Your dream job may be around the corner

Looking for a career change, or ways to move up in your current career? Local experts offer some effective advice for finding – or creating –

a job you love.

Figure out what you want

When career coach Melanie Keveles of Superior meets with a client, she often asks this question: “If I were God, and I could grant you any job, tell me, what would your perfect job description be?”

The answer might help point someone toward a career that could be truly satisfying, Keveles says. But many people don’t ever ask themselves the

question, instead sticking with labels and job categories they already know even though they may not be fulfilling.

If you’re looking to make a job or career change, Keveles recommends

thinking about the “high points in your life, when time goes by so quickly you don’t notice it.” What were you doing? How could you work those skills into a job?

If nothing comes to mind, Keveles suggests going to a bookstore and

browsing through some magazines that are unfamiliar to you. Visit “iTunes U,” a free online collection of college lectures, and listen to a few that seem appealing. Check out www.fabjob.com and see how other people are making a living doing what they love.

“There’s nothing wrong with getting more education, but a lot of times,

people invest in all this education without up-front thinking,” Keveles says.

Do your research

OK, so you’ve found your dream occupation. Now, can you find a way to

get paid to do it and still live close to your friends and family?

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development collects and crunches data on jobs that are most in demand statewide and in 11 regions of the state. It also lists the median salaries for those

jobs, what kind of education or training is needed and the career growth rate.

For instance, in 2009, registered nurses were more in demand than any

other job in the state. In the Arrowhead region, nursing aides and orderlies were the No. 1 jobs available, while in the metro area, registered nurses were again in the most demand.

Visit www.positivelyminnesota.com. The ranking will be updated this month.

Network to get there

Everyone says it: network, network, network. But do they do it effectively?

"People don't understand the true importance of networking," says Elaine

Hansen, director of the University of Minnesota Duluth Center for Economic

Development, and co-founder of the Professional Women’s Network.

Building an effective network is about "talking to people and connecting

on a personal level," Hansen says. "It's finding a mentor that can aid you in your career, it's finding people you can talk to."

It means turning to people whose advice and skills you trust, Hansen says.

She suggests beginning with a former employer with whom you've maintained

a good relationship, or asking friends for recommendations.

"And you can network with someone you don't know," Hansen says. Begin by

calling a potential networker – don’t email or send a text message – and

ask a basic question. Hansen suggests opening the conversation this way: “I am so-and-so, and I understand that you have expertise in this certain area,” she says. “Would you be willing to talk with me for 15 minutes over coffee, at your convenience?”

Hansen has found that most people are willing to share their experience with those who seek it, and this is the basis of good networking. Stay in touch and remember, there can never be too many people in your network, Hansen says.

Ask for help

A number of local job training programs and career counseling agencies

help unemployed or underemployed people as well as those who want better

jobs.

One is the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training. “People don’t

know we’re here,” says Michelle Ufford, executive director. The agency has seven area locations, with headquarters in Virginia.

It offers free help with resumes, writing cover letters, workshops on how

to hone interview skills and more. For those who meet income guidelines, the Office of Job Training has retraining and education programs.

People who lose their jobs tend to panic, Ufford says. “They take anything.

… If people are much more purposeful about their job search, they will be

happier.”

Agency staff can help clients match their skills with their career goals, Ufford says. Call (888) 438-5627 and enter your zip code to find an office location. And do it early in your job search.

Polish the package

If your soft skills are lacking – well, everything you just learned may be for naught.

“The interpersonal, people skills – that’s what employers are looking for

more and more,” says Jim Laumeyer, a consultant who owns and operates

Laumeyer Human Resource Solutions. Employers want workers who are

pleasant to be around, who make others feel comfortable and who contribute to team environments, he says.

But how do you know if your soft skills need some work? Ask a trusted

co-worker for an honest opinion, Laumeyer says. Ask. “what do you like

about working with me, and what would you like to see change about working

with me?” he suggests.

“Most of us are not bad people,” Laumeyer says. “ … But most of us don’t

really realize how we are being perceived.” Improving that perception

might be the key to advancement in the workplace. “The answer might not be

$5,000 spent on another degree,” Laumeyer says. “It might be much closer

to home.”

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