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How To Respond To a LinkedIn Recruiter: 9 Tips From Recruiters

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Tips from LinkedIn Recruiters

To help job seekers with responding to a LinkedIn recruiting message, we asked HR professionals and business recruiters this question for their best insights. From starting with gratitude to asking for more information, there are several strategies that may help you make a good impression in your response to a recruiter.

Here are nine tips on how to respond to a LinkedIn recruiter:

  • Show Interest in the Role
  • Respond Professionally
  • Start With Gratitude
  • Make a Connection
  • Be Quick and Proactive
  • Don’t Burn Bridges
  • Always Respond
  • Ask for More Information
  • Send in Your Resume

Show Interest in the Role
Of course, the answer to this question depends on whether you are interested in working for the company the recruiter is representing or not! Assuming you are interested in learning more about the position, I would recommend responding with a reply that is upbeat, curious, and proposes next steps. By showing the recruiter that you are interested in the role and are ready to hop on a call, your chances of scoring an interview are instantly higher.

Eli Patashnik, iFax

Respond Professionally
If you have been approached for a job opportunity on LinkedIn, it means your activity on the platform is getting noticed. That is something to be celebrated! Make sure to read their message and, if you’re interested, respond quickly and professionally. Your recruiter will want to connect with you to ensure you’re a good cultural fit for the company, so you can schedule an initial interview to get to know the potential employer better and ask details about the job opportunity.

Jon Schneider, Recruiterie

Start With Gratitude
Responding to recruiters on LinkedIn is a balancing act, especially considering the specific circumstances that you are under. The best thing to do, though, is to start with gratitude. Thank them for reaching out and considering you for the current role, or compliment the company in some way. You really only have this one shot to make a lasting good impression about your character and who you are as a person. Starting with gratitude can also help create a fluid conversation, even if you aren’t necessarily looking for a job or interested in that role. This can also help if you ever did need to find a new opportunity, you might be able to reach back out to them.

Ryan Nouis, TruPath

Make a Connection
When a recruiter reaches out on LinkedIn, the first thing to do is actually respond. Whether or not you might be interested in the position, a simple thank you and an honest statement of where you’re at in your career goes a long way. I have seen great connections pay dividends down the road either when that same recruiter is sourcing for another opportunity and thinks of you or when you are thinking about changing roles. Good connections are priceless.

Jenn Christie, Markitors

Be Quick and Proactive
If you’re interested, express it by responding as soon as you can. You can ask more about the position, company and other necessary details. It’s also important to include faster ways to contact you, perhaps via email or phone number. If you aren’t interested, you can express your gratitude and maybe recommend a potential lead for them. Being able to respond to recruiters will also help you build your network.

Joe Flanagan, VelvetJobs

Don’t Burn Bridges
Whether you love your current employer or simply feel the open role doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, the last thing you want to do is burn down a bridge. Regardless of why you are disinterested, recruiter engagement is an excellent opportunity to build connections with the right person who, by the way, may potentially win you a dream job in the future. Be sure to sincerely thank the recruiter and courteously explain why you’re passing. Then feel free to pitch that you’d like them to get in touch when another opportunity that might better fit your picture perfect career path presents itself. Explain your ideal role and the type of work you’d love to be alerted to in the future. Above all, avoid automated responses.

Joel Cheesman, Poach

Always Respond
It’s important to respond as soon as possible. Ask the recruiter for more information and make sure to secure either a call or a meeting as a next step. If you are not interested in the offer, respond anyway. Remember to be polite and express the reason why you are not interested in pursuing the job offer. It would be very helpful to schedule a call to discuss the type of opportunities you are interested in and let the recruiter get to know you a bit better. If you make a good impression, they might keep you in mind for future job opportunities. Whether you are interested in the job offer or not, it is in your benefit to build relationships with recruiters. You never know who can lead you to the job of your dreams.

