7 Steps to Unlock Your Next Level

Three years ago I touched Rock bottom. I was working at eight degrees in a chilled meat factory at the mercy of a relentless micromanager. All while feeling trapped in a town that wasn’t aligned with myself. It was a period filled with frustration and a sense of purposelessness.

Perhaps you can relate. You have a job, you make money, but deep down, you know there's something missing. You find yourself questioning the very purpose of your existence, wondering if there's more to life than what you currently have. There is uncertainty and you keep asking yourself what your place in the world is.

But here's the thing: it's okay to feel that way. In fact, it's necessary. Give yourself permission to acknowledge the pain, to confront your biggest challenges head-on. Take a moment to visualise the obstacles standing in your path, the aspects of your life that make your spirit feel heavy.

Now, here's the good news: those challenges, as intimidating as they may seem, are your ticket to the next level of your journey. Just like moving on to a new level in Super Mario Bros. You've already overcome everything in your current level; now it's time to unlock the potential waiting for you in the next one.

Know that each challenge you face, brings you closer to realising your true potential. Your journey is just beginning.

What option would you choose?

1. Resist change and live an average life: You can choose to continue feeling the pain every day, resisting any urge for change, and settling for an "average" stable life. This path might offer temporary comfort, but deep down, you know it won't lead to fulfillment or growth.

2. Use the pain to unlock your potential: Alternatively, you can choose temporary discomfort, face your challenges head-on, and unlock your next level of personal and professional growth. Yes, it might involve some pain for a period of time, but the rewards are immense. Imagine feeling accomplished, rewarded, and self-confident. Picture waking up every day excited about your life.

Since you're reading a newsletter providing career advice, you have already started taking action and I suspect you’d go for the latter.

I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Unlock Your Next Level

Take a moment to reflect on your previous achievements. You've already proven so many of your talents. List out all the things you've accomplished and pat yourself on your back. You've been exposed to various challenges and experiences and now it's time to for to another level.

Sure, it won't be easy. But remember, you're more than capable of overcoming any obstacle. Think back to the things you once only dreamed and have now achieved. It seemed impossible then, but now it feels like second nature. This is no different.

1 - Visualise your problem

Start by taking a moment to fully visualize the challenge you're facing. Close your eyes. What does the problem look like? Describe it in detail with colours, sounds, aromas, and most importantly what feeling it brings to you.

Don’t skip this step, as you need to know exactly what you’re going to work for.

This will give you the direction you will need for all the upcoming steps.

2 - Brainstorm 10 solutions

Once you have a clear picture of the problem, it's time to get creative. Brainstorm a variety of potential solutions, no matter how crazy they may seem at first. Write them all down without judgment. This step is about quantity, not quality.

For example my goal 3 years ago was to find a job that I could enjoy, offering me flexibility and the opportunity to work remotely from a warmer location. Here is what my brainstorming looked like:

1. Start an online dropshipping business from Geelong- my town at the time.

2. Find a flexible QA job in Geelong.

3. Secure any remote job and then relocate.

4. Move to Queensland and explore manufacturing job opportunities.

5. Research other online job possibilities.

6. Learn coding and change career.

7. Identify transferable skills and pivot careers and work remotely.

8. Learn project management skills.

9. Land a remote project management role.

10. Relocate first and pursue project management opportunities elsewhere.

There are studies that say that the first 5-7 ideas are average, and the last 2-3 ideas are the true result of creativity, which generally are the best.

Now it’s your turn: list out 10 potential solutions and pay close attention to the last 2 or 3. They are likely going to give you clear next steps.

3 - Define the Project Goal

See how we didn’t define the project goal first? This was intentional. Reason being, we want to shift away from the problem and focus on the solution.

For this, I follow a simple method where I define my goal as “Achieving the solution” and not “Solving X Problem”. This is a subtle but powerful language shift that keeps your brain positive and motivated even when it feels like there is no hope.

In the example, my goal was to ‘get a flexible job as a project manager’.

More examples to help you shift towards a positive language:

Leave my job —> Get my dream job

Stop working for others —> Start my own business

Loose weight —> Gain fitness & agility

Move out of this house —>Rent my dream house

What’s your project goal?

4 - Lay out a project plan

With your project goal in mind, it's time to create a detailed plan of action. For that, it’s best to define milestones that lead you towards to final goal. Milestones are like mini goals, which again, they provide motivation, clarity, and reassurance that we are on track to our goals.

