Compensation Guide” to help you negotiate the best deal for you!

“Career Change Boot Camp Program”

A quick-start, complete do-it-yourself self study program that includes step-by-step strategies, tools and resources to help you change careers quickly and easily. Includes 2 CD’s, eWorkbook and transcripts so you can get started immediately!

New book, “THE BOUNCE BACK – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback”

Provides personal stories, strategies and lessons learned from author Sherri Thomas and 13 other professionals who navigated through career setbacks to come out on top! Available in hardcover and Kindle formats on AMAZON and Barnes & Noble.
Book, “CAREER SMART – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand”

On AMAZON’s TOP 50 LIST for personal branding books! Author Sherri Thomas teaches professionals how to put yourself in higher demand with managers, hiring managers and potential employers.

Available in hardcover, Kindle, and audio formats. Available on AMAZON and Barnes and Noble.

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Twice I've Been Hired During the Month of December

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on November 10, 2013 · Leave a Comment

If you’re out searching for a job, but thinking about stopping your job search during the months of November and December because nobody is hiring – think again. That would be a BIG mistake.

Twice in my career, I’ve been hired during the month of December. No, I’m not talking about temporary jobs like stocking holiday sweaters at the local Gap store or delivering holiday packages for UPS. I’m talking about real, permanent, full-time job offers I received with large marketing and advertising agencies.

There are three great reasons why it’s actually EASIER to get hired in the months of November and December, than any other time of the year –

First, many companies may still have budget left for 2103.

Many organizations have an infrastructure in place of “Use it or lose it”, meaning that if they don’t use up their dollars that have already been budgeted and approved for hiring new employees, then that money will be gone on January 1, 2014.
Second, companies want to gear up for 2014.

Many organizations want to hire new employees now so that they can hit the ground running at the beginning of the year.
Third, there is less competition.

Many job candidates stop searching for jobs or go on vacation (because they believe the myth that nobody is hiring during the holidays) so the competitive pool is much smaller. Which means that the odds are in your favor 🙂
Here’s a tip – if you get invited to an interview during the holidays and you want that job, and you need that job – then make it a priority. Figure out a way to go to that interview and then go see your Aunt Betty in Minneapolis. Or, if it’s a phone interview, don’t let them hear your brother-in-law laughing in the background to the cat getting fried in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

So how did I get hired? Networking. I went to every holiday party, event and mixer I could find. At first, I felt really awkward saying that I didn’t have a job, but then I just started owning it saying something like, “Actually, I’m looking to take that next step in my career right now, and looking for opportunities as…” an Account Manager, or as a copywriter, or whatever.

I also called up old friends and colleagues and started the conversation by saying, “Hey, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!” Most people are in a more relaxed and sociable mindset during the holidays (even department managers, hiring managers and company leaders), which makes it easier to connect, and easier to ask for job leads, referrals and recommendations.

For one of my job offers, I called up the President of the company who I use to work for and asked if he could look over my resume to offer me any advice. That phone conversation led to a meeting, which then led to two interviews, and a job offer the day of his holiday office party.

So if you’re looking for a new job this holiday season, then rev up your job search by putting on your best holiday sweater and going out to socialize. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a nice beefy paycheck in your stocking this Christmas! 🙂

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Power Up Your "Career Confidence"

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on October 13, 2013 · Leave a Comment

You are the “story teller” of your own career.

Every day, people are creating perceptions and making assumptions about you based on what you're telling them. If you're sending the message that you've been short-changed, passed over or stepped on in your career, then people will see you as someone who doesn't have much value in the workplace.

BUT(!) if you're send a strong, clear message that you're a key contributor with some big successes under your belt, then managers, hiring managers and Sr. leaders will be more likely to give you job leads, job offers and bigger career opportunities.

Here are a few tips to help you frame your “career story”…

Stop being so humble.

Being humble is a career stifller. Yes, it’s a nice quality to have, but if you never talk about some of the successes you’ve had in the workplace, then your career is sure to sit on a shelf for the next 10 years.

I had lunch yesterday with one of my best friends from college, Arizona State University (Go Sun Devils! :)) who became an Emmy winning TV news reporter for NBC-TV in Phoenix. Now, at 50-years old, he has his own company AZ Freelance TV advising Corporate leaders as a Media Strategist. He told me that he’s ready to expand his business, but “I'm not the type of person to brag about myself.” This is a man who has interviewed three (3) U.S. Presidents (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.)

