There are many reasons why people find themselves in situations where a career transition is necessary. Maybe you have lost interest in your current career path or maybe your company is downsizing and it's time for something new.

If you are among those facing a career dilemma, here are 6 steps you can follow to make a successful career change possible.

1. Identify your natural talents and abilities. Assessment tools such as DISC and Strength Finders can help you identify what makes you tick. There are skills that you prefer to use on a regular basis that excite and motivate you. However, you probably have a plethora of skills that you are required to tap into that burn you out. Knowing the difference is key. 
2. Research career alternatives - that leverage the skills that motivate you most and minimize the skills that burn you out the fastest. Brainstorm ideas with friends, family and networking contacts to uncover potential alternatives. You can also find a ton of information by simply Googling careers that interest you.
3. Schedule informational interviews - over coffee or lunch with those in the target field and similar roles. You want to get a better understanding of what a typical day is like and the challenges you may face.
4. Spend time shadowing your target role - to get a feel for what it would be like. Shadowing professionals in your field of interest will provide first hand observation of the work. 
5. Consider volunteering or interning in the field - to get a feel for culture and types of personalities you may encounter in the target industry and role. For example, if you are thinking of becoming a software developer, try building apps for free or contributing to an open source project.
6. Take training classes to upgrade your skills - to prepare for your new career journey ahead. Find educational opportunities that would bridge the gap between existing transferrable skills and necessary skills you will need to be considered as a qualified candidate. Also look for ways to develop new skills in your current role that lay the foundation for change. 

​Simply revising your resume with related keywords and blasting it across job boards is not going to cut it if you want real change. However, If you are feeling the desire to disrupt your current career path and re-think what move is best for you at the next stage of your career, taking these steps towards your goal will be worth the investment.

Of course not, but ATSs or Applicant Tracking Systems do.
If you have ever applied to a job online then you need to learn the language of the ATS!
ATSs search resumes using keywords to bring the most qualified applicants to the top of the list. They are a huge timesaver for HR and have eliminated the need to sort through hundreds of resumes for each position.

► However, while they are highly efficient... they are not always accurate!
As an HR Professional, I have experienced first-hand many cases where a highly qualified applicant was lost to the black hole of the ATS database.

Why? They didn’t have the “right” keywords in their resume. I’m going to show you how to speak the “language” of the ATS so you can get your resume into the hands of a human, fast!
It’s all about KEYWORDS.

But not just any keywords or phrases, they are very specific. ATS’s are not able to infer the meaning of keywords or interpret any variances to the keywords in your resume.
ATSs speak a very static language and the system is looking for “specific” key word matches. Where do they come from? They are entered into the system by hiring managers or HR professionals to describe the qualities they want candidates to have for a specific job.
How do you find them?

✔ All you need to do is to look at the Job Description.
The job description will contain the same keywords that the ATS is looking for in your resume. You can try services like Wordle or TagCrowd to help you figure out which keywords to focus on.
Once you have them identified you will want to make note of how they are spelled or listed and sprinkle them throughout your resume in the exact same format.

Pay close attention to:
★Plurals ★Abbreviations ★Numbers ★Hyphens ★Acronyms ★Synonyms
For example, are they listed…

• CPA or Certified Public Accountant?
• MBA or Master of Business Administration?
• CRM or Salesforce?
• 5 Yrs. Experience or Five Years’ Experience?
• Nonprofit or Non-profit?
• 2018 or ’18?

​It is essential to tailor the content of your resume to the EXACT key words or phrasing that is included in the job description. Otherwise, the system will not match you with those skills.
The more skills you are a match for, the more qualified the system sees you. It ultimately ranks applicants based on keyword matching and the higher the ranking the more likely you are to get noticed by a potential employer.
It’s just that simple!

“There is so much conflicting information online..." 
"At this point I’m ready to give up and pay you so I know it’s taken care of correctly.”This conversation with my client last week is not uncommon. 

​There is a lot of advice out there! 

• Some of my clients get feedback from well intentioned colleagues, friends or family who are trying to help but actually do more harm than good.
• There are also many resume writers who feel they have it figured out because of their writing ability or independent research. Or, they might be graph, chart or Word savvy and assume that this is the ticket to resume traction.
• Then there are those who are self proclaimed experts because they see one way working online and get behind it only to promote that method to their advantage.

My process is quite a bit different.

The answer is, there is no perfect "Resume Recipe".
There are industry standards, formatting guidelines to avoid ATS rejection and preferences that hiring managers and recruiters have to make their job easier. But, when it comes to content, that is never the same from one client to the next.

Why? "Because every person is uniquely different!"My approach to resume writing is:

1. Collaboration
2. Customization 
3. Differentiation

I have direct experience with the corporate recruiting funnel and have worked closely with those in that process. I know what they are looking for and how the system works. I am also a certified HR professional and behavioral analyst who understands ATS systems, networking and job search strategy. I fully understand what a resume needs to be effective on all levels throughout the entire process.
However, what truly makes me different is that I am a trusted partner with my clients and work to leverage their accomplishments in a way that sets them apart from the competition who is equally qualified by virtue of education and experience.

​I don’t use templates, buzz words, catch phrases or filler. I create resumes that represent you!

My clients get noticed and remembered for all the right reasons. They transition their careers faster, negotiate higher offers and move forward in positions aligned to their strengths with full confidence!