Thoughts on Career Development, Communication Strategies, Job Search, Ruminations and more
Apr 19 2010
Despite the recent slight uptick in job growth, the graduating class of 2010 will face the toughest job search challenge of the past 20 years, maybe longer. Sadly, it will be harder for most new graduates to find work related to their degrees than in recent memory. While so many earlier generations were promised unlimited [...]
Jan 25 2010
Like millions of others, I spent some time this past weekend watching the NFL playoffs. Congrats to the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, who will battle it out in the Super Bowl. Although I’m not the world’s biggest sports fan, I do enjoy watching teams try to execute their offensive and defensive strategies [...]
Dec 14 2009
With the Winter Holiday Season upon us, occupying our thoughts, hearts and lives, I wanted to take a moment or two to encourage those who are out of work to keep looking and keep trying!
“But who the heck is hiring, this time of year,” you ask?
Maybe not as many employers are hiring right now as [...]
Oct 19 2009
Recently I attended a very large, and very crowded free outdoor 3-day music festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Moving between six stages of exceptional talent proved to be an arduous and exhausting experience; that thankfully wouldn’t diminish the inspiration and invigoration fueled by the great music.
But I was thinking that it might have [...]
Sep 21 2009
Throughout the country, state-provided resources for job seekers are drying up. Staff shortages, mandatory layoffs and furlough days that close facilities all impact the employment offices’ ability to provide comprehensive one-on-one services. It wasn’t that long ago that if you were out of work, you could have gone to your local unemployment office, talked to [...]
Aug 24 2009
You’re out of work, spending a lot of time in front of the computer looking for job leads. You go to networking and chamber of commerce events, attend job fairs, and try to be where you meet potential employers. But this has been going on too long and its getting old fast! And though you’ve [...]
Jul 27 2009
One of the questions I frequently get asked is: Do I really need to send a Thank You note after an interview?
The Thank You letter has almost disappeared as a message of appreciation in today’s fast paced age of computers, email, and online social networking. But communicating your gratitude is no less important today than [...]
Jul 14 2009
On a New York commuter train last week the two strangers sitting across from me became engaged in a career discussion. The gentleman, casually dressed, older, appeared close to retirement age; the woman also casually dressed, appeared to be in her early 30’s.
It was just simple commuter banter – small talk. The man was asking [...]
Jun 15 2009
“Have Gun – Will Travel reads the card of man.” So went the lines of the theme song (and title) to the popular western starring Richard Boone as Paladin, a soldier of fortune and gun for hire that ran on CBS from 1957 through 1963. Here was a guy who liberally passed out business cards [...]
Mar 23 2009
For many people, introducing one’s self to a complete stranger is a very painful experience. Believe me, I know! It’s much easier for me to address a room full of people (strangers or not), than to introduce myself to someone I don’t know!! But to overcome my discomfort talking with strangers took commitment and determination. [...]
Feb 23 2009
In school, were you the one who always had a better/different way of doing things? When the teacher was explaining that 2 + 2 = 4, were you the one who said the same result could be achieved by adding 3 +1? Or by subtracting 1 from 5?
If you’re still looking at things a bit [...]
Feb 09 2009
Whether you are a new graduate looking for your first major gig, or an experienced professional who has been laid off, open and honest communication with your network of family, friends and industry peers is your best bet for making headway in your job search.
It is not uncommon to feel withdrawn when you’re out of [...]
Dec 29 2008
Look, I know the economy sucks right now. People are getting laid off in record numbers and you begin to wonder whether looking for a job is worth the effort.
Your frustrations mount because there are bills to be paid, you’ve got personal and familial responsibilities, and the outlook is less than optimistic.
Well, I get it! [...]
Dec 15 2008
My conversation with a young cab driver the other day went something like this:
Hank: If you weren’t driving this cab, what you rather be doing?
Cabbie: I’m not sure. I’ve thought about doing a lot of different things. I only graduated high school last year and needed to find work, and this is what I got?
H: [...]
Jul 13 2008
Got a call recently from a former associate who told me he was being laid off at the end of the month. At the time of his call, he had 2 weeks remaining on the job, and he was just starting to reach out to his network. Because he works for a nonprofit organization, [...]
Jun 15 2008
If you’re one of the lucky few that found an internship in your field of choice, further congratulations are in order. Play your cards right, and that internship could lead to a decent position and your career is on track.
But not everyone knows what they want to do after they get their diploma. There are [...]
May 16 2008
The weather’s getting warmer. Have you noticed all the fun you can have in your community during the warmer months? All across the country, concerts, festivals, street fairs, will be filling the air with music and community.
It is important for all of us to get out and enjoy being entertained for the sheer joy [...]
Apr 27 2008
You can’t watch/read/listen to the news these days without noticing the large number of layoffs being generated by both large and small employers. As an employee, “You never know when someone will tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘bring your play book’”, according to a VP at a major bank. Layoffs are affecting all [...]
Apr 10 2008
So the nation’s economy is in a slump. Should employers be expanding their workforces or chopping them down?
In a recession, unemployment rises. Though we may not be in an official recession yet, the unemployment figures are on the rise. Competition for good jobs will also go up! This makes it all [...]