If you’re reading this, you are a high achiever who wants to level up your career, but something is holding you back.

My guess is that it’s been holding you back for a while and you finally decided it was time for a change.

Perhaps…

• You were passed over for a promotion and you know it’s time to make a move
• Or there’s rumors of layoffs (if you were just laid off, if so I’m glad you’re here)
• Or you’re experiencing burnout and realizing there must be a better way to manage your career
• Or maybe you’ve been on the job search for some time and it has not panned out the way you’d hoped
• Or you’re waking up on Monday morning not at all excited to start your week and realizing it’s time to make a change

You’ve probably been feeling stuck for sometime. My guess is that the thought of a job search right now, in this market, makes you feel overwhelmed.

…why can’t I make this happen? What mistakes am I making?

Let’s break it down. Ready?

Here are the 3 most common mistakes that I see new clients make and how to fix them.

Mistake #1: You're not clear on your next step and how it fits into your career plan.

High achievers don’t like to wait on the sidelines. They like to take action. What does “taking action” mean on the job search?

Applying to new roles.

But here’s the mistake, applying to new roles before setting a long-term strategy for your career and understanding what your short-term options are means that your job search will be scattered and ineffective.

You’ll be putting in a ton of effort without gaining the momentum you need to make it through to the final round interview.

Instead, start by defining the following parameters for your job search.

1. What type of work do you want to be doing in 5 years?
2. What skills will you need to be successful in that future role?
3. Identify 3-5 career paths that could help you gain those missing skillsets.
4. Conduct desktop research and talk to professionals to narrow down your options.

Once you’ve answered these questions, your job search will be laser focused, making it easy for others to help you achieve your goal.

Mistake: Starting your job search without a plan.

Solution: Define your target role and validate it in the market before pressing “go” on your job search.

Mistake #2: Your networking plan is not complete.

People hire people.

When the decision to interview you (or hire you) happens, you won’t be in the room. The next best thing is to have an army of allies who can vouch for your skillset and who will go to bat on your behalf.

Many professionals - myself included - have made the mistake of skipping the networking step of the job search. We think our resume will speak for itself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Not in this job environment.

Let me be clear. It will be close to impossible to find and land a job you love without networking. You can’t do this part of your career alone, you need a village.

How do you stop making this mistake?

You create relationships the right way.

Start by identifying who you need to build connections with, based on where you’d like to end up. Once you have this list, your goal is to find ways to add value to them before you need their support, so you can create a repository of good will.

Mistake: Thinking you don’t need to network.

Solution: Network with the right people who can advocate for you in your target organizations.

Mistake #3: You're selling your skillset without understanding the employers' needs.

A job search is a sales process.

You are the salesperson, selling your skillset as the solution the hiring manager needs.

Any good salesperson knows that, in order to be successful, they need to understand the problem the hiring manager is trying to solve. Once they understand the problem, then they need to outline why their skillset is the right solution.

How do you stop making this mistake?

Do your homework before speaking with a hiring manager. Understand what their goals are, what challenges they’re facing and what solutions they’ve tried.

How do you do this? Conduct desktop research, read news articles, listen to podcasts from executives at the organization, and mine your network for insights.

Then, practice painting a picture to illustrate why you are the best solution. Why your experience gives you unique insights into their situation and how your skills will help them solve the challenges faster and more efficiently.

This reframe works every single time.

Mistake: Communicating your value without understanding the employer’s problem first.

Solution: Take time to understand what the hiring manager wants to achieve by hiring a new team member, then align all your answers to demonstrate why you’re the top candidate.

Finding and landing a role you love requires a shift in mindset and skillset. But it's one of those things no one teaches you how to do.

​But you don’t have to walk this path alone. ​

I can help you find and land a role you love by giving you the strategy, tools and mindset required to make your Mondays exciting again.

After coaching hundreds of professionals to find new roles, leading recruitment teams at Fortune 500 companies and hiring dozens of global team members in my three startups, I know exactly what it takes and can show you what works, what doesn’t work and how to get there faster.

Join the Waitlist for Top Candidate Academy and be the first to hear when our next cohort opens.

Have some questions? Set up time for a clarity call and I’ll walk you through the program.

I can’t wait to see you inside and help you find and land a role you love.

When you’re ready, here are some ways I can support you:

​NEW Book FREE 1:1 Career Clarity call with me Make 2024 YOUR year by setting and achieving your important career goals.

​FREE DOWNLOAD ​The Job Search Playbook Fix the 3 mistakes that are holding you back from finding and landing a new role you love.

​