How To Tell Your Friends And Family About Your Career Change

How To Tell Your Friends And Family About Your Career Change Expert Advice > How to build your support team How To Tell Your Friends And Family About Your Career Change * Newly Updated There's no escaping it â€" at some point, you're going to have to 'come out' as a career changer to your friends and family. And what they think and say (or don't think and don't say) can have a huge impact on the way you feel about your shift. So how do you do it? Natasha shares the seven things you need to know when you break the news. “Hell is other people.” â€" Jean-Paul Sartre Finding fulfilling work can feel like an incredibly lonely journey. What are you going to do next? What will make you happy? How are you going to get there? Where should you look? You have to figure all this out, and it's up to you to make it happen. But inevitably, it's not all about you. At some point, your shift has to be shared. And telling your friends and family that you're making a major, potentially risky change to a fundamental aspect of your life can be scary. What will they think? What will they say? Once you've said it out loud, there's no going back. You don't want to be judged, and you don't want to be seen to fail. A supportive community is absolutely fundamental to a successful shift. But you can't always be sure of how the people in your life will react. Here's what you need to know before you break the news. 1. Cherry-pick your cheerleaders At some point, you're going to share your shift with everyone in your life. But who you tell, and when, can be crucial. An ill-timed derisive sneer or upset outburst from someone you care about can derail your entire shift. On the other hand, a small, hand-picked, supportive community can be the difference between giving up and making it to the finish line. “Initially, I told friends and family I wanted to do something different, but didn't yet know what. Bad move! It opened up the floodgates to unsolicited suggestions (which made me even more confused), and people asking me every time I saw them if I knew what I wanted to do yet (super-frustrating). “Most of the people around me were quite conservative and risk-averse, meaning that their mindset was 'make a plan, do the logical route, know what you're doing before taking action, don't take a risk'. In the meantime, I was feeling pulled to make a wild leap and make things up as I went along. “Eventually I told people: 'I've decided to stay where I am for the moment and might think about changing later', purely to get them off my back and give myself some headspace, while quietly working away on my shift in the background. “In the end, I didn't actually tell people about my change until I'd made it. Our coach Sonia has a great phrase: 'Sometimes it's best to only let them know once the horse has bolted'. That worked for me in my case.” â€" Sab, Careershifters Start with one person who you know will be supportive, and who can be objective about the conversation. Although your partner or spouse might be your default go-to-guy / girl for everything that flickers through your mind, they also have a lot invested in this decision â€" they're not always the best person to tell first. Then, be choosy about who you share your journey with. Just because someone's in your life doesn't mean they need to know everything about what you're up to. Hand-pick the most supportive people you know, and then choose to share the rest of your journey on a need-to-know basis. There will, of course, be people who aren't so positive about your shift but who you have to tell â€" maybe your parents are particularly risk-averse, for example. Leave this group out of the news until you're clear about where things are going. As your plans clarify and solidify, you'll have more confidence in your decision and be able to navigate the trickier conversations with greater ease. “Most people were glad, even jealous (in a good way) to hear I'm making an active change, but that's also because I chose to tell people whom I knew would be supportive, or generally have an optimistic disposition. I'd say keep the doubters and small-minded ones until you are pretty certain and confident, when you can take their unhelpful comments on the chin and shake them off.” â€" Anna, Career Change Launch Pad participant Not only will you be doing yourself a favour, making sure you have the greatest chance of a supportive community around you at every step, you'll also be saving the other people in your life a lot of discomfort. 2. Know your 'why' Why are you telling the person you're telling what you're telling them? Is it just to notify them of a change in your life? Is there something you want them to do? What would be the ideal outcome of the conversation? Sometimes we go into conversations with expectations that are hidden, even to ourselves. And then when we don't get what we want, we become disappointed or accusatory. Knowing what you want or need from someone will have an impact on when and how you tell them about your career change. Letting them know why you're having this conversation with them will also help them to give you what you need. “When I told my best friend about my career change, I ended up getting really angry. In fact, I went home early from our night out because I didn't want to snap at him. It put a bit of a dent in our friendship for a good few months. “I was trying to ask for his support, for him just to be there for me and listen to how I was feeling. But he kept trying to coach me and solve my problems, and I really didn't want him to 'fix' me. If it was easy to fix, I'd have done it myself. It made me feel stupid and useless, and like he wasn't really listening. “Looking back, I realise he really was just trying to be the best possible friend to me. I just hadn't told him what I actually needed.” â€" Aimee, subtitler and digital nomad 3. Listen first, talk later When you share something as personal and ground-shaking as a career change, particularly if you've been thinking about it quietly for a long time, it's tempting to open the floodgates and let everything come out. But a high-speed freight train of emotions, expectations and fears is unlikely to form the foundation of a calm and productive conversation, particularly if you're coming out to someone who has a vested interest in your shift (whether it's practical or emotional). You've had a while to process your decision, but for them, it's a brand-new idea. If this feels scary to you, it probably feels just as scary for the people who love you. And for many people, the news that you're choosing to change your life in such a big way can bring up a whole host of uncomfortable emotions of their own. Your bravery might remind them of their own fears. Your decision may force them to examine their own decisions. And some of those thoughts might not feel so great. Give them time and space to express themselves before you unload too much. Come from a place of deep curiosity. Ask them questions. Dig into their reactions to better understand them. It's not always easy, but try to listen for what they're not saying as much as what they are. “You're crazy!” can also mean “I’m terrified for you.” “How could you throw all those years of hard work away?” can also mean “I wish I understood what you're doing but I just don't get it yet.” The first step to being able to help someone understand what you're doing is understanding where they're at first, calmly and lovingly. Use questions and statements like: “Tell me more about that…” “You're right. It could be risky. What scares you most about it?” “I can get why you feel that way.” “What else do you want me to know?” “I worry about that too.” “Can you explain that a bit further for me?” The more you can focus on understanding their world (rather than trying to convince them or defend yourself), the less likely you are to fall into knee-jerk emotional reactions and arguments. 