Paul Allen, Career Coach with over 20 years of Coaching Graduating College Seniors to land the job that matches their Superpowers.

In my 30 plus years of hiring and coaching hundreds of talented individuals, including eighteen years as Founder and CEO of the Largest Sales Technology Executive search firm in the country, I recognize that my superstars all operate not just with intention but with intentional behavior that embraces strategic planning that helps them attain their dream jobs time and time again.

While I am adept at guiding my clients successfully through a carefully planned career path that directs them towards finding the ideal job that matches up with their unique and innate talent that I consider their Super- Power, making them visible and a standout during the application process is fundamental in turning their intentions into behavioral strategies for success.

My advice, as you plot out the planning phase of your job search is to embrace these 5 coveted secrets that great career coaches know are key to getting noticed during the hiring process:

Get mindful about your skillset, Top Career Assessments.

Those unique skills that you possess that come naturally to you. I usually tell my clients to, “slow it down to speed it up”, make every effort to get to know what makes you happy, what you consider your strengths, what you like/dislike, and the areas of industry that are most interesting to you.

Here is the good news; There are assessments available that help you gauge these attributes, and assess career possibilities in a more granular level, and in conjunction with your unique Super-Power. Understanding your own strengths and preferences empowers you to become more definitive and decisive when evaluating employer options.

Here are a few of my favorite online sites that provide easy access and are reasonably priced:  www.kolbe.com; measures your conative powers; how you act on your thoughts and feelings, why you do the things you do, and how you do them, for instance. The cost of this assessment is approximately $50 but is well worth it. I used it to hire and place thousands of candidates throughout the years.

Another Career Assessment I really like is the Clifton Strength finders assessment:  costing on average $40, this assessment provides you with 34 unique themes that help unveil your natural talents. Lastly, I highly recommend;  www.onet.org, this website is one of my favorites because it helps you explore a vast array of career options. I find the site to be extremely user friendly and full of options to help you become familiar with just about any career and/or job option imaginable.

Avoid getting dumped into the Human Resources Rabbit Hole:

Rather than taking the typical route and submitting your application through the traditional HR funnel, be bold and seek out the name of the higher ups; CEO, VP, Director(s), who are linked to your area of interest. Communicate directly with these individuals by submitting your resume and application to their inbox specifically.

It is helpful to include a concise and engaging cover message. When crafting your message ask for help from an experienced coach or search for helpful tips on google, as there are many examples of how to respond in powerful and memorable ways.  Chances are that if this person is impressed by your resume your opportunity to get noticed for an interview should increase substantially since few would deny a request if received from their senior management staff to interview someone of their choice.  *see next tip on Using Linked in to find your connections that you need to get to.

Maximize your LinkedIn visibility and access.

Aim to become an expert on LinkedIn, it is considered by many as the single most powerful tool to get to the right person. For starters, I highly recommend that you upgrade your account to Premium status. At about a cost of $50 per month, the Premium status is well worth having since it affords you access to message people who are not in your Linked in network.

Explore the expansive training options available on LinkedIn or talk to an expert who can help you master Linked in. Here is the Key, you must get proficient on Linked in. Employers consider anyone who’s not on Linked to be a ghost or non-existent in business, so Linked in should be your “go to” site for intel and connecting for job openings.

Make an impression with a clean and sleek LinkedIn profile.

Assuring that your information is accurate, accessible, and current on LinkedIn is essential as employers will likely go there first to validate your credentials and determine experience. The LinkedIn site provides a wide range of options to help guide you on best practices to create professional profiles.  Coaches are also available to help guide you if necessary. So, once you have achieved a significant level of efficiency and have mastered the power of connecting, you should have no problem scoring an interview appointment.

Creating an indelible first impression during your interview appointment

It’s Paramount to achieving a follow-up interview. Your next challenge will be to make a lasting impression during the interview process.  Chances are that the interview process will be conducted by phone or by video (Skype, Zoom, Etc.).

Be prepared, practice beforehand, work with an experienced recruiter/coach who can role-play and create mock interviews to help you gain the confidence and ease needed before the interview. This segment is essential because if you don’t get past the first interview call you will have little chance of landing the job. I can’t stress enough the importance of mastering the interview questions you will most likely encounter. Preparing to be authentic by delivering honest and positive responses is the first step towards impressing the interviewer. Practice, Practice, Practice!

Most of all, this is meant to be an adventure to a new chapter in your life, so enjoy the journey and you will get to your destination.

Paul is the creator of the “Crack your Career Code” Proprietary system that encompasses a unique 5 step process. We have every part of the process covered, so you can follow the roadmap with me and you working together to go from Possibility to Reality. I am with you all the way along the journey.

I have been doing just this my entire working life with over 30 years of hiring the most talented, mentoring them, leading organization with startups from 3 employees to 3,000 employees, curating my leadership experience with a Fortune 50 company to starting a Talent acquisition firm that became the largest search firm of its kind. I have lived my career dreams following my passion all along the way. I hope I can do the same for you.

Book a complimentary 30 Min session with me at   https://www.paulallencareercoach.com/contact/

Paul Allen,

From Possibility to Reality.