Career Pathing Strategies

I've reviewed 2,000+ resumes this year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make. 1. Generic Summaries ❌ "Motivated professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." ✅ "Marketing Director who increased e-commerce revenue 47% through data-driven campaigns and strategic partnerships." 2. Missing Numbers ❌ "Led large team and improved sales." ✅ "Led 15-person sales team to deliver $3.2M in new business, exceeding targets by 28%." 3. Cluttered Formatting ❌ Tiny margins, dense paragraphs, and multiple fonts. ✅ Clean headers, consistent bullet points, and enough white space for easy scanning. 4. Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college. ✅ Your most relevant accomplishments from the past 10-15 years that showcase your career progression. 5. RESPONSIBILITY LISTS ❌ "Responsible for managing client relationships and handling complaints." ✅ "Retained 98% of key accounts and turned 3 dissatisfied clients into top referral sources." 6. ATS-UNFRIENDLY DESIGN ❌ Creative formats with graphics, text boxes, and unique fonts. ✅ Clean, standard formatting with relevant keywords that match the job description. Your resume has 7 seconds to make an impression.  Use these tips to make them count. Share this to help others level up their resume! 📈 And follow me for more advice like this.

Part 2: 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (Part 1: see https://lnkd.in/eNP8ih5Y) (Part 3: see https://lnkd.in/eYAnkeVS) Michael Porter’s Five Forces framework has shaped how managers and academics analyze industries. It remains an elegant way to map the external environment at the industry level. Porter’s view of strategy, however, was forged in an era when industries were stable, boundaries were clear, and competitive advantage was largely internal. The external environment was portrayed as hostile: every force around the firm���suppliers, buyers, new entrants, rivals, and substitutes—was a potential threat to profitability. Strategy was about defending margins, erecting barriers, and capturing value. But today’s reality is far more fluid. Industries blend into one another, technologies converge, and value is co-created across networks. The same actors that once appeared only as adversaries have become indispensable partners for innovation, agility, and growth. Competitors may share platforms; suppliers co-develop technologies; customers co-create solutions; and substitutes may reveal entirely new markets. If we look at the business world through this new lens, Porter’s five “forces” can also be five “sources” of advantage. Collaboration doesn’t replace competition—it complements it. The real challenge for managers is to find the balance point along a continuum that runs from pure competition to deep collaboration. * Competitors remain rivals, but also potential partners in standard-setting, data sharing, or open-source development. * New entrants are disruptors, but also agile innovators with whom incumbents can partner, invest, or co-develop. * Suppliers can squeeze margins—but when engaged early in design, they become co-innovators. Toyota’s keiretsu model and Unilever’s annual innovation summits with strategic suppliers both show how collaboration can yield efficiency and renewal. * Customers may demand more, but their insights and data now drive innovation. Co-creation platforms—from LEGO Ideas to Tesla’s user forums—turn buyers into creative partners. * Substitutes, once seen only as threats, can signal new opportunities. Netflix, for instance, transformed from a DVD substitute to a platform that redefined how entertainment is consumed. The comparative table below contrasts Porter’s competitive interpretation of each force with a collaborative perspective—a framework better suited when success depends as much on connection as on protection. #Strategy #Innovation #Ecosystems #Collaboration #OpenInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #MichaelPorter #BlueOceanStrategy #Coopetition #Agility #ValueCreation #Management

Next time you start a new job, do this in your first month: Create a personal accomplishment tracker. It doesn't need to be fancy. 👉 A blank section of a notebook 👉 An empty Excel spreadsheet  👉 A new OneNote or Notion page Just make it something you'll be able to find and access easily. Then set a 15-minute block somewhere in your week to come and record wins. "Wins? But I literally just started, I'm still training." That's okay! Write down the small stuff. ✅ Finished onboarding paperwork!  ✅ Conversation with skip manager!  ✅ Ran my first report in the new CRM! The idea is to build the weekly habit of writing down wins BEFORE you get busy. In time, you'll have ever-growing list of all the awesome stuff you've done and the progress you've made in your new job. This is immensely helpful for several reasons: 🤝 Supervisor Updates & 1:1s It's SO much easier to prepare for these when your past self is reminding you of the most important things you did last week. 💼 Performance Reviews & Promotions Justify your raise by showing your leaders all the ways you added value this year. Advocate for yourself and prove that you're ready for that next role. 🖹 Resume Updates It's hard to remember your metrics from years ago. Start writing your future self's resume NOW. Just make sure your tracker is saved somewhere you'll still have access to when you leave. 😊 Confidence Whenever you're discouraged or feel imposter syndrome creeping in, go read your list. Remind your present self that you ARE adding value. You ARE good at your job. Starting this habit early on in your new role is super helpful, and it's something I regret not doing more of throughout my career. And to everyone who's reading this and saying, "I started my job ages ago, I guess I missed the boat, huh." There's no reason you can't start this habit today. How do you track your professional accomplishments? 

