The Professional Pivot Blog
It’s time for you to take control of your career and chart your path for success! We hope to encourage and equip you on your journey through job search, career success, mindset matters and work-life harmony content.
New blogs are posted every other Monday.
Questions to Ask After Rejection During the Job Search
"Thank you for your interest in our ________ position but...." We've all been there. The canned reply that screams REJECTION. The truth is, in this digital age, we're exposed to way more rejection than ever before. Employers have made it easier and easier to apply, thus increasing the number of applicants... ultimately increasing the number of people who inevitably will be “rejected”
How to Request an Informational Interview
Informational interviews have the potential to play a powerful role in your career journey when used appropriately. You can save yourself lots of time and energy by gathering information about areas you’re interested in exploring from other knowledgeable professionals. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know to nail your next informational interview.
Finding a Job You Enjoy
One of the most common questions among professionals across the globe is “Can I really find a job I enjoy?” The answer is “ABSOLUTELY!” While there isn’t an exact step-by-step checklist you can follow to figure it out, I have put together a 4-part framework to get you moving in the right direction. The key is to RISE - review, identify, solidify and engage.
How to Create a Resume from Scratch in Less Than 2 Hours
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Today's resume is much different from the resume that worked 10 years ago. And the truth is, most people are still following those outdated practices and really just need to start their resume over - from scratch.
4 Networking Tips that Help You Take Command of Your Career Search
Listen, according to Hubspot, a staggering 85% of jobs are filled as a result of networking. Yet, many people still shy away from networking. Why? Because they feel sales-y about it. Or, they made a few connections online months ago, and nothing came of it. So they don’t see the value.
Here Are 5 Tips To Maximize Your LinkedIn Experience
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools for growing and maintaining your network. Whether you feel comfortable “marketing” yourself or not, having an optimized LinkedIn profile plays a vital role in your career. The thing is, LinkedIn is less about selling your professional profile through gimmicks and more about connecting with others and informing them about you.
5 Types of Skills You Need on Your Resume
Your resume isn’t meant to be a laundry list of your former job duties. The goal of your resume is to demonstrate the value you would bring. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure your skills are front and center! You may be thinking, “Which skills?” Rather than simply overloading your resume with fluffy terms like “team player” and “great communicator,” be sure to include the following five types of skills in your resume.
Yes, Cover Letters are Still a Thing. Here’s How to Write One.
Despite that “easy apply” button on some hiring sites (sorry, LinkedIn) think twice before blindly sending off your resume. Why? Tailoring your resume allows the employer to see your potential for the specific role they’re posting. To stand out, you need to avoid generalizing your skills. So, where does a cover letter come in? A cover letter, in addition to your resume, communicates how your unique combination of skills and experience makes you the best candidate.
Using the CARL Method for Answering Interview Questions
“I just love the interviewing process!” said no one ever 😅
Let’s face it. You find interviews uncomfortable because you’ve never been trained to prepare for an interview properly. While you may be able to fake your way through the standard questions like “Tell me about yourself.” and “What is your greatest strength?” There’s no faking your way through behavioral questions, and a lack of proper framing will have the interviewer tuning out 5 seconds into your response.
5 Keys to a Successful Career Change
Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? Making a career change can be terrifying because it involves risks. And the risk is not something we like to associate with our careers. After all, there are bills that need to be paid. Plus, women are often told as young girls to limit risk-taking, to be safe, and not get messy.
Here’s the thing - without risk, there is no growth. Without risk, there is no change. Without risk, there is no chance of achieving something greater.
Organizing Your Job Search For Success
Searching for a new job can be extremely overwhelming, especially when you aren’t properly organized. Some job seekers report spending as much as 40 hours a week dedicated to their job search alone. With millions of jobs opening each month, it’s important to approach the search with clarity and strategy.
4 Key Benefits of Networking
By now, you’ve probably heard that utilizing your network is vital in making a career move. But maybe you’re unsure of how to use your network. You may feel uneasy approaching the topic of seeking help or guidance in your career because it feels like a big ask. Plus, you’re too busy. And you just know they’re too busy. You’re not an extrovert, so you’ll never make the right connection.
Overcoming Procrastination During Your Job Search, 4 Tips to Try Now
Look, we’ve all been there. You sit down to work on your job search, update your cover letter, and tailor your resume to the job posting. But before you get started you check your e-mail one last time. Or you read through just a few posts on LinkedIn. Or you just keep finding one more thing to do first. Before you know it, the time you’ve blocked out for yourself is gone. So now what?
What’s Your Resume Personality?
Before you ask, no, this isn’t another quirky personality quiz that you pull from the pages of Cosmopolitan and do during your lunch break. While those are fun, those types of “personality assessments” are usually only good for a few laughs with your girlfriends and a couple of minutes second-guessing the accuracy of your horoscope.
3 Things To Consider When Making a Career Change
Whether it’s transitioning from your part-time job as a teen or switching companies to get that double-digit salary increase with more authority, making a career change is something you’ll likely experience at some point in your life.
7 Fearless Steps to Master Negotiation
Does your stomach turn at the mere thought of having to negotiate? Are you worried that you’ll make an offer they can refuse? Well, I have good news and I have bad news.
Bad news: Negotiating needs to be a regular practice during your job search.
Good news: This post will help you feel more prepared as you approach the conversation.
Updating Your Resume in 2022
So if you're anything like me, someone in your family probably helped you create your first resume and you've kinda just been going from there. Hey, we all have to start somewhere, but let's not stay there, okay?
Questions to Ask During an Interview
Do you know the true purpose of an interview? Many people assume that it is just the employer’s way of determining if they want to extend a job offer. The truth is, an interview is a two-way street, where both the employer and the candidate have something to prove.
What’s A Career Narrative And Why Is It Important?
"Tell me about yourself." What should be one of the easiest talking points often becomes a dreaded conversation topic because you don't know how to tell your career story concisely. Rather than simply listing off the roles you've held, and the companies you've worked for, thoughtfully crafting a career narrative allows you to tell your story, which is far more valuable than regurgitating your resume.
6 Ways to Increase Your Marketability
Whether you've got your eyes on a promotion or a new job altogether, marketability matters! In today's competitive professional landscape, it's important to set yourself apart from the growing pool of qualified candidates. Below are a few ways to do just that!