Jessica Ulloa, MyPerfectResume

Ask for More Information
Even if you think you’re not interested, always respond to a recruiter by asking about the job and the company. Many folks who were happy with their current position have been offered jobs that are 3x better on LinkedIn. It never hurts to interview. At a minimum, you are keeping your interview skills sharp. On the other hand, you may uncover a fabulous hidden opportunity! After a phone or Zoom interview, if you’re not interested, tell the recruiter, “If I hear of someone who is qualified, I’’ll give them your name.”

Joni Holderman, Thrive! Resumes

Send in Your Resume
I think that it is always smart to send them your resume, cover letters, and letters of recommendation. That way they have your information on file, and if a great opportunity comes their way that they may think you are a great fit, you are already in their database. If you are not looking for a new role, it is still good to have the connection in your back pocket.

Jason Wong, Doe Lashes

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How to Create Personal Career Goals With 11 Examples Within Small Businesses

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What are your career goals, and why? How can someone effectively create a personal career goal for themselves?
To help business professionals develop career goals, we asked business leaders and organization founders this question for their best advice. From finding a mentor to prioritizing meaningful work, there are several suggestions that may help you catalyze your career for years to come.

Personal Career Goals

Here are 11 ways to create personal career goals in a small business:

  • Find a Mentor
  • Clarify the “Why”
  • Focus on the 80/20 Rule
  • Do What You Love
  • Embrace Fear
  • Accept That Goals Change
  • Expand on Past Goals
  • Develop Your Network
  • Set Many Small Goals
  • Value Meaningful Work
  • Seek Growth Opportunities

Find a Mentor
My career goals are to grow my company so that it is eventually acquired by a large beverage company. I hope to lead this company to grow substantially and employ many people. Someone can effectively create a personal career goal for themselves by getting a mentor who has accomplished similar tasks themselves. You can utilize this mentor to guide you on your personal career goal path and work to achieve your goals.

Lauren Picasso, Cure Hydration

Clarify the “Why”
Start with your personal vision in mind. If you aren’t clear on your vision, or your “why”, then setting personal career goals can be difficult. Once you clearly see your future state, focus on what that looks like, what are you doing, where are you standing, and what are you wearing once you get there. I might not have the complete roadmap to get there, but I focus on the first 3 steps. When I set the goal to transition into operations, I saw myself leading a small business and running the operations. I didn’t know when or who, but in due time, focusing on the next three steps, I found my way to my dream role.

Jenn Christie, Markitors

Focus on the 80/20 Rule
My primary goal for 2021 is to focus on the 80/20 rule when it comes to my work and time. The 20% of my time and energy that accomplishes 80% of the results in my business is where I want to focus my attention. I want to focus on perfecting my current skill set rather than trying to wear every hat in my business. My goal is to become a better entrepreneur by being a better manager and knowing what to get off my plate. I want my vision for my business and for myself in 2021 to be so large that I will only be able to accomplish it with the help of other people. I want to include more people in my business by giving them key responsibilities and autonomy to make decisions.

Alexander Shute, FaithGiant

Do What You Love
My career goal has always been to do something I love and through that, I will find my passion. It doesn’t matter if it is working solo or managing a team, I have always followed my heart when it comes to my career. If something didn’t feel right, I would move on to the next opportunity. I guess that is how I got to where I am today, having started my hospitality-based business.

I work for myself and I love what I do, which makes it easy for me to give my all. Now, my business goals are to continue to grow, continue to learn, and continue to help my clients grow their businesses. My advice to someone looking to create a career goal for themselves is to start writing down what it is you love to do. Then ask yourself what it is you need to be able to do every day to get the most out of it. Ask yourself what will make you feel your best and work towards that in all aspects of your career.

Jen Bee, Restaurant Results Coach

Embrace Fear
Once you hit lifelong goals that you have set for yourself, it’s another jump to finding motivation for another. A career goal I have is to become comfortable with acknowledging any fear I have within my life because your career and life should go hand in hand. Becoming fearless is a trait I admire in many people. I want to continue to understand that the role of fear is to warn and protect, not to scare and prevent. Some advice I have for creating a personal goal is to widen your perspective. When you are curious about the world around you and ask questions to understand things, you are automatically expanding your perspective and horizons at the same time.