4. Don't pre-play One of the biggest mistakes you can make in any potentially difficult conversation is to rehearse it in your head and bring those presumptions and fears with you. If you start a dialogue certain that your wife is going to be upset, you'll subconsciously turn the conversation in that direction. If you sit down with your friend knowing that they're going to tell you you're nuts, you'll have your defences up before you've even begun. Karen was a coaching client of mine who made this very mistake: “I took my dad out to dinner to tell him about my decision to leave the law. I told him as the main courses arrived and we were finishing dessert when he said to me: 'Karen, I don't have a problem with you wanting to make a career change. I think it's actually a very good idea, as long as we find a way to do it responsibly. Can you just calm down a minute?' “When I looked at his face I realised he was quite hurt by the way I was acting. “I'd been basically ranting at him for about 20 minutes, because I'd spent the previous two weeks gearing up for a fight. “But the fight never arrived, and I was already too angry to notice.” Show up curious, humble, and open to being surprised. 5. Give them a role to play Parents are often the most difficult people to tell about making a career change. No matter how grown-up you are, their thoughts and opinions still carry weight. Maybe theyinvested in your career financially â€" paid for you to go to university, or supported you as you climbed the ladder.And not only are they deeply interested in your well-being and happiness, they're also from an older generation, who had a very different attitude to work and careers. It's unsurprising that many of them panic at the news that their child is thinking about throwing in the towel on a career and making a big shift. Their job has always been to protect and support you, and here you are, talking about taking a flying leap into something they can't see, because of a feeling they don't fully understand. Scary stuff. Partners can also have a hard time hearing that the person they love is seeking a major change. After all, they want you to be happy. It's their job to help you to be happy. You're telling them you're not happy. And this… they can't fix this. The thing is, concern and fear often get mangled somewhere in people's brain-pipes, and come out as anger, dismay or disbelief. If you're not listening closely, you then go into defensive mode and end up driving home muttering to yourself about how you must have been adopted and people are just unbelievable, really. But if you are listening closely, you should be able to pick up on these badly expressed feelings of helplessness. And the best way to help the people you love feel less helpless? Give them a way to help you. “I completely understand that this sounds risky to you. It feels risky to me, too. And that’s why I’d love your help with something.…” Whether it's drawing up a financial plan, tapping into useful networks or having a weekly get-together for you to voice your most madcap ideas, there will be something that the biggest worriers in your life can do to support you. You might even need to give them a job that doesn't need doing, just so they can feel they're contributing. “I asked my sister to keep an eye on the job boards at the university where she worked. I only had a floating interest in working in higher education, but she's my big sister. She's always looked out for me, so she needed to feel like she had a part to play in a big decision like this. And the more she got into her 'job' for me, the more supportive she became. My success became her success, so she got on my side.” â€" Adam, Launch Pad participant 6. Show them that you're serious A lot of people are unhappy at work. A lot of people flirt with the idea of making a career change. Others (you might be one of them) spend months or even years talking about how much they hate their career. For friends and family, it can be hard to trust that now, things have changed. You're actually making a shift. Perhaps they don't mean to seem unsupportive, but they've heard this before. How can they be sure this isn't just another bad day? Find a way to make it clear that you're committed to the process, and help calm the concerns in their minds by offering evidence that you're taking care of potential problems. If you're reading blogs or books, tell them about that. If you're working with a coach or if you're joining a career-change course, tell them. If you've set yourself a timeline to hand in your notice, let them know. (You may also have to actually take one of these actions in order to tell them about it, which is no bad thing!) And more than anything, let your commitment keep you calm. The clearest way to let people know you're serious about a shift is not to get caught up in defensive dialogue or over-the-top reassurance. Just stay clear on what you're doing, and work through any concerns together with your nearest and dearest. “I think the first time my family realised I was serious was when I showed them my website. “I had no fear discussing it all with my husband, who knew from the beginning of my Careershifters journey that I wanted to make a change, but speaking to my dad about what I was doing was much harder. I knew he wanted 'more' for me, but by showing him I was committed to what I was doing and that it was paying off, I think he was satisfied. “For anyone else looking to make a change and wondering how to communicate it to friends and family, I would say that it's important to remember that only you can choose the life you live, and you don't have to justify it to anyone.” â€" Chloe, Launch Pad participant 7. Speak from the heart If you're prone to pre-playing, you may also be prone to trying to over-rationalise the explanation of your shift. There are probably a thousand reasons you want to change career, and a thousand thoughts and ideas flying around your head. But knowing the one, core, heartfelt reason behind it all will make a huge difference in the way you're able to communicate with your loved ones. Logic, reasons and rationalisations can all be debated â€" but your deep-down gut feelings are immovable. And ultimately, your friends and family want you to be happy. When you're worried about how people are going to react to something, it's easy to forget to just be honest. But by finding a way to speak from the heart, you're finding a way to connect with them on a deeply human level. “Most people I spoke to told me that if they were in my position, they would be more accommodating to what life had given them, happier with their lot. “However, when I started telling them about my volunteering in the garden and the theatre, they were pleased. “They could see my love of the theatre and my admiration of the historical ambience where the gardens are, and didn’t criticise it. When I tell them that I'm trying to change my life and find something I love doing, they all agree: in order to be productive and happy, you need to love what you do.” â€" Alex, Launch Pad participant There are all kinds of ways of having productive conversations and getting 'what you want' out of an interaction. But ultimately, what's going to have the most power and authenticity is simply being honest about where you're at and what you need. If your big 'why' is enough to move you through a career change, it's big enough to help other people understand. Image of girl running up stairscopyrightGesina Kunkel What are your fears about sharing your career change planswith your friends and family? How could you apply these principles above?Let me know in the comments below.