In my example, I set the following Project Milestones:

1-Get Project Management foundations

2-Enrol to a course to gain qualifications

3-Bring Project Management into my job

4-Have first interview for a project manager role

6-Move to a warmer Location

7-Get a project management role

8-Get a flexible project management job

My project plan evolved as I started taking action. I updated milestones and activities to course correct. I learned and corrected, as I gained knowledge from the project itself.

What are the milestones that will lead you to your goal? Could you draft a list of a few activities you will need to do to start?

5 - Define your Project Budget

What resources are you going to need to carry on with your project? Estimate a number, a rough idea.

In my example, I needed $90 for eBooks, $250 for online courses, $7000 for online Master’s degree and $900 for coaching sessions. This makes over $8000, however, I only spent $600-$700 a month for a year, as I paid the Master’s degree in installments.

In your case, look at your project plan and your budget. How much money can you put aside for your project?

6 - Take action

I recommend taking action as soon as you have 1 milestone and 1 activity to get done. The more frequent incremental steps you take, the faster you will fail. Yes, I said ‘fail’.

Failing is a big part of achieving your goal.

For example, when I first started with the idea of being a project manager, I thought I could work independently, as a contractor or even as an entrepreneur. 😂

But that was a terrible idea as there were too many unknown variables. So, I kept it simple and put my mind to find full-time project manager roles within an organisation.

Another big failure was when I realised that regular online applications weren’t working anymore. Especially when doing career changes. That’s when I reduced the time I spent more time commenting and networking on Linkedin.

7 - Results

I would love to tell you that my project was progressing very slow at the beginning, but this worked out well, as I needed time to digest the new information. I always focused on enjoying my transformational journey and never rush stages.

While executing and making small corrections, I started hitting milestones one after the other. At the end every milestone was coming to me faster and faster like a magnet.

To give you an idea, the same day I moved to Perth I had my first Interview for a project manager role, and 2 days after I was offered that role.

Finally, after a year and a half in my project manager role, I moved to another company which offered work from home flexibility, making me hit my last milestone and project goal.

Conclusion

More and more people feel unfulfilled nowadays. Even though it may seem like a bad thing, being unhappy enough is the first step to fuel your eagerness and start your project.

Let’s call it “tactical sadness”. 😂

Whilst it took me 3 years since touching rock bottom until I got my flexible software project manager role, I enjoyed every stage of my project. Ultimately, patience is something that we should couple with taking action.

Embrace the pain, the sadness, and the down days. Touch rock bottom with your soul and body and use the available resources to skyrocket your life and career. Remember, every setback is a setup for a comeback.

Let your struggles be the beginning of your great story.

Use your accent to shine in public speaking

One night, I was out in the Melbourne night at a bar. I was in line to order a drink when I asked the guy in front of me if he was in line too. He seemed like he was having fun with his friends and replied, "What language are you speaking?" My world fell apart, and I had to leave the bar because I couldn’t hold back my tears.

At that time, I was working in leadership roles in the food industry. I was in charge of delivering training for hundreds of operators, maintaining the quality system, and conducting audits. I had a professional level of English, still, all my confidence fell apart with one comment from a guy who could barely listen to me due to the bar noise.

I, too, used to believe that a great English was one that had no mistakes and no accent. Now that I am a successful professional having the top 10% of income in Australia, I know for a fact that my accent and grammar mistakes have helped me stand out from the crowds.

Use your accent to shine in public speaking

1. The Challenge

Many years ago, I loved the idea of learning English ‘like a native’. I started to practice the American and British accents through countless hours, particularly with the YouTube channels English with Lucy and Papa Teach Me. However, despite my efforts, I found myself frustrated and disheartened by my lack of progress.

When I moved to Australia in 2019, I had the impression that my English was getting worse. I was struggling to adapt to the new environment, and people would frequently ask me to repeat myself. Let’s not even talk about how I didn’t understand my coworkers.

My sentiments towards the English language were turning extremely negative.

After reaching bottom, I decided to reevaluate my perspective on what it means to be good at a language.

2. The Mindset

I acknowledged that my obsession with perfecting my accent was making me speak worse. So, I shifted my attention from HOW to sound to WHAT to say, feeling more relaxed and prioritising content over delivery.

I started to ‘trust’ that whatever word selection my brain did, it was for the best.

Verbal tenses, pronouns, and conjugation brought me so many nightmares. It was time for me to enjoy speaking in English. For the first time, I embraced my natural intonation, and my speech became more authentic and engaging.

