If your job search feels scattered or exhausting, a Target Company List can help. This curated list of organizations that align with your goals can transform vague networking into focused action. Learn why it works, how to build one, and how it sets the stage for an effective job search. Questions? Contact Katy Allen, Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

As a career coach, I’m often asked whether a LinkedIn photo “looks professional enough.” It’s a fair question—your profile picture is often the first impression you make. In this post, I share practical tips for choosing a strong photo—and why it’s important to weigh social feedback with a healthy dose of self-awareness. Questions? Contact Katy Allen, Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

Not a fan of social media? You’re not alone. But if you’re job searching, LinkedIn is too powerful to ignore. With just a few quick updates, your profile can quietly work behind the scenes—helping recruiters find you while you focus on other things. Here’s how to make LinkedIn your passive job search partner. Questions? Contact Katy Allen, Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

People often have a wealth of transferable skills that can be applied to their next role—it’s just a matter of recognizing them, articulating them effectively, and positioning them in a strategic way on your professional materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn). Need help with this? Continue reading expert guidance from Katy Allen, Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

If you’ve been impacted by the recent federal layoffs, review valuable tips and guidance from Katy Allen, Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

Enhance job opportunities with a professionally crafted resume. Contact Katy Allen, Certified Resume Writer and Career Coach in Orange County, CA.

Lately, I’ve noticed more people posting their full resume on LinkedIn—either on their profile or as a post to share with their network. I completely understand the instinct behind this. When you’re job searching, you want to make it as easy as possible for recruiters and hiring managers to see your experience and qualifications. I get it! However, I don’t typically recommend this approach, and here are a few reasons why.

I work with many clients who are very eager to find their next job. And yet… these same clients often find anything else to do rather than sit down to update their resume, research companies, or network on LinkedIn. This is really common, and really… normal.

Many clients have recently expressed concerns about hiring slowing down during the holidays. Here’s some perspective to challenge these myths.

Ageism is real. Whether conscious or unconscious, recruiters and hiring managers are humans with unique biases and stereotypes, just like everyone else. As a career coach, I help clients develop strategies to mitigate the risk of ageism during their job search.

Do you know what a career coach does? (Don’t worry, I didn’t know either until I became one.)