How to Get Resume Help Near Me

How to Get Resume Help Near MeMy resume help near me is the best place to get the resume writing you want. We pride ourselves on giving our customers high quality custom CV's. We specialize in creating your new professional cover letter, a standard in today's employment marketplace. We have helped thousands of people reach their career goals.Writing your cover letter is the first thing a potential employer will see when they look at your resume. If you don't write a great one, then you won't get any interviews or appointments. The main goal of your cover letter is to get your resume noticed. It will introduce you and your skills to the hiring manager. Here is how we help you.One way that you can begin to improve your chances of getting the job you want is to talk to a few friends who have had success in your field. This may seem counter-intuitive, but by talking to your current or former colleagues and managers, you can get a sense of what your potential employer would like to hear f rom you. This will give you some ideas on how to craft your letters. A professional resume should be easy to read and short and sweet. In addition, it should tell the hiring manager why they should hire you.Once you know how to get resume help near me, you need to contact several employers to find out what they are looking for. Do not send the same resume to all of them; each will probably be different. Find out what they are looking for, and send a resume that contains exactly what they want.After that, you need to learn to write a great resume. Most employers will not look at the resume alone; they will use the skills and experience listed on the cover letter as a basis for the interview. Start off with a list of questions in your hand before you start yourletter. They will probably be off the top of your head. But, if you get into their head, you might come up with some questions to ask and some answers that you can share with them.Thesaurus is an important tool to include in you r resume. You should look at the list you made earlier, and write down some of the words that may not make sense in that list. A word in the dictionary can help you remember an important word that is not included in the list. But, don't just put words in the dictionary; use it to find the definition.Use a thesaurus to help you find words and phrases that will serve as examples. Thesaurus can also help you prepare your resume for the hiring manager. First, you should try to write a description of your work. You will then need to put your experiences and skills into a summary that explains what you do and how you do it.How to get resume help near me will help you improve your resume from start to finish. You need to have a strong and concise cover letter, and you need to develop a great resume. You also need to focus on the job position you are applying for, and take a little time to understand what the company is looking for. If you take a little time to learn the process and get tip s and hints on writing a good cover letter, you will be on your way to a new career.