Seriously? How would anyone ever know to hire him if he didn't talk about his successes?

Talking about your accomplishments builds your credibility. It lets people know what you’re good at, what you can handle and what you can accomplish. It makes you stand out from the crowd. If you want to get noticed, then you’ll need to learn how to talk about your achievements, not in an arrogant kind of way, but more in an “I’m a key contributor who gets big results” kind of way.

Write down 2-3 of your biggest achievements over the past three years. Now, practice saying out loud in a sentence or two how you contributed to those successes and what the impact was to the organization. For example, “I was the technical lead for a new internal tool that was launched on the SAP platform. The tool is now saving the group $100,000 a year.” Or, “I was on the creative marketing campaign for the xyz product which helped the company gain 3% more market share.”

The key to getting more job offers, leads and opportunities is leaning how to talk about your successes. Nobody will know what you’ve accomplished unless you tell them.

2. Frame your story in a positive way.

One of my favorite chapters in my new book, “The Bounce Back” gives strategies on how to frame your story to hiring managers after you’ve been laid off or experienced a career setback. Managers, Sr. leaders, customers, and hiring managers create their perception of you based on what you tell them. If you talk about your career in a positive, confident way – then they are going to think of you as a positive and confident employee.

Earlier in my career I was laid off at a small advertising agency. A few months later, I bounced back and was hired as the Regional Marketing Manager for a Fortune 100 company. I believe that a large part of the reason I was hired was because of the way I told my career story to the Vice President. During the interview, I talked about how the company that laid me off was a great company and how much I loved my role and responsibilities. I truly believed in what I was saying and so my tone was very genuine. Then, I addressed the reason for my layoff which was, “I didn’t realize when I took the position that I was expected to fill the shoes of two employees. Even though I had some big results and was good at my job, I just simply couldn’t fill both of their shoes.” The VP called me the next day to tell me I was hired.

Everybody has setbacks in their career. E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. It's not the setback that holds you back, but how you internalize the setback. The key is to frame your career story in the most positive, honest and confident way possible.

3. Don’t take yourself out of the game because you fumbled.

I had a TV interview a few months ago and the reporter asked about my book. I froze up. I got nervous, said “umm” and garbled out a few lame sentences. Man-oh-man, I wish I could have a do-over.

It happens to all of us. Whether it’s a job interview, a big presentation or the perfect networking opportunity – sometimes, we just freeze up. It happens, and it happens to everyone. The key is not to beat yourself up. And don’t shy away from future opportunities to give a big presentation or go on job interviews. The lesson is to learn from the situation and then do better next time.

Keep looking for opportunities to step into the spotlight and tell your story again and again. If you fumbled a presentation, then go ask the team leader if you can present it again with some new data that you just received. If you fumbled a job interview, then send an e-mail to the interviewer providing a little more clarity on your experience or area of expertise. For me, I wrote to the TV reporter and tee'd up a few more tips out of my book to share with her viewers, and then had a follow-up interview.

Sometimes a do-over isn’t possible, and if that’s the case, then just get on with looking for your next opportunity and be ready to strut your stuff. Don’t let a negative experience stop you from moving your career forward. Get out there, find your voice and share your career story with confidence. Your next career opportunity is out there – you just have to go find it! 😉

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist. She teaches others how to think differently and more proactively in their career. Her book, ”The Bounce Back” is the 2013 winner of “Best Career Book” by Indie Book Awards for independent book authors. Her first book is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a powerful personal brand.” As the Founder/President of Career Coaching 360. Sherri specializes in providing one-on-one coaching to professionals and executives who want to change, reinvent or advance their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Sherri offers personal one-on-one career coaching to professionals who want to change their career. Learn more: www.CareerCoaching360.com

Filed under bounce back, career change, change jobs, new career · Tagged with

Was this the year you were going to make a career change?

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on September 9, 2013 · Leave a Comment

One year from now, do you want to be doing the exact same kind of work you're doing today?

If not, then there are a few things you need to START doing, and a few things to STOP doing…

Stop going with the flow.

Stop working on mundane projects you can do in your sleep. Part of the reason you’re feeling under-utilized and under-valued is because you’re under-challenged. We weren’t meant to take a job and then stay there forever. We’re meant to stretch, develop, grow, bounce. Look for ways to step up and flex your professional muscles. When you stop learning and growing, your career will stall.
Stop taking setbacks personally.

