FAQs for Navigating Career Transitions
By Jenna Starkey and Erin Goodwin
A big part of my coaching practice is helping my clients navigate career transitions.
With the slow trickle of layoffs in the tech space and wonky employment trends (plus more people desiring alignment post-pandemic), it’s important to feel like you’re not alone while navigating the job-hunting terrain. I’d like to share my answers to a few FAQs to shine a light on my perspective as a Career Coach.
FAQ
1. What are your top resume tips?
Keep the layout simple (nothing fancy seriously) and stick to 7 bullets or less per section (The Muse has some solid templates).
Make it ATS (applicant Tracking Systems) friendly so your resume optimized for the software to read and scan (use Jobscan.co).
Use strong action verbs (see this The Muse article for examples of strong verbs).
Write bullet points with measured results that read like this: "Spearheaded x project which resulted in Y" (or ensured that Y happened.) See examples here.
2. I have just been laid off, how do I cope with this while also searching for my next role?
Layoffs are never easy and can be emotionally taxing. First, give yourself permission to rest, process what happened and refresh yourself before diving back into the job search, especially if you are feeling burned out. Hold yourself accountable by committing to a specific time frame for this reset period (2-4 weeks at least, if you can manage). Remember, we can’t pour from an empty cup.
Next, instead of putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect role, rather set aside time to be in discovery mode (potentially 2 weeks-3 months depending on your situation). During this time, explore new options and organizations, and find interesting people to talk to. This will open up opportunities to find roles and organizations that align with what you are looking for in places you may not have expected. If you would like some support deciding which job or industry is right for you, check out my blog post on finding the right job/industry.
Career transitions can be draining to say the least, so keep your energy tank full. During your rest period and time spent in discovery mode, prioritize filling your days with things you enjoy to keep your energy up. For example, spend some time in nature, go to your favorite coffee shop to send your networking emails, take walks to your favorite bookstore or park, go with your friends to see a movie, master the recipe for your favorite smoothie - anything that inspires and uplifts you! This will also positively affect how you write your applications, have conversations and conduct interviews.
3. I am returning to work after a career break. What advice do you have for navigating this transition?
If you're looking for a role, prioritize having curious conversations that inspire you. Reach out to people who work at organizations that sound interesting or have jobs you might be curious about. Reframe networking as simply "asking people for directions" - it will take the pressure off and give you energy to show up as yourself (rather than focussing your energy on networking “correctly“).
If you have already landed the job, prioritize your values and healthy boundaries as you head into your new role. This will set the tone for how you can be your best self.
4. What do you think about turning on the OpenToWork badge on my LinkedIn profile?
It all depends on the situation!
In my experience, keeping the OpenToWork badge on tends to clog inboxes with misaligned roles. Also (and this is up for debate), I believe the badge sends a slightly negative (desperate) signal to employers and hiring managers. Take it with a grain of salt, but I have found more folks landing better jobs without it than with it. Stay confident in who you are and lean on YOURSELF to do the outreach rather than relying on folks coming to you.
There are instance where turning your OpenToWork badge on can be useful. For example if the keywords and roles are EXACTLY what the recruiters are looking for, then it can make recruiters' job easier and help you match with them. Though in my experience this is less common.
In most cases I suggest keeping it turned off, but please please please trust what feels right for you.
5. Should I reach out to hiring managers if I find them on LinkedIn? If yes, do you have any suggestions on what to say?
It never hurts to reach out to people on LinkedIn if you have a clear reason for reaching out. For example, if you have your eye on a role and want to understand the way the team is structured. Recruiters and hiring managers tend to get overwhelmed by inbound leads, but I’ve also heard stories that this can work! It doesn’t hurt to try in my opinion. The times I DO see this working is if folks reach out from a place of curiosity and clarity, for example reaching out to someone within the team or company because you'd like to get to know them and learn about the company. Those leads tend to be easier to come by and can equally act as an internal referral.
6. What questions should I ask at the end of the interview?
Overall, be mindful of who is interviewing you in the moment. Here’s a great HBR article with some greater context. Below are my top suggestions for the hiring manager (as opposed to a recruiter):
What are the biggest challenges that I might face in this position?
What’s the most important thing I should accomplish in the first 90 days?
What are the most immediate projects that I would take on?
What does success look like this year?
Do you have any hesitations about me as a candidate? (Only ask this one if you can do so with confidence!)
7. Any other tips I should be aware of?
Use Claude as your personal assistant for researching companies or industries, updating cover letters and other random things like brainstorming interview questions.
The Muse is a one stop shop for all tips related to career, they have thousands of very useful and practical suggestions there.
Two career platforms that clients have been loving lately are Otta and Swooped. I encourage clients not to rely on LinkedIn and Indeed too heavily. It can create a lot of analysis paralysis, and we don’t want that do we? :)
Every situation is unique.
As always take what serves you and leave the rest. I hope these answers helped clarify or support you on your career journey, and if you would like more in-depth support, I would love to work with you! You can book a free discovery call to find out more about my coaching offerings, or book one of my A La Carte Career Coaching options.