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Laid-off?  Afraid you won't be able to land another job? Feel your best bet is to take whatever you can find? Think your ideal job is a pipe dream in this economy?  

Think again.  

I'm excited to share Troy Benavidez's story with you.  He went from being layoff to landing not only his dream job but also getting a promotion.   

I asked Troy to share his tips on what made his transition so seamless and successful.  You'll be surprised at how simple yet important steps like Soul Search and Research are in informing your next Job Search.

Read on for practical, strategic advice from Troy...

Turning a Layoff Into a Promotion

Q: What would you say were the crucial steps to your amazing transition? 

A: For me the most crucial steps were to remain focused, patient and methodical in my approach to my job search.  It is very easy to let your emotions get the best of you and become distracted from what you are trying to accomplish.  I wanted my unemployment to turn into real opportunity, but that required diligence, and there were many days when searching for the right opportunity I got distracted by the pressures to just find a job, any job.  Having a plan I could focus on and routine work to do was a good distraction from the emotional rollercoaster.  It is only natural to fear the uncertainty so my advice is to make sure you focus on those things that are in your control. 

Q: You Soul searched and Researched before you Job searched.  Did it make a difference in the quality of the new job you've found? in other ways?

A: Most definitely.  Had I not soul searched or researched I would have been lost when I needed to be the most focused and strategic.  Without the confidence in knowing myself and my goals I could have easily entered into another role that was very similar to the one I had previously.  It was difficult to think broadly and rely on what I had soul searched. Friends, family colleagues, all wanted to help me get back into the same role I had.  They all knew me in one particular way and I’m sure they thought they were most helpful if they helped me do what I had been doing.  I needed to rely on my internal understanding of my soul search and remain focused on my research.  It helped me sort through the well-intentioned offers and the myriad of online postings and recruiters who needed to fill particular roles.  My soul search and research served as my north star to keep me focused and ultimately the job I landed would have not have been on my radar if I had gone the traditional job search route.  There is a lot of information online and you need tools like soul search to sift thru otherwise you can be pulled in a million different directions and not be very productive.  So yes it helped land a better job that was more in line with the qualities that make me happy at work.

Q: What role did networking (online & off) play in you being sought after for your new job?  Were some online sites/tool more helpful than others?

A: Networking is critical.  But I had to learn to do it.  I had a lot of preconceived notions of what it meant to network and I was wrong on all of them.  It is not about calling someone or talking to someone at a cocktail reception and asking for a job.  It’s about sharing with everyone you know where you are in your career and where you want to go. There is nothing to be afraid of when you are talking about yourself and knowing who you are, instead it becomes a fruitful discussion about you your skills, capabilities and interests and not and awkward conversation about asking for a job.  Once people I knew understood what I wanted and what I was interested in doing the suggestions and offers to help were more meaningful.  Gone was the obligatory “let me know how I can help” and instead there were real offers to connect me with people who could help me reach my goals for a new career.  By networking I was able to talk to more people who were in positions to hire.

I found LinkedIn to be amazing! It became an obsession.  Instead of playing “words with friends” I played on LinkedIn. I challenged myself to find the connections in certain companies and found innovative ways to start conversations with individuals whom I did not have a connection with.  I used the linking tool to get a conversation started.  It also broke down the traditional barriers to networking.  Everyone on the site was willing to make a connection or discuss what they knew about a company, job or industry.  

I made a promise to myself to keep networking, even with a new job, and that is twofold.  First, it took a lot of effort and people were gracious enough to help the least I can do is keep them informed and second I want to make sure and be available to help the next person going through this process.

Q: Given your recent experience, what helpful tips or advice would you give to others who've been laid off? 

A: Don’t be afraid to talk to everyone about who you are and what you are trying to do, whether it is a new role in a new industry, starting your own business or getting a similar job in another company.  There is NO shame in being laid off, it is not your fault the company reorganized, or had to close down or sent jobs overseas.   I was initially afraid of how I would tell people that I was unemployed and I was surprised how it was not held against me.  People are getting laid off in every industry and you should not be ashamed about it.  Instead tell everyone about the skills and capabilities you have and how you are using this as an opportunity to find that job that is fulfilling to you and how you will make a meaningful contribution in your next role.

Finally I would say don’t forget to keep in touch with everyone who is helping you along the way.  You want to make sure you don’t just contact them when you need something.  Your network includes trusted friends and advisors and should be treated as such.  They will continue to be invaluable.

Taking time to manage your career leads to better opportunities.  As you can tell from Troy's advice and experience, getting on the path to your ideal career starts with your own Soul Search and getting clear on what you'd love to do, the skill you want to utilize, your work preferences.  

I hope his experience inspires you to be optimistic about your next opportunity even if your last job ended in a layoff.  KNOW there is something better out there for you just as there was for Troy - you just need to Soul Search and Research BEFORE your Job Search to find it.  

