Career Coach Dezzi

10/09/2023

09/27/2023

09/26/2023

I saw a post this weekend in one of the recruiter groups I'm a part of about a candidate whose offer got rescinded because the background check came back and he had fudged on his educational credentials. A plethora of comments ensued in response about the consequences that other recruiters had seen- including people being fired years after discovery.
Don't lie on your resume. It has consequences, and it will come back to haunt you down the road, even if you think you've gotten away with it. And even if it doesn't, you'll always be wondering when you'll get caught.
Honesty is always the best policy. You don't have to resort to disingenuous tactics to land a job. Just be persistent, hit your weekly metrics, mix up your job applications with networking. I promise you'll land a job without worrying about what will come back to haunt you down the road.

09/26/2023

There’s nothing like seeing people announce their new jobs on LinkedIn and knowing I played a part in them getting there- especially when they’ve been struggling for so long on their own, and then land interviews and offers in just a matter of weeks after we start working together. On the flip s...

09/22/2023

Job search tip: gamify it! Learn to look at your job search like you’re playing Super Mario!

08/30/2023

How many of these signs of job search fatigue are you currently experiencing?

It’s important keep in mind that job search fatigue happens to everyone- and it doesn’t come on suddenly. It gets worse and worse over time because most job searchers ignore the signs and don’t know how to mitigate it, and when it gets to be too much, it’s taken so much out of you already, so it’s more difficult to rebound.

My biggest advice is to not only be aware of the signs and to take the necessary precautions sooner rather than later. If you’re at a point where you feel like you’re at your breaking point, consider hiring a job search strategist or career coach who can help you get to the finish line faster.

08/12/2023

I snagged a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for $0.86 and found some sweet job search lessons in the process!

(Um, hi, Krispy Kreme marketing team! If you’re watching this, maybe you could do a halfway-to-the-next-anniversary giveaway every January too. Suggesting for a Krispy Kreme-loving friend.)

08/08/2023

One of the best things about being a career coach/job search strategist is getting to share in the joy of someone whose life and the lives of their loved ones have changed for the better because they landed a job, and knowing I helped them get there. One of the things that haunts me the most are the posts of panic and desperation, the conversations with people who are DIY'ing their job search- especially in this Job Search Crazytown Muckymuck we're currently in- and knowing they're suffering through job search hell when they don't have to. If you're in danger of losing your job, or you've already lost your job, this article's for you. If it's been months and months and months since you started job searching and you're coming up empty, this article's for you too.

There’s nothing like seeing people announce their new jobs on LinkedIn and knowing I played a part in them getting there- especially when they’ve been struggling for so long on their own, and then land interviews and offers in just a matter of weeks after we start working together. On the flip s...

08/02/2023

Reed Jobs will head the firm that stems from Emerson Collective, which his mother Laurene Powell Jobs created and largely funded with the Apple founder’s fortune.

07/28/2023

Womp womp facepalm. 🤦‍♀️

Twitter’s rebranding to X has not been faring well.

In addition to the haphazard rollout, which saw parts of the site referencing “X” while other parts still implored you to “search Twitter” or push a blue button to “Tweet,” the company didn’t secure the intellectual property rights to the X brand.

Microsoft has owned an X trademark since 2003 related to Xbox and Meta has owned a federal trademark since 2019 covering a blue-and-white letter “X.” While its logo looks different from Twitter’s new X branding, Meta’s trademark includes use with online social networking services, which may pose a problem.

Read more on Twitter's rebranding rollout issues from Sarah Perez here: https://tcrn.ch/44U0iNC

07/28/2023

Shoutout to my Tech Barbies, especially my fun, fierce, fearless ladies who have successfully pivoted from non-tech jobs and into tech careers.

When it comes to Women In Tech:

…while women make up 47% of all employed adults in the US, as of 2022, they hold only 28% of computing and mathematical roles, only 15% of engineering jobs and only 34.4% of the workforce at the largest tech companies, with women identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander making up just 7% of the IT workforce and black and hispanic women accounting for 3% and 2% respectively.

…the ratio of women to men in tech roles has declined in the past 35 years, with half of women who go into tech dropping out by age 35.

Take a bow, my incredible Tech Barbies! 💻👩‍💻 You know who you are, and I couldn't be prouder of you all! I’m celebrating their amazing journey of determination, resilience, and success in the world of tech! 🎉

When I first met these fantastic ladies, they had tech dreams as big as the moon! 🚀 But, oh boy, the naysayers were out in full force. "Tech is not for you. You’re a girl.” ‘You’re too pretty to be doing this.” "It’s going to take you over a year to land your job. You might as well find a guy to marry for a green card so you can stay here.” Why don't you try something easier?" (Ha! We've all heard it, haven't we?)

But did they give up? No way! They showed the world that they were more than just pretty faces – they were smart, capable, and destined for greatness in the tech world! These ladies proved that tech is for everyone with passion and determination! 🔥

I feel extremely honored to have been a part of their career success journey into tech. And I'm beyond excited to see them landing their first jobs in tech! 🎉

To all the haters who said they couldn't do it, well, look who's laughing now! 😜 These Tech Barbies are the real deal, and they're here to conquer the tech industry.

So, if you ever come across someone who tells you that you can't achieve your dreams, remember these Tech Barbies! They're living proof that with passion, hard work, and a sprinkle of tech magic, anything is possible! ✨

Keep chasing those dreams, supporting each other, and remember: tech knows no boundaries!

07/08/2023

I use fitness as an analogy when I work with job searchers because there are so many similarities between looking for a job and getting fit, and my own fitness journey mirrors all the highs, lows of job searching.

