Joyce Richman: Changing careers? Find someone who you can trust

Thank you for your recent questions. Here are a few answers:

Q: I want to change careers but need help figuring it out. Who can I go to?

A: Your go-to people can be anyone from licensed career counselors and coaches to friends, family or associates. Whats important is that they understand todays workplace, ask you good questions and listen as you describe your circumstances. They should get to know your strengths, hopes and expectations, and feel comfortable hearing about your challenges and fears. Go to someone who helps you identify a direction that works for you based upon who you are as a person. Someone who is objective and doesnt have skin in the game.

Q: If you find a job youd like to have, but you dont meet all the requirements like youre missing one key factor is it worth applying?

A: Its worth applying if you have most of the experience required. However, if what you are missing is a key requirement, its doubtful that youll be a serious contender. One of the best ways to find out is to network your way to someone involved in the search who will be aware of how key that factor really is.

Q: How do you get past the gatekeeper at a large company and get to someone who might actually understand what you do and how you might benefit the company?

A: Network by putting the word out through your personal contacts, professional leads and association memberships that youd like to talk to the person who heads up Department X in Company Y. Youll be surprised how quickly you find the contact information youre looking for.

Q: Should I bother with the Internet? Ive heard that only 1 percent of those looking get jobs that way.

A: Yes, bother with the Internet, and heres why: More and more companies are relying on the Internet to find candidates through job postings and online networking. Networking continues to be the best way to connect with opportunities and it has expanded well beyond traditional meetings, lunches and drinks after work. Thanks to the Internet you can meet up regardless of time zones or national boundaries. If you dont know what to do because youre out of touch with technology, ask your children or the kids next door to bootstrap your efforts. And offer to pay them for their effort so everyone earns a little something on the deal.

Q: What is that software that scans your rsum?

A: Think of it as an automated system that can define criteria and then scan, slice, dice, sort, filter and reduce a mountain of rsums to a mighty molehill of survivors deemed worthy of pursuit.

Given the softwares ability to sideline your rsum, do what savvy searchers do to stay in the game: Rework before you respond. Review the companys Web site to learn about its vision, mission and values. Incorporate its thinking and wording in your rsum. Catalog your skills and describe your strengths the same way theyre outlined in the positions job description.

Joyce Richman is a career coach, leadership development consultant, and author of "Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job" and "Roads, Routes & Ruts: A Guidebook for Career Success". You can read her blog at www.richmanresources.com or call 3P Career at (540) 989-0046.