3. The Material Changes

On top of the mindset, I did one technical change in my speech: I started to speak slower. The strategy behind it was to “gain time” to think at the same time that I embraced being relaxed.

4. The Results

This change in mindset and pace made my sentences have fewer grammar errors and became more coherent. I discovered that by allowing my personality to shine through my speech, I was able to connect with others on a deeper level.

My confidence in having a ‘perfectly imperfect’ speech translated into professional success too. I secured job interviews with ease, highlighting my value to potential employers by speaking confidently.

5. The Benefits

I used my accent and imperfect speech to captivate audiences, persuade others, and ultimately grow in my career.

My accent and mistakes went from being a limitation to become a source of strength, allowing me to stand out from the crowds.

I took courage and offered to deliver training sessions at work, hosted hundreds of meetings as a project manager, and became a paid coach.

6. Your action

Prepare a speech to introduce yourself to a recruiter over the phone. Explain who you are , what your background is and what you can bring to a company. Make sure to add your personality and normal intonation to provide yourself with confidence and security.

Conclusion

The main lesson I learned was that true success lies in authenticity.

There may be many people more proficient than you; however, there is no substitute for being true to oneself.

Embrace your voice with all its flaws to express your identity confidently, both professionally and personally.

I can’t say I will never cry again if someone criticises my English. But today, I no longer view my accent as a barrier; instead, I see it as a tool to connect with others on a deeper level, infusing my words with passion and authenticity.

Use what is unique to you and turn it into your strength and superpower.

Your accent is not just a reflection of your cultural background; it is the very essence of who you are.

See you next week.

With love,

Nadia

7 Steps to get any job without experience

I never understood why companies expected us to have 3 years of experience for a junior role. So, I spent years studying the reasons behind it. I wanted to find a loophole.

And I found it:

Companies expect X years of experience because it's their way of saying:

• "I want to see the value you can give to me upfront."

• "I want to see the tangible results you can provide."

• "I want to reduce the risk of hiring someone who cannot perform the job."

I was so pleased to learn this!

Because this means that if I found a way of showing my value with real results, any job could be mine.

The problem is, most people don't know their value. And if they don't know their value, how on earth are they going to sell it to someone else?

Here you will learn to find and sell your value to companies with confidence, even if you don't have experience.

1. Immerse in the Topic:

Let the games begin!

The goal of this step is to start understanding the topic. You will reach a foundational level in less than 15 hours by teaching yourself the basics.

For this, I recommend choosing books that explain the general ideas behind the area of your interest.

How to immerse yourself in any topic:

• Listen to 2 audiobooks (average time per book is 4 hours)

• Watch YouTube videos (2-3 hours)

• Listen to podcasts (2 hours)

• Read a blog (1 hour)

Aim for a minimum of 10 hours, and you will have achieved a foundational level in your topic.

Example:

You are a Human Resources professional with no experience. In this step, you read or listen to a book about Leadership and another about Management. Then, you find a Human Resources podcast and a YouTube Channel about organizational management. You spend 15 hours, and now you're starting to have an idea of what this is all about.

Well done! You have reached a foundational level.

2. Make a Summary of Your Learnings:

Grab your phone's audio recorder and start verbalizing what you've heard and read so far.

Take out your notebook and begin writing a summary by hand.

Open your favorite software tool (Mine are Trello and Notion) and start documenting those summaries.

Speaking is an excellent method for storing that information in your "hard drive" (your brain!).

Another effective approach is to meet with two friends: one who is unfamiliar with the topic and another who is knowledgeable about it. Simply explain what you remember, and you'll notice how that information sticks with you forever!

3. Find Ways to Gain Experience

Remember, our main goal is to identify our value and package it beautifully for our new employer.

So the more real-life experience we can gain, the better.

Even if it's a 2-hour/week volunteering position.

Here, you have many options!

• Shadowing: One of the best ways to gain real-world experience by far. Shadowing means that you will be following and observing the person performing the job that you want to learn. The best way to find these opportunities is by using your network. Always start with your colleagues and friends and go from there. If you happen to find someone on LinkedIn that you want to ask for shadowing, remember to invest in them first before asking for anything.

• Offer to do more tasks at work: The great thing about corporate jobs is that most of them require the same skills. Say that you are an Admin Assistant and want to gain some experience in Finance. You can easily speak to your manager and ask to assist the Finance team during or after hours. This "Initiative" will speak more than a thousand words, and you will impress many people in the office. All the lights will point to you when there is an opening in the Finance department.

