Interview Series - Career Experts - Mark Babbitt from YouTern CareerMetis.com

Interview Series - Career Experts - Mark Babbitt from YouTernâ€" CareerMetis.com In this interview series, we caught up with Mark Babbitt from YouTern who shares her expertise and insights about job search, career change,etc.in today’s marketplace.Tell us a little bit about your company evalAt YouTern, we help college students, recent graduates, and young professionals land their first or next gig in a culture where they will learn, grow, and become a valued contributor.How did you get started in this path?I jumped into the world of careers and workplace culture when it became obvious that job boards had taken all the “human” out of human resources.The world of work, to put it simply, had come down to clicking an “Apply Now” button instead of mastering soft skills, mentoring others, and building mutually-beneficial relationships. I knew there was a better way to carve out a fulfilling career.Is this something you decided early on in your career? Not at all! My career path has taken me from the military, to an engineering position in Silicon Valley, to l aw enforcement, to the start-up world. Nothing in my career was “decided,” I was just lucky enough to follow the right path for me.What is the Best Career Advice You’ve ever received?I received the best career advice ever at a very young age. While working at a warehouse as a second income to my Air Force pay, my boss, Hank Bera, knew I was restless. I had chosen engineering as a military job, but wasn’t exactly feeling fulfilled in the work.He said, “Stop worrying. In three years, you’ll find another career. And another three to five more years after that. And another after that. A career choice is not a life sentence… a career should be chosen to help you enjoy life.” Sure enough, I’m on about my eighth different career.What is the most exciting part of working in this industry? The mentorship angle appeals most to me, and to my team.By serving others, by helping them find their unique path, we know we’re using our experience for good.evalHow do to stay abreast of the industry as an expert? It’s a cliche, but it comes down to continuous learning combined with a relentless desire to learn from the success of others. What is working today? What is not?What are some of the things that you see job seekers struggle with the most?Demonstrating social proof of their qualifications and soft skills.Job seekers can’t just say they are “hard workers” and “proven leaders.” They must show proof, in the form of quantified storytelling and digital evidence, that they have mastered the skills employers covet most.What are the common mistakes that you see them do? Relying far too heavily on what amount to anonymous digital applications through job boards and company career sites.The fact is that sending a resume blind, without having a champion for your candidacy already within the company ready to support your efforts, is a tremendous waste of valuable time and energy.How should job seekers approach job search today?The most successful job se ekers in today’s marketplace focus first on building mutually-beneficial relationships. In other words, they focus on “people” not “companies.”What is the biggest trendMark Babittand YouTern have also been featured in our recent compilation of the most resourceful career experts and career blogs â€"Top Career Advice Websites.