Quick Tip: No Lying On Your Resume

By On · Add Comment · In C-Level Executives, Career Coaching, Career Search, Career Transition, Executive Resumes, Executives, Job Search, Quick Tips, Resume Advice, Resume Strategies, Resume Tips, Resume Writing

The Career Coach Quick TipA small fabrication is causing a big uproar across the tech community. Yahoo CEO, Scott Thompson is accused of exaggerating his credentials on his resume. According to news reports, a regulatory filing and a company press release mention Thompson as having earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer science from Stonehill College. But checks of his school record show an accounting degree only. Now there are demands for his departure as head of the struggling Internet company.

Despite his 30+ years of real world experience, what Yahoo is calling an “inadvertent error”, may lead to Thompson’s downfall. Still feel like embellishing on your resume? We’ve all heard the admonishment, never lie on your resume. Well here’s a real world example to show no matter how high you get on the food chain, an embellishment, error or exaggeration will catch up with you.

What’s interesting to me is that Thompson does have a Bachelor’s degree, it’s just not in computer science. Imagine the uproar if he didn’t have a degree at all!

~Linda

 

 

The Key To Executive Networking

By On · Add Comment · In C-Level Executives, Career Campaign Networking, Career Networking, Career Search, Career Transition, Executive Career Search, Executive Networking, Executives, Job Networking, Job Search Networking

The Key To Executive NetworkingFor many executives and professionals, identity and self-worth are defined by the work they do. So what happens when you no longer hold the position that defines you; when you’re made redundant because your company has been acquired by a larger entity and you’re subsequently let go, or when your position is outsourced overseas?

Any of those scenarios can be like a sudden earthquake, rocking even the most confident executive to the core, not to mention being a huge blow to the ego and leaving even the best and brightest questioning their desirability in today’s competitive job market.

For example, I worked with a former corporate president who was going through a career transition. When I suggested he network with other presidents and CEOs he said, “why would they want to talk to me, I’m not the president of anything any more?” To which I responded, “I see, so all of your past knowledge of running a company has just evaporated and you have no experiential advice or wisdom you can impart to anyone?” After thinking about this a moment, his eyes brightened, he sat up straighter and he was able to rethink his approach to his career transition and networking.

Remember, as an executive, you bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to any discussion. When you reach out to fellow executives to network, you’re reaching out as a peer, an equal, someone with whom a conversation can be mutually beneficial. This enables you to approach networking from a position of strength and confidence. So, the key to executive networking is to remember your self worth, to remember that you are not your job, and to approach it as a peer to peer meeting or discussion.

~Linda

 

Web Portfolios: The Cutting Edge in Executive Job Search

By On · 1 Comment · In C-Level Executives, Career Campaign Networking, Career Campaign Technology, Career Networking, Career Search, Career Transition, Cloud Based Resources, Cloud Based Resumes, Executive Career Search, Executive Job Hunting, Executive Recruiters, Executive Resumes, Job Search, Job Search Networking, Job Search Strategies, Job Search Technology, Personal Web Pages, Professional Resumes, Web Based Resources, Web Based Resumes, Web Portfolios

Web PortfolioEven the most accomplished executives need help branding and packaging themselves for today’s competitive market. Besides a well-written, attention grabbing resume that tells your stories and highlights your skills and achievements, you also need an online presence in the form of a web portfolio. Why a web portfolio?

Logistics. A web portfolio designed with HTML5 enables hiring managers and executives to see your background even when they’re on the go. By including the URL to your web portfolio in your signature line or sending a link via email, the recipient can open an impressive display about you on any tablet, iphone, android or mobile device anywhere they have Internet access. You can also include the link on your LinkedIn profile.

Beyond the resume. A web portfolio allows you to go beyond the resume, enabling you to add sections on successful projects, accolades, articles, patents or any other achievements that will sell you and your brand to the decision maker.

Tech savvy and very “today”. Web portfolios aren’t just for creative types, techies and recent graduates. They show you’ve not only embraced our Internet age, you’ve mastered it. This can be very important for more experienced and shall we say mature executives.

