Unfortunately, the trend today is for people to polish their resume and submit hundreds of copies via online job sites hoping that they will get a hit.  Many job seekers are applying for anything and everything that is remotely appealing and this technique is not yielding successful results. In reality, job seekers should work backwards visualizing their dream job and then plan a strategy to find a rewarding opportunity in their respective field. It’s true that you can’t get what you want unless you know what you are looking for. The one-size-fits-all resume will never serve you well, and neither will submitting aimless applications for anything that is posted on the job boards. Slow down and take the time to figure out what you really want.

Figure out what kinds of jobs appeal to you first and target your applications accordingly. Focus on your skills and strengths and really consider what you enjoy doing. Taking the time for honest self reflection will save you emotional stress by avoiding a bad career choice that doesn’t match your values, interests, skills and personality in the long run.

Once you know what you want, begin to build relationships with people who do the same kind of work you are pursuing. Chances are you already have these people in your network, or others may know people who can make an introduction on your behalf. By starting with the end in mind and planning from there you can spend your time wisely to build meaningful contacts that could lead to opportunities.

You need to be able to articulate your story about who you are and what you want to do next. Networking is not about asking others for a job. It’s about engendering trust and respect and learning from others so you can move forward with your career goals. Whenever possible, meet face-to-face with your contacts. It’s more personable than phone or email and enables others to see you in action. Strut your professional stuff and make a lasting positive impression. Seek out informational interviews and avoid being a well kept secret by conducting your job search in public.

Research tells us that currently only 4-5% of jobs are secured through job boards and over 80% are found through effective networking. So develop a plan and take the time to meet with people to learn about opportunities, and put yourself out there. There is great wisdom in the philosophy Ready, Aim, Fire! If you do not prepare, you won’t even know what you are shooting for.

As a self proclaimed control freak, I had a hard time learning to delegate. I was doing things myself for so long that it was difficult for me to let go. I was also caught in the syndrome that if I wanted to get something done right – I would have to do it myself. But the more responsibility I took on in my job, consulting practice, and a variety of volunteer activities, the more essential it was for me to learn how to delegate.

I learned that relinquishing work was not only a way for me to focus on my strengths and do what I do best, it was a way for me to empower others on my various teams to get more involved. When I delegated a task, I gave someone else a significant assignment that gave them ownership and buy-in for the project and the organization at large. The act of delegation was helping others take on more responsibility and play to their strengths.

Delegation liberated me to focus on opportunities to move forward with my career goals and gave others a chance to step up and gain new experiences. My colleagues were motivated to show what they were capable of and enjoyed the opportunity to pursue new projects. We created a check-in system so I would not micro-manage their efforts and communication became stronger in the end.

By keeping all of the work to myself I was sending a message that I did not trust my colleagues. While this was not my intention, I realized that delegation engendered trust and helped me prove my confidence in the team. Ultimately, it motivated others to go above and beyond and our productivity level increased dramatically.

With delegation, I saw new leaders emerge and a renewed sense of enthusiasm in my colleagues. New ideas surfaced and I discovered talents in team members that I never knew existed. Delegation is a beautiful thing that helps people play to their strengths. It also gave me more time to advance my goals by maximizing my support. Try delegating – I think you will be surprised by the positive results for all.

Fine artists have been using portfolios for decades to showcase examples of their work. This multi dimensional tool is gaining popularity in the job market for other professions as well. By assembling an archive of your work, you can show employers why you will be a value-add to their organization.

Similar to the resume, the portfolio should be customized for each unique opportunity. You should include your resume and/or CV as well as letters of recommendation, quotes or special comments from key constituents and examples of what you do well relevant to the new job opportunity. A mission statement can articulate why you want the job as well as why you are an excellent match for the position.

I like to include a list of my top skills with descriptions of how they will be applicable to the new job.  A goals or future plans section can help you articulate how you will grow in a particular role in the organization. Employers will see you as a strong, long term investment for their team.

If writing is a desired skill for the new job, include samples that showcase your best work and a variety of styles. Get creative and use graphics or photos for visual pop but keep text pithy and succinct using headers, bullet points and tag phrases instead of long paragraphs.

I encourage my clients to bring the portfolio to the interview so you can walk your future boss through the document and leave it behind when you are through so the hiring committee can have a lasting impression of you as a candidate.

