In the first of five posts, we welcome guest blogger Phil Bolton to the FreshMinds Talent blog. A qualified accountant with 10 years at Deloitte, Phil is now a career coach who helps his clients find success and happiness at work.
The theme of the blogs is the 3 secrets to career success - we’ll post one every Monday for the next 3 weeks, with a handy round-up in week 4. Over to you Phil…
So you’re ready to take your career to the next level and find that ideal job?
When you succeed, you’ll take on new challenges, increased responsibility, and find work that is stimulating, enjoyable and rewarding.
The only catch? Finding the role that fits you perfectly, then making yourself the ideal candidate so getting hired is a formality.
This may sound a little daunting, however landing your dream role isn’t rocket science.
In this series, I’ll share some of the secrets I’ve learned in my years as a professional career coach to help you stand out and successfully get the job you want.
Each week, I’ll cover one of the 3 secret “C”s:
1. Clarity
If you’ve ever been involved in hiring, think about the candidates you really loved and wanted to hire immediately. What did they have in common?
In my experience, the answer is clarity. Outstanding candidates are completely focused on the job. They believe that they are the ideal person to fill the role. They can clearly articulate why their skills and background are a perfect fit for the organisation.
When you meet these candidates, it is compelling – you can see the belief in their eyes.
To be one of those candidates, you’ll need to get clear on what you are looking for from your ideal job.
To get started, spend some time preparing a one paragraph summary of the job you are looking for. Be as specific about the type of company, industry, and role you would like.
This crystal clear statement will help you to focus on finding the right role for you. Next week, you’ll build on this foundation.
2. Confidence
Before anyone else can believe in you, you’ll need to believe in yourself.
The best candidates approach every position as a two-way interview process. When you have that confidence, you put yourself ahead of the pack.
To develop confidence you need to be extremely well prepared. You’ll also need to be able to confidently articulate your skills and demonstrate how you have put them to work.
To start developing confidence today, take some time to review your experience and list out the top 10 skills that you have developed. Practice talking about your skills to someone you trust and ask for feedback – practice builds confidence.
3. Charisma
Charisma is about presenting yourself in a remarkable way.
The best candidates tend to have that X Factor that leaves them lingering in the interviewers mind, long after the interview is over.
You don’t need to be Bill Clinton to learn some of the secrets of making a great impression at interview. Contrary to popular belief, you can learn how to sparkle.
I’ll share some powerful techniques for giving an outstanding interview – how to structure the conversation, develop a great rapport and ask the right questions.
Land that job
At the end of this series, you’ll feel focused, confident and ready to land your ideal job.
You’ll be able to clearly articulate exactly what you are looking for, tell your career story with gusto and stand out at interview.
If you’re ready to find your perfect job, please tune in next week for the first C - Clarity.
About the author:
Phil Bolton is a professional career coach at Less Ordinary Living. Phil helps his clients find career success and work that they love. Phil is a qualified accountant, having spent 10 years at Deloitte in professional services. For the last 3 years, he has partnered with hundreds of professionals to accelerate their career journeys.
If you’d like to find out more, please email Phil here, or visit his website.
