From Teaching in Grade School to Visiting Michael Jordan’s House, Sneakerhead Jacques Slade of “Today in Sneaks,” Episode 1

  Meet my first guest Jacques Slade on An Interview with Melissa Llarena — the podcast. Have you ever been curious about how YouTube international superstars think about their riskiest career decisions? Ever wanted to understand how to create video content that will attract 11M views? Wouldn’t you love to learn how you can snag an invite…

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Stop taking your unhappiness at work out on others

I want to career coach job seekers who go out of their way to mentor others. I prefer working with people who believe that they are not working for their own gain but for that of others. Those people exist…you have to find them or become one yourself. I remember those caring team leaders and…

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The In Demand Virtual Professionals Mastermind

If you’ve decided you rather transition in your career with other professionals who are going through the same things then apply today right here. Note sure if this is right for you? Watch anyone of these Facebook Live Videos, where I discuss the topics that will be covered in greater detail during the virtual mastermind:…

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How Independent Contractors Are Replacing You

Are you feeling the pinch behind the proliferation of freelance gigs and the decline of full-time headcount in your industry? The job market has been changing from relying on full-time employees to enjoying the perks behind hiring freelancers. This trend is on the rise so that by 2020 more than 40% of the US workforce will…

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The Key to Landing Strategy Jobs

The key is confidence however not just your own…read on. As a job candidate, you are constantly being evaluated when it comes to how much or how little value you’ll potentially bring to an employer. For example, interviewers often wonder whether a job candidate can really figure out how to grow a company’s market share…

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How to Land an Interview: Add Online Comments

  Chances are your prospective employer leverages the power of content marketing to draw in its audience. A plethora of companies have a blog on their website. Some write thought leadership papers and publish them online in niche forums or publications. Scour the web for these articles.

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Career Networking for Outcomes – The Starter Kit [Brief Edition]

Who is this reference guide for?   This career-networking guide is most useful for professionals who are serious about making a career transition within the next four to five months. In particular, coaching clients who have implemented these ideas with the greatest success have fallen into the following categories: Mid-level professionals who want a starting…

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Three Pillars to Successful LinkedIn Recommendations

LinkedIn recommendations are useless…if not supported by a strategy. After tailoring LinkedIn profiles for professionals who have successfully attracted attention, I found that having a single objective when crafting your online presence and applying its essence within each section works best. LinkedIn recommendations are NO exception to this idea!

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Stop Depreciating in Value

Job hunters are like houses waiting to be sold; the longer they are on the market, the harder it is to sell them. In the case of houses, real estate agents change their strategy or update a property’s details (e.g. price, curb appeal, etc.) to generate leads. Similarly, you should make changes to garner a…

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Does Your Motivation for Changing Careers Stink?

“I want to stop reading and rotting and that’s why I want to leave law in pursuit of becoming a marketer!” Changing sectors takes extraordinary efforts and this reason will not move the mountains you need moved to successfully transition. However, you will gain traction if your motivation for the switch exhibits these four characteristics,…

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What Cultural Nuances Energize YOU?

Company Culture Elements mind map

When I read Bill Barnett’s Harvard Business Review blog entry, “Investigate Culture, Ask the Right Questions,” I shook my head in agreement. A firm’s culture is difficult to articulate. Yet, cultural nuances such as the behaviors that are supported within a work environment as well as the conditions that exist internally are easier to put…

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Bear Gifts to an Informational Interview

Show appreciation when you are given a gift. An informational interview is a gift to a job seeker or a curious soul. You will surface the data you need to support your career transition if you focus your efforts on figuring out how to best express your appreciation to an interviewee.

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Writing a Résumé Should Hurt

A résumé enables you to put your best foot forward so be painfully thoughtful about its content. It must showcase only your MOST impressive accomplishments and selecting those requires four things: 1) discipline, 2) a delete button, 3) a job description, and 4) my secret sauce when the stakes are highest. 

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