You have to start with a goal. Then, you have to come up with a strategy based on who you are. Then, you break it down into monthly, weekly and daily actions. Metrics is important. Then, you analyze what’s working and what’s not and you modify. But the most important thing is that you hit those metrics. And you just keep showing up.

There will be great days. There will be bad days. There will be days when you don’t or can’t do what you’re supposed to do so you give yourself grace but you get back on the treadmill. And there always is a phase where you hit a wall or you plateau and frustration and despair set in, but as long as you trust the process and know that it’s just a stage of that process, you’ll get there.

Just like getting fit, landing a job doesn’t happen overnight. But if you’re persistent and consistent, and you look to others who have succeeded to inspire you and you have experts who know what they’re doing to guide you, you will reach your goal.

And when you reach your goal, all the pain and frustration will melt away and you’ll stand proud and happy that you stuck to it.

07/06/2023

Would you rather have a root canal than write a cold email?

A well-crafted email could lead to your next job, but most people shy away from it because they don’t know how to do it.

(BTW, yes, this is an actual email that hit my inbox. While I laud the person who sent it for simply sending it, the “Hey, gorgeous!” Is not the greeting I consider appropriate nor professional, even though I do prefer a more casual tone over “Dear ma’am/madam” or “Dear Ms. Marshall”. )

Here are some tips to help you get better at sending cold reachouts:

1. For salutations, stick with “Hi, (recipient’s first name)”. I’ve gotten “Yo!”, “Yo Yo Yo!”, “Wassup”, “S’up” and “Hey” and I’m sure most would agree with me when I say, well, just don’t.

2. Tailor your tone. Be polite and professional, but not overly friendly.

3. Avoid colloquialisms. Stick to clear and concise language that is easily understood.

Remember, when in doubt, err on the side of caution and lean towards a more formal tone when communicating with new contacts or in a more conservative business environment.

If you need help crafting your email reachout, resume or LinkedIn profile, building a target list of potential job prospects or coming up with a job search strategy to land your job much sooner, with less frustration and no guesswork, send me a connect request!

07/05/2023

📢 Excited to share the highlights of my recent "Whine, Wine, Career Coach Lifeline" Job Search AMA event with all of you! 🌟 It was great to have job searchers come together to discuss challenges, wins, and support each other. Thank you to everyone who joined me last Monday! 👏🤝

🎉 We created a fun, casual, free-wheeling safe space to ensure actionable takeaways, more connections, inspiration, and encouragement. Based on the response, I intend to make this a monthly event! Stay tuned! 💼🗓️

Here are the top 5 takeaways from the session for those who couldn't make it:

1️⃣ Don't let Negative Nellies discourage you when pivoting into a new role or industry. Expect pushback and gatekeeping (Are they gatekeeping because they don't want you to encroach on their perceived territory? Are they people who think that because they had to suffer to land their job that you have to suffer too?), focus on feedback from trusted sources. Look for boosters who inspire you and connect you with valuable contacts. 💪

2️⃣ Boost your success rate by finding an accountability partner. Research shows that job searchers who meet regularly and follow through on their goals have a 95% success rate! Partner up and achieve your career goals faster. I can personally attest to the fact that job searchers who who met with on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and do what they're supposed to do land their jobs sooner than their peers.) 👥

3️⃣ Unlock the power of mentorship! Having a mentor during your job search can provide invaluable guidance, support, and access to resources and networks. They will enhance your chances of securing meaningful employment and accelerate your career growth. 🌟🤝

4️⃣ You have the flexibility to choose your path even after pivoting. Don't feel trapped by your initial investment. Explore different avenues and turn your unique tech skills into your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)! Over the years, I've had people go "I invested so much time and money into learning X so now I feel I have to pursue a job as a X". Don't do that to yourself, especially if you know in your heart that you'll be miserable. I've had Computer Science majors and bootcamp grads who found that the thought of coding everyday actually does make them want to throw up so instead of going into software engineering, they found their dream jobs in product management, tech writing, sales engineering, data analysis, UX/UI, etc. instead. 🚀💡

5️⃣ Think beyond traditional job boards! Explore job leads on platforms like Reddit, Slack, Discord, and Twitter. There are hidden gems waiting to be discovered if you know where to look. 🌐💼

If you'd like to be notified about the next "Whine, Wine, Career Coach Lifeline" hangout, sign up for my Escape From Job Search Hell newsletter. 📧🔔 You'll gain access to exclusive updates, weekly job search tips, job alerts, and valuable resources to make your job search easier. 🙌🚀

06/30/2023

For anyone who's job searching or are worried about having to go on a job search, I'm hosting a free, super-chill online event that I call "Whine, Wine, Career Coach Lifeline" where I'll answer as many job search-related questions (why do I not hear back from my applications, how do I make my resume ATS-friendly, what does the job market look like now, how is AI going to affect my current job, do recruiters even read cover letters, when do I talk about salary and how, etc. etc.).

It's inspired by a message I recently got from someone who said, "Thank you again. You were so much more effective than my therapist. LOL! Not that there's anything wrong with my therapist. But you had the magic pill to quell my (job search) fears, mental blocks, anxiety, etc.)".

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/job-searchers-whine-wine-career-coach-lifeline-tickets-667108598777?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/27/2023

If job searching were a gym, which type of job searcher would you be and how can you enhance your routine? 🏋️ 1️⃣ The Marathon Runner: They're the steady eddies of the job search world. They pace themselves and are consistent, doing their best to hit their weekly job search metrics.

06/24/2023

Condé Nast is seeking an assistant for the "Vogue" editor-in-chief, making the plot of the 2006 hit movie "The Devil Wears Prada" a reality.