• Volunteer: I know from experience that it's hard to find a specific position in a non-profit organization. However, NGOs are not the only way to volunteer! You can offer to volunteer for a small business or self-employed entrepreneurs to gain experience in the specific area you want. They will welcome any help they can get! Plus, you will build more connections. Do this for a few hours a week, and you will have immersed yourself in the industry you want.

💡At the end of every single day, grab your diary and take note of the skills you used, the tasks you completed, and any results you achieved. Don't let anything slip from your memory!

4. Start a Personal Project:

Focus on initiating a personal project that fulfills any of the following:

• It makes you use the skills you want.

• It makes you use the knowledge you gained.

• It puts you in contact with people who could hire you.

• It brings you to the industry you want.

• It makes you part of a community.

There is only one requirement for it to work fast.

Do it in public.

But I didn't say online, Gotcha ;)

When I started looking for another project management role in the software industry, the first thing I did was start posting about project management and software on LinkedIn. I wrote about the projects I was running, the methodologies I used, and how I resolved conflicts.

Two weeks later, I received a message from the CEO of the company where I work now. I think this doesn’t need more explanation.

Do you want to know why this happened?

Because 99% of people don’t do this.

What is a personal project?

• Blogs: You can start a blog to share what you’re learning. You have the option to talk about ALL of your interests at the same time.

• Starting a new X or Instagram account to talk about small learnings.

• Coffee Chat Group: If you want to be out of the online world, you can start a monthly Coffee Chat Group to discuss the topics you are learning. You will be surprised how many people you will attract who have the same interests.

• Start a book club: Make a list of the last 5 books you loved and set a catchy title for your book club. Tell all your friends and colleagues about it. You only need 1 more person to get started.

• Starting a podcast: You can interview industry experts or even people like you. And summarize every episode in one big learning lesson.

Once you start your project around the area where you want to gain experience, you will start catching attention and building authority.

This is exactly what I’m doing by writing this Newsletter.

5. Make samples of your work

Here's where you will get to produce your first 'tangible' outcome. Something that we can touch and feel, and most importantly, show to others.

In my experience, I got to show off my samples of work during interviews in an incredible way.

The interviewer was impressed by the templates I produced and how I explained them to her.

How to make a sample of your work?

Use your knowledge and experience from steps 1-4:

• Maybe you wrote a post and someone commented on it, sparking an idea.

• Maybe you learned something in an audiobook and want to create your own version of it.

• Maybe you came up with a way of making easy instructions or an automation to do that task that everyone hates.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Project managers: Make a project status report and a project charter template.

• UX Designer: Screenshot an awful app and improve it - just one page.

• Developer: Make a small working software that does that thing you always wanted.

• QA & Compliance: Make a template of an internal audit using an ISO standard of your expertise.

• For office roles:

  • Make a training matrix and a training plan for a company of 500 employees.

  • Make a process flowchart of an activity in a way that saves resources and time.

• Chemical & Environmental Engineers: Design a small water treatment plant.

• Journalists: Write articles around the industry you are interested in.

• IT Support: Make a list of the 10 most common IT Support issues and write a troubleshooting diagram to solve them.

6. Make a case study

In simple terms, a case study involves gathering industry data, identifying a problem, proposing a solution, and presenting the results.

I've created many case studies, and the easiest way to make them is as follows:

1. While shadowing or volunteering, find a real problem, a genuine pain point that the business is facing.

2. Look at that problem from different angles, especially just before bed, so you can come up with creative ideas.

3. List your ideas, proposed solutions, and plan.

4. Conduct research. Find similar studies applied to other scenarios. Check out online news, Forbes, or academic articles.

5. Present those results and their assumptions.

You might think, "But I didn’t do the work."

Do you really believe that?

There's a lot of value in researching how your own ideas would work!

You'll be presenting industry data, your ideas, and results that could be applied to their organization.

A considerable amount of value, trust me.

For instance, let's say you aspire to be an Organizational Manager for a company struggling with high turnover rates. The company spends a lot on training due to employees leaving frequently, which slows down activities. You then develop a Case Study titled “Applying Work in Pairs in a 10-person HR Department.”

You find three studies that analyze working in pairs in small organizations. You present those results and explain how they could be applied to prevent activities from slowing down in that organization.

Use my free Case Study template, to impress your future employer now!

7. Sell Your Work

Now it’s time to network hard!

You’d be the smartest person on this planet if you started the personal project I mentioned before. 😎

Imagine if you had a podcast and were interviewing industry experts, or if you were running a coffee catch-up. Or if you were posting online. 💣

Networking would come to you like a magnet.

