Are you searching for career resources as you start a job search or try to break into a new industry? Are you unsure if your current job is the right fit for you or just looking to connect with other badass career women in Indy? If any of these situations fit yours, this guide is for you. There are plenty of great local resources that will give you the confidence and knowledge you need to impress.
Work On Your Resumé
Creating a top-notch resumé can be hard, but luckily, Kristen Lampkin can help. Lampkin, aka The HR Guru, is a human resources professional who has been working in the field for over 10 years, focusing on talent acquisition, performance management, organizational development, employee relations, coaching, and inclusion and diversity. She specializes in resumés and LinkedIn profiles.
Try a Career Coach
There are tons of great career coaches in Indy that will help you hone your skills and start a career that you are passionate about. If you get lost in the process of choosing the right career or life coach, read this story with helpful tips and tricks for finding someone who’s right for you. We also have a few recommendations we think you’ll like.
Ebony Joyce
Ebony Joyce of Next Level Career Services knows exactly what it’s like to not know what direction your career is going in. She’s been there—and that’s exactly why she works to help mid and senior-level corporate professionals find their dream job. Services that she provides include help in the job search process, one-on-one coaching, group coaching, speaking, talent management, and career coaching. She is also a member of the Indy Maven Editorial Board.
Angela Hurley Jorden
Angela Hurley Jorden is a career coach at Reset Your Happy. Just like the name implies, Angela Hurley focuses on helping professionals find the job that brings them joy. She does this by helping you build confidence, identifying your passions, setting healthy boundaries, defining your next steps, defining your “why,” and providing resources and support as you recreate your career.
Rebecca Fleetwood Hession
Rebecca Fleetwood Hession is the CEO and founder of We Thrive Live, an organization that provides executive career coaching, team coaching, business consulting, and keynote speakers. The organization has a focus on battling uncertainty to help people make bold moves, focusing on unique gifts and talents, and building confidence. Fleetwood Hession also hosts the podcast The Badass Women’s Council where she discusses topics like burnout, managing stress, and facilitating decision making.
Create a Network
A great way to get your foot in the door at any company is to connect with someone who works there. While this can be intimidating, Indy Maven is a great resource to help you make those connections. Purchase a membership and you can attend free (fun!) events with a ton of awesome women doing great things in the community.
You’ll also get access to the Indy Maven LinkedIn Group, which can help you grow your connections. If you can’t purchase a membership now, you aren’t out of luck, read up on our Maven to Know profiles to learn about local women who are making waves and might just be a great connection for you.
Linking Indy Women is also a great organization for those looking to meet new people in their industry or just to make new friends. Their monthly events feature different women throughout Indianapolis sharing their stories and experiences in business and in life. You’re sure to leave inspired and ready for wherever your next career step takes you.
Another great way to enhance your network is through mentorship. EDGE Mentoring provides a space that connects mentees and mentors from a variety of industries. The program is virtual so you can connect from anywhere. You can apply to join the community as a mentor or mentee here.
Take Online Certification Courses
A great way to stand out in the crowded job market is to take extra courses in the field or industry you are looking to enter. Many of them even offer certifications that you can put on your resume and LinkedIn. There are a variety of free courses you can find online across many industries like Google analytics courses and coding courses.
Check Out These Awesome Programs
First impressions can be scary, so you’re going to need an outfit that makes you feel confident and ready to take on the world. However, it isn’t possible for everyone to have that same confidence if they aren’t able to afford that killer outfit. That’s why Dress for Success, a global not-for-profit organization is equipping women with the skills, career resources, and clothes they need to land their next job.
Check out the Indy branch of Dress for Success to donate your business attire clothing, time, or money to help other women or to use their services yourself and find the perfect outfit for your interview. Dress for Success also provides interview and career advancement support, employment retention programs, and job training.
WorkOne Indy is a great local organization that provides career services for Hoosiers. WorkOne Indy is overseen by Employ Indy, and their website has great resources like job search tools, employability skills benchmarks, career readiness checklists, and adult education training.
If your small business has struggled due to COVID-19 and you need a little help to get back on your feet, check out the IU Hope Project. This project pairs alumni, students, and undergraduate students of the Master of Science in Information Systems degree program with local small businesses to provide services like cybersecurity, digital marketing, and website user experience.
Take Care of Your Mental Wellbeing
Taking the next step in your career can create a lot of imposter syndrome, doubt, and unhealthy comparisons to others. Be sure to take a step back and remember that you aren’t defined by your job and you have so much to offer the community. If you need a little extra convincing, check out this story about being authentically you or this story about what a Maven learned when she got laid off.
If you’re feeling overly stressed at your job or your company culture needs a reset, consider using Peak Mind. Alicia McKoy is the founder of Peak Mind, a mental well-being app that focuses on improving employee mental health and wellbeing. The app works to create better workplace cultures, more engaged workers, more diversity and inclusion, and efficiency and resilience. Once employees take the assessment, they will be given a guide to personal and company growth.
All of our content—including this article—is completely free. However, we’d love if you would please consider supporting our journalism with an Indy Maven membership.