Connor MacDonald, Ridge

Accept That Goals Change
After college, I was working as a product manager at a Big 4 company and I thought that was my dream. But now, I own and operate a wonderful business that continues to grow every year. To me, that’s my new career goal. While career goals are extremely important, when you’re creating your personal plans, keep in mind that some things may change. As time goes on, you are going to learn about new opportunities that weren’t available to you in the past. You’ll develop new skills and decide you might be better suited in other positions.

Tom Mumford, Undergrads

Expand on Past Goals
When you’re hoping to create a personal career goal for yourself, the first thing you may want to do is look at your past goals. Were you able to achieve them? If so, can you expand upon them to create a goal along the same vein? Often, looking at the successes of our past can help us see our strengths, therefore enabling us to set more attainable goals.

Greg Gillman, MuteSix

Develop Your Network
Networking is not only imperative for building relationships and perhaps collaborations down the line, but it is an important building block for brand recognition. That’s why one of my career goals has always been to network as if my life depended on it! The more leaders you can connect with, the more opportunities you have to discuss your brand and bring up topics and ideas that will make you (and your company) memorable. In this way, when they are in need of a product or a service that relates to your business, your brand will immediately jump to mind. This is basically PR 101 but a true goal to be accomplished with pride and ingenuity.

Heidi Robinson, Because Market

Set Many Small Goals
Everyone tells you to think big. The trouble with “big” is that it is usually vague. Success comes from methodically focusing on specific objectives. For example, if you want to be a CHRO, don’t waste time on vague conversations about “getting a seat at the table.” Instead, learn to read a balance sheet. Perfect your project management skills. Become tech-savvy. Polish your public speaking. Pick one thing that will add value to you and your organization, learn it, and repeat. Before long, you’ll not only have your seat at the table, you’ll have something meaningful to say.

Tim Toterhi, Plotline Leadership

Value Meaningful Work
At this moment, my biggest career goal is to create the best financial comparison website in all of Denmark. I want to make all our comparisons and content so incredibly valuable, that there is simply no way it is not the best. Of course, I have monetary goals as well, but I firmly believe that goals have to be meaningful to you. By focusing on something meaningful to you that is at the same time valuable to others, the money will follow, too.

Paw Vej, Financer.com

Seek Growth Opportunities
One of my career goals has always been to build a stellar, high-quality team. One of the best ways to attract top talent to your company is by offering the opportunity for growth. Many talented professionals turn down lucrative positions all the time because they just can’t see a clear path to learn, grow, and even move up within the company. As we all know, employee retention is at an all-time low. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to offer continued training, promotions from within, and even the availability to move to a completely different department that may better fit an employee’s skill set.

Travis Killian, Everlasting Comfort

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4/8/21 – Networking vs Sales is there a difference?

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Submitted by: Keron Bowen, CPCC

Dave Sherman

Networking vs Sales is there a difference? If you are like most job seekers or maybe not, getting out and networking can be overwhelming or feel a bit uncomfortable. Who do you talk to? How much do you share? Where do you go to meet the “right” people? It can also feel a bit “salesy” if you are not prepared to communicate what it is that you want for a prospective new career. For example communicating the type of work and role, industry, and even identifying potential key employers can make the difference between a successful interaction or not. Then there is the issue of how do you ask for what you want without it seeming like you are pushing for the “sale”? Let’s start by taking a look to Merriam Webster for guidance in defining the difference between networking and sales. Merriam defines networking as: the interaction with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one’s own career. That seems perfect in what we are attempting to do. Merriam defines Sales as: an exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something.

During Dave Sherman’s keynote session he goes into more detail about how networking does not have to be “salesy”; he points out some similarities, and highlights the difference that makes networking effective and productive.