Everyone experiences career setbacks. Everyone! If you’ve been a victim of a layoff, a demotion, a project that failed or didn’t get accepted then get over it! Hanging on to feelings of rejection, embarrassment or anger isn’t helping you. You only think other people care about your setback, but seriously, they’ve moved on and you need to, too. It’s not the setback itself that is holding you back, but how you’re internalizing it.
Stop being “small.”

If you think that being humble and shy will help you be successful, think again. When somebody offers you a big juicy project or a spot on a high profile team – grab it! Saying things like, “Oh, I don’t know if I’d be the best choice for that,” or, “I don’t know if I have the right experience to do that” will keep you sitting on the bench. You’ve got to step up, be bold and put yourself out there (especially if the new opportunity scares you!) Yes, finding new opportunities means taking risks – big bold risks that you won’t be able to take if you’re playing it small.

And here are a few things you'll need to start doing…

Start talking about what you want to do.

Start describing the types of responsibilities and the kinds of projects and teams you want to work on. If you don’t have a crystal clear vision, then at least start talking about the type of work you enjoy doing. By simply having these conversations with your manager, colleagues, and those in your network can lead to new career paths and opportunities.
Start claiming your space.

Put your expertise out there by showing others you have something to say through presentations, articles, coaching others and speaking up in meetings. Don’t be a shrinking violet, but instead, have confidence, be bold and voice your technical opinion. So what if someone may not agree with you – that just makes it a more interesting conversation. 🙂 Successful executives and professionals constantly put themselves “out there” – that’s why they’re successful. Don’t shy away or back up, but instead step up, speak out and claim your space at the table.
Start charting your course.

Go find people working in different industries and job roles. Ask them about their responsibilities, education, training, challenges and career paths. Get connected to those who inspire you. Give yourself permission and time to explore all possibilities. That doesn’t mean that you have to accept every opportunity that comes your way, but you at least owe it to yourself to learn what else is out there so that you can get ready for your next career move.

Successful professionals aren't successful because they let things “happen.” Instead, they make things happen in their career. They figure out what they want, take some risks, stretch, grow, fall down, learn and bounce. Don't let someone else take the wheel on your career path. Step up and make things happen. It's your career and your year! 🙂

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist. She teaches others how to think differently and more proactively in their career. Her book, ”The Bounce Back” is the 2013 winner of “Best Career Book” by Indie Book Awards for independent book authors. Her first book is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a powerful personal brand.” As the Founder/President of Career Coaching 360. Sherri specializes in providing one-on-one coaching to professionals and executives who want to change, reinvent or advance their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Filed under career change, new career · Tagged with

Are You Ready For a New Career?

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on May 19, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Are you thinking, “I need a new job!”
Are you thinking it every day?

Do you dream of starting a fresh, new career where you feel challenged, fulfilled and energized? Where you can flex your professional muscles and be valued for your expertise? Or maybe reinventing yourself into an entirely new job role or industry where you’re doing something completely new and different?

Maybe you’ve been pushing away that thought because it seems impossible, or overwhelming, or maybe because you simply don’t know how to change your career?

I’ve successfully reinvented my own career four (4) times and I fully believe that life is way too short to stay in a meaningless job where you’re unfulfilled, unchallenged and under-valued.

As a leading career coach, the #1 biggest question I get asked is, “How can I reinvent my career without decreasing my salary?” Each time that I reinvented my career, I received anywhere between an 8% – 32% salary increase. A client of mine, Matt, just reinvented his career from being a manager in the TV industry to becoming a manager in high tech, and he received a 17-percent pay increase.

So how did we do it?

Reinventing your career means repackaging your skills, qualifications and successes so that you can transition into a new job role, company or industry. It takes a strong vision, a solid plan, and someone who can coach you through your transition, but yes, it is possible! Below are four steps I take with my clients to teach them how to reinvent their career –

Identify your transferable skills.

If you’ve been working for at least five years, then you have transferable skills. These are skills that transition from industry to industry, or from job role to job role. Examples include: managing projects, teams, clients or budgets, as well as negotiating contracts, helping a company generate revenue, save money, or gain market share.