Getting Out of a Work Rut How to Accelerate Your Career and Move Up the Ranks

Getting Out of a Work Rut How to Accelerate Your Career and Move Up the Ranks You work harder than anyone else, and you know it. Youre always the first to come into the office, and the last to leave. You go above and beyond expectations, and your performance evaluation results are consistently stellar. In fact, you once saw your supervisor chatting with one of the higher-ups, and you could swear that, for a moment, he shot a meaningful glance in your direction. So why, oh why, are you still stuck in the same place you were three years ago? Why did the co-worker in the next cubicle get promoted, even though you two did the exact same things? Did that co-worker use voodoo on your boss or something? Maybe. But the more probable explanation is this: Your co-worker understood that it takes more than hard work and know-how to climb up the ranks. What it really takes to accelerate your career is to do the following: Set Your Sights on the Big Picture You know how they say that employees are mere cogs in the wheel? Dont buy that. Dont think for one second that your contributions dont matter in the grand scheme of things, because they do. Its just that, in your drive to get ahead, you forgot something crucial: In a corporate context, your boat will rise only if everyone elses boat does the same. Ditch the every woman for herself mindset. To quote ex-GE CEO Jack Welchs bestselling management book Winning: Change your job in a way that makes the people around you work better and your boss look smarter. Its fine to have career goals for yourself, but if youre serious about getting promoted a.s.a.p., you need to align at least some of those goals with your companys. Stay Alert for Opportunities Ernest Hemingway summed it up best when he said: You make your own luck. This might sound like a platitude, but its true: Studies have shown, time and again, that Lady Luck blesses those who have an optimistic attitude in life. If your current job doesnt have a clear path down the road, maybe its not for you. Take stock of your skills, experience and qualifications, and see whether they can be put to good use for other departments/divisions. Theres no point in staying where you are, if youre capable of flourishing somewhere else. Keep Educating Yourself Successful people are lifelong learners. Warren Buffett, for instance, spends 80 percent of his day reading and thinking. Keep in mind that this guy is already in his 80s! Then again, you might not have that much time to spend, especially if youre in hectic fields like healthcare. Still, it wont hurt to sign up for additional education and expand your knowledge base from there. Rub Elbows With the Right People What you know can only take you so far. At some point, youre going to have to acknowledge that who you know also matters to your success. In other words, you need to network. Identify the A-listers in your group: the ones who always take the lead, always have something valuable to say during meetings, and regularly get plum assignments. But be careful not to suddenly spring yourself on them. Remember that theyre smart enough to figure out if someone has an ulterior motive for schmoozing up. Instead, approach them the way you would a potential friend. If you bump into them in the water cooler/pantry, smile and introduce yourself. Start off your conversations on lighter topics (I like having two spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee. What about you?) before moving on to the more serious ones (Hey, have you heard about what happened to the MA department?). Keep your interactions nice and organic, so you can slowly but surely easy yourself into their social circle. Stay on Your Colleagues Radar Dont limit your network to your company. Start build your presence online by setting up a personal website, writing guest blog posts for sites in your niche, and establishing your expertise. Stand out by building a distinct personal brand, having something unique to say, and prioritizing quali  y over quantity. This way, you increase your chances of getting noticed, and nabbing opportunities you might not have even considered before. Prepare to Move to the Next Level Yes, a promotion is a feather in your cap. But it can also be a weight on your back, if youre not prepared for it. Know everything about the job youre gunning for. Ask the people who already have that job for tips and tricks. Develop the skills required for it, and get yourself a certification or two. If youre going to aim for something, youd better give it 100 percent. Otherwise, theres no point to aiming for it at all. Prepare to Move On Having a job is like having a relationship: Sometimes, you just have to accept that things just arent working, and that you need to let go. Its painful, of course. Youve already invested a lot into getting yourself promoted. The last thing you want after your trouble is to realize that its all for nothing. But if you continue to hold on to something that isnt getting anywhere, you risk missing out on better things. To paraphrase the business consultant Peter Drucker, Get good, or get out. If you find yourself losing motivation in the process of climbing to the top, take a step back and reflect on where you really want to go. If you forge ahead, no ones going to stop you. If you decide to shift gears, no one who matters will take it against you either. Youre the one in charge of your destiny, after all. Getting ahead isnt just a matter of working hard. Its also a matter of working smart. Keep your eyes peeled, your chin up, and your head firmly set on your shoulders. Before you know it, youll be standing outside the door to success, and everything will fall into place.

