Interview Series - Career Experts - Biron Clark from Career Sidekick CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Biron Clark from Career Sidekick In this interview series, we caught up with Biron Clarkfrom Career Sidekickwho shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change,etc.in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your company evalCareerSidekickis a job search advice website read by 900,000 people per month.How did youget started? I found my first job as a Recruiter on craigslist, believe it or not. From there, I founded my job search blog, CareerSidekick, shortly after.evalHow did you get started in this path? Is this something you decided early on in your career? This is not something I decided on early in my career. I studied Finance at the University of Massachusetts but couldn’t find a job in Finance. I felt like school hadn’t really prepared me to job hunt.It’s ironic that a couple years later, I was working as a Recruiter and helping other people navigate their job hunt successfully.What is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry? The best part for me is the emails and comm ents I get from job seekers who I’ve helped. It makes my day What is the best Career Advice you’ve ever received?Don’t fear failure.I’ve had some great bosses who have encouraged me to try new things, make mistakes, take on challenges, and not be afraid to fail.That’s some of the best advice, in my opinion. I’d recommend trying to find a boss or manager who encourages this.Failure is how you learn and how you discover what you’re capable of. It’s not something to fear.Sir Richard Branson has a great quote on the topic:“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes â€" then learn how to do it later!”How do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert? I speak with colleagues frequently on the phone or via video chats, I read books and articles, I collaborate with other industry experts to co-author articles quite frequently.I also frequently talk to my readers to ask what they’re struggling with, what’s working best, and what’s not working, so I can make sure the advice I offer is up-to-date and 100% current.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?I see job seekers struggle to understand what employers really look for when deciding who to interview and hire.I also see job seekers putting too much importance on formal education and not realizing that the #1 thing employers want in most cases in direct, real-world experience.eval How should job seekers approach job search today?Networking and applying directly to companies that interest you is what’s working best right now A great boss can serve as a mentor and launch your career forward; a bad boss will frustrate you and maybe even hold you back from growing!What is one advice you would give someone who is switching careers?Look for ways to make your past experience seem as relevant as possible to employers you want to work for next.Find the “overlaps” and highlight them on your resume and in the inter view. That’s how to change careers without having to “start over” or take a big step backward.What is the biggest trend I’ve spoken to hiring managers who review 20 resumes and can’t find one that’s tailored to the job and really shows the relevant skills that the hiring manager is looking for.So as a job seeker, if you focus on sending a couple of really high-quality applications per day to jobs you’re really a great fit for, you should get better results than sending out a high volume of low-quality applications to all sorts of jobs.Biron, what are your currently working on?I’m working on releasing an in-depth job search course with 7+ hours of video.I’m also working on turning my website, CareerSidekick, into far more than just a career advice blog. It should look a lot different one year from now.What are the best resources you recommend to job seekers? LinkedIn Learningis great. It’s an online platform offering 10,000+ courses for a single monthly subscripti on. I’m also a big fan of books because they’re such an affordable way to learn from experts.Many books on Amazon are $5-10 and walk you step-by-step through learning a new skill (like writing your resume, networking to get more interviews, etc.).I recently put together alist of the top job search booksI recommend.What is the best way for our audience to reach you? I’m always open to connecting onLinkedIn.Connect with Biron Clark on Social Media:LinkedInTwitterFacebook PageBiron Clark and Career Sidekick have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€" Top Career Advice Websites.