Dream Job Equation with Ben Passman

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman contends that it's possible to rediscover the career aspirations you had as a child and blend them with your adult professional skills. He maintains that over time, many shelve their early ambitions for more practical jobs out of financial necessity. However, Ben shares examples of those who fused their grown-up talents with longtime passions—like an accountant who now handles finances for animal shelters. Even if you can't totally switch fields, he suggests outlets like volunteer work or side businesses. Passman argues it's never too late to reconnect youthful enthusiasm with your calling. By getting creative, you can find renewed purpose, reward and joy in your work.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman empathizes with listeners' anxiety about potential job loss, drawing from his own experience. However, he encourages reframing layoffs as opportunities to upgrade skills, expand networks, and redirect towards more purpose-aligned work. Passman urges proactive preparedness - polishing resumes, learning future-oriented skills, and reconnecting with mentors. He advises maintaining a growth mindset about change and taking control where possible. With courage and effort, Passman believes any career pivot can unlock potential. He aims to inspire confidence and empowerment even amidst uncertainty.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman asserts that reaching your dream job rarely involves a linear path, but rather demands courage to diverge off the beaten track and make sacrifices or take steps backwards, as he did when leaving his job and stable lifestyle to relocate for a dream role in public radio. Though difficult, the tradeoffs enabled him to align his talents with his passion. He urges listeners to consider their willingness to take risks, get creative, and bend their trajectory to pursue purposeful work. Ben stresses that while unconventional, making bold moves fueled by resolute personal commitment can open up new routes to your calling.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman outlines a four-step process to identifying and landing your dream job in 2024, beginning with honest self-reflection to gain clarity on your passions, talents, values and ideal working conditions. Next, leverage this self-knowledge to create a stand-out resume to attract exciting opportunities. Concurrently, address skills gaps through targeted development plans to become qualified for your dream role. Finally, adopt a determined, bold mindset about pursuing openings that fully match what you want. With strategic vision, preparation and self-advocacy, you can make your professional aspirations a reality.

In this episode of the "Dream Job Equation," Ben Passman encourages listeners to turn their dream jobs into reality by combining professional skills with childhood passions. Acknowledging the skepticism around the idea of "doing what you love," Ben shares his own journey of rediscovering fulfillment. He emphasizes that even if your career has taken unexpected turns, your skills are likely more marketable than you think. By reflecting on childhood dreams and transferable skills, Ben suggests a path to aligning passion with profession. Drawing from personal experience, he highlights the transformative power of merging skills with long-lost dreams. Ben reassures that your dream job isn't lost; it's waiting for your comeback. For additional insights, Ben recommends checking out his book on Amazon or connecting on LinkedIn. Until next time, this is the Dream Job Equation with Ben Passman.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman shares a resume "makeover trick" - power up the language you use to describe your skills and experience! He gives examples of boring resume bullets versus zesty, compelling versions using strong action verbs and impressive metrics that spotlight growth, savings, comparisons, and revenue gains. Ben explains this grabs recruiter's attention like a Rockstar compared to passive duties. His formula: Highlight increases over time, use rankings and percentages to compare against competitors, quantify cost and time savings you drove. Sprinkling this spice makes you irresistible to hiring managers! Ben offers to review your resume and suggest punchy wording to showcase your awesomeness. As he says, skip the yawn - add some sizzle!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman encourages job seekers feeling discouraged after months of no success to re-evaluate how they present their resumes, focusing on showcasing achievements over duties and confidently quantifying their value. He shares the example of his previous client Emma, who had impactful nonprofit administration experience buried in dense paragraphs. By reframing into powerful metrics like “Secured largest corporate gift of $250K,” Ben helped her tell a stronger story to interviewers. He offers all listeners a free resume critique, saying “It’s never too late to land your dream job. I’m here to help you find it.” His goal is to strategically transform resumes so candidates’ true strengths shine through.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman advises that after losing your job, accepting any gig to start rebuilding is sometimes better than holding out for a perfect dream role. He shares the story of his friend Alicia who was laid off from a $90k product manager job and refused to take lesser pay while draining savings for months hoping for a similar position. After having her car repossessed and facing dire straits, she finally took a minimum wage waitress job just to halt her financial crisis. Though humbling, it kept lights on and she quickly pivoted to an office manager job for $50k that let her start recovering. As Ben concludes regarding learning from Alicia's hardship - "Don't let dream job pride undermine practical needs if you lose income. Take a survival job to stop the bleeding!"