The Least Known Secret of Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Least Known Secret of Success - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Daydreaming is the least understood brain activity and yet it’s the most powerful source of success, according to research psychologists in the US, Europe, China and Japan. This cross-cultural finding that creativity and productivity blossom from daydreaming is especially interesting, because it is almost universally discouraged. For most of us, the priority at school and work is learning to focus our attention on tasks at hand, including school work, skill building and getting things done. With that emphasis, it’s easy to see why real success, creative solutions and innovation have come from a relatively small number of individuals who naturally go against the grain, or simply won’t follow the rules. It’s the daydreamers who naturally put together unusual bits of information, fantasy and inspired personal life goals. This mix is the magic amalgam that produces inventions, new processes and big answers to big problems. Positively distracted thinking is the source of solutions for big problems like water shortages, telecommunications problems, and economic hardship. Daydreaming also produces lifestyle enhancements like new forms of art, music and recreation. How rich is your imaginary life? If youre not used to the freedom and power of unleashing your imagination, heres some tips: 1. It’s important that you stay awake when you set your brain free. While it’s true that lots of specific problems are solved after a good night’s sleep, daydreaming produces richer complex ideas. Plus your brain finds personal meaning and motivation that gives you the “oomph” to find ways to implement what you’ve imagined. 2. Paradoxically, youll want to practice mindfulness because it is part of jumpstarting your daydreaming. Being able to control your attention or get into the zone when working is a way to gain mastery over your brain function. 3. After a “flow” session, where you’ve been productive, do something menial and repetitive to ignite your daydreaming. You might restock the beverages in the fridge, shelve books according to size, wash dishes, or do anything that takes almost no active thinking. That sets your mind free to associate and generate fresh ideas that unlock your personal desires and potential contributions at work or for your own project. 4. When youre ready to start, be sure to put yourself in the picture. Imagine your life goals, what youd like to accomplish long term, what youd like to be famous for, and what youd feel happy to be introducing to others. Of course, imagine a positive reception to you and your ideas. It turns out what seems like inattention or wasting time is actually the brain doing its best work. So ignore the desire or demand to constantly jump from one task to another, or do ten things at once. Take some time for daydreaming every day, and start raking in the rewards of real success.

How to Write an Incomparable Resume That Lowers Your Barriers

How to Write an Incomparable Resume That Lowers Your BarriersWriting an impressive resume is a matter of course for almost every job seeker. Most of us tend to forget the basics that it takes to write a resume properly. Some examples of the basic mistakes that we make include over-exaggerating, not including all the relevant details, and not reading through the entire resume.Most of us come across job listings and get advertisements in newspapers which boast of very high levels of salaries. Many of us dream of getting those salary figures but often times the chances of that happening are far from realistic.Too many job seekers put their hopes on very low levels of salary in applying for a certain job. Most often they would be disappointed when they get rejection letters. This often forces them to start looking for other jobs in search of higher-earning opportunities.On the other hand, a job seeker with a powerful resume can easily overcome any hurdle if they take the time to learn ho w to write an impressive resume. An impressive resume will impress the recruiters and prove a strong point for you as well. You will be lucky to land that ideal job and be able to meet your financial requirements. Your resume will become a valuable asset for you and help you attain the desired career.If you want to learn how to write an impressive resume, it is important to understand that resumes should be written with your best interests in mind. The resume will be used to present yourself as an employee who has the ability, experience, and willingness to contribute to the company's goals. Always remember that you must present yourself as an employer would want to know.Using too many words or too little is often considered a grave error and will stop a resume from getting the right amount of recognition. To avoid this, it is advisable to write the information that will be needed about your personal and professional experience and traits in the required detail. By following these t ips, you will learn how to write an impressive resume that would give you a good chance of landing a job. Don't forget to write all your details in the correct format. Remember that a decent resume has to be written in English.A very important section of your resume is the contact details. While you have to include your name, address, contact number, and email address, the contact details should be accurate. Also, your contact details should be based on your employment history and not on work experience. It is important to be specific about the position you are applying for so that the employer will have a chance to match you with the correct openings.A resume should be not only written in the English language but also in a clear and understandable manner. The recruiters want to know why you want to work for the company in which you are applying. The objective of your resume must be clearly understood by the company before giving you an interview.