Dave Sherman was one of the first presenters at Career Connectors when the organization was just getting started. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, coach, and author of 3 bestselling books on networking and sales. He is known as the “Networking Guy” and guru. Dave is high energy, exudes positivity, and inspires with his wit and authenticity “keeping it real” as he shares personal and professional experiences and his own journey when he found himself in career transitions. His talk exudes a sense of urgency and gives clear reasons and encouragement to get up and keep going. Dave shares that his favorite place is Career Connectors and helping people in career transition. He loves Diet Mountain Dew, good red wine, and cigars.

Today Dave joins us to share his tips and tools for networking, by first outlining the 6 step process for Sales:

  1. Rapport Building
  2. Discovery
  3. Build Value
  4. Presenting Price
  5. Ask for the Sale
  6. Overcome Objectives

Now for Networking he shares the same process but removes items #4 and #6.

4 Step Process for Networking:

  1. Rapport Building
  2. Discovery
  3. Build Value
  4. Ask for the Sale

The time to start selling is now and the product is YOU! Networking is the #1 way to find a job. By doing lots of networking it will help you in finding a job faster.

Let’s break it down:

Rapport Building:
Here is where you want to increase your likeability and commonality with the individuals you meet. Finding a common interest or experience goes a long way in assisting you in connecting with your intended audience. Ways to accomplish this is by:

  1. Be Friendly: Put a smile on your face and be pleasant. First impressions go a long way and having a warm and welcoming demeanor can be a good first step to making that connection that will make a difference in your job search.
  2. Be Transparent: Let people see who you really are and be consistent. If you are outgoing and gregarious trying to be reserved may not come across as your authentic self and vice-versa being over gregarious when you are reserved will most likely not come across as being transparent either.
  3. Be Authentic: Be truthful. People want to know that this is the person they are talking to and it builds trust. People like to network with people who they know, like, and trust.
  4. Be interested, not just interesting: This is KEY. During networking take the time to get to know and learn more about the people you are talking to. What they want, who they are, their interests and not just the work stuff but what they enjoy personally. You never know through casual conversation you may find you have more in common than you thought and begin to build a foundation for your network for that next job.
  5. Discovery: Ask questions and be curious. Listen for the response and then ask more questions. What they need, what are they looking for, how they might be able to help you, and how you can help them. The key here is to be present. Maintain focus on what the person is saying and not think about the next great question you want to ask. Let it naturally unfold, you just might be surprised as to what you learn and discover. Do not interrupt or change the subject no matter how tempting it might be. A good rule of thumb here is: Talk less, Listen more, and Ask more questions = increased likeability. You are demonstrating that you are interested in the person you are speaking with and value what they have to say. A quote from Zig Ziegler: “If you help enough people get what they want out of life they will help you get what you want out of life.”
  6. Build Value: This is your time to talk about you. Share with people what your current reality is. “I am currently in career transition and looking for my next employment adventure”. Tell as many people as possible you are in transition. You never know that one person you least expected may be the person to put you in touch with your next awesome opportunity.
  7. Create an Elevator Speech: This is where you create a short “sound bite” that conveys what you are looking for. Be as specific as possible. For example: “I would like to get into Banking and I would like to work at Chase or B of A.” You have to tell people what you are looking for and identify as least 3 companies you want to work for. Then listen and ask if they know of anyone they can connect you with. The elevator speech is important to have prepared before you begin networking unless you are just going to the event to meet people. Remember not to ramble, do not share a resume, and stay positive! Humor is always a good equalizer to use in these situations too.
  8. Ask for the Sale: This is where you promote yourself without being salesy. What do you want from them? The 4 key words when networking are: “Who do you know that does this……” Keep in mind the 6 Degrees of separation. The individual you are talking with may not be able to help you but they may know someone they can put you in contact with who can put you in contact, etc. Ask if they would be willing to have a 15 min. info meeting to gather more information. If you don’t ask …you don’t get. It has been shown that if you do not ask for help it will take 2-3 times longer to get that job.

Important to remember: Know what you are looking for. Know what you want. Know the companies you would like to work for. Follow up with the people you speak with and be grateful, gracious, and appreciative.