Spiral bind your portfolio so the pages are secure and be sure your full name and contact information appear clearly on the cover page. While you want to show the breadth and depth of your experience, keep the portfolio brief so the readers don’t lose interest while viewing.

This secret weapon can set you apart from the competition. An added bonus of assembling a portfolio is the valuable self reflection process that will put you in tip-top shape for your interview, giving you the opportunity to focus on your strengths in an articulate manner.

It’s resume season as newly minted graduates dive into the job market and experienced professionals look for opportunities to better meet their career goals. I urge you to put on your recruiter hat as you develop your resume and think about the people who will be reading this important part of your professional tool kit.

In the government sector as well as many business environments, resumes are scanned electronically to pick out key words that represent skills and competencies required in the job description. You may have amazing credentials but if you don’t customize your resume to fit each job opportunity, you won’t make the first cut. The one size fits all resume will not serve you well.

Typically, a reviewer spends 15-30 seconds on the first glance of a resume. It’s amazing how much you can glean in that very short time. Your resume is meant to entice the reader to interview you so your task is to convey why you are a terrific value-add for the job in a concise document.

Here are some best practices to help your resume shine:

• If you are an experienced professional, don’t lead with your education, lead with your experience. Reserve the education-first style for new graduates.
• Consider a professional skills or competencies section to front load why you are a good fit, especially if you are a career changer or don’t have experience in the job field.
• Use strong action verbs to describe what you have done in past positions. Bullet points are easier to digest than paragraphs and allow the reader to scan for key words.
• Choose a clear font and don’t go below 11 point size. If you blind the reader with small print you won’t get the job.
• Look at the job description and use the SAME verbiage if you can honestly say that you have relevant experiences.
• The rule of thumb is one page per ten years of experience unless the employer asks for a curriculum vitae or CV format (often the case in academia) which allows you to elaborate.
• Spell check, proof, and share the document with your advisers for feedback. Typos and grammatical errors will land your resume in the garbage – no matter how well qualified you may be.
• Don’t be shy about showcasing your strengths. List your accolades and accomplishments and consider ways to distinguish yourself in print.

Bottom line – customize your resume for every job opportunity and showcase your strengths.

A native of Australia, Jacqui Rosshandler now calls New York City home and is enjoying a new career as CEO and Co-Founder of Jacquean Products. Trained as a lawyer, Jacqui never felt at home in the structured corporate world and took an entrepreneurial leap on New Year’s Day in 2007 when she summoned the courage to give her new business idea a whirl. Nine months later, she had her new product in hand. Read Full Story

Every day I speak with students and private clients who have no real sense of what their skills are. Simply put, a skill is an ability, based on training or experience, to do something well. We all have skills and the trick is to discover what they are and market them with humble confidence to make ourselves attractive to employers who want to utilize these skills in the workplace.

As trained opera singer turned Career & Professional Development Coach, I like to think of myself as the Queen of Transferable Skills. When I was making my unique career transition most employers were very dubious about what I had to offer. It took some time for me to realize that my skills were very transferable and included: written and verbal communication, professional poise, foreign language aptitude, marketing and promotion, tenacity, leadership and project management, to name just a few.

I guarantee you all have hidden skills that you have not yet owned and embraced.  Once you discover your skills you can start to connect the dots with your other VIPS (values, interests & personality) and find opportunities that are a true match for you career wise.

Since it can be hard for us to consider our skills alone, I urge you to ask people in your circle of trust (family, friends, and colleagues) to share what they think you do well. Having others help identify your skills can be very powerful but ultimately you are in control over which skills you chose to market on your new career path.

To get you started, skills fall into three main categories:

Transferable Skills – these can be taken from job to job and are important in many career sectors. Examples include: communication (verbal and written), critical thinking, analytical, leadership, project management.

Specialized Knowledge – these are skills relevant to a particular job or career field. Examples include: operating laboratory equipment, computer program proficiency, French Cuisine cooking, and foreign language ability.

Adaptive Skills – these are personal attributes you bring to the professional environment and often the most sought after by employers.  Examples include: motivation, initiative, integrity, flexibility and self management.

It can be exciting to re-discover your skills – enjoy the journey!