Career Articles
Q:
"With the downturn in the economy, many of my classmates and I are getting worried about getting a job. Several of us were given offers months ago, but with start dates in the future for one reason or another (in some cases, that’s when the jobs were slated to start, and in others that’s when people were available because they wanted to travel). How can we be sure that our jobs will be there? And what about our friends who put off looking for jobs so that they could have some time off?"Nov 2 2009 - 10:04am
One of the most critical tasks to undertake before beginning an executive job search is assessing both your key strengths and your value to targeted employers. A true career assessment includes:
Oct 22 2009 - 9:23am- For the past several months, my team has been working on a major project at our company. Each of us on the team has our assignments and areas for which we’re responsible. A senior colleague, however, has assumed the role as leader, which no one minded at first. But more recently, in meetings with management, she is taking credit not only for what she has accomplished, but for what the rest of us have contributed. The first time it happened, I didn’t say anything. But in the last meeting, it happened again.
Aug 3 2009 - 1:30pm 
I was hired nine months ago at a small, privately owned company with about 100 employees. When I arrived I found a total lack of discipline, which I had expected because I had done my homework and the owner was very candid about the challenges I would face. Since coming on board, I have put in a standard set of policies and instituted several disciplinary actions.
Jul 1 2009 - 2:17pm
As a former headhunter and recruiter, I have seen thousands of cover letters. Unfortunately, most were not worth reading because they were the equivalent of a Post-It Note attached to the résumé saying little more than, “Check this out. I’d really like to work for you.”
Jun 12 2009 - 9:19am
Navigating turbulent economic times requires job seekers to be more informed and savvy about matching your passion and capabilities to a company to which you will add value. Whether you are a corporate executive or a less experience employee, you need to determine your value, passion, and capabilities in order to stand out from the crowded field of candidates.
May 29 2009 - 2:18pm
A strong introduction is a valuable tool not only for networking, but also for interviews and cover letters. In networking conversations, the intro is typically used to answer to the question, “What do you do?” In interviews, it is the response to the dreaded, “Tell me about yourself”. In cover letters, the intro is a bit more complicated so we will explore that topic in the next article. Unfortunately, no matter what the medium, the biggest issue with introductions or elevator pitches is that they are eye-crossingly dull — even when the person delivering them is not.
May 18 2009 - 9:01am
To many people, the prospect of changing careers seems much more difficult than staying in the same or similar field. But that isn’t necessarily true. If your heart is pulling you in a different direction, it would be a lot harder in the long run to stay put and ignore the call. It will also have a lasting, negative impact on your happiness.
Apr 21 2009 - 2:45pm
Peruse the typical interviewing guide and you will inevitably learn that when going through a job interview, you should sit up straight, speak confidently, be knowledgeable about your prospective employer, dress crisply, lean forward in your chair, etc., etc., etc.
Conducting a more in-depth review of the literature will further prepare you to handle tough questions about work experience, to explain potentially negative aspects of your résumé in a positive light, and to demonstrate that you have actually learned a thing or two from the experiences you have had to date.Apr 6 2009 - 4:35pm