Why applying to more jobs isn't the answer (and what is). 👇 Many job seekers fall into the trap of "panic applying" - frantically submitting applications to countless positions or rushing into degree programs. While this might feel like progress, it's often an ineffective strategy that can lead you down the wrong path. I learned this lesson early in my career. Initially, I was set on becoming a journalist. And if I had blindly pursued that path, I would have ended up in a role that clashed with my strengths and values - long hours, low pay, and constant deadlines. All things I despise. The key to avoiding this pitfall is to slow down and invest time in self-discovery and strategic relationship-building. Here's a more effective approach: 🍊 Self-Reflection: Deeply understand what you truly want in your next opportunity. What are your strengths, values, and deal-breakers? 🍊 Market Research: Investigate the demand for roles that interest you and what it takes to succeed in them. 🍊 Informational Interviews: Speak with professionals in your target roles or industries. Their insights are invaluable for making informed decisions. 🍊 Relationship Building: Focus on creating connections rather than just submitting applications. While it might seem time-consuming, it's often the shortcut to the top of the resume pile. 🍊 Targeted Opportunities: Pursue only roles that genuinely align with your goals and skills. This approach might feel slower at first, but it is actually much faster than applying online using a "it's a numbers game" strategy. If you want a roadmap for this strategic approach, check out my free Job Shopping Masterclass. The link is in the comments below! Because direction is more important than speed in your job search. It's about doing the RIGHT things, not just more things. Have you ever "panic-applied" for a job before? #HR #jobseekers #LinkedIn

This is one of the most important things I’ve learned about resumes, and most don’t do it. Not doing this can hurt your chances of getting an interview 👇 Your resume 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 a description of what you are 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 for. Your resume 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 a collection of your 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 to the job you are applying for! Here's a simple example: A Project Manager's resume that describes what they are 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 for looks like this: - Delivered the project on time and within budget. - Communicated updates regularly to all stakeholders. This is a terrible way to "stand out" - In this example, every Project Manager is responsible for delivering projects on time and budget, and for communicating with stakeholders. In other words, there's nothing 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 about this person's resume. Your resume has to show: - Evidence that you have the experience they are looking for (Tailored resume) - Evidence of the value you bring to the team (Your past accomplishments) To write a resume that 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭, here’s what you should do 👇 Write 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, not what you were responsible for : - What did you do? - What was the impact? - How did you accomplish it? Use the “𝐗 + 𝐘 + 𝐙” formula to write accomplishments: “Accomplished [𝐗] as measured by [𝐘], by doing [𝐙]” 🛑 Instead of writing: “Delivered a project on time and budget” ✅ Write this: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 [𝐗]: “Launched ____ project” 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 [𝐘]: “1 month ahead of schedule and increasing ROI by Z%” 𝐁𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 [𝐙]: “, by creating a new communication process that allowed low and medium risk tickets to be pre-appproved, reducing friction during development” Together X + Y + Z: “Launched ___ project 1 month ahead of schedule and increasing ROI by Z%, , by creating a new communication process that allowed low and medium risk tickets to be pre-appproved, reducing friction during development” 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 help you show that you have the experience companies look for in 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 of a project that had impact to customers, your team or the organization. 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 your 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 to the job you are applying to will increase your chances of getting an interview. Adding more colors, graphs and random keywords will not. A few extra tips as you go through your accomplishments: 1. Not every accomplishment will have a number (impact). It’s ok, try to have as many as possible. 2. Accomplishments tailored to the job you are applying to >>>> accomplishments you believe are the most important. 3. You can skip the XYZ formula and instead write them as: Verb in past tense + what you did + the impact it had. ------ 🚀 Need help with your resume or Product Management interviews? Check out my comment below for THE BEST resources 👇 #productmangement #resume

