Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post Podcast Ep48: Rejection, Resilience & Reinvention: How to Thrive in Your Job Search with Gabor Bukovinszky appeared first on Letz Create.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post Podcast Ep47: LinkedIn Strategies Every Job Seeker Needs to Know with Karen Hollenbach appeared first on Letz Create.

You may have heard the term “It’s not what you know,’ it’s who you know”? While this may seem a little unfair, particularly if you know you are the right candidate for a role, it can indeed be the reality of job search. There is a hidden job market where up to 70% of jobs are not advertised. These roles are most commonly filled through referrals and networks. Hence the importance to build your network, build genuine connections and nurture professional relationships. You want to be sure that YOU are front of mind when someone is recruiting or requesting referrals for job applicants from trusted sources.

The Power of Networking for Job Search

Networking can be one of the most powerful tools in your job search toolkit and starts with a mindset and intention to discover, explore and be open to what you may encounter. Networking requires time and effort and my recommendation is to approach it with a genuine desire to build meaningful connections and contribute to the professional community. It’s also about helping others, as much as it is about helping yourself.

When done correctly, networking for job search can help you obtain leads, referrals, advice, information and support to make it easier for you to find a job because:

• People are more likely to introduce you to their circles, interview and appoint you if they know and trust you as it reduces risk for them.
• Job listings tend to draw piles of applicants which put you in intense competition with many others.
• The job you want may not be advertised at all! 70% of all jobs are not advertised and are searched through networks initially.

10 Tips for Effective Networking

To help you network and potentially secure your next job opportunity here are 10 tips for effective networking. When followed and done consistently you will find that you can effectively grow your network, elevate your personal brand and enjoy the process!

1. Develop a Contact List

It’s my experience that most people know more people than they think. Start by making a list of your friends, colleagues (past and present), neighbours, community, past employers and reach out to them. There are a variety of ways to do this, which I explore in the following tips.

2. Be Clear with Your Intention

Everyone is busy these days, so it’s important to be clear about why you want to speak with your contact and how long you may need from them. Some people may be happy to catch up for a coffee, others may prefer a brief phone chat. It’s about asking the right questions and being clear that you’d like their opinion and views based on the information you need from them. For example, there may be a specific person you’d like them to introduce you to, they may work in a specific industry you’d like to learn more about, or they may be employed in a job role you’d like to explore further.  They may have specific information about current employment opportunities, the market and what opportunities really exist.

3. Focus on Building Relationships

Focus on building relationships and investing time (and maybe also the cost of a coffee or meal) in sharing with your contacts where you are at and what specific information you’d potentially like from them.

By being authentic and specific about your intentions as well as considerate about their potential time constraints, and offering to help them in any way you can, you are likely to uncover important information from your contacts in your job search. The goal may also be for them to keep in you ‘in mind’ if they hear about potential job openings or opportunities relevant to your skills and experience. But it’s not about asking them for a job! See the next tip to explain what I mean.

Relationships are a two way street and it’s therefore important for you to be considerate and ask your contacts how you can also help them if they’ve been kind enough to give you their time and knowledge.

4. Ask for Guidance Not a Job

Your contacts represent a wealth of potential information that can assist you. It’s more powerful to position the conversation around how they could help you, or what guidance or advice they may can provide, based on their experience, position and industry knowledge, rather than asking if they can help you get a job where they work.

5. Have a Strong Pitch

In networking conversations it’s essential that you’re able to clearly communicate your strengths, achievements and experience. Be proud and enthusiastic about what you’ve done and talk about it, because you are your greatest ambassador!

This is definitely the area many people struggle with, because it’s not our natural tendency to promote our own self worth. While I understand you’d prefer your results, resume and LinkedIn profile to do the talking for you, networking for job search is all about being able to clearly and confidently articulate your strengths and preferences.

If you need help in this area, I offer 1:1 sessions to help build your confidence and practice your pitch when you are approaching a networking conversation for this purpose.

6. Use LinkedIn to Grow Your Connections

In some cases, LinkedIn may be the first point of contact for re-connecting with the contact list you developed in step 1, developing a contact list.  LinkedIn is so much more than a platform to apply for advertised roles. It’s also a professional networking platform that helps you stay front of mind with your connections and build new ones.

I encourage you to leverage the messaging function of this platform and make sure you are connected to EVERYONE you know.  Connect, build relationships and then ask for support.

7. Be Ready to Network Anytime, Anyplace and with Anyone!

I have many stories I share with my clients about the curious places I’ve had networking conversations. The most recent was on a train, when I observed a fellow passenger (who I did not know) who was looking a little glum. I initiated a conversation, asking if she was okay, and we ended up having a lovely chat about a recent job interview (which she felt she’d bombed out in) and I offered her some tips for the next one.