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman focuses on recovering from a layoff and quickly finding success in the job search. Ben empathizes with the emotional impact of losing a job, describing it as a punch in the gut that can lead to panic. However, he offers seven tips to bounce back swiftly. Tip 1 encourages individuals to allow themselves a brief period to feel down and process emotions before moving on. Ben emphasizes the importance of updating the resume promptly and rallying one's network for support. He shares a success story of a friend who secured three interviews in a week through networking. Additionally, Ben advises refreshing online profiles and maintaining a positive self-care routine. Staying positive and putting in focused work, as illustrated by another success story, is highlighted as a key strategy. Ben concludes by encouraging listeners to follow him on LinkedIn or check out his book, "Ben Passman’s Resume Review," for more detailed information on transforming their job search.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman emphasizes the importance of keeping your resume simple to make sure it catches the eye of recruiters. He shares an anecdote about his friend James who had an overly designed resume with graphics and charts that failed to get any interviews. Ben convinced James to simplify his resume into an easy-to-scan Word doc with bullet points highlighting his skills. Almost immediately, James started getting calls and soon landed a new higher-paying job. The lesson is to treat your resume as a tool to open doors, not a museum piece. Avoid fancy designs and stick to basics like readable fonts, no graphics, concise content, and bullet points. A clean and straightforward resume will help your qualifications stand out when recruiters have just seconds to make an impression. As Ben concludes, “Keep it simple and watch those interview calls roll in!”

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Host Ben Passman advises taking a strategic editorial approach to crafting an impactful resume, deliberately curating which experiences and accomplishments to emphasize rather than exhaustive chronological listings, tailoring the narrative to convey one's most relevant skills and achievements to reinforce professional branding aligned to future career goals; he notes to focus on quantifiable, measurable impact demonstrating business value versus just listing responsibilities and to customize content to the specific story each target job tells rather than generic fluff, guiding the reader to fully understand one's best self.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman discusses evaluating work-life balance when considering career moves, noting that as mid-career professionals our priorities evolve from the tireless ladder-climbing of youth fixation on titles and pay to a more holistic thriving across all life's important dimensions; he shares a personal anecdote of realizing in his 30s after achieving career success that he had been missing out on precious family moments that can't be recouped, making an important change to align his work with flexibility for greater fulfillment; the key takeaway is that before changing roles, carefully examine alignment on culture and values allowing you to excel professionally without requiring unsustainable tradeoffs depleting health and relationships - do a deep analysis of whether the expected commitments will reasonably stretch you or ongoingly compromise non-negotiable priorities.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman emphasizes the importance of setting SMART goals to chart a fulfilling career course, telling an anecdote about his friend Michael who lacked direction and purpose until defining short and long-term objectives aligned to his strengths. By creating time-bound, achievable milestones like getting project management certified in 6 months, Michael took strategic steps towards his bigger goal of becoming an innovation leader. Passman highlights that sharing these ambitions with supportive managers and coworkers provides community accountability. In just over a year focused on measurable skills growth, Michael landed his target job. Passman urges listeners to detail their own forward-looking titles and objectives in order to manifest purposeful career progression through SMART goal planning.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman emphasizes the importance of making an authentic personal connection with interviewers to ace job interviews and stand out as a top candidate. Through an anecdote about his friend Donna landing her dream marketing job by bonding with the interviewer over a shared passion for animal rescue, Passman advises doing research to find common ground and establish rapport beyond just prepping qualifications for the role. By asking thoughtful questions and leading with sincere shared interests, Donna forged an excited connection with her interviewer and showed she would fit right into the company culture. Passman stresses focusing on understanding the employer's priorities before asserting your own fit.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman emphasizes the importance of soft skills for getting dream jobs, telling an anecdote about his friend James, a mechanical engineer who struggled with interviews despite his technical prowess. Ben explains that James was not showcasing critical abilities like verbal communication, comfortable body language, and compelling presence. After working on areas like eye contact, vocal tone, and public speaking confidence, James begins to shine in interviews and lands his dream job by demonstrating his full range of qualifications. Ultimately, Ben advocates that job seekers not overlook developing their soft skills and intangibles, which sway how others perceive competence.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman emphasizes the importance of thoughtfully designing a home office for those working remotely. Acknowledging the challenges of virtual work, he urges individuals to treat their home workspace with the same professionalism as an actual office. Advising against makeshift setups, he encourages the creation of a dedicated and comfortable workspace, emphasizing the impact of lighting, decor, and ergonomic furniture. By showcasing a polished home office during video calls, individuals can ease leadership concerns about remote work and strengthen the case for continued flexibility. Ben highlights the positive effects of investing in a well-designed home office, not only boosting professional success but also enhancing overall happiness and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman emphasizes that vetting your potential new boss is essential yet often overlooked when job searching. He shares a cautionary tale of accepting a dream role with an awful boss who provided no mentorship and failed to support him, leading Ben to quit. He advises that job duties mean nothing if your boss doesn’t value you. Getting a read pre-hire is tricky but ask questions and trust your gut on alignment. The right manager shares your work ethics and has your back. The wrong superior can ruin your job. Tune into the podcast for more dream job search tips!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman empathizes with the challenges of a prolonged job search, sharing his own experiences and offering insights through the story of Angela, a friend who faced a similar struggle. Ben highlights the importance of recognizing one's worth beyond a single result and emphasizes the patience, creativity, and hard work required to find the right job fit. Through Angela's journey of self-discovery and resilience, Ben encourages listeners not to lose hope, reassuring them that opportunities will emerge with persistence and trust in their unique gifts. The episode concludes with a reminder to focus on mindfulness, networking, and achievements while forging ahead in the job search journey. Pick up a copy of Ben Passman's Resume Review