If you've been laid-off or dream of a better career, share your vision below.  Let's help each other do work we love!

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user O5com.)

Recently I attended Monster's Innovation Day to gain a sense for what's happening in the world of online job posting and recruiting.

Glad I did.

I learned new technology is enabling a few very helpful improvements to the matching process between employer and candidate.

If it works as well as it's described, submitting your resume to a corporate site won't be the black hole it is today. And more impressive, companies will also better be able to manage talent internally. They'll know more about the talent they have inside the company walls today and potential matches for the business needs of tomorrow.  This will directly influence investments and training. 

But how? 

It all has to do with semantic search which unlike Boolean search, enables content and context to be utilized and analyzed to find results. No longer is it just about key word searches on resumes when companies want to find the right candidates eternally or externally.  The latest tools can actually sift through databases of employee & candidate information in seconds & provide intelligently ranked results. 

Crazy? Not really.  Think of it this way, when you do a google search now, you get thousands of pages of results and not all quality. Well, with semantic search you get quality not just quantity. Did I mention Google just announced they are moving to semantic search? 

So what does this mean to you?

Your chances of being found for the right job are increasing as technology gets smarter.   You also won't have to agonize over resume key words like and sorry, you won't be able to "game the search systems" with creative uses of white space.

Overall it still comes down to managing your career to be found for the opportunities that fit the elements of your ideal career. You still need to find your passion and work to get those relevant skills and experience on your resume as you work towards your ideal career. But, we can all be glad technology is on our side in finding a match made in heaven (or on Monster.com.) 

Few people think to enjoy job searching.  However, I have found the mindset we have cannot only bring more job search success but also fun to the process.  To help you find the right mindset for your next job search, I'm sharing a special guest post from Rob Biesenbach, actor and author of ACT LIKE YOU MEAN BUSINESS.  According to Rob, if you want to be more successful in your job search and networking activities, take a tip from Hollywood: treat every interaction like a performance.   

Here are six lessons from Hollywood that can help you perform better in job interviews, at networking events and in any communication:

1. Know Your Audience

Before a job interview, do your homework. Who will you be meeting with? Look them up on the organization’s website and LinkedIn.

And before any networking event, look at the list of attendees. Who do you know? Who do you want to know? What do you have in common and how do you plan to connect?

2. Tell Stories

Have an “elevator pitch” ready at all times, so you’re able to tell your story in a few sentences. Who are you, what do you do, how do you stand out from others and how do people benefit from your skills or services? 

You should also have stories ready that illustrate your accomplishments – challenges you’ve faced in the workplace and how you overcame them. 

3. Reveal Your Human Side

In this market, employers can find any number of qualified candidates. How are you going to stand out from the pack? By showing them who you are as an individual. Give them a glimpse of your personality, your humanity. Employers want to know what kind of person they’re committing to spending half their waking hours with.

4. Appeal to Emotion

Again, this is a performance. You can’t phone it in. You have to talk about your accomplishments, interests and goals with enthusiasm and passion. What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? What do you love about your work? How do you feel you are making a difference in peoples’ lives?

5. Show, Don’t Tell

It’s not enough to list your achievements. What evidence can you show to back up your claims? Hard results, industry awards, accolades, media coverage – these are much more convincing and credible than anything you say about yourself.

6. Rehearse

Actors spend countless hours preparing for their time on stage and in front of the camera. Similarly, you should practice for any interaction that’s important to you, whether it’s a meeting, interview or networking event. That means determining your goal, preparing what you’re going to say, anticipating objections and how you’ll overcome them, and practicing until you’re comfortable.

Attend to these things and you’ll be ready to hit the stage with poise and confidence. After all what is it about the great performances we see on TV and in the movies that draws us in? Compelling stories. Characters we can relate to. An emotional connection.

Many thanks to Rob for sharing his expertise and insights!  I couldn't agree more with his tips, especially about revealing your human side.  Be yourself and you'll be the star you were born to be!

Rob Biesenbach is a Chicago-based communications consultant, actor and author of the book ACT LIKE YOU MEAN BUSINESS: Essential Communication Lessons from Stage and Screen, published by Brigantine Media.

Instead of thinking about yourself in 2012, considering thinking about others.  Look for ways to help them get what they need.

Whether young or old, experienced or not - one area many people need help with these days is career.  

My client Linda inspired me recently by really going out of her way to help someone land her first job.  In Linda's own words, "I feel really strongly about people trying to help each other find their next stop along the career highway." And it shows!

