Are you facing that career change plunge? Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Then use this 10-step plan.  Click Here!

If you’re in the market for a new job, you’ll want to check out this list of the top eight best job search engines on the Web.  Click Here!

The New Year is a time when we consider our current status in life and resolve to make changes.  For many a transition to a new career may be one of those resolutions. VentureReady LLC has developed some steps you should consider in order to make the most of your career search in 2014.

Network – You will have a lot of competition when you allow for an advertised position.  Tailoring your resume or CV to the job description will help you stand out, but networking will give you an edge that most candidates will not have.

Use your personal referrals and online contact in order to come to the attention of hiring managers. Personal contacts can be family members, friends, colleague and prior managers, or supervisors.  Follow the company on social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, join the same communities and groups. Find out how the company could benefit from your education and/or experience.

Tap into associates through volunteer activities and professional associations. You can get a chance to make a positive impression with a decision maker while chatting with him/her during an association meeting or event.  During the discussion you could mention that you can mention what your skills are and that you are looking for an opportunity.

Interviewing – Mastering the interview is just like mastering any other skill. The more you practice, the more confident and proficient you will become. Research the type of questions you may encounter during the interview based on your industry and do a mock interview with a friend, or career specialist. Use your contacts to find someone who knows the company/industry and ask them what the current issues are.

Show the interviewer how well you’ve researched the role and, be ready to demonstrate how you can make a real difference in the role. That’s what a hiring manager wants to know.  VentureReady LLC’s Readiness Consultants are advocates for bringing career portfolios to an interview.  This booklet is a powerful tool that will have samples of your work that brings proof of your accomplishments and experience. A career portfolio should also have work samples so that the hiring manager can get a clear picture of what you will bring to the company and the position.  This doesn’t mean you won’t get a difficult question during the interview, but it does mean you be in a position to answer it with poise and confidence.

Ask the interviewer questions.  This will not only show that you are interested in the position, but also that you were paying attention.  The interview will not reveal everything about the position.  This is also a chance to get more information on the position, the management style and the company culture that you cannot get from online research.

Temp Agencies – Building a strong relationship with the agencies will ensure your success in securing a position. You must be the first person that comes to mind when a new assignment comes in. You can be that person by meeting the staff at the agency face-to-face. Prove yourself as a reliable worker, by taking any and every assignment offered at first. Occasionally call them and inquire about available assignments.

Blogging –If you want to get your name out there, help build up contacts and start networking try blogging. It can be a challenge to fit your dream career around your commitments, but there’s often more than one way into a role.  If you are a subject matter expert, blogging will help you to share that knowledge on a large scale and establish you as an expert in the industry.

LinkedIn – Maximize your LinkedIn experience. Do not simply post a profile and assume hiring managers will flood your inbox. Join groups and associations with shared professional interests, then contribute to the discussions.

Be Patient – Every situation is different but on the whole most people do have to take a salary cut, before they can move forward in a career transition. It is imperative to see a career transition as a long-term process.

Corporate training programs such as trainee roles, tend to have fixed salaries with little or no flexibility. An abstract job search may give you with more negotiation power by appealing to employers with your experience and transferable skills.

Relocating – When deciding on relocating for a position you must decide on how far are you willing to move.  You should consider if there are any areas of the country or the world you would like to go to as well as area you do not.  Clarifying where you want to go will help to focus your job search. Why do you want to relocate? You are the only person who can decide if the transition is worth it.

Health Issues – This year we had clients who were returning to the workforce after a long illness. They were concerned that they would have to reveal their health issues to the employer. Your past illness should only be revealed on a need-to-know basis.

If the past illness affects your performance on the job, then it’s better to inform the employer upfront, then to wait until you are hired. If you have overcome this challenge, then there is no need to bring it up.  If you have gaps in your career history because of it, you can mention it in the interview, but let me know that this is a past challenge.