You’d be attracting numerous people from the industry you want to belong to!

Networking is becoming easier and easier; you only need to put yourself out there.

But don’t worry if you’re not doing any of that. Just read my article about how to message on LinkedIn, here link.

Whatever method you use, once you are in front of a potential hiring manager, you must show:

• Your passion

• Your experience (yes! shadowing and volunteering are ways of experience!)

• Your work samples (make a list!)

• Your Case Study!

You’ve made yourself so attractive to employers that you have no idea.

You don’t need a full-time contract to do all the above.

You just need to want to do it.

And do it.

Why does it work?

Because you’d be showing that:

• You are proactive

• You have ideas

• You don’t fit the mold

• You are driven

• You are resilient, persistent, self-motivated, and results-driven.

• You have research, analytical, writing, and presentation skills.

• You are unique

Without the need for saying any of those words.

You will stand out from the 99% of people who applied for the role only begging for an opportunity.

Employers will beg YOU to work for them.

You don’t have work experience? Make it yourself.

Final thoughts

• Not having experience is not a problem. Being passive about it is.

• Starting a project of your own shows more value than listing skills on the resume.

• Companies love proactive individuals who speak with their actions.

• Sell yourself with a case study and samples of work, and companies will forget that you don’t have actual “experience”.

If you found this valuable, follow me on Instagram to keep growing your career.

See you next week.

8 Things Nobody Told You about Job Interviews

I've always been obsessed with crushing job interviews. I wanted to know exactly what the companies were looking for and how I could master it. After 5 years of working in Australia, I found the perfect formula.

Spoiler alert: this article will change the way you see interviews for good.

How many times have you walked towards that interview feeling sick, wanting to run away, asking yourself “what’s the point”? And, effectively, the interview didn’t go well; you could not elaborate on the answers, or even worse, you did not know the answers.

I've had all that happen to me.

After leaving the worst interview of my life at a consulting company in Torquay, Victoria, where I was overqualified for the role, I received an email: “At this time, we will not be progressing further with your application as your current skillset does not match the requirements for this particular role.”

Ouch.

I was overqualified, yet I could not prove it.

From that day, I decided that I was going to learn how to crush interviews in my second language.

These are my learnings:

1. Research the company

This is a must. Not only because companies love to be loved, but because it will give you material for your questions and answers. This research has to be reflected in your stories and examples.

You should spend at least 30 minutes reading the company website, checking the latest news, and understanding their revenue. Research the person interviewing you as well.

Once you know who they are, make sure to connect their values to your answers. If you do that, you’ll start to stand out from the crowd.

Key information to look for:

• Top 5 values

• Latest news

• Recent hires

• Products on the market

• Subsidiary brands

2. Structure of your answers

Forget STAR (Situation - Task - Action - Result).

Just talk FACTS in a way that you provide enough information so they know it’s not made up.

Use my method: WHAT - HOW - RESULT.

This is much easier to remember and apply.

WHAT: Start with an action verb and explain what you did, providing a bit of context about your contribution.

HOW: Explain how you did it, including the methodology, technology, process, and if you developed the process, mention it.

RESULT: Highlight the main achievement, the tangible or quantifiable result with metrics. Numbers always bolster the facts.

Example:

Managed a project to set up a new branch in Melbourne by coordinating 7 departments from planning to execution. Utilised structured methodologies and technologies to streamline the process, resulting in the project being finalized 2 months ahead of schedule.

How long should you speak for?

Keep your answers between 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

But don’t stress too much about this - the most important thing is to check in every two minutes to see if it’s okay for you to continue.

3. Prepare your answers

Have your stories and examples ready before any interview.

And remember to link the company values to your answers!

This is how I do “Tell me about yourself.”

Quick story about background + why you are a great fit for the role + company values.

For example, when I was transitioning from the food industry to IT, I answered:

“As an engineer, I've always loved processes and continuous improvement. After moving to Australia, I experienced various leadership roles within the food manufacturing sector, particularly in Quality Assurance. These roles allowed me to develop exceptional communication skills and initiative (their values). For instance, within the first six months, I took on part-time project management responsibilities, introducing project management methodologies to the company for the first time. This was extremely rewarding and now, I am ready to take on a full-time Project Manager role”.

Here are some insights for you to prepare your answers.

• “Why are you looking to leave your current company?”

Never. Badmouth. Your. Employer.

No matter how toxic they were.