You never know where and when your next opportunity will come from and so I encourage you to be curious and have a genuine interest in those around you, in any given situation you find yourself in. Even on a train!

8. Attend Networking Events

There are so many opportunities to attend networking events in Melbourne. MeetUps, seminars, workshops, industry events and networking events are readily available in your area and discoverable via online searches. Take the time to attend relevant networking events you are building your knowledge of the industry you want to work in, building your connections and creating potential opportunities for yourself. It’s also a great place to practice your pitch and develop industry and market intelligence that may just help you in a future job interview.

9. Recognise You Will Have Good Days and Bad Days

The reality is that not all people will respond to your request to help, and that’s okay. Most people are very busy and doing their best to keep all of the balls they are juggling up in the air. Don’t let anyone’s reluctance to help deter you or slow down your momentum.

Keep going! Persistence, being curious and having a sense of humour are vital ingredients for successful networking.

10. Be Grateful and Offer Thanks

I’m confident that if you follow the tips I’ve suggested, then you’ll be well on your way to opening new doors and securing your next job opportunity. You’ll also learn a lot about yourself and others along the way. Once your job search is over, please remember to thank the people that helped you in the networking phase of your job search. And you might even like to pay if forward for someone else!

Never Stop Networking

Don’t forget that networking is an ongoing process and should not be limited to times when you are only actively searching for a job. Cultivating relationships and nurturing your professional network regularly can provide long-term benefits and open doors to future opportunities. You never know what opportunities might present themselves to help you further your career.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post A Guide to Networking for Your Next Job appeared first on Letz Create.

As the largest professional networking platform, LinkedIn can be a powerful tool in your job search. You need to be proactive and strategic in your use of the platform to make the most of it. Here are four tips to help you use LinkedIn proactively when networking for job search.

1. Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile

The first step in using LinkedIn proactively for job search is to optimise your profile. Your profile is your online professional identity and the first thing recruiters and hiring managers will see when they search for potential candidates. Make sure your profile is up-to-date, complete, and showcases your skills and experience.

Your headline and summary should accurately reflect your professional background and career goals. Use keywords relevant to your industry or job target to help recruiters find you easily. Highlight your achievements and skills, and include a professional-looking headshot.

Activate the ‘open to work’ feature and detail the types of roles you are looking for and the geographic locations where you’re available to work. Also add endorsements for your skills by asking former colleagues or connections to endorse you for skills that you want to showcase. This can help boost your credibility and increase your visibility in LinkedIn searches.

2. Reach Out to Colleagues, Potential Employers and Recruiters

The second step to using LinkedIn proactively is to build a targeted network. Focus on connecting with people who can help you achieve your career goals. This includes colleagues, alumni, mentors, industry professionals, and recruiters.

You can ask someone to join your professional network by sending them an invitation to connect. If they accept your invitation, they’ll become a 1st-degree connection. When inviting members to connect, I generally always recommend you send a personalised note to introduce yourself or add context to your relationship. When sending connection requests to people you know, use a familiar tone and reference mutual work or social experiences.

Before reaching out to potential employers, or recruiters, make sure you have a clear goal in mind. Having a clear goal will help you focus your message and make it easier for the person you are reaching out to respond. This could be to learn more about a specific company or role, to request an informational interview, or to ask about potential job openings.

LinkedIn reports that some LinkedIn members have conveyed that they don’t like receiving invitations from people they don’t know, and that they will often ignore or mark those invitations as spam. It’s therefore essential that when reaching out to potential employers and recruiters, you personalise your message and explain why you are interested in the company or role. Don’t just copy and paste a generic message to every connection or potential employer you come across. Take the time to research their background and understand their professional goals and interests. This will help you tailor your message to their specific needs and interests.

Be professional and polite, using proper grammar and spelling, addressing the person by name, and avoiding slang or informal language. Avoid using a pushy tone in your message. Instead, focus on building a genuine connection and expressing your interest in their organisation or role. Remember, your goal is to build a relationship and not to come across as desperate!

When crafting your message, make sure you are clear and concise about why you are reaching out. Explain who you are and why you are interested in connecting with them. Highlight your relevant experience and skills, and how you can add value to their organisation. Don’t forget to express your gratitude for their time and consideration.

3. Alternatives to Sending Invitations to Connect

If you do not feel comfortable sending invitations to connect to people you do not know, or you have a free LinkedIn membership and there are some restrictions on the invites you can send, there are other actions you can take. Here are two alternative and free ways to network with others, rather than inviting someone to connect:

• Follow someone to see the updates and new content that they share in your feed, and establish familiarity by interacting with their posts.
• Find and join a group that’s relevant to you, so you can meet other professionals with similar interests.

