Job boards don’t suck…however, how most job seekers use job boards to find a job does suck, to be blunt. I think job boards are a treasure trove of information that is consistently undiscovered and underutilized. Job boards receive a bad rap from most job seekers, since most job seekers are using them improperly. To be clear, there are five kinds of job listings, each listed with a few examples, and five ways are using job boards more effectively: (more…)

This time of year brings about that need to take inventory of what you did and where you want to go in the next year. Notice I did not say we need to take note of what we did not do. Focus on the positive. Focus on what you did accomplish in your career.

Be grateful and content. It is in the contentment and acceptance of where we are that allows us to have a foundation to build the dreams of where we want to go in the next year.

Use this time to REFLECT and not REGRET.

Then DESIGN your plan to ADVANCE your career.

Let’s close out 2011 and get revved up for 2012. Join me in doing this exercise: (more…)

My friend, G.G. Collins launched her website Smart Girls Make Savvy Women and asked me to write the inaugural guest blog post. Thank you, G.G. for including me on such an important message—getting our children ready for the workforce.  Best Wishes in your success!

4 Career Skills to Teach Your Children Now for Future Professional Success

As a Job Search Coach and Career Development professional, I often get asked by well meaning parents if there is anything they can do to best prepare their teens and young children for the job market.  Or what are the best career options to pursue.   The latter question is best left to labor analysts and economists who  forecast what the domestic and international markets will require to determine which skill set will be in high demand over the next decades.

So what can parents do to best prepare their children to succeed within a chosen career? As a career professional, former recruiter, hiring manager and as a current parent myself, here are my suggestions of what parents can do outside the education system to best prepare their kids based on the clients I have worked with and prospects I have interviewed over my 16 year career:  (more…)

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Is it time to update your resume? If you are not sure, take this short quiz:

1.  Does your resume have an objective statement?

2.  Do you believe a resume must be one page?

3.  Have you used a wide, left-margin format?

4.  Is your resume missing a core competency section?

5.  Are your job descriptions mixed in with your accomplishments?

6.  Does your experience go back more than 10-15 years?

7.  Have you completely bulleted your entire resume?

8.  Did you complete your resume with “References Available Upon Request?”

If you have answered “yes” to any of the following questions, consider the fact that it is time to update your resume on your own with The Do-It-Yourself Branded Resume Kit or utilizing Chameleon Resumes to create the update for you.

People want to feel good and look good at work—I am sure you are no exception. Being happy in your current job has to be paramount, since looking for a new job is not the right decision for everyone. If I can give you a suggestion to use that has a positive ROI that is both measurable and invaluable, that can provide positive corporate public relations and, in some cases, that can have new business ideas evolve by bringing together employees that don’t normally work together, you would want it, yes? Well, here you go…. (more…)

Feeling like you want to see what opportunity is out there in the marketplace? Not sure what to do to get it going or if you even want to look for a job? Well, start your own research tour. Learn about what you think you may want to do next. You do not need to start with your resume, if you do not know where you want to go yet. To help you get that direction, here are three things you can do today to begin assembling information to help you: (more…)

I have a friend, a high level executive, who is uses Facebook only for personal stuff, is barely present on Linkedin and sees no value in Twitter. Now I know having a vibrant presence on social media tools is not a requirement to live fully in this world, except that he is eager to find a job. He is looking diligently and working his network strategically to no avail. As his friend, I explain how it is unfathomable to me in this day and age to conduct a job search without using these social media tools more robustly. He replies, “Well, I want to maintain my privacy.” My reply? “Well, it seems to be working. No one is finding you.” (more…)

Frustrated by search firm recruiters not calling you back when you have submitted your resume to them? Feel you’re perfect for the job they posted, you know you can do it, but baffled by the fact they have not returned your call? Well, I have some answers for you and outline a few things you can do about it. Read on if you are open to honest, tough talk, you are serious about optimizing your job search time and you are prepared to do something about it. Here goes: (more…)

Recent work with my clients made me realize that very competent people often have trouble asking for help or they do not know how to ask for help effectively. I have outlined 3 ways you can clearly articulate what you are looking for in a position when networking with trusted sources.

Here are the ways you can get others to help you more effectively: (more…)

I did an informal survey of approximately 20 corporate recruiters asking which sources they use to find qualified candidates. Although an unscientific poll, the results were still reflective of the shift occurring in the job search landscape. For each source on this list, ask yourself: (more…)