Job Transition Anyone?

Are you in transition? You are not alone. It has been a reoccurring theme in the questions I have been asked this year. "I'm looking for a new job. What do you recommend? Where do I start?"

As a career coach, it is a blessing to be able to come alongside someone and help them on their journey, from transition to success.

Have you heard the saying, "network, network, network?" There is definitely truth to that. Sometimes networking comes through friends we know, but other times it can come through new connections. Every connection we make can be a lead to a job.

I have a friend who graduated and got married. Her husband was looking for a job for a year without any success. One day there was an opening at her brother-in-law's company and he was able to get her husband a job at his company. Finally!

When we are in transition, it feels very uncomfortable, and it's not fun or easy. Always stay focused on God and His plan for you.

If you have an idea of what you want to do, great! Research companies that you would like to work at. Don't limit yourself to job search engines. Keep every angle open. LinkedIn has a feature where you can see where your connections are working and check out jobs in those companies. Reach out to your LinkedIn connections. Look at jobs where your connections are working or ask if they know of any job openings. They may know of job openings that have not even been posted. If you see a job you like or want to get your foot in the door, ask for an informational interview. You never know where that might lead. Even if you don't get a job out of an informational interview, ask them for another lead.

There is no template that fits everyone. A career coach is helpful in this process. If you don't know what your interests are, take an assessment, such as StrengthsQuest to help you discover some of your strengths. Create a vision board of your dreams or where you see yourself 10 years from now. Ask yourself, "What have been some of the things I've enjoyed doing in my previous jobs?" Then, look at sites like, Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn and research different jobs that sound good to you. One job search will lead to another. Then, research those organizations or industries to see what's out there. You'll even find jobs and organizations you are interested in all around the globe, such as hotel or automobile industries.

Here are some practical steps, if you want some solid steps to get you started:

1. What are the skills you are good at? Write down everything you've done, such as jobs, volunteer experience, clubs and organizations, to help you identify both, what you like and what you are good at. If you are unsure or need some help in this area, take some assessments or get a career coach.

2. Research careers, companies, and industries you'd like to work at using LinkedIn and job search engines, such as Glassdoor and Indeed, as well as going directly to the company site, where you can also click on the careers link!

3. Write down your career goals to help keep you on track. Creating a vision board can also inspire and motivate you to reach your goals!

4. Update your résumé, tailored specifically to the job you are applying to. If you don't, you probably won't get an interview.

5. Google yourself and make sure that your social media presence presents you in a good light to potential employers.

6. Network! Network! Network! Between 60 to 70% of jobs are found through connections.

7. Prepare for the interview by researching the company and practicing common interview questions. Make sure to dress for success and don't forget, it's important that you ask the employer questions to show that you have done your research on the company and that you are serious about working there. It's also important to ask when you can expect to hear back about the job.

8. Follow up immediately after the interview with an e-mail and with a handwritten thank you card. If you don't hear back from the company within the allotted time, take the extra step and follow up with a phone call.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6