Beyond the Application: Craft Your Story

Career growth series - Resume | Job Search | GROW and Personal OKRs

May 13, 2025

In the book, Ikigai Journey, the concept of never giving up is the right way of living a fulfilled life.

Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide to Finding Happiness and Purpose the Japanese Way
Shinkasen bullet train came into existence with one idea and the drive to push beyond the boundaries and limits we set for ourselves. A simple question of how can we double the speed led to the innovation of today.
Hikari, the name of one of the bullet trains means the light. Just the right name for bringing light into our lives and for being a guiding light for those around us.
… to double the speed you had to change everything and approach this mode of transport with an entirely new way of thinking.
For a dream or aspiration to deserve this label, it has to be seemingly impossible to achieve.
Set Your First Shinkansen Objective. Do you want to travel to Alaska and see the aurora borealis?
greatest secret to longevity is to always keep busy, devoting our time to activities we love.

Ganbarimasu is a Japanese word that means - I will do my best. A simple idea to keep going and never give up.

I had an opportunity to facilitate 2 workshops in a career growth series. Thanks to my mentee and the team at Experience Unlimited - Professional Pathways Network (EU/PPN) for the opportunity.

Craft Your Career Story: Resume that Resonates and Job Search that Aligns

Embarking on a career journey, whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or exploring a new path, requires a powerful framework. Two essential components of this toolkit are a compelling resume and an intentional job search. In my upcoming Career Growth Series, we'll dive into these elements, and provide the knowledge and practical skills to navigate your career aspirations with confidence.

Our first session, "Resume Reimagined" will guide you in understanding the true purpose of a resume – it's not just a list of past roles, but a dynamic narrative showcasing your unique value proposition.

We'll break down the key elements of a strong resume, helping you identify and articulate your transferable skills and accomplishments in a way that resonates with potential employers.
Learn how to craft impactful language and format your resume for optimal readability and visual appeal, ensuring your key strengths shine through.

Moving beyond the document itself, my second workshop, "Job Search" focuses on intentionality. A successful job search isn't about blindly applying to every open position.

It's about defining your career goals, understanding your ideal work environment, and developing effective strategies to connect with opportunities that align with your aspirations.
We'll explore networking techniques, helping you build meaningful professional relationships that can open doors. Furthermore, we'll address common job search challenges and equip you with practical strategies to overcome them.
A key highlight of this session will be the opportunity to practice your elevator pitch and receive constructive feedback in a supportive group setting, ensuring you can confidently articulate your value in any interaction.

Think of your resume as your personal marketing brochure – a concise and compelling summary of your skills and experiences designed to capture attention and generate interest. We'll explore how to tailor this brochure to specific roles, highlighting the experiences and skills most relevant to each opportunity.

The job search, on the other hand, is the active process of connecting your unique offering with the right market needs and demand. This involves self-reflection, research, networking, and effective communication.

We'll dive into understanding the current job search landscape, leveraging social media for professional networking, and even exploring the power of a "listening tour" to gather valuable insights.

Sharing a few learnings from the workshops:

In our Resume Reimagined workshop, we stepped into the essence of a resume.

What do you think is the purpose of a resume?

A. To get an interview

B. To highlight qualifications

C. To showcase skills and experiences

And we discussed the current job landscape and what we're doing today. And to understand that if we keep doing the same thing, we cannot expect different results.

What is your biggest challenge in your current job search?

Networking
Resume/Cover Letter Writing
Interviewing Skills
Identifying Suitable Opportunities
Lack of Experience
Other

In our group, most folks say Interviewing skills is the biggest challenge. Do you agree?
Are there any other factors to consider?

Some folks mentioned age. Reading the books - Re-educated and Wisdom at work gives me hope to keep reinventing myself as I navigate through life and career.

Re-educated
Now Teach - some find they don't like teaching as much as they thought they would.
The chances of someone sticking to teaching is a mixture of selfishness and altruism.
The best Now Teachers need to want the challenge because they think it will make them feel happier or better - they want it for themselves. They also need to want to help children learn - which is more selfless.
If candidates have only the first motive, they're unlikely to get through the selection.
Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder
When the teacher is ready, the student will appear.
The root of the word question is quest. Through the process of reflection, every question can become a quest, a journey of self-discovery, a sojourn into uncharted territory
Teaching and learning are symbiotic. You can't be a teaching legend without living on the learning edge.
Ancora Imparo - "I'm still learning" was written above Michelangelo's studio door.
What brings you joy at work?
The most impressive question in an interview: What's the biggest challenge you're working on and how can I help solve it for you?

James Carse shared in the book, Finite and Infinite Games:
Just about everything we do in life is either a finite game, one in which we play by the rules in order to win or an infinite game, one in which we play with the rules for the joy of getting to keep playing.

Failure is just the raw material of success
Go where you want to grow
What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Living in San Francisco is a contract I renew everyday …
Together, everyone achieves more ❣️

And just came across Career Dreamer from Google Labs. Perhaps a guide for inspiration for you!

Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for new and existing SaaS products.
Create compelling marketing collateral, including presentations, case studies, and website content.
Build and manage relationships with key industry analysts and influencers.
Analyze market trends and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities for growth.
Manage the product marketing budget and track key performance indicators (KPIs).
Collaborate with sales and product teams to align marketing efforts with overall business objectives.
Lead market research initiatives to gain a deep understanding of customer needs and preferences.

Whether you're refreshing your resume for the first time or looking to refine your job search strategy, this Career Growth Series offers interactive breakouts, best practices and actionable insights.

[PDF] Resume Workshop
- Understand the Purpose and Elements of a Resume
- Craft Your Resume: Content and Language
- Format and Tailor Your Resume
[PDF] Job Search Workshop
- Job Search Landscape
  - Define Goals: Set the Intention
- Breakout: Elevator Pitch
  - Introduction - Story & Narrative
  - Picture Perfect Introduction
- Social Search | Job Search Council
  - Listening Tour
- Optara Leadership Profile
  - Work style
[PDF] GROW and Personal OKRs Workshop
- GROW: 4 steps for self-awareness & action
  - Set Initial Goals: Connect aspirations to actionable first steps
  - Explore Options: Brainstorm ways to move forward
- Craft Personal OKRs: Define Objectives & Key Results for personal and professional growth.

Let’s craft your career story and narrative, build a resume that resonates, and set an intention for a job search that is aligned and meaningful. Excited to empower you on your career growth journey!

Building on the momentum, sharing a free career growth series on ADPList.