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNN55H6M

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman emphasizes that your resume summary statement or headline makes all-important first impressions like a news headline or movie trailer preview. In the crucial 10 seconds before a recruiter disengages, you must showcase your value and intrigue them to keep reading. He advises targeting keywords from relevant job descriptions and quantifying achievements to hook interest fast. Finding the right balance between concise and compelling is key without omitting “wow” details that create curiosity to learn more. Crafting something unique that signals your specialized fit gets you noticed. Invest time in an awesome resume headline that persuades recruiters to keep reviewing your experience. Tune into the podcast for more job search advice!

Pick up your copy of "Ben Passman's Resume Review" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNN55H6M

In today's episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman highlights the common oversight in describing accomplishments without providing tangible impact evidence, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating concrete numbers in a competitive job market. He stresses the significance of using powerful figures like increased revenue, improved efficiency metrics, and expanded market share to captivate hiring managers. Ben offers practical tips, such as using dollar amounts, percentages, and growth metrics, to quantify achievements effectively. By asking job seekers to reflect on measurable impact and specific data points, Ben encourages proactively showcasing performance with numerical evidence, ultimately demonstrating the tangible business value delivered. This episode serves as a valuable guide for job seekers looking to enhance their resumes and interview responses with quantifiable details, making a lasting impression on potential employers.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman shares a story about helping his anxious friend Megan prepare for a dream job interview. He encouraged her to research the company thoroughly so she could speak knowledgeably about their mission and values. They practiced responses tailored with examples of her relevant achievements and impact. All the preparation helped her nerves subside and enabled her to nail the interview with confidence and authenticity, ultimately landing the job. Ben emphasizes proper personalization, practice and passion allow your expertise to shine through in interviews. Do your homework to get comfortable addressing the role's unique needs. Quantify accomplishments with data. And customize answers to demonstrate fit. Tune in to the podcast for more interview tips to land your dream job!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman emphasizes that when feeling overwhelmed job searching, the key is to just start small. He shares an anecdote of a friend paralyzed in uncertainty until he began accomplishing tiny daily goals, which built momentum and routine. Treat the search like a job with set hours and metrics for gentle accountability. Celebrate small wins and limit distractions. With consistency, progress compounds when you focus on the step in front of you. You have the potential - take small actions daily. Tune into the podcast for more motivation to get unstuck and build career search momentum.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman advises that timing can be as important as qualifications when job searching, emphasizing the early birds get opportunities. He recommends setting a routine to promptly review and apply to new listings before applicant pools swell, often within the first few days. Recruiters screen applicants quickly when roles are newly listed, so you want to be in that first batch evaluated. Waiting too long risks falling into late consideration tiers amidst earlier applicants. Set up alerts for new openings, then craft polished yet prompt applications. Get your foot in the door right away, then shine in interviews. Tune in to the podcast for more strategic job hunting tips!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman emphasizes that thoughtful interview questions tailored to each audience are as important as impressive answers when job hunting. He advises asking recruiters big picture questions about culture and training, hiring managers tactical questions about day-to-day work, stakeholders about collaboration experiences, and leadership about business strategy. Thoughtful queries demonstrate genuine interest, preparation, and strategic thinking. Carefully crafting questions for each interviewer shows you did your research and leaves a lasting impression that you're the ideal candidate. Tune in to the podcast for more interview tips and job search advice to help land your dream job.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman advises those feeling stuck in an unfulfilling job to start preparing for a career change before urgency hits. He suggests identifying transferable skills that could open new doors, doing informational interviews to expand your network, researching growth trajectories in roles of interest, building relevant skills through courses, and getting clear on your work values. With preparation, you can feel empowered to pivot to more meaningful work aligned with your strengths and needs when the timing is right. Tune in to the podcast for more strategies on making a successful career change and transitioning smoothly to your dream job.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben's focus is on navigating the challenges of job hunting and crafting a strategy for career success. Ben empathizes with the frustrations of job seekers and encourages them not to give up. He emphasizes the importance of revisiting the basics when facing setbacks and prompts listeners to envision their ideal job, considering factors like company culture, values, and work environment. The key is to write down these preferences and then create a plan to bridge the gap between their current situation and their dream job. Ben acknowledges that achieving the ideal job may require sacrifices but emphasizes the fulfillment that comes from loving one's work. With a solid plan, creativity, an open mind, and a willingness to put in effort, Ben assures listeners that they can progress step by step towards landing their dream job.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman shares tips for effectively navigating LinkedIn Jobs and getting noticed. He advises against blasting out quick applications, since recruiters use screening tactics. Instead, carefully customize your materials using keywords from each unique job description to demonstrate fit. Fill out your full LinkedIn profile to showcase offerings upfront. Do research to find real hiring manager names and reach out directly. Follow up politely after applying to show genuine interest. Networking to build real human connections can help stand out too. With effort, you can develop a strategy to beat applicant tracking systems. Tune in to learn more strategies for job search success!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman encourages those with resume gaps not to lose hope, but to see it as a chance to thoughtfully redirect towards work aligned with who they are today. He advises honestly assessing where you're at, then making an intentional plan to highlight transferable skills and close gaps through classes, volunteering, or transitional roles. For career changers, spotlight relevant expertise while conveying passion for the new path. For returning from time off, focus on soft skills developed. With consistent effort, courage and resilience, you can overcome this hurdle on the journey to redefining your dream job. Tune in for more strategies and encouragement!