In closing, do everything in your power to continue to work through this. Start networking, meet people, build and create friendships/relationships, talk about things that are not work related to develop commonality. Build rapport through: likeability and commonality be interested not just interesting, ask lots of questions and listen, build value. Know what you are looking for; it does not have to be the exact role. Finally, ask who do you know, can you make an introduction, and can we have 15 min for a brief meeting to share more information.

Final comments regarding networking in this virtual world we are in. Dave suggests using Zoom meetings. There are many special interest and hobby groups available; such as movies buffs, book groups, wine lovers groups, Facebook groups, the list goes on. If you are comfortable getting into the community, Volunteer opportunities are becoming more available. Get out of the house at least 1-2 times a week, create connections, join networking groups such as BNI, go to some of the meetings and introduce yourself and be prepared with your elevator speech. Check out the Phoenix Networking website for other opportunities and groups.

Hiring Companies

Community Medical Services
Megan Kennedy, Recruiter

Community Medical Services is on a growth trajectory and scheduled to open 10 additional clinics in the Phoenix area in 2021. Currently they have openings in both the Clinics and Corporate Center which is located in Scottsdale, AZ. Founded in 1980’s Community Medical Services is a group of Outpatient substance abuse and opioid abuse disorders clinics. They currently have 23 locations in AZ, in addition to the other locations nationwide. Services include a variety of approaches including medication, counseling, and outreach. The Corporate office is open 5:30a to 1:30p and the clinics are open 24/7. They are a growing and stable corporation with a full array of benefits and a culture that is fun and engaging. Candidates do not have to have healthcare or behavioral health experience to be considered. They currently have both clinical and non-clinical roles available in Glendale, Phoenix, and Scottsdale. The application process is multi-step that includes: Application, phone interview with Megan, Video interview with Clinic Manager or hiring manager if at corporate, a tour of the facility (optional), offer or interview feedback as to why candidate was not selected. Onboarding takes place every 2 weeks. Next new employee orientation is scheduled for April 19, 2021 and May 3, 2021. Because they are a national company they follow the national guidelines for COVID-19 Precautions and pay practices. To explore open opportunities go to the website: https://communitymedicalservices.org then go to career opportunities. Submit your application online.

Hawaiian Airlines
Matthew Chimbos, Managing Director of IT

Hawaiian Airlines is 92 years old making it one of the oldest airline carriers in the business and the second oldest in the world. They are a strong company with 61 planes and 32 destinations. One unique feature about Hawaiian Airlines is that every flight originates and ends in Hawaii. They are in the process of expanding their routes. They currently have openings in their Tech Center in Tempe, AZ. and plan to hire 50+ IT positions by July 2021. They have both remote and office work available. Matthew shared that Hawaiian Airlines has a comprehensive benefits package and unlimited pass travel flights for you and your family. This includes you, your parents, and your children. In addition to pass travel to those you choose i.e. friends and additional family members. Current positions include but are not limited to: IT, Operations, Analyst, Revenue Management, and Loyalty. Please check their career page for a complete listing. If interested in a positon please apply and then reach out to Matthew Climbos via LinkedIn and mention Career Connectors and the position you are interested in he will do his best to answer any questions you may have and put you in touch with a hiring manager.

Logicalis- Architects of Change
Caleb Below, Sr. Talent Acquisition Specialist

Logicalis provides customer IT solutions. They are partnered with Cisco, IBM, HPE, Net App, VMware, Microsoft and AWS, to name a few. They currently have openings in Tempe, AZ. Service Desk Technician, Account Executive: for this position send resume to Caleb Below via LinkedIn. Additional positions include Sr. Program Manager Service Now, and Principal Architect Data Center; to name a few. Please visit the company career site for a complete list of opportunities. Apply on the company career site and put Career Connectors as your source.

