I often say, “Every minute of your life is an interview.”
That is because every person we meet is a potential link to a new opportunity. You know the saying, “It’s who you know….” This still holds true in today’s competitive job market. So, we all need to be ultra aware of the impressions we make and how well we convey the value we provide.
The first step is to develop a clear personal brand. Once my clients are able to articulate their unique value, we create networking strategies that match their personalities as well as their goals.
There are five levels of connecting that can be included in an effective networking and job search strategy:
- Doing YOU – Every day life activities in which you are out and about interacting with others.
- Social Media – LinkedIn, FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest.
- Professional Networking – Industry Associations, Career Fairs, Meet-Ups, Conferences.
- Volunteering – Supporting good causes and developing new skills.
- Career Research Conversations and Informational Interviews – A key part of the career counseling process is learning about new career paths, explore company cultures, and build bridges to new opportunities.
An effective networking strategy incorporates a blend of these different approaches. I help introverts and extroverts find authentic ways of connecting with people who share similar interests, goals, and values.
No one gets far on their own. We need each other. I consider networking a life skill much more than a job search tactic. I support my clients in not only expanding their networks but also in deepening connections – naturally and authentically.
Here is what clients are saying…
“I enjoyed working with Carrie. I felt comfortable with her from the very beginning; she’s very warm, supportive, and easy to talk to. She helped me retool my resume and linkedin profile after taking care to learn about my experience, skills and desires. I highly recommend working with her if you have the chance.”
Going in for meetings with Carrie was the best thing I could have possibly done for my education and career. With her tremendous help I was able to figure out what I wanted to do and how I needed to go about my career. I can’t possibly thank her enough for her crucial role in jumpstarting my career and getting me headed in the right direction.
Carrie was an informative, supportive and thoughtful guide during a time of career refinement. She served as a sounding board in assessing benefits and challenges of positions, reviewed application materials, prepared me for interviews and debriefed and supported decision-making. The mock interview coaching sessions were incredibly valuable to me.
As a recent graduate with my master's degree in biomedical sciences, Carrie and Pink Sky Career Counseling were immensely helpful in the process of landing my first "real" job. I was at a loss for how to apply for a position to start my career in such a specialized field. With little to no work experience, Carrie was able to help formulate my resume, cover letter and references, and manage my LinkedIn page as well as provide general career counseling. Thanks to Carrie's help and guidance I recently accepted an intraoperative neurophysiologist position for NuVasive in Minneapolis, MN. I could not have done it without Carrie's help. Long story short - I highly recommend Pink Sky Career Counseling for any career counseling you may need.
Not a day goes by that I don't thank Carrie in my mind on the way to my new job. Calling her was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Carrie is very intuitive, connected in the community, genuinely caring, and a master of her craft. Of course if you sign on for this, you have to dig deep and do things that are outside your comfort zone to get to where you want to be in life. But she held my hand all the way till the end and beyond. I cannot thank or recommend her enough.
I highly recommend Carrie. She did an amazing job helping me with my resume and providing valuable guidance in my job search process. I ended up being offered a great new job and wouldn't have gotten there without Carrie's assistance and support.
Carrie is amazing, I had a position open that I didn't know about until 4 days before it closed, just before the weekend. She went above and beyond to get it accomplished for me. I highly recommend working with her.
Carrie was fantastic to work with. She listened to what I was wanting and she produced a excellent product, responses to my resume increased and just recently landed a great job!