After years of observing hiring patterns, I've noticed something counterintuitive: publicly displaying the green "Open to Work" banner on your profile can actually decrease your chances of securing premium opportunities.   Here's a more strategic approach: 1. Remove the public-facing "Open to Work" banner from your profile. 2. Instead, use LinkedIn's private job seeking features and update your career interests and job preferences where only recruiters can see them. 3. Select "Recruiters Only" in your visibility settings This ensures hiring professionals can discover your availability without broadcasting it. 4. Focus on strengthening your profile content by updating your skills, experiences, and accomplishments to naturally attract interest.   The psychology behind this approach is simple: Candidates who appear selective and in-demand generate more interest than those who seem eager for any opportunity.   Recruiters are already actively searching for qualified talent whether or not you display availability.   This subtle shift in strategy maintains your professional leverage while still ensuring you're discoverable to the right opportunities.   What LinkedIn strategies have you found most effective in your professional journey?   Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #professionalcommunication #linkedinoptimization #jobsearchstrategy #careeradvancement

I’ve coached thousands of job seekers who felt lost and overwhelmed. Here are the 10 steps we start with to find the right path: 1. Your #1 Priority Clarity should be the first thing you invest in. It makes career success SO much easier (at every stage). When you have clarity, you can invest 100% of your energy into that goal. So before you start applying to jobs or grad school? Find your path. 2. The Myth Of “Passion” People think passion is a lightning bolt that suddenly hits you. One day you wake up knowing what you're supposed to do. That's BS. Passion stems from action. It's the result of trying new things. If you want to find your path? You need to act. 3. Map Out Your Ideal Lifestyle Career happiness doesn't come from a job title. It stems from the ability to meet your lifestyle needs: – Target salary – Ideal living situation – Surrounded by people you love – Work that fills your cup Start by defining all of these things. 4. Label Your Energy Next, grab a piece of paper. Make two columns: 1. Energy Creators 2. Energy Drainers Now list out every single activity, task, and project you've worked on. Label each as a creator or drainer. Your career path should be filled with energy creators. 5. Clarify Your Strengths Success is easier when your path plays to natural strengths. I recommend the High 5 Test. It's a 15 minute quiz that will define your top strengths. It'll tell you what each means and how to harness it. Talent: A natural way of thinking, feeling, behaving × Investment: Time spent practicing, developing your skills, or building a knowledge base = Strength: The ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance 6. Find People Doing "Cool" Stuff Now you've created clarity around your strengths, energy, and ideal lifestyle. Next, I want you to find people already living that life. Who has a job you admire? What jobs have seemed “cool” to you in the past? Make a list of 30+ contacts. 7. Reach Out & Learn Make a daily habit of reaching out to one person. Be honest about your situation and desire for clarity. Then make sure to build up their achievements and mention why you admire them. Here's the email template I used when I was on this journey: The Winning Template: Subject: Quick Question  Hi [Name], My name is [Your Name] and I came across your information on LinkedIn while I was looking for people who transitioned into [Industry/Field] from a non-traditional background. Your background is really impressive! I saw you do different fields and [Industry/Field] really piqued my interest. If you have a few minutes, I’d love to hear more about your journey and how you landed in your role today. I know that’s a big ask so no worries if it’s too much. I totally understand. Either way, hope you have a great rest of the week!  