Marketing magic. An expertly written, attractive web portfolio turns you into a cutting-edge candidate who truly stands out. Having a sophisticated, polished web presence gives you a leg up on the competition. You can get that leg up at The Imagemakers, Ink!™ LLC with one of our exceptional web portfolios.

A well-written resume and well-designed web portfolio is the one-two punch you need to knock-out the competition and should be a part of every executive and professional career campaign.

~Linda

 

An Executive Decision: What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

By On · Add Comment · In C-Level Executives, Career Coaching, Career Search, Career Transition, Executive Career Search, Executive Job Hunting, Executives, Job Search, Professionals

question_markDoes anyone really know what they want to be when they grow up? I’m posing this question because I think it’s one that most of us ask throughout our lives. While it’s an obvious question that young people ask themselves, surprisingly, it’s also often asked by accomplished executives who’ve had very successful careers.

When you think about it, it’s actually not surprising at all. These are people who are goal driven and ambitious. They’re often visionaries and innovators. They create ideas and strategies and  implement them, seeing them through to completion before moving onto their next challenge. So, it actually makes sense that these leaders would not be content to rest on their laurels, would not be able to spend their “golden years” on the golf course, would not easily retire and would be asking the question, “what do I want to be when I grow up?”

Personally, I’ve asked the question myself as I’ve made a variety of career moves in search for a new challenge. Many years ago, before googling became a verb, I even googled the question. While that’s not where you’ll find the answer, you can read some interesting articles. The answer lies within us and arriving at the answer requires introspection as well as pragmatic thinking.

The introspection is to determine what you truly enjoy, what makes you jump out of bed in the morning, what energizes you. The pragmatic involves looking at the skill sets you’ve developed over the years, your record of accomplishments, the things that make you most marketable.

While most executives can answer the question about what they enjoy, it often takes a seasoned coach to draw out their transferable and marketable skills; to help them really brand and market themselves as they determine their next career move and to help them see where the introspective and pragmatic intersect.

Other alternatives for finding the answer … well, I guess now instead of googling the question, you can just ask Siri.

~Linda

Job Interview Tips With The Frontier Airlines Animals

By On · Add Comment · In Career Search, Career Transition, Executive Interviewing, Interviewing, Interviewing Tips, Job Interviewing, Job Interviews

You’re about to go on a job interview for that perfect position that will really make your career take off. That means you need to prepare. Like most things in life, if you want to be good at something it takes practice. A good way to polish your performance is by role playing with an expert career coach (like me) or learning by example. Take a look at the following Frontier Airlines Animal Auditions, there’s a lot that can be learned from these clever critters including the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD: Polly the Parrot on why she’s on the market, “My pirate died.” Great answer for needing a new job. The answer shows she’s looking due to circumstances beyond her control and therefore it does not reflect poorly on Polly or her job performance. Since the death of an employer is not usually why professionals are on the market, it’s  a good idea to develop a communication strategy and answer to the question of why you’re looking for a new position before going on the interview.

Polly, an expert at mimicry, also bonds well with her interviewers. She takes the mirroring technique to a whole new level. Now while you may want to subtly mirror your interviewer’s body language, the way they act and the way they sound to create an unconscious bond, the key word is to be subtle and mirror as opposed to mimic. While Griz loved Polly’s antics, she may have overstepped and been a little too flip with Flip.

THE BAD: Fred the Walrus has difficulty communicating and answering basic interview questions. When interviewing you need to be able to articulate the benefits you bring to your future employer. If being a talking animal is one of the skill sets then you’d better be able to communicate and connect with all of the individuals with whom you interview, not just Griz.

Duke the Arctic Dog goes through a litany of things he doesn’t do before he gets to the one skill set that impresses his interviewers. If you don’t have the skills a company needs, go on the offensive and quickly show off what you do bring to the table.

Enrique the Tree Frog starts asking for concessions and accommodations, “Is it possible for me to be on the nose of the plane instead of the tail?” before he even has an offer. You definitely want to wait until you’re at the negotiation phase of the interview process before you start asking for special treatment. Once you have the offer, you know the potential employer likes you and wants to bring you on board, then you have more wiggle room.

THE UGLY: Doug the Dung Beetle. In an interview, if you really want to land the job you have to keep some s@#! to yourself, ‘nuf said.

~Linda

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