Freedom Financial Network
Melissa Whitlatch, Sr. Recruiter

Freedom Financial Network is a financial services company that has been rated as a Best Place to work in Phoenix 17 times. If you have a passion for helping others in their financial planning needs they would like to talk to you. They currently have 150 positions open. Examples of some of these positions include but are not limited to: Customer Service and Sales and Shared Services to name a few. They provide a comprehensive benefits package. If interested please apply on line at www.FreedomFinancialNetwork.com. Message Melissa after you apply to let her know that you are interested.

The Entrepreneur Source
Anna Schulman Brambilla, Career Ownership Coach

The Entrepreneur Source specializes in matching prospective business owners with franchise opportunities. They provide a proven business system that allows you to be in business for yourself but not by yourself. Entrepreneur Source does all the marketing, legal, strategic planning so that you can focus on the work you want. All the startup work is done for you. They provide guidance from the franchise offers, establishment, and brand recognition. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn to learn more and to schedule a free informational meeting to learn more about franchise opportunities. Franchise investment can range from anywhere from $75K to $250K. They also have opportunities from $75K and below.

https://anabrambilla.youcanbook.me/.com
Website: https://abramilla.esourcecoach.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annabramilla

Closing

CEO/Founder of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the online meeting. She reminded all in attendance of the many resources available online including career advice, webinars of the online events since the Pandemic started, urging everyone to please visit the website where you can take the DISC assessment for free, receive free head shots courtesy of Gordon Murray Flash Photo and other free resources.
Jessica thanked the 125 Career Connectors volunteers and anyone who’s donated to Career Connectors. Bloggers are needed who attend events, take notes, and work with Sheila to get the recaps posted on the Career Connectors Website. Click for the Events Schedule for more information about special events.
Jessica turned it over to Director of Operations for Career Connectors Sheila Coulam to explain the Breakout Rooms process where attendees are welcome to meet in smaller online groups to chat with the keynote speaker, hiring companies, resume experts, and LinkedIn coaches.
Next event:
Thursday April 22, 2021 from 9a to noon on Zoom.

Featured Topic: “How to use LinkedIn in 15 min/day” presented by Brenda Cunningham.

  • Featured employers:
  • Terros Health
  • Mobile Mini
  • Liberty Mutual
  • WealthWave

How To Write a Career Mission Statement For Yourself

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Terkel How to Write a career mission statement

What is your career mission statement? What tip would you offer to someone looking to craft a personal mission statement?
To help you craft your personal mission statement, we asked business leaders and HR experts this question for their own mission statements as examples to help you with yours. From establishing your values to never stop improving, there are several examples of mission statements that may help you craft your personal career mission statement.

Here are seven ideas to help you craft your personal mission statement:

  • Establish Your Values
  • Effectively Communicate It Through Video
  • Lead With Internal Drivers
  • Select Word Choice Carefully
  • Culture Of Empowerment
  • Never Stop Improving
  • Keep It Tangible And Short

Establish Your Values

The short version of my career mission statement is; To be a knowledgeable, trusted, and reliable person who can be counted on to solve problems for my client and do whatever it takes to do right by them. In order to achieve this, I will continue to read articles, listen to podcasts, attend webinars, frequent conferences, and seek out leaders in my field to further understand the field that I am in and become a lifelong learner. A great tip to crafting a personal mission statement is to establish your values, determine what your interests are, and set SMART goals.

Noah Downs, American Pipeline Solutions

Effectively Communicate It Through Video

Make sure that the personal mission statement can be effectively communicated via video. With video interviewing here to stay, it’s important that your mission statement be short, concise, and convincing in a video format. Many employers are automating recruiting tasks to better screen candidates, including initial video interviews. By practicing your career mission statement via video, you can ensure that you’ll be able to handle any interviewing format that lies ahead.

Josh Zywien, Paradox

Lead With Internal Drivers

I learned the hard way that the best career mission statements have to start with how I wanted to feel, contribute, grow, experience, and learn. My early statements often lead with external factors like titles, income, and financial rewards. This often led to feeling empty and unfulfilled in my work. Now, when I focus on what makes me internally satisfied, I find myself exactly in the right seat on the right bus.