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation, Ben Passman offers advice for job seekers who are struggling to secure interviews. He acknowledges the frustration of not getting interview calls despite extensive job applications and emphasizes that this situation does not reflect one's skills or value, emphasizing that the job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Ben provides several tips to improve the situation, including updating one's LinkedIn profile, refining the resume with data-driven accomplishments and ATS-friendly format, customizing cover letters, and leveraging personal connections for introductions and referrals. He encourages job seekers to stay prepared and persistent. Ben also promotes his LinkedIn for more detailed information and offers free resume reviews to his audience.

In this episode, Ben emphasizes the importance of self-reflection during a job search. He suggests that amidst the ups and downs of the process, it's essential to pause and deeply understand oneself, including motivations, talents, weaknesses, work style, and core values. Ben encourages people to go beyond quick online quizzes and to seek self-awareness through assessments and discussions with trusted friends. He also advises identifying patterns in reactions to colleagues or bosses to avoid potential pitfalls in the job search. The main message is that self-knowledge is a powerful tool in the job hunt, leading to genuine fulfillment. Ben offers help with resume updates and encourages readers to focus on introspection.

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman draws comparisons between job hunting and online dating. He advises treating your resume like an online dating profile – polished and robust yet targeted to attract matches. Save heavy customization for your cover letters, where you can highlight details about why you’re a great fit for the specific role and company, just like personalized banter in dating. Don’t completely reinvent your resume each time, but do customize your cover letters to spark deeper connections. Invest time perfecting one strong resume foundation, then focus energy on writing stellar cover letters for roles you’re excited about to showcase your research into the ideal mutual match. With a solid resume and customized outreach, you can confidently connect with your dream job, just like finding the right match in dating by knowing yourself and going for the right fit. Tune in for more tips!

In this episode of The Dream Job Equation, host Ben Passman dives into top strategies for nailing your next video job interview. He covers key areas like mindset, presentation, research, practice, and active listening. Ben stresses the importance of staying calm, dressing professionally, thoroughly researching the company, and rehearsing answers. He advises being an engaged, thoughtful listener during the interview. Other tips include being confident but not arrogant, and most importantly, being your authentic self.

Ben shares anecdotes from his experience as an interviewer to illustrate common mistakes and how to avoid them. He reveals a secret technique for taking control of the interview conversation. The episode emphasizes likeability - that hiring managers want to work with people they genuinely connect with.

Follow Ben on LinkedIn for more insider tips on transforming your job search. Whether you're seeking your first job or next career move, this episode will give you the tools to comfortably ace video interviews and land your dream job.

In this episode of the Dream Job Equation - Join Ben Passman as he takes you on a journey to rekindle your childhood passions and align them with your professional skills. Discover how to blend your dreams with your expertise and make your career aspirations a reality. Tune in for expert guidance and inspiration. Your dream job is just a step away!"