Chan with a Plan

How to effectively network on LinkedIn to speed up your job search and get your dream job

EPISODE SUMMARY
Max discusses the importance of networking to help you get into your dream company, but he stresses why only reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn is not the most effective approach. Instead, he explains a better way to network if you want to maximize the LinkedIn platform for your job search. Based on this past week's episode with Mohammad Kasujee on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile for your job search to successfully change careers or get your dream job fast. 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:32] Utilizing LinkedIn on your resume
[01:07] Red flags on LinkedIn profiles
[01:48] Common mistakes when networking on LinkedIn
[03:00] Effective networking strategies
[03:41] Building rapport with recruiters
[04:59] Summary
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

How to optimize your LinkedIn profile for your job search to successfully change careers or get your dream job fast

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, Max speaks with Mohammed Kasujee, Career Coach and Founder of MK Career Solutions. Mohammed shares his best advice to help you optimize your LinkedIn profile to either successfully change careers or get your dream job fast. 
 
QUOTES
“So be very, very wary about disclosing finances or information on your LinkedIn profile that gives away too much information about the company. People can get in trouble for that. So, if there's anything that you feel in doubt, just remove it, especially when it comes to monetary values.” – Mohammed Kasujee
“I think most of the time, it's not the job itself. It's what the job is not allowing them to do.” – Mohammed Kasujee
“The LinkedIn algorithm, as a whole, favors a complete profile. And a banner is an indication of a complete profile as well. So, if anyone does not have a banner, they should definitely have one.” – Mohammed Kasujee
 
TIMESTAMPS
[1:01] Mohammed’s journey
[04:49] Major obstacles in the way of your career success
[07:52] Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
[09:34] Major LinkedIn profile areas of focus for recruiters
[21:57] Do recruiters look at volunteer experience?
[23:26] Are endorsements crucial?
[26:16] Is posting content on LinkedIn that important to get a job?
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Mohammed Kasujee Social Media:LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

5 money lessons I wish I knew in my 20s

EPISODE SUMMARY
Max discusses 5 money lessons he wish he knew in his 20s that would have made him miles ahead financially in his 30s and beyond. Based on this past week's episode with Patricia Roberts on creative ways to pay down your student loan faster.
 
TIMESTAMPS
[01:09] Always have an emergency fund
[02:03] Learn to make money work for you
[02:40] Make more money over cutting all your expenses
[03:13] Start your retirement early
[03:58] Be careful of lifestyle inflation
[04:54] Summary
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

Creative ways to pay off your student loans fast

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, Max speaks with Patricia Roberts, COO of Gift of College where she discusses creative strategies that you can use to pay down your student loan faster and move forward with your life.
 
QUOTES
“I also have personal experience with the value of higher education. I believe firmly it is that education that I obtained that helped me to lift myself and my family out of the situation that we were in.” – Patricia Roberts
“I found a way to make it work to go to college, to work multiple jobs, still send money home to help my family, but also get on a path of advancing myself.” – Patricia Roberts
“I encourage people to start saving, whether it's in a 529 plan or some other way and to do it consistently. Another tip I have is to invite friends and family to join you in your savings journey. Nobody really knows what to buy your child or children for their birthdays or holidays, and to tell family members that you're on a mission to save for the child's future and invite them to join you.” – Patricia Roberts
 
TIMESTAMPS
[2:03] Patricia’s personal debt journey
[06:52] Lessons to not have huge amounts of student debt
[12:14] Best types of school to attend to keep cost & debt low
[28:26] How to help yourself pay off debt faster
[33:42] What secondary education is the most valuable?
[39:26] Patricia’s big career challenge and how she overcame it
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Patricia Roberts Social Media:Website
LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

Are certifications worth it? When to get certified and when not to for building your career

EPISODE SUMMARY
Max discusses his experience in getting multiple certifications to build his career, and reflects whether it was worth the investment in time and money. He hopes by sharing his experience, it will help his listeners who are currently going through the decision making process to make the right move for their career. Based on this past week's episode with Dr. Sabine Charles on how to pass your certification exam on the 1st try, build your career and make more money.
TIMESTAMPS
[01:34] Max’s journey with career changes, education, and certifications
[02:11] Connecting with a career coach 
[02:43] Certifications in marketing and product management
[05:12] Max’s journey starting his career coaching business
[05:37] Don’t assume certifications are the magic pill to success
[06:37] Summary
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

How to pass your certification exam on the 1st try, build your career and make more money

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan With A Plan, Max speaks with Dr. Sabine Charles, CEO of TAPA Institute on how to effectively prepare for your certification exam and pass it on the 1st try. Dr. Sabine Charles goes through her study system she has developed that helps you prepare for your certification exam for any field, making this episode a must listen for anyone going through this process.
 