Episode 012 The C.A.R.E. Podcast Experts Corner - Austin Belcak CareerMetis.com

Episode 012 â€" The C.A.R.E. Podcast â€" Experts Corner - Austin Belcak â€" CareerMetis.com Austin Belcak is the founder of CultivatedCulture.com, where he teaches people how to land jobs they love in today’s market without traditional “experience” and without applying online.His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, USA Today.evalAustin’s clients have landed job offers at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Uber, Deloitte, Accenture, Sequoia Capital, ESPN more.You can connect with Austin Belcak on the following platforms:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterFacebookEmailAdditional Resources:Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out his step-by-step breakdown of the process that has helped hundreds of people like you land amazing jobs at the world’s best companies (it’s free):Get 5 Free Strategies My Clients HaveUsed ToLand Jobs At Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple MoreWithout Applying Online

Who cares about your job title - tell me what you DO! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Who cares about your job title - tell me what you DO! - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog What do you do for a living? Whenever you meet new people, some variant of this question is bound to come up, and probably pretty early on in the conversation too. And heres something Ive noticed: When you ask people what they do, most people will give you their job title. As in Im an engineer or Im a project manager or Im a writer. Or consultant, speaker, software developer, manager, contractor, freelancer, secretary, or But thats not what you do thats just your title. It really says nothing about you or your job, so I always find myself asking follow-up questions. So what kind of projects do you manage. Some titles DO say what you do. If youre a pilot you fly planes. Teachers teach. Builders build. Coaches coach. But most titles are more ambiguous. So think about it for a moment. How much does your job title really say about what you do? And what would be a better way of telling people what it is you do in just a few words. Whenever people ask me, I always tell them that I make people happy at work. That is what I do. This may look like just semantics, but it matters. See, your job title is never going to make you happy at work, but knowing what you do, may. Knowing your contribution, how you add value, how you make a difference THAT can make you happy at work. So now its your turn. Think of what it is you do in your job and put it a comment here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

What to know about the hidden job market - Hallie Crawford

What to know about the hidden job market I found a column posting that helps to answer a very common question amongst career seekers: Why is there such a thing as a hidden job market?? The author, Matt Krumrie, has a great answer. Heres the first part of his answer: Recruiters certainly want to find the best fit for the jobs that are available, but the last thing they want to do is sift through 200 to 300 résumés by advertising every position they have open. Human resources departments are no different than other departments within an organization. Many are often understaffed, and many human resource personnel wear multiple hats. Hiring is only one aspect of their job. Read the rest of his answer here: http://www.startribune.com/jobs/career/96832544.html He gives advice on how to get in front of the hiring manager: Find out who the hiring manager is at companies you would like to work for even if they arent hiring for positions that fit your skills and experience. Try to make contact with them to introduce yourself and let them know about your background and experience. I have a client who recently found a company he really wanted to work for. At the time they werent accepting applications but he introduced himself to the hiring manager and spoke with her for a few minutes. A month later they had an opening and he filled out an application. He brought her coffee when he went in. She had remembered him from a month previously when they met, looked over his application and set him up for an interview. She also appreciated the extra touch of the coffee and they spoke a little about his application as they both drank coffee (pre-interview). Now when he goes in for his interview next week, he has already made a good first impression. If you need help with your job search, I recommend that you check our our Job Search Program for Professionals. Heres to having a career you love! Job Search Coach