A colleague of mine, Susan Whitcomb, raised an excellent question on Linked In about job search and it inspired me to think about a team approach in this area. During the most difficult period of search in at least the last 10 years I responded to her post and question with some ideas of my own and that have worked for my clients. Here is a primer of that discussion and some ideas for you if you want to hunt or use some the tactics of the pack or a team approach. Continue reading

I would argue that those two are now blending and will continue to blend. By creating a more powerful purpose in your "social media' regardless of platform you will be able to anticipate and be prepared for the future. The future to me looks like a blend. To be ready for that blend create a content and relevant editorial strategy to help define your future brand. Continue reading

I asked one client about his recent experience during an all day executive assessment. He said: "Are they allowed to pull my DNA too? I cannot believe how much I had to reveal and submit for them to even consider me. When did this happen?" If you haven't been interviewing or are not ready to handle these requests the message is clear. Companies want more information from you and they are trying to get it whether you like it or not. Has this happened to you? What have you done to respond? How will you respond in the future? Continue reading

What are some of the toughest things any executive or serious careerist battles in career transition? To find some answers I reached out to Jeff Davidson of Jeff Davidson who is "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" and has written 56 mainstream books. I wanted to talk to Jeff. His partial creds? He's considered a key authority on time management, making nearly 800 presentations since 1985 to clients such as IBM, American Express, Lufthansa, Swissotel, Re/Max, USAA, Worthington Steel, and the World Bank. He has authored 60 books including "Breathing Space," and the recent Amazon highly rated "Simpler Living." Continue reading

You may deduct headhunter and career coach fees. Keep records and these expenses can be deducted if you are trying to improve your chances of transitioning within your current field. Continue reading

In the last several weeks clients have presented some problems they were facing in their careers. People often ask me what we do. I probably could give them better answers over the years but what we like to do is help them solve career problems. Who is a good client for us? I feel that someone who knows they have a problem, acknowledges that they cannot figure out a solution on their own and wants to partner with us to find a solution. Continue reading

A new group of tools will start to emerge so that you can find out about your reputation online. Most people do not know how to evaluate their online reputation today. It's harder to stand out now online since everyone seems to be on the web. But the key to standing out needs to be quality, diversity and understanding some of the new trends in online reputation management. Continue reading

"Always seek to find the best way rather than insisting upon your way." John Wooden Continue reading

If circumstances have "distorted your voice" don't add to it by shortcuts. Work on every aspect of how you communicate your distinctive voice. Continue reading

For all of these people we now take a mostly entrepreneurial approach to developing their career brand. Few people want or think they will stay with their existing company or organization for more than two or three years. Try to manage, maintain and direct the conversation of you that is going online. Continue reading

Conventional Wisdom says - Don't Talk Salary Before You Have an Offer. A lot of talking heads still promote this with few exceptions. This kind of information and advice, depending on industry and specific situations, may not be relevant. In some ways the recession changed some things about salary negotiations. Continue reading

If you really want to know what most people broadcast loudly in their career transition or job search it really comes down to about one word. In every quality relationship, think about the value you provide and the value that other person can provide to you. In everything that you do you must indicate your value not quiet or loud desperation. Continue reading

Just because I have a lot of recommendations, post a good many questions and seem like an all-in Linked In person I am not. It's not for everyone. It's not a place to play the fool if you are serious about your career brand. It's not where you need to be if you want to be unproductive, sloppy, and careless. You waste my time and yours. So get going. Continue reading

Many of these concepts can be started during any career upheaval. It would be nice if these ideas were all supported by your current company. But most of the time they are not. If they are great. If not then it is up to you to put together your critical team members. In other words, do not rely on your current company or organization to do this for you. You do it. Continue reading

How can asking tough questions in your field and work life benefit you? Who in your life has asked you the toughest questions? Who in your life has asked tough questions, really listened and used the information to help you? The people that do can help guide you and help you secure your future Continue reading

Noted author David Snyder, who writes for Headway Corporate Resources 2 million job seekers, employees and candidates, is currently publishing a series of articles using information and interviews with me. The blog is entitled "How to Be a Workplace Champion" and the recent addition admonishes us all: Snyder says that You Must Market Yourself. His grandmother once said: “It’s a sorry dog that can’t wag its own tail.” Continue reading

Following is John O’Connor’s Power Checklist of the top 5 tips to ensure that you are ready to begin the job search process, if job seeking is your current goal: Continue reading

By preparing for the hidden job market in this way Phil holds a clear advantage over his competition. "Developing a plan," says Phil today, "and finding out about the culture, attitude, buzz and insider information on target companies means more to me than anything right now. I have faith in my skill set but I want to quietly find a new position." He realizes that this may give him a clear, early advantage over his competition. "I want to be known by my target companies before they know they need me. Then I will be ready to pounce." Continue reading

With the recent recession and a general cutback mentality malaise many companies hurriedly bring new talent on. Doing this haphazardly creates confusion and lessens the impact new talent can have. Continue reading

Free advice can be found anywhere. But finding good advice with someone who is accountable to you may be the best way to start. Continue reading

Remember that you may work with numbers as an accountant or sell things as a sales representative but what matters most in this business and career life? I contend that you make a bigger impact when two parties agree to focus on building trust, helping each other and try to work on a long-term give and take relationship vs. a transaction. This is especially hard to do when you need "a fix" to your job search, your marriage, your job, your boss or your friend. But finding out the win-win benefit, long-term, in any relationship matters most. Continue reading

I now find that many of my clients need constant assistance in developing not only the original resume but ongoing assistance in the development of several resumes, biographical sketches for online branding opportunities, very specific covering letters and a slew of specific edits to job board requests, questions and more just to play the hiring game properly. Continue reading

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in their report released in September of 2010, the average person born in the latter years of the baby boom held 11 jobs from age 18 to age 44. More than half of those jobs were held from ages 18 to 27. Continue reading