4. Engage with Your Network

As you build a targeted network, it’s essential to engage with them regularly. This means liking, commenting, and sharing relevant content related to your industry. If you feel nervous about posting your own content, that’s okay. Instead, clean up your newsfeed by following relevant industry leaders and organisations and re-post their updates with your thoughts, or comment on their updates.

This activity is visible to your connections and hiring managers and recruiters who may be viewing your profile and helps you stay top of mind with potential employers and recruiters. It also allows you to build relationships with other professionals in your industry and can lead to valuable connections and opportunities down the line.

Keep in mind that while LinkedIn is a valuable tool, it’s not a magic bullet and relationships are built over time. Be patient and remember that networking takes time and effort. With a curious nature and a proactive and strategic approach, you can use LinkedIn to make valuable connections and take your job search to the next level.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post How to Leverage LinkedIn as Part of an Effective Job Search & Networking Plan appeared first on Letz Create.

In this podcast you’ll hear from Gabor, a transformational coach, who helps individuals and business owners create a successful mindset for life. The events of 2020 had a profound impact on everyone worldwide. It affected our mindset, our feelings, our outlook and our entire approach to life.

Gabor shares with us proven strategies to take back control of your mindset. You’ll learn how to replace uncertainty with hope, how to deal with change and how to walk your path with confidence and clarity.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 2021 Refocus Your Career Booster Series Ep 1: How to take back control of your mindset with Gabor Bukovinszky appeared first on Letz Create.

In this podcast we chat with Shay Duldig, CEO and Director of Base Camp Consulting. With over 20 years of recruitment experience across many industries, Shay shares her insights into how the recruitment landscape has changed amid the ‘next normal’.

Individuals, employers, businesses and entire industries have had to change and adapt to new ways. There are many opportunities out there for job seekers, people who have been made redundant, those wanting to change careers completely – it’s just a matter of being prepared.

You’ll learn what recruiters look for in candidates, what not to say or do during an interview, how to impress during your interview with a recruiter and why demonstrating flexibility can get you across the line in your job search.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 2021 Refocus Your Career Booster Series Ep 3: How to harness shifts and changes in recruitment with Shay Duldig. appeared first on Letz Create.

In this podcast Karen Hollenbach, a leading Australian LinkedIn specialist, offers her unique perspective on how to embrace LinkedIn as a tool for your career success. You’ll access all of Karen’s insider knowledge including emerging trends, which industries have growth opportunities, personal branding, accessing resources, online networking secrets, how to use key LinkedIn features and be strategic in your online LinkedIn presence.

Whether you want to move roles, pivot your career or leap to an entirely different industry, this podcast will help position you positively on LinkedIn, the tool used worldwide by recruiters and employers.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 2021 Refocus Your Career Booster Series Ep 2: How to optimise your LinkedIn profile with Karen Hollenbach appeared first on Letz Create.

In this podcast we hear from Suzanne Diprose, Director of Performance Advantage, who has over 20 years’ of HR and business experience. Suzanne shares with us how the events of 2020 changed workplaces as we knew them and gave credibility to the virtual environment.

We discuss how workplaces have changed and why they will continue to change moving forward, training opportunities, Government grants and training programs that can be accessed. We also explore the benefits of flexible hours and work arrangements, how systems and processes have been adapted and why prioritising communication and people is the vital ingredient.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 2021 Refocus Your Career Booster Series Ep 4: How employees and employers can identify opportunities with Suzanne Diprose appeared first on Letz Create.

Karen Hollenbach shares her insider tips and strategies on optimising your LinkedIn profile. Learn how you can make quality connections and how to position yourself on LinkedIn to support your career goals. It’s the ideal online tool for job seekers and is the most widely used by recruiters who are looking to fill roles.

Karen is a LinkedIn Training Specialist, Online Educator, Content Marketer, Speaker & Commentator and Top 10 APAC LinkedIn Expert. As the founder of Think Bespoke, Karen leads a collective of experienced content marketers, writers and career planning professionals dedicated to helping Australians achieve their business and career goals.

Karen’s community values her warm, friendly and down to earth approach that encourages new ways of thinking. She offers a unique perspective on how to get value from LinkedIn, based on building relationships and adding genuine value to the communities you serve. Karen works with values-based individuals and organisations in the education and professional services sectors across Australia.

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 2020 Career Booster Series Ep 1: Mastering LinkedIn for Job Search with Karen Hollenbach appeared first on Letz Create.

1. Keep the future in mind

The decisions you make now and in the next 12 months will influence how prepared you are for future opportunities.  I like the term ‘start out as you mean to go’ as it implies that you need to have an idea of where you are heading! This means thinking about ‘where do I want to be in 3-5 years?’ and can be as broad as considering the type of industry you’d like to work in, the type of work you’d like to be doing and which state you’d like to be living and working in. I

If you keep some of these factors in in mind then you’re likely to make better choices when saying yes to opportunities. These opportunities may include taking on more responsibility in your current role, being involved in special projects at work or investing time outside of work in training or voluntary activities.