Jenn Christie, Markitors

Select Word Choice Carefully

A career mission statement should feature your goals, personal values, and previous success. Most importantly though it should showcase your personality. This statement should serve as a differentiator that enables you to stand out from other professionals who work in the same area of expertise. Select language that evokes emotion or is synonymous with your own vernacular. Using linguistics that people assimilate to you will serve to enhance the connection made between you, your way of speaking and those you communicate with, and the career mission statement. Ideally, you’d like for this statement to easily identify you as the professional being described, without needing to be directly identified.

Tyler Butler, 11Eleven Consulting

Culture Of Empowerment

My personal career mission statement has been to, “Create an environment where everyone is empowered to do their best quality work.” My mission was born from my past experience with poor leadership. Find a passion from your past to craft your future. When I became a leader for the first time I was focused on creating a positive environment to work in. The increased sales and better customer experience were a byproduct of taking care of the team. So ask yourself, what is something you want to change, impact or make better?

Steven Brown, DP Electric Inc

Never Stop Improving

I believe there’s always an area for improvement, no matter what you do. Even if you think your outputs’ quality can’t get better, you can always do it faster, use fewer resources, or scale it. When setting career mission statements, it’s crucial not to anchor them around specific job market conditions. They should be universal, so you can still use them when the economic climate changes.

Michael Sena, Senacea

Keep It Tangible And Short

“To recruit, retain, train, and develop the most qualified individuals, for companies whose products/services align with my values.” This is my personal career mission statement. It is my “north star” that reminds me on a daily basis why I chose this career path and why it intrinsically refuels my motivation to continue. When crafting one for yourself, try to keep it as tangible and short as possible. Some of the most memorable mottos are the shortest ones for a reason. The legendary – “Just Do It”, “Think Differently” or “Open Happiness” just to reference a few. More than two sentences is a no-no in my book. At the same time, it shouldn’t be too vague and abstract. Make it personally relatable – to YOU. Ideally, it’s measurable too, so that your “career compass” has some solid footing to stand on.

Jagoda Wieczorek, ResumeLab

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What Career Is Right For Me? 12 Ways To Find The Right Career

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How can someone find what career is right for them?

To help you find what career is right for you, we asked business leaders and HR professionals this question for their best tips. From having a solid understanding of what makes you happy to analyzing your skills, there are several ideas that may help you to find your perfect career.

Here are ten tips to help you find what career is right for you: 

  • Experiment
  • Have a Solid Understanding of What Makes you Happy
  • Network
  • Look At Your Roots
  • Headline
  • Informational Interviews
  • Work Towards a Goal
  • What Did You Enjoy As a Kid?
  • Analyze Your Skills
  • Align Your Passion With a Market Need
  • Seek a Strong Workplace Culture
  • Think About the Impact You Want to Make

Experiment

Regardless of whether you are in college, in the early stages of your career, or you are a seasoned professional, you should always be open to trying something new. This can be through internships, part-time positions, or just freelancing in your spare time. You never know, you might happen upon your dream career!

Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional

Have a Solid Understanding of What Makes you Happy

In order to find the right career for you, you need to have a solid understanding of what makes you truly happy. Too often, people are hyper-focused on salary or culture and end up working in a great job that isn’t the best fit for them. I would recommend identifying what makes you happy then find a way to make money doing what you love. Working in reverse rarely works!

Elliott Greenberg, Touchfree Concepts

Network

Your dream job could be something you don’t even know exists yet. Until you get out and network and talk to people about the careers they love, you might never find a career that is right for you. This also comes in handy if you are actively seeking a job and are open to any career, surveys show that about 85% of jobs are filled through networking! 

Henry Babichenko, DD,  Eurodenture

Look At Your Roots

I firmly believe in looking to your roots to determine how to move forward and when determining what might be best for you. As the oldest of seven children and growing up on a farm in Danville, Alabama, I learned the meaning of hard work at a young age. I grew up raising calves and feeding them by bottles twice a day. Doing this taught me that when something or someone relies on you, you can’t let them down. This led to me exploring careers where I could advocate for the little guys and serve people every day in my job. These roots and life lessons lead me to practice law and put me where I am today. 