To help someone in 2012, here's what you can learn from Linda:

• Be open to informational interviews. -- Linda spent time with a career newcomer to explain both a high level understanding of the work environment as well as a practical and realistic idea of what is expected in the position. Linda went even further than just talking about her work, and gave a full tour of her workspace complete with explanations of how all the pieces and team roles fit together.  Having this kind of bird's eye view gave an inspiring context to the job seeker and an ability to see a career path. 
• Share your network. -- Linda offered up additional connections that would help expand the network of the job seeker.  She made an introduction to a former colleague who had been in the business a long time so that the newcomer could hear firsthand what it's like actually doing the job day in and day out. For many this inside scoop is the perfect research to know if a job will fit their talents and personality--invaluable insight to know before going into an interview.
• Offer to help going forward. -- Linda asked to be kept posted on the person's job hunt and offered to role play on the phone for any upcoming interviews.  Given that she used to interview people for the job the person was going after, this kind of support was extremely valuable.  It's important to recognize that when people like Linda invest their time, they want to know how things progress with your search so be sure to keep them up-to-date at least monthly.

What ways have you helped others or been helped?  I'd love to hear your story.  Here's to a New Year where you give (and get) all the help you need on the career highway! 

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” --Kahlil Gibran

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Asenat29.)

The skills mismatch is a huge issue in the current jobs crisis. 

Jobs are more complex these days requiring cross-functional skills or specialized knowledge.  Education is lacking for many unemployed workers and for those who are educated, the push has been towards non-technical skills creating a dearth of skilled workers in the trades.  Schools and business aren't aligned especially in vocational and technical areas.  So even students who want to train lack the facilities to become "job-ready" graduates.

Thousands of jobs are going begging because employers can’t find skilled employees. So what's an unemployed worker to do?  On the 4th Annual Job Action Day sponsored by Quintessential Careers, the good news is that there are smart actions you can take.  Having worked with individuals of all levels and backgrounds, I've found the skills mismatch can be a mindset issue and not reality.  

Here are three ways to bridge the skill gap: 

1. Most people take their strengths & talents for granted & don't tout them enough.  Ask those who know you well, "What are my best skills, abilities and talents?"  Take to heart what you hear.  When something comes easily to you, don't mistakenly assume it comes easily for everyone.    
2. Skills are transferable from job to job, employer to employer and industry to industry - more than most people realize.  My client Steve found his skills as a marketing executive in the music industry were key in helping  him successfully launch his custom furniture business. Now Hill Haus Woodworks is not only bringing him joy and fulfillment but a paycheck as well.  
3. Sometimes we gain skills we'd rather not use.  Rather than settle, Soul Search to determine those skills you most want to be using in your career -be honest.  For Stanford graduate Jessica DuLong, working in an office didn't satisfy her soul.  Yearning to work with her hands, she transitioned to working as a fireboat engineer and is now an advocate for putting American hands back to work in the trades. 

With the myriad of reasons for the skills gap, it can feel as if it's out of the job seeker's control to bridge the distance.  But you have a lot more skills than you give yourself credit for.  Take these three actions on Job Action Day and you'll be ready to go after your dream job with the perfect match of skills and passion!  

**Reinforcing the Job Action Day 2011 "Skill Up, Start Up, Speak Up" message is this group of bloggers dedicating blog posts on or around Job Action Day 2011 to the event. The first four represent the Quintessential Careers family of blogs:

-- Quintessential Careers Blog, Job Action Day 2011: Skill Up, Start Up, Speak Up, http://tinyurl.com/7rtm5rb.

-- Career Doctor Blog, #Job Action Day 11: Speak Up: It Takes a Village to Turn a Jobs Crisis Around, http://tinyurl.com/843qmje.

-- Quintessential Resume and Cover Letter Tips Blog, #JobActionDay11: Skill Up, Start Up, Speak Up: Expert Tips to Fire Up Your Job Search, http://tinyurl.com/87svjmd.

-- A Storied Career, #JobActionDay11: A Start-Up Story of Triumphing Over Job Loss, http://tinyurl.com/7q7kvqb

-- Deborah Brown-Volkman, The Career Coach's Blog, http://tinyurl.com/3b2jda5.

-- Susan Guarneri, Career Assessment Goddess, The Start-Up Mindset: 10 Tips to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone, http://tinyurl.com/658dzkp.

-- Nancy Miller, Job Action Day 2011, Life Work News, Skill up for Employment, http://tinyurl.com/83tpkml.

-- Hannah Morgan, Career Sherpa, Start Up: Building A More Stable Career,

http://careersherpa.net/start-up-building-a-more-stable-career/.

--Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers, Job Action Day 2011-- How to confidently drive your career bus where you want to go, http://tinyurl.com/7h33oax.

--Meg Guiseppi, Today is Job Action Day 2011!, http://tinyurl.com/6v2hfl4  

-- Deborah Shane, Deborah Shane Toolbox, Raise Your Career Metabolism, Bring Your A+ Game

and Develop More Magnetism, http://tinyurl.com/7rp4gc5.

-- Wendy Terwelp, Rock Your Career, http://rockyourcareer.wordpress.com/.

See http://www.jobactionday.com/2011-Job-Action-Day.html for the complete, updated list of Job Action Day 2011 Blog posts.