2. Understand your strengths

It’s an increasingly accepted fact that it’s more powerful to focus on your strengths than your weaknesses, but how do you objectively work this out? Here’s a handy (and free) character strengths quiz from VIA Institute of Character that you can use to determine some of your character strengths. It’s also worth thinking about your technical knowledge and any particular software skills you may have when you consider your strengths.

In this Forbes article by Andrew Brown, he explores the results you can achieve by playing to your strengths. Once you can identify your strengths, I encourage you to seek opportunities where your strengths can be utilised.

3. Celebrate & note your achievements

It makes me quite sad that people tend to focus on ‘getting through the week’ with never-ending to do lists. There seems to be an increasing amount of pressure placed on people to make their way through demanding work loads, and not enough time spent on reflection and celebrating success. By celebrating and noting your achievements you are taking the time to consider what you’ve done well. Workplaces that celebrate success and acknowledge people’s achievements have staff who experience greater job satisfaction as noted in this Forbes article by Rob Danna.

4. Keep your resume updated

I see way too many clients who have neglected to update their resume for over 5 years. In this article I explore why you need to keep your resume updated, regardless of whether you are in active job search or not.  When managing your career, I believe be prepared motto is for everyone, not just scouts!

5. Build a LinkedIn Community

Building a LinkedIn community means connecting with everyone you know and provides an invaluable way to stay informed about news and trends in your industry. If you spend time on LinkedIn each week it helps you stay informed and remain top of mind with your colleagues. These connections may help you achieve your goals in your current role and provide future opportunities.  LinkedIn is the place to stay connected to colleagues, past and present. It’s also where recruiters and potential employers will find you, or research you if you apply for a role.

6. Network – Seminars, conferences

The rapid changes currently being experienced across many industries in Australia makes it as important as ever to keep your skills current and to stay informed about regulatory developments.

You can do this by attending seminars and conferences. Networking in these environments is great way to learn from others as well as broaden your LinkedIn community.  You just never know where the insights you learn and the conversations you have at these networking events will lead.

7. Set yearly goals

It seems the older we get the faster the years fly by! It’s therefore essential to set yearly goals so you are proactively managing the direction of your career. For some people, setting goals means being very specific with actions and timelines, for others it may mean saying ‘this is the year of getting a new job’.

Whatever your goal setting process, it’s essential you give some thought to what you want to achieve and how you want to further develop your career in the short term. This may mean booking a time to speak with your manager about training or taking on a project, it may mean attending more networking events or it may mean booking a session with a Career Coach to develop a clearer career action plan or to update your resume.

8. Look for learning opportunities

Lifelong learning is the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons*. When you dedicate time to learning opportunities you are investing in personal development, but also self-sustainability, as well as remaining competitive versus your peers at work. Keeping your skills and knowledge current is also critical for maintaining your employability.

Take some time to consider opportunities within or outside your work where you can be learning more. And if you’re not sure where to start, check out the next ingredient and seek out a mentor in your industry who can provide you with some wise counsel for suitable learning opportunities.

9. Find Mentors

In this article Karen Hollenbach explores the idea of appointing a board of directors for your professional journey.  She believes that when you wish to make important decisions about your career, it’s essential that you create the time and space (mentally) to ensure you are seeking good advice and making informed decisions. I agree!

Make a list of the suitable colleagues and family members who may be a good mentor to help your professional journey. Consider people you view as role models and seek their advice (and interest) in a formal or informal mentoring arrangement. You can also ask your HR department if there are any mentoring programs available.

10. Volunteer

Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to those in need while also giving you the opportunity to work in a new industry. If you are genuinely interested in exploring a particular industry, but have no previous experience, working in a voluntary capacity is a great way to gain this experience and test your interest i a new environment.

SEEK Volunteer is Australia’s largest source of volunteer opportunities and a great resource to search for ongoing and ad hoc volunteering opportunities across Australia.

11. Have courageous conversations

Not happy at work? Rather than run away, I encourage you to really think through what it is you want and ask for it! Having courageous conversations with your manager, co-workers or partner to improve your current working life can be very rewarding and plays an important role in effectively managing your career and job satisfaction.

Many of the clients I work with end up using my career coaching services to help them prepare for these conversations so they can be more confident when talking to their manager about better managing an issue, creating opportunities or asking for professional development training.  If you’d like to chat about how I can help you manage your career, I’d love to talk to you!

Marina Pitisano

I am a passionate Career Coach who works with individuals in the explore and search phase of their career journey, helping you realise your strengths through my career coaching and training programs. I enjoy showing people the path to greater career satisfaction and providing insight and tools to help you make your next career move.

The post 11 Ingredients for Managing Your Career appeared first on Letz Create.