The list of career options is long and unattainable unless you are persistent. If you are job hunting, contemplating changing careers, or starting your own business, let’s chat!

For 20+ years I’ve worked my way up and I started when I was 15. As a Legal Secretary/Paralegal at a large firm with a national presence, as well as being a wife, mom, and business owner, I take each role seriously.I take time to equip myself in each area. Educationally, I achieved my associate’s degree while working full-time, and graduated completely debt-free (with no financial assistance) and later obtained a paralegal certificate from the University of Miami. I’ve spent my life persisting! Because of this, there are three things that helped me get to where I am.

Fix Up Your Resume

I recently befriended a neighbor. While she is awesome, her resume isn’t. I will encourage you the same way that I encourage my neighbor: be a master of words! Have you been a stay-at-home mom?Then you’re responsible for  day-to-day operations, maintaining calendar appointments (i.e. doctor visits, playdates, performances, activities), and handling travel arrangements. If you keep track of vaccines and medical histories then you’re handling confidential information by maintaining and updating records. If you’re paying bills then you’re responsible for the intake of monthly expenses and ensuring timely process. If you’ve set up automatic debits then you’ve implemented strategies to ensure timely payment of accounts. All this can be put into a resume. Use action words! Maintain, communicate, establish, resolve, prepare, compile, gather, ensure, handle, etc. Someone is getting paid to look over your resume and qualifications, and you can bet they’re critiquing them. Use that knowledge to your advantage.

Put Your Face On

My neighbor and I have what the other wants. I want to be a stay-at-home mom and she’s ready to be in the workforce after nine plus years of child rearing. She’s educated, sophisticated, and well-rounded . . . but she has no work experience. She believes this is her downfall, but I don’t! No matter what level of experience you have, you can land a job with persistence—and persistence has a face. Be witty, resourceful, charming, light hearted, and laser focused. Don’t be stiff. Don’t mentally list every possible downside before the interview even starts.

When All Else Fails, Network

After you have an exciting job, you may want to change career paths at some point. We’re funny like that. In my twenties I wanted to work in corporate America. In my thirties I wanted to run from corporate America! I’ve begun to rebrand myself, I’ve opened a business, and I’m going to new places. I’m networking with new crowds and even inviting myself to networking opportunities. But I haven’t switched professions fully just yet. Until  I can completely submerge myself in my new business, I can’t let go of my current profession. Sometimes my goal gets lost in the everyday things I have to do—after all, I have a three year old! But I pick myself up, find new opportunities, never let my goal escape, and I persist. Even when other responsibilities arise, I continue to build on top of what I’ve started.

Persistence is a trait that stretches vertically and horizontally touching every part of our lives. Even when it looks like other things take priority, I am persisting. No matter what stage of job-searching or career-switching you are in, there are easy ways to capitalize on your circumstance and position yourself more strongly! If you persist, it will all happen for you. Will you give me your word you’ll persist?