Interview Series - Career Experts - Karalyn Brown from Interview IQ CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Karalyn Brown from Interview IQ â€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up withKaralyn Brown from Interview IQ, who shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change, etc. in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your companyevalMy company helps mid to senior level professionals market themselves to prospective employers.Typically we offer challenges, like the Straight to Shortlist Challenge which helps people approach employers directly â€" something many people know they need to do, but struggle to do so. The promises we make are tangible and not fluffy.For example, the promise of the Straight to Shortlist Challenge is to get 5 meetings with 5 target employers in 5 weeks.We also offer a range of services such as LinkedIn profile optimization and interview coaching services.How did you get started in this path?I started writing resumes about 10 years ago as a way of combining my love of writing with knowledge and skills I had gained from my previous career in recruitment and HR.Is this somet hing you decided early on in your career?No, it was more like happenstance â€" I was looking for a way to create a business for myself, found my very first client very quickly and grew my business from there.What is the most exciting part of working in thisindustry?It’s delightful to be able to help people make a change or see something in themselves that they have not been able to see.I believe this type of work adds value in a tangible economic way to our society as people can find work, express their talents more fully in the right type of role or organisation and feel like they are making a valuable contribution.evalHow do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert?I network with like minded professionals.I read a lot of blog posts and listen to many podcasts around communication, marketing, business networking, business and self development.What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?Understanding the value they can offer others, identifying the right jobs for themselves and being able to network effectively.Many people routinely undersell themselves.People also struggle often to change jobs as applying for jobs via job boards or websites makes it difficult for them to know how to target their search or get feedback on what they should be doing.What are the common mistakes that you see them do?I see many people be guided by what others tell them are their strengths, or direct their job search efforts based on what they think they can get or see advertised.The strongest foundation to start a search is to reflect on what makes you tick â€" where you think you could thrive, what you enjoy and the skills you can offer.The research says find a job aligned to your strengths and you’ll enjoy your role, you’ll be more productive and you’ll be promoted more often.How should job seekers approach job search today?You need to take advantage of all the tools that are available to you.People are far more accessible today online than they ever have been before, so understanding how to contact people and market yourself is a real skill.What is the biggest trendKaralyn BrownandInterview IQhave also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€"Top Career Advice Websites.