Knowledge Center

On your resume, what does the heading “Summary” achieve?

Have you ever seen the title “Summary” on someone’s resume?  What does that tell you about what work they do? Nothing! What a lost opportunity to make a first impression. And all because the word “Summary” does nothing to tell the reader what the person does.

Wouldn’t it be better to answer the question “What’s my work?”  Then include that right at the top of your resume. It immediately tells everyone the Work, Vocation, … Read More >

I was recently asked what I consider to be the largest risks people face in terms of finding ways to work later in their maturity. Here’s my response.

1. High on the short list of risks are people who fail to recognize that work is a part of the career journey and not simply the job “du jour.” Why? Because these are the self-same people who fail to understand that preparation is the ounce of prevention all 21st century workers need in order to guarantee the right to continue to contribute.
2. People who fail to study the market as it is evolving … Read More >
   

Why do interviews intimidate people so much? The worst that can happen is that the company you are interviewing with will not hire you! If that is the worst that can happen, then how do you make an impression, say the right things and win the job?

Well, a good way to start is to turn the interview process in your favor.

First Turn. Do your homework. Research the company and its people. And most importantly, look at the news releases recently published. A great source for this information is OneSource.com,  and all candidate… Read More >

Preparation for an interview is often exhausting! After all the networking is done to connect to the hiring manager, you hear that there is a position that you are qualified for and begin your research and preparation for the big day. You review the company information on One Source or other online tool. You prepare your two minute drill so that you can break the ice. You practice, and practice, and practice.

On the big day you deliver your two minute drill with confidence, and you ask if you are the kind of person they are looking for – to get some indication from the… Read More >

When I was growing up, my dad used to say that we make our own luck. I thought about my dad as I read the recent WSJ article about research on luck. Findings are that if you believe you have a lucky charm, a lucky ball, etc., you may actually perform better. While the article mentions superstitions and being overconfident, I think the concept of feeling GOOD, feeling LUCKY, feeling BLESSED can go a long way to getting where you want to go in your career and life. You have to believe in the POSSIBILITY or PROBABILITY of getting what you want t… Read More >

I don’t have all the answers. There, I said it. The key to being a good career counselor is asking good questions. Often the client has the best answer. He or she just needs help getting to it. With respect to career options, there may be a single answer, and then again, there may be several options with varying degrees of satisfaction, risk and return.

If you are STUCK in your career, ask yourself a few of these questions.

• Why don’t I make a move?
• What am I gaining by staying here?
• If I did make a move, what would I do?
<… Read More >

Should it be three pages, two pages, Arial font, 12 point, colored and so on? Does it really matter? It is not really about how the resume looks on paper; it is about the process individuals go through to “learn their lines” and present them.

A resume is about taking the thoughts and feelings from one’s head and heart and putting them down on paper. It should then be sent to references to gain feedback and to educate the references on positioning. Those references are the first members of the individual’s sales team. If the individual does a good job … Read More >

As a career consultant, I meet a lot of fantastic people from all fields of business, and they normally present a very professional image. They have a business card with a title and email clearly displayed, again in a professional manner. Once ties are cut with that business, what will happen to that professional image? People must carry on with it as they present themselves to the marketplace as a unique product, ready to work for someone that values their services.

Unfortunately, many do not realize that the way they represent themselves has an impact on how they (as a pro… Read More >

I recently attended the annual CPI meeting in Scottsdale, AZ. After one session ended, my husband and I toured Taliesin West, the winter home, studio and facility built by the renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The tour guide related a story about Mr. Wright that shows the importance of building and maintaining your network. After he became a successful architect early in his career, Mr. Wright’s practice declined, perhaps due to his scandalous personal life. It was said that he was generally written off and forgotten by the public and the profession. During this period h… Read More >