QUOTES
“Everyone wants an A, so then what happened? We try to give everyone an A. I always tell my students there's two things happening in my class, getting an A, and learning. Two different things. Because you can get an A and not necessarily learn.” – Dr. Sabine Charles
“You have to do a good job and know what your skill set and see whether or not a certification can enhance that.” – Dr. Sabine Charles
“You have to know your life. I have clients who are single moms, and they study in their closet. They're hiding from their toddler, because they have to go study for their cert, or they study in their car. You got to figure out where you have your space so you could absorb the information.” – Dr. Sabine Charles
 
TIMESTAMPS
[01:17] Cracking the code for certification exam success
[05:27] Do a good job and know your skillset before certifications can enhance it
[08:13] Foundational components to certifications
[13:40] Skillsets that have helped professionals use certifications that got them promoted 
[16:34] Common reasons people fail certification exams
[20:56] Mental exercises to help you feel calmer and more confident
[24:11] How Sabine started her business helping professionals
[29:05] Sabine’s big career challenge and how she overcame it
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Dr. Sabine Charles Social Media:
Website
LinkedIn
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

How to handle criticism when you want to change careers

EPISODE SUMMARY
Making a career change can be tough, and can be made tougher when you have a lot of people criticizing your decision to do something different with your career.
In this episode of Chancap, Max talks about his own experience with criticism when he was diving into the field of resume writing and career coaching with only a background in marketing.
Based on this past week's episode with Lisa Arthur on how to overcome the fear of making a career change and take action to get your dream job.
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:43] What it takes to make a career pivot
[01:09] Mindset's role in pivoting 
[01:39] Max’s real life example
[02:56] First criticism is that it’s usually people behind you that criticize you not people that are ahead of you
[03:48] Second thing when it comes to criticism is that you’ll always have haters, no matter how right or good you are
[04:39] Third thing when it comes to criticism is that it’s your life so you just need to be happy with it and the decisions you make
[05:52] Summary
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media

How to overcome the fear of making a career change and take action to get your dream job

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Chan with a Plan, Max chats with Lisa Arthur, a multiple business owner who has an extensive background in education working as a Department Chair for her department for 2 years. Lisa comes on to discuss her insights and strategies on how you can overcome your fears and insecurities when it comes to making a successful career transition. 
 
QUOTES
“Really it comes down to you trusting your inner being and trusting yourself to make that transition. Imposter syndrome. As you talked about, there's a lot of people that have that, even though they know they have the skills and knowledge and honestly, I've gone through those doubts.” – Lisa Arthur
“And that's just what you have to do, you have to make a decision. And either way would have been hard, because being the victim thing would have also been hard, because I wouldn't have made the money, I wouldn't have been successful, I wouldn't have learned a lot of things.” – Lisa Arthur
“I try not to let fear stop me from pursuing other avenues. That's been kind of a lifelong thing that I've had, as far as like this need to discover new possibilities, especially right now, with the pandemic, now is a wonderful time to be exploring different options.” – Lisa Arthur
 
TIMESTAMPS
[02:26] Diversifying career streams
[06:12] Enjoying your job despite the challenges
[09:19] Learning lessons with career transitions
[14:34] Getting into more of an active productive path
[17:17] Common fears as people transition into new programs
[23:17] Decision making and risks
[26:53] Action steps if you are unhappy with your career
[31:04] Stay the course when you feel frustrated
[35:17] Regrets or no regrets; living with your choices
[41:13] Final piece of career pivoting advice
[42:47] Lisa’s big career challenge and how she overcame it
 
RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS
Lisa Arthur Social Media:Website
Instagram
Chan With A Plan
Max Chan on Social Media