Other transferable skills include personal characteristics such as demonstrating leadership, mentoring or training others, risk taking, being goal driven, results oriented, a problem solver, or having the ability to influence senior managers. These are great skills to have, and they transfer from industry to industry. All kinds of industries and companies value employees with these types of skills and characteristics.
Match your transferable skills to job roles.

Read job descriptions posted on Indeed.com, CareerJournal.com, CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com, as well as business journals and industry-specific websites. If you want to work for a specific company then check out their website’s on-line job postings. Learn the skills and qualifications required for various job roles.

Then, match your transferable skills to those jobs you want to go after. If there’s a gap between the required skills and the skills that you currently have, then look for ways to gain that experience such as taking on an extended assignment in your current job, or if you’re in between jobs then try freelancing, consulting, or volunteering.

Also, attend industry conferences, trade shows, business networking events and association meetings. Talk to people who work in the industry to learn about their career path, key skills, and advice on how to break into the business.
Blow up your resume.

The first thing I always did before I transitioned into a new career was blow up my resume. Trying to piece together a resume that highlighted the skills I used to get my last job with the skills I needed to land my next job was like trying to weld together Lexus parts on a BMW. It doesn’t work. You need a brand new resume.

Hiring managers don’t care about every job you’ve ever had. They just want to know, Can you do their job? In order to get noticed you’ll need a clean, polished and professionally written resume.
Attitude is the key ingredient!

I’ve found that getting a new job really boils down to two things: confidence and passion. I’ve never walked into an interview having met all of the job requirements. In fact, for the television interview, I lacked the two biggest requirements which were a minimum of two years experience in television, and a reel to show my TV work.

There’s a kind of quiet confidence that we all have down deep inside. A confidence that comes from knowing what we’re capable of doing. When you transition into a new job role or a new company, you need to show the hiring manager that you have confidence in yourself and know that you’ll be successful in the job. When it comes to reinventing your career, it’s not just your skills and talent but your attitude that counts!

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and award-winning author of the “BEST CAREER BOOK of 2012” by Indie Book Awards for independently published book authors for her book “The Bounce Back – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback”. She also authored, “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand” – which is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books. Sherri is the President and Founder of Career Coaching 360 which provides resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching packages for executives and professionals who want to change their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Filed under career change, change jobs, job search, new career · Tagged with

3 Clever Ways to Create More Career Opportunities

Posted by Career Coach Sherri Thomas on April 14, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Who is really responsible for your career?

Who is the decision maker?

Who is the driver?

You are.

If you’re in a career that fills you with small-ness, resentment, anger, boredom, regret or frustration, then it’s time to ask yourself two questions… “How much longer will I accept this situation?” And, “What can I do to change it?”

Well, I can’t help you answer the first question, but I can give you some ideas and suggestions for the second question. 😀

I believe that we are all the architect of our own career and we each have the ability to create a career that gives us meaning, purpose and joy. In order to do that, you must become a rainmaker for yourself. In other words, you must master the art of creating and identifying career opportunities.

There are three kinds of opportunities you’ll need to master –

1. Banked opportunities.

These are opportunities that land in your lap and you say, “Yes, please!” These are gifts that you willingly accept and cash in such as a new job, promotion, higher paycheck, or an opportunity to lead a bigger, higher profile or more exciting projects and teams. These are the opportunities you’ve worked so hard for, and then one day, they plop down in your lap. These are the most popular and eeeeeasiest kinds of opportunities to receive.

2. Deflected opportunities.

These are opportunities that land in your lap and you say, “Nope.” An opportunity comes knocking and without blinking an eye, you’ve all-too-quickly assessed that you’re too busy, too inexperienced, or too unworthy… or that the assignment is too big, too intimidating or too off-your-radar to accept it.

Twice I turned down a promotion when I was a disc jockey at a radio station in Monterey, California to become morning show host because it terrified me and I didn’t think I was good enough. I made a deal with my mentor that if the General Manager asked me a third time, I would take the promotion. Fortunately, he did. And fortunately, I did. What a wonderful, beautiful, awesome experience it was.

Three times I foolishly turned down a volunteer position on the national council of the American Marketing Association because I didn’t think I had time. I finally accepted, and that amazing position turned out to give me the leadership skills and marketing expertise I needed to land my 6-figure job at a high tech Fortune 100 company.

