Career Management Alliance Blog

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Anonymous writes: Just got out of a job interview. If you interview with multiple people at the same time, is it okay to individually send the same letter to all members of the panel? Thanks for your help. Continue Reading »

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I received this message from Matthew, via Facebook. It’s a good question. I decided to share it and my answer to Matthew here. THANKS MATTHEW.

January 28 at 5:12pm Dear Ms. Bugni, In your post (which was very well-written, by the way) you mention the necessity of having “basic computer skills” to compete in today’s job market. What, exactly, do you define these skills as? Sincerely, Matthew E. Continue Reading »

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Wrapping up our series by Mary Jeanne Vincent on preventing your resume from entering a “black hole:” Problem: Your resume is difficult to read. It may be that it contains typos or poor grammar, or perhaps the type is too small or difficult to read. Solution: Use the Spell check and Grammar check functions on your computer to check for obvious mistakes. Ask a friend with an eye for editing to review your resume. Ask for feedback on the readability of the size and style of type. The key is to make it easy on the reader’s eyes.

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Elizabeth writes: My question refers to asking for my old job back. I resigned for another position. I changed my mind about the other job and I now would like to go back to my old job. How can I ask for it back? I left in good terms. Continue Reading »

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Usually at the start of a new year, many people make resolutions, and with all good intentions, but sadly, 97% of those who do so, never follow through. The reason for this is a lack of commitment and determination. It’s sounds great when they say it aloud “I am going to lose weight this year”, or “This is the year I will get the promotion I’ve always wanted”,  or  “This is the year I will write my book”, but that’s as far as it goes. Not a lot of thought goes into how’s it’s going to happen; what steps come first; who will hold them accountable, or what do they have to give up? Continue Reading »

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I usually don’t write two posts in one day but I figured I better close the loop on my last post, which was a suggestion to Obama on how to create jobs the democrat way. Here’s my other-perspective letter:

Mr Obama, You say we need to create jobs this year (2010).  Big priority. Well, here’s what you do: GET OUT OF THE WAY. Let companies do their thing. Let entrepreneurs do their thing. There are companies and people who are dying to fill the holes the federal government is trying to fill. Stop using stimulus money to buy shares in Detroit companies. Instead, use that money to really stimulate the economy (not just to stimulate auto sales). Keep the interest rates low (I personally don’t know what the implications are of this, but it seems like a really good idea). Encourage creativity and foster an environment where entrepreneurs can take risks.  What if there were some way to distribute the money to entrepreneurs, instead of companies that are just too big to steer back into a good path that will be self-sustaining, create jobs, etc? Tesla Motors is an example of an entrepreneur putting his money into redesigning the auto industry. Please read Inc. Magazine.  Make your staff read it.  Put it on Air Force One, and in any other vehicles. Have it in government buildings.  The paradigm must shift from the bubble inside the DC beltway to what we experience outside of the beltway. Also, read this short piece by former Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson titled The Proper Role of Government.  There are some scary things in there about what government should AND SHOULD NOT do.  It talks about the citizen’s role in all of this.  It is a terrific read and I’d love to know how much you agree or disagree with this. I think all of Congress should read and study this document (NOT assign it to their staff for a briefing). I think that if you can just get out of the way we’ll get this righted.  There are thousands of stories about people filling a need, creating a business, and hiring employees (ie, creating jobs).  Here are two examples: Tom Morrill did the unthinkable: he opened a hot dog stand in a relatively small town in Utah.  He’s become a local legend and quite successful. He had to make sacrifices, but he found and need and fills it. I’m sure this sounds crazy to you if you are in a big city (D.C. or NYC), but it was unheard of in Provo. Cloud Star Products is a company that apparently employees 100 people.  This company started when a couple’s dog was just not doing well – they eventually came up with a line of food that helps dogs with allergies (who’da thunk!).  I read about them in the Costco Magazine (article here). You know what?  It is OKAY that these people don’t work for the government, and that they don’t work for a big company.  There is more to this country than that.  They are chasing their American Dream, and that has to be okay. What can you do to help us pursue our American Dreams?  Remember, many of the big companies today are here because some guy or gal was alone and broke, but had a dream and a passion and the will to chase it. Don’t trip the chaser.

This was harder to write than the first letter…. thoughts?

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Yup, I jumped the shark and got political.  Don’t worry, I’ll balance it out with another post about how to create jobs the stereotypical republican way. I need to clarify something, though. I think the average American who is very passionate about their political party really doesn’t know what it means to “be democrat,” or “be republican.”  If they knew and understood all the issues of both parties they might find they thought they were democrat when they were actually republican, or they thought they were republican but they favor democrat ideals. Continue Reading »

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One of the difficulties with renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines is the intermittent nature of the electrical generation.  Sun Catalytix, based in Cambridge, MA, has developed a system that uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to create a hydrogen powered fuel cell.  The system mimics photosynthesis.  Here is a list of their career openings. Continue Reading »

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Personal branding has become the latest “hot” topic. While some may see this as a fad, your personal brand as a concept has been around for awhile. Tom Peters wrote about The Brand Called You in Fast Company magazine in 1997. Given its longevity, it is amazing that so many people still do not understand why personal branding matters or what to do about it. If you are a job seeker, personal branding can be critical in separating you from the vast crowd of other applicants vying for the same type of positions. It also serves to differentiate you in the interview and hiring process, and makes it easier for the employer to see that you are a good fit with the company and team culture. Continue Reading »

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