Congratulations! You didn’t quit yet.

Woohoo! 

It's awesome that you're still with me! Well done, kids. Remember our numbers game? 71% of people have given up on their resolutions by now. Aww. We feel sad for them, but while they are cozying up next to a fire with hot toddies, (I know, I know - I'd like one too.) we are still out trudging our fifteen miles uphill through the snow. Queue the old man "back in my day" voice. We are still striving to be part of the extra mile club. Read that again, I said "extra" mile club. That teeny weeny percentage of people out there who actually achieve their resolution goals. #LikeABoss

Your mission - if you had chosen to accept - was to start brainstorming as the first step of the career change process. Some of those thoughts were:  What do I really enjoy? What do I want to achieve? Do I have a current resume? What kinds of companies might I be of value to?.

Today let's focus on & disrupt the way you think about resumes, your internet footprint & job opportunities. 

On Resumes -

• No one yearns to write their resume. In spite of mountains of text, your "Je Ne Sais Quois" is no where near brightly enough illuminated. It's tough to harness your career essence in writing, but you've got to do it. You wouldn't wear all black in a sea of goth clad people if you are trying to stand out, right? No, you'd represent in something more vibrant. 

• Re-imagine this as a career sales document. You are trying to sell your future employer on  your enthusiasm, achievements, skill set. Ensure that you highlight particular points that will be appealing to a specific organization. Ex. If you seeking an inventory control role, but your resume barely speaks to it - you are wasting not only the employers, but your time and an opportunity. Remember, it's the job of your resume to highlight why you are a difference maker and connect the dots as to how you might make a difference for them.  

• If you are struggling, seek out a service for assistance. I promise the ROI will be way better than your monthly Starbucks investment. 

Your Internet Footprint -

• Unless you've lived under a rock for the last 10 years, you have one. Whether you know it or not. When is the last time you googled or binged yourself? You may not want to see, but you should know what it looks like out there. Your social media identity highlighting all those super fun ladies nights in college may not align with the professional you are today. Ladders has some great advice on maintaining a squeak-clean online identity here. 

• Don't believe me? According to an survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported by Hunt Scanlon more than one-third of companies have rejected job candidates due to concerns about public social media or other results located in on-line searches. 84% of organizations recruit via social media. Unless the Big Bang part 2 happens, I'm going to go out on a limb and say I think these numbers will continue to rise. 

Job Opportunities - 

• While it's great to look at job postings for a gut check on what's out there, allow me to offer another perspective. Focus more on what companies you want to work for. The same job will feel very different from one company to the next, pending culture, etc. You don't necessarily need to apply for a posted job to gain employment at a new organization

• That's where I come in! Leveraging my contacts, I can serve as your career agent to market you to the companies you really want to work for instead of merely accepting an available job. Companies may create roles for candidates with the most desirable skill sets in their respective fields vs. allowing their competitors to gain MVPs. Together, we can get you to the organization that will feel like home and propel you to the next level of your career.

Stay tuned for next week’s installment of the next step in your career change process. Remember, I’m committed to success in 2016 right along with you. #YouGotThis

In the meantime, there’s nothing better than working with good people, so drop me a line!

E-mail: info at connorcaitlin.com  Twitter: @deenasullivancc