If you badmouth, you’re out of the game.

For example:

"I really enjoy my current job and my team. They have provided me with a range of experiences and opportunities for growth. In fact, one of the things I have learned is how to implement systems. I have discovered that I am passionate about implementing new technology and helping people through the transition. So much so that now I would like to expand on it further in the technology industry.”

Questions I have come across in 5 years of interviews:

• Why do you want to work for us?

• Tell me about a time where you overcame a challenge.

• Tell me about a time where you solved an issue.

• Tell me about a time where you exceeded expectations,

• Could you share about a time where you had a conflict with someone and what you did about it?

• Tell me about a time where you could not meet a deadline.

• What are your strengths?

• What’s your greatest weakness?

• Where do you see yourself in 5 years.

Prepare technical answers:

• How do you think a typical day looks like?

• What do you think the main challenges of the role are?

• Tell me more about your achievement X at your last role, what else can you add?

• Have you ever been part of an auditing process?

💡 Remember: Grab 5 company values and try to include them in your answers.

4. Prepare questions to ask them

If you don’t ask any question, it will mean that you’re happy with anything.

This is your time to raise your bar and show yourself even more!

It’s very easy, I promise.

How I ask about the role

• If I am selected for this role, what are 3 things I should achieve in the first 90 days?

• What are the key metrics of this role? How will I know I'm doing a good job?

• How do you see this role in the future?

I have seen some jaws drop when I brought up these questions.

How I ask about ‘culture’ in a sneaky way

Don’t ask: What’s the culture like? or Are you a micromanager?

Instead, ask:

• What's your favorite office tradition?

• How often does the team gather after work?

• When was the last time an idea from a team member was implemented?

• When was the last time a team member had a promotion?

• What's the process for addressing employee failures?

• What’s your management style?

5. What to wear?

If you want to upgrade your career, you must upgrade your wardrobe to reflect the role you want.

And I’m not talking about buying designer clothes. I’m talking about quality.

Go shopping. Buy one quality item.

And since you asked, I’d go for a Classic elegant style, because you will look amazing and this will give you more confidence.

Remember, the way you dress is part of your personal brand.

Don’t worry about those $200 you spent. If you found a classic elegant matching outfit, you will recover 10x because you will negotiate your salary easily.

I wish someone had told me this before.

If you look cheap, you will get paid cheap.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

When I had my first project manager interview, I went shopping and refreshed my image with one item: a blazer.

This was when I got my first full-time Project Manager role 2 days after moving to Perth - my biggest career change ever - moving from the food industry to IT.

The wardrobe was a small detail; however, that killer look made me feel like a badass international professional that deserved the role.

I’m sure I could pay for the $190 blazer with my 50% salary increase.

Don’t worry, if you’re not fashion-savvy, google some inspiration looks and go shopping. Prioritize quality items for shoes and blazer/suit. You will use them for your job for many years!

My advice is to buy 1 quality item a month, so you can do incremental upgrades in a sustainable manner.

6. Practice, rehearse, repeat

Call it what you want, but stand in front of the mirror 😅

Check your gestures, facial expressions, posture, and appearance.

Is this the image you want to show? If not, adjust it.

If English is your second language: an interview is not the place to experiment with new sentence structures. If you don’t normally use the structure “In order to… then…”, don’t use it for the first time in an interview because it’s high risk.

What I do:

I play it safe to reduce the risk. I provide the information they ask for in the best way I know. I focus on pronunciation. I pause and think for a few seconds to get the start right.

If you feel extremely confident using eloquent expressions, go for it. Otherwise, simple is best.

Focus on pronunciation so you sound clear and pause if you need time. There is a lot of power in a good and relaxed pause!

7. How to exude confidence, even when you don’t believe you deserve the role

There is a lot of research and neuroscience behind visualization practice. I have personally done visualizations before moving to Australia without knowing I was doing them. Last year, I decided to learn more about them, and here is what I learned.

A visualization is the creation of scenes in your mind about something that didn’t happen. We do it all the time when we prepare for something like a trip, plan for the future, or just imagine. However, proper visualization consists of creating the movie in our mind with a little more detail. We may add aromas, textures, sensations, scenery, sounds, anything.

I first learned about them at the book fair in 2011 in Buenos Aires. I randomly grabbed the “Silva Mind Control Method” book. I've been reading about the Silva Method to this day.

Later, I read the book "The Source" by Dr. Tara Swart (a famous Neuroscientist), where she expands on this practice. Mind-blowing.