Stop selling yourself short and wasting your opportunities by saying “no” because they don’t fit in your ridiculously tight career box. Open up the top of your box. Give yourself breathing room to stretch, grow and learn. Maybe the universe does have a better plan for you. Maybe the universe is your biggest cheerleader and trying to give you opportunities to advance. Stop saying “no”, and re-train yourself to say “yes.”

3. Hidden opportunities.

These are opportunities that are there for you – but you must go find or create them. These are the most missed opportunities of all.

Today, I’ve been working at a Fortune 100 company for 13 years and recently my department went through a grueling re-org. My boss left the company, her boss left the company and many of my peers left. My world was crumbling. I found myself in quicksand and sinking fast. The only way I could find another internal job and get the recommendations I would need in order to stay with the company, would be to reach out to my internal network and ask for help. It felt embarrassing to send out a note asking for help. But after I did, within 48 hours I received 2 job offers, 3 leads, and 2 letters of recommendation. I wouldn’t have received anything if I hadn’t reached out and asked for help.

In my recent book, “The Bounce Back”, Cindy Hoyme talks about how she reached out to her network when she needed a new job. Within 3 weeks she had 4 job offers. Would she have had those job offers if she hadn’t asked her contacts for help? No. She possibly, may have found other job leads, but without the recommendations from her network, it’s highly unlikely she would have been hired.

Vid Vidyasagara talks about how he went from being a stagnated, under-challenged project manager to becoming a Sr. manager by asking if he could join two high-profile programs. Would he have received a promotion had he not volunteered for bigger, higher profile projects? No.

A client of mine, John, created and sold his vision of a new career path for him and his team to Sr. leaders where he works, and now he’s on his way to more promotions, advancement and a higher paycheck. Would this have happened had he not met with Sr. leaders? No.

Hidden opportunities are around us all the time. ALL THE TIME. They just require a little extra work. They require that you to do a little hunting and digging to seek them out. If you’re looking for a job have you reached out to your network to ask for job leads and recommendations? If you want a promotion have you stepped up to take on more responsibilities and lead higher profile projects? If you’ve reached the top of your career path inside an organization have you tried negotiating with Sr. managers to create a new or extended career path?

Never let your career stall. Instead, step up and take control. Go find your hidden gems. Go collect all those opportunities that are yours to find and keep. Get your BOLD on, and start mastering the art of banked, deflected and hidden opportunities. Once you do, your cup will runneth over 😎

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Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and best-selling author of the award winning book “The Bounce Back – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback” and “Career Smart – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand” – which is on AMAZON’s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding books. She is also President and Founder of Career Coaching 360 which provides resume help, interviewing support, and personal career coaching packages for executives and professionals who want to change their career.

For a limited time, you can download the three FREE chapters of “The Bounce Back” at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

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So how did we do it? And how can YOU do it?

Identify your transferable skills.

Match your transferable skills to job roles.

Blow up your resume.

1. Know what you want.

2. Shake things up internally.

3. If you can’t get what you want internally – go external.

Want 3 simple tips to help you make a faster and easier career change?

Think Up, Down and Sideways.

2. Create a strategic job search plan.

3. Work your NetWORK.

Your Assignment… Create your “job search strategy.”

Need a little help with your career change?

Check out some of these popular resources to help you reinvent and re-brand yourself…

Brand new “Six Week, Six Step Career Change Program”

“Career Change Boot Camp Program”

New book, “THE BOUNCE BACK – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff, re-org or career setback”

Book, “CAREER SMART – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand”

First, many companies may still have budget left for 2103.

Second, companies want to gear up for 2014.

Third, there is less competition.

Stop being so humble.

2. Frame your story in a positive way.

3. Don’t take yourself out of the game because you fumbled.

One year from now, do you want to be doing the exact same kind of work you're doing today?

Stop going with the flow.

Stop taking setbacks personally.

Stop being “small.”

Start talking about what you want to do.

Start claiming your space.

Start charting your course.

Are you thinking, “I need a new job!” Are you thinking it every day?

So how did we do it?

Identify your transferable skills.

Match your transferable skills to job roles.

Blow up your resume.

Attitude is the key ingredient!

Who is really responsible for your career?

Who is the decision maker?

Who is the driver?

You are.

1. Banked opportunities.

2. Deflected opportunities.

3. Hidden opportunities.

Think you don’t have any career options? Think again.

Know what you want.

2. Shake things up internally.

If you can’t get what you want internally – go external.

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Are you thinking, “I need a new job!”
Are you thinking it every day?