CAREER DECISIONS MADE SIMPLE Focus on what’s working, not what’s missing   Career decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when we fixate on what’s lacking—missing skills, uncertain opportunities, or past mistakes. But what if we flipped the perspective? Instead of asking what’s wrong, start with what’s already working.   Traditional problem-solving emphasizes gaps and weaknesses. But in coaching, the momentum often comes from amplifying what’s already effective. When we analyze what’s working—our strengths, positive past experiences, and existing opportunities—we create solutions based on success, not scarcity.   To use this approach 1️⃣ Identify small wins. Consider the last career decision that turned out well. What did you do that contributed to that success? What elements can you replicate now? 2️⃣ Leverage your strengths. Instead of focusing on weaknesses, ask: What am I already good at that can help me move forward? 3️⃣ Recognize what’s already in motion. Often, we overlook progress because it’s gradual. What opportunities, skills, or relationships are already in place to support your next step?   Many clients I work with experience decision paralysis because they focus on everything they don’t know yet. But clarity often emerges quickly when we shift the lens to what they do know and have done successfully.   Think about your next career move. Instead of asking What’s missing? ask What’s already working that I can build on?   Momentum doesn’t come from fixing every gap—it comes from leaning into strengths and progress already made. If you need a thinking partner, consider a coach: they can often facilitate this process in a single 40-minute session, providing confidence, clarity, and direction.   #CoachRisto #CareerPerspectives   #decisionmaking #solutionfocused  

As someone who's worked with over 500+ creators, I’ve seen the harsh realities of this industry that people don’t usually talk about. In 2025, becoming a creator looks glamorous. But making it financially sustainable? That’s where 51% fail. For every creator earning lakhs, there are thousands struggling to make ends meet. Here’s what I’ll suggest to every 9-to-5 professional before they step into this space: 1. Start to Leverage your 9-to-5 expertise as your niche Most creators struggle to find a niche. But as a working professional, your job might be your strongest asset. For instance, a finance manager breaking down salary structures or an HR pro sharing hiring hacks can attract highly targeted audiences. 2. Start with micro-projects, not mass content Instead of overwhelming yourself with daily posts, pick 3-4 high-impact projects (e.g., a free guide, a short video course). These build trust faster than random content while saving your energy. 3. Use your employer's ecosystem (strategically) Many corporates are investing in employer branding and might sponsor your experiments if they align with their goals. 4. Borrow, don’t buy, tools and resources From editing software to lighting, tools can be expensive. Instead of upfront investments, use resources like libraries, co-working spaces, or community equipment rentals. Platforms like Canva or Descript also offer free creator essentials. 5. Master the “1-minute pitch” for collaborations Instead of waiting to grow a massive following, start partnerships early. A strong 1-minute pitch showcasing your unique perspective and professional background can land you opportunities with brands, even with a small audience. Here’s the truth: The creator economy isn’t a get-rich-quick route, it’s a marathon. But for 9-to-5 professionals, it can be a powerful second career if approached strategically. What’s stopping you from starting your creator journey? #creatoreconomy #truth

Nothing is the same as it used to be 5 years ago. The way we consume content. The way we communicate. The way we learn things. The way we do work. The way we talk. Everything changed. So, why are we still using the old methods to get a job? Sending out resumes and cover letters, waiting for responses, and going through multiple rounds of interviews—no longer aligns with the fast-paced, digital world we live in. Here’s how you can modernize your job search: 1️⃣ Leverage Social Media: Use platforms like LinkedIn to build your professional brand. Share your work, engage with industry leaders, and connect with potential employers. 2️⃣ Create a Digital Portfolio: Showcase your skills and projects online. Use websites like Behance, GitHub, or a personal blog to highlight your achievements. 3️⃣ Network Virtually: Attend virtual conferences, webinars, and meetups. Networking is no longer confined to physical events. 4️⃣ Utilize AI Tools: Use AI-powered platforms to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job application. Tools like Jobscan and Resume Worded can help optimize your documents for applicant tracking systems (ATS). 5️⃣ Apply Strategically: Instead of applying to every job opening, focus on positions that align with your skills and career goals. Use job search engines like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn Jobs to find the best matches. 6️⃣ Prepare for Remote Interviews: With remote work becoming more common, be ready for virtual interviews. Ensure you have a good internet connection, a quiet space, and practice using video conferencing tools. 7️⃣ Showcase Soft Skills: Employers value soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Highlight these skills in your resume, cover letter, and during interviews. 8️⃣ Stay Updated: Keep up with industry trends and continuously upskill yourself. Online courses, certifications, and webinars are great ways to stay relevant. The job market has evolved, and so should your job search strategy. What new strategies have you tried? Share your experiences and tips below!