Finally, I’ve heard Jay Shetty say that before giving a big speech, he visualizes himself on stage speaking calmly and focused.

“Whether you think you are right, or you think you are wrong, you are right.” - Henry Ford.

My Visualization Exercise for Job Interviews

Visualization practices have helped me:

• Naturalize job interviews,

• Stop feeling sick,

• Start feeling sharp and intelligent,

• Show my skills and strengths in my behavior.

That’s why I want to share this script with you.

Feel free to read it while you create the scenes in your mind as you go:

I take 10 deep breaths. I visualize myself entering the building. I look down at my feet and I like the way I’m dressed. I’m completely rested, focused, and feeling perfectly fine. I see myself greeting the interviewers, saying their names, entering the meeting room, and sitting at the table. I see myself relaxed, speaking properly, at a perfect pace so that I sound clear, and it gives me time to think answers through. I see myself flowing with questions and answers like I am a natural. I smile, I speak with enthusiasm. I show my healthy mind and body in my answers. Everything flows, and I keep focused and talk calmly and fluently. I listen attentively, I add their views into my answers. I have examples where I add value to companies, and I describe those examples clearly and calmly.

8. Should I email them after?

Absolutely. And if you need proof, let me tell you a little email story.

I sent this “Thank you” note within 24 hours from the first Teams interview:

The bad news was that I didn’t receive a response.

However, I didn’t give up.

I sent this 8 days later:

And they replied! After a couple more emails, I had a second interview and got the job offer.

I am working there now and I love it!

Conclusion

If I had to say what’s the most important thing to sort before going to a job interview, I would say: Mindset. You can be super smart, emotionally intelligent, and hardworking, but if you don’t believe you deserve the role, then it’s like building a house starting from the roof.

By reading this article, you have already started your journey. You are believing in your capabilities and your brain is seeing it!

Now it’s my turn to ask: What’s one thing you can do in the next 24 hours to get ready for your next job interview?

DO THAT.

And tell me later.

Stay tuned in my socials! Links below!

Send LinkedIn Messages to Get Jobs without Applying

I have a question for you:

What type of LinkedIn messages are you sending?

If you send messages like the one below:

Hi [Name]

I hope you are well.

I am a [occupation] and I’m looking to transition into [occupation.]

Would there be any openings in your company that you could share?

Thank you, have a great day.

You are part of the 99%. You’re not standing out.

Before asking for something you must earn it, for as little as it might seem.

After many failures, I got my last two jobs using LinkedIn messages only. No online application. Just a couple of LinkedIn messages, bum, interviews and job offers.

I used the right words, energy and selling points. I showed my enthusiasm without saying “I am enthusiastic” and I showed my skills through my actions.

Here how you can do the same:

Step 1: Research the hell out of them

You must become a private investigator and read everything about them. Why?

If you want something out of someone, you must invest first.

• Read their LinkedIn profiles,

• Google their names,

• Read their blogs,

• Listen to their interviews

• Take note of what you find, especially

  • An interesting career pivot or move

  • non-traditional background

  • An article they wrote

  • Something from their personal website

Record your findings in a excel spreadsheet.

Step 2: First Message

Use the information that you find to craft the first message.

• Make it all about them

• Make it personable by introducing yourself

• Mention your key finding, hopefully you have something in common

• Compliment their career changes, promotions, article, etc.

• At the end, ask for a 5 minute call to learn more about them

• Try to say the words “expert” and “expertise”, as they have a positive impact on the brain

For example, if the person made a career move.

“Hi Camilla,

My name is [Your Name] and I found your info while I was looking for people who changed career from a non-traditional background into IT. Your experience moving from manufacturing to software really caught my attention.

I'm sure that move wasn't easy! I'd love to hear more about your journey, some of the obstacles you faced, and ask you a few questions.

I know you're busy and your time is valuable, so no need to respond in depth. If you do have a few minutes to chat, I'd be really grateful. If not, no worries! Either way, have a fantastic week.

Cheers,

[Your Name]”

Wait to see their response and go from there.

Step 3: Second message

Whether they respond or not, we’re going to send them a second message 😅

Continue your message line around the points of connection between you and them.

Show yourself curious and ask them about their role:

• The challenges they're facing

• The goals they have

• The initiatives their team is rolling out

Step 4: Finding a problem

Use their feedback to fuel up your research about problems and issues.

You only need to find one “problem” and make it slightly better. You do not need to reinvent the wheel.