Hunter Garnett, Warren & Simpson

Make a Career out of Your Passion

I have always loved sports but had drifted away from this love when I started my professional career at Procter and Gamble. I started a retail position at a local sporting goods store, to entertain my love for sports while waiting to start my MBA program. Before I knew it, I was moved up and promoted at the store and eventually started my own sports summer camp, Camp All-Star, which I ran with my wife for 16 successful years. 

People always say that you can’t make a career out of a passion, but why not? Identify something you love and research career paths relating to that topic. Doing something you love will ensure that you have found the career path that is right for you. Who knows what you will find! 

Craig Rosen, InterviewFocus

Informational Interviews

Do lots and lots of informational interviews! By sitting down with a variety of people who work in verticals you have an interest in, you can get a holistic understanding of what it really takes to occupy that position. Too often, we think we can find our dream job scrolling through LinkedIn or attending career fairs, but neither of those options gives you an insight into the true day-to-day activities.

Blake Murphey, American Pipeline Solutions

Work Towards a Goal

By working towards your goal you may find your real passion or dream career path along the way. I realized that coming out of college, the chances of starting my dream career as a 21-year old was slim. But if I kept working in the right direction to set myself up with valuable experience, I would get there in time. By setting up a plan or direction, you may find that different experiences will lead you down different paths – and you could find yourself doing something you love, that you never even expected. Set up your plan but allow yourself to follow leads and different directions if the opportunities present themselves, you may just end up in your perfect career.

Alexis Orth, Markitors 

What Did You Enjoy As a Kid?

Most people don’t grow up dreaming about repairing appliances. But for some people, being an appliance technician is the perfect career. For anyone looking to discover the right career path, look to your childhood. Did you grow up taking things apart and putting them back together? If so, maybe having a career in appliance repair really could be up your alley. Take a minute to think about what you enjoyed as a kid, and then think about how those early experiences and interests could apply to your future. 

Alex Belladorsi, Appliance Technician

Analyze Your Skills

Finding the right career path is not an easy task and it takes time and effort. In order to make sure that you’re choosing the right job for you, it is important to start by analyzing your skills. Analyze what you like to do, what you are good at, and what jobs these may translate to. The next step is to consult with friends, respected professionals, and career counselors that can help you evaluate your skills and knowledge and give advice on exploring different career paths. Additionally, a career development professional can show you how to make the process of finding a job easier by giving you professional advice. Internships and volunteer opportunities can then serve to reinforce (or not) your career path and can lead you into a life-long career journey.

Ronald Kubitz, Forms+Surfaces

Align Your Passion With a Market Need

The ideal career is found when a person’s skills and passions align with a market need. To balance this equation, consider how you spend your free time and then look for ways to apply elements of that activity to the work world. Sometimes, it’s an easy match – a creative writer who leverages that skill in corporate communications. Other times, it’s not so clear. 

Tim Toterhi, Plotline Leadership

Seek a Strong Workplace Culture

Sometimes it’s not so much about the actual work you are doing, it’s the company who you are working for. And that comes down to workplace culture – a top priority for today’s job seekers. Forward-thinking organizations are able to communicate their workplace culture in words and deeds. This includes setting clear behavior expectations for all employees and providing the leadership, support, policies and training to foster respect, diversity and inclusion. A strong workplace culture provides the foundation for building a career and successfully navigating the opportunities and challenges along the way.

Andrew Rawson, Traliant

Think About the Impact You Want to Make

Cadence Education has more than 200 private preschools and elementary schools across the United States that are full of people who are passionate about inspiring and educating young children. While many children may grow up aspiring to be a teacher, other career options like preschool director, assistant teacher, or even cook can be options to be involved and make an impact in early education. We’ve found that many people working in the Cadence Education Family of Schools found a nice career fit by thinking about the impact they want to make on the world, and finding an outlet to make that dream a reality. 

Jeanne Kolpek, Cadence Education