• Make a question in Quora

• Read product reviews from customers on Facebook

• Watch interviews on YouTube,

• Read about CEO and board of directors

• If you’re serious about it, read financial statements here Seeking Alpha | Stock Market Analysis (for public companies)

Make a list of issues and add them to the spreadsheet that we spoke before.

Step 5 - Make a pitch with your idea

How can you show your passion to fix this one problem?

Brainstorm ideas and solutions, and select one or two ideas supported by industry data.

Examples:

A. You are an Enironmental Engineer and walk past the company building where you want to work. You smell off and notice that the waste is producing bad smell towards the neighbourhood. You research and find a specific bin that contains a absorbent material in the internal walls of the skip. You present that idea in your pitch.

B. You are a UX/UI Designer and want to offer freelance job to a small company. The have an astrology app that you really don’t think is intuitive and accessible. You use your tools and design a whole new home page, while maintaining the branding colours. That will go to your pitch.

Once you have an idea, make a 3-4 slide pitch/presentation deck

- First slide:

• The main value that you can add

• Your proposed idea or solution

• Statistics or industry data to back up the issue and why is worth solving it

- Second slide:

• How you would implement the idea,

• Assumptions

- Third slide

• Your past work emphasising transferrable skills

• Highlight main achievements

• Why you are the best fit

- Fourth slide

• More background and qualifications.

Note, you can always make a pitch deck even if you don’t do any research or have any idea.

You can adapt your past projects to present in the slides so they are relevant to the company that you’re interested in.

Step 6: Share Your Pitch Deck

Send the pitch deck to your contact with a brief message saying:

Hi [Name],

I’ve been thinking a lot about our conversation last week. Especially [Challenge, Goal, Initiative].

I put together a deck with some quick ideas for you, attached here.

Let me know if you want to chat through it!

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Step 7: Request Referrals

After your contact sees the deck, you make the request.

“Do you know of any open roles where I could be a fit?”

If there are no open roles you can say “I’d appreciate if you keep me in mind”

Some contacts will offer to refer you in without even having to ask

The ones who did not offer referral, you can say?

“Would you be open to refer me in?”

Many will say yes.

Step 8: Prepare for Interviews

With an “insider support”, you will head to the interviews with a higher chance of success.

You will be able to highlight the value that you bring by addressing real company problems.

Bad news:

• It’s a bit of work and effort from you!

• You should plan to target at least 10 companies and 10 contacts at each = 100 first messages!

• One doesn’t “see” how close we are in the recruiting process, because it’s a parallel route.

Good news:

• You only need one to bite

• From the ones that bite, you have extremely high chances of getting the job offer

• This is the actual way that employes hire, because they get to see the value that you can give to them before they pay you

• All the ideas and research you did will set you up for success if you start working for that company,

• You gain skills by doing it

• You can use your research and ideas to show results to other companies!

Final thoughts

Even though this seems like a lot of work for free, trust the numbers (Glassdoor) and my own experience when I say that you will find work faster if you go down this route.

You don’t have to stop applying online though. You should continue applying online with your CV but only in the 20% of your free time. While you use LinkedIn messages on the 80% of your free time.

Start sending this killer LinkedIn messages and you will find your dream job in no time.

I would love to hear how you go!

Land Your Dream Job with These LinkedIn Branding Tips!

If you’re struggling to get a call back after applying for a job, I might know why. Online applications are the least favorite method for employers to find new employees. Let's face reality.

The first method companies use to hire is a combination of relationships and networking.

But don’t freak out! I knew absolutely nobody when I moved to Victoria from Argentina in 2019, and I didn’t know anyone when I moved to Perth in 2022, either.

Still, I managed to score two 6-figure jobs using the Power of LinkedIn.

So let’s pretend that you are my coaching client:

Your next action item is updating your online branding.

Here's how:

• Update your LinkedIn Banner (the background picture) using Canva (Free).

• Update your LinkedIn Headline (the bit of text that’s right under your name). This is KEY - use main keywords for the search engine!

• Update Introduction write a catchy and snappy description of your background, your main achievements, and what you’re after.

• Update Job titles: if not already, translate them into English, but don’t be too literal. You might need to do some research to see what the equivalent job title.

• Remove Experience descriptions: yes, now! If the recruiter wants to know more, they will have to call you.

Remember, even if you're starting from scratch like I did, with determination and the right approach, success is within reach. So take the leap, update your LinkedIn profile today, and watch as new opportunities start rolling in.

Your next big career move could be just a few clicks away!

Is it too much or do you think it’s a reasonable start?