Career Management Alliance Blog

1. You are expecting to get calls for interviews because you posted your resume online. Despite all the advice and statistics to the contrary, job seekers continue to spend most of their job search time posting on job boards. It’s fine to apply for positions that you are truly qualified for online. But is is imperative that you create alternative plans for getting your foot in the door at those employers. Talk to recruiters, find someone in your network who may know someone at the company, or use tools such as LinkedIn or Jigsaw to find a potential decision maker at that company. Posting on the job boards with thousands of other applicants will rarely get you noticed. Continue Reading »

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This is another in a series of monthly advice posts made in association with the Career Collective, a group of professionals who collaborate to provide guidance for job seekers and careerists. The questions this month, in honor of April Fool’s Day, are: How are you fooling yourself about your career /job search? What can you do about it? "How to avoid being tricked by common job search blunders?" April Fool’s Day. Job Search. It’s easy to see how the idea of fooling one’s self comes with so many of life’s big change efforts. So, I decided to research April Fool’s Day and found that at least part of the tradition involves sending someone on a fool's errand. According to Wikipedia, this is “a task that cannot be accomplished because of fate or because it is a joke. It comes mainly in two varieties: trying to find something that does not exist, or trying to accomplish an impossible task.” So, it seems this is almost exactly fitting for job search! Or, at least the traditional approach as many people implement it. You know: resume, cover letter, business cards, networking events for job seekers, and inviting anybody and everybody to connect on LinkedIn. Actually, it’s not that any of these elements taken alone or together is foolish. No. Mostly, it’s putting them in service of the desperate quest of landing, once and for all, in the promised land of a steady paycheck, benefits, and a daily structure that allows you to blend in. Continue Reading »

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In honor of April Fool’s Day, the Career Collective is tackling a few important and timely questions: How are you fooling yourself about your career / job search? What can you do about it? How can you avoid being tricked by common job search blunders? To see how other members of the Career Collective responded, please scroll to the end of this post, or, follow the #careercollective hashtag on Twitter. Thanks, once again, to Miriam Salpeter, @Keppie_Careers, for your partnership in organizing this initiative! RESPECT WHAT YOU HEAR WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE LISTENING A recent computer shopping expedition with Rob (my hubby and co-author of this blog) reinforced for me the importance of Acknowledging their tone, their inflection, the areas where they emphasize phrases and where certain feelings erupt, depicting their passion and / or pain —is a very DIFFICULT skill to master, yet is integral in impactful communications. And it’s integral in how we respond to others’ needs. Continue Reading »

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The problem with limiting beliefs and false assumptions, of course, is that it’s pretty plausible you’re not aware of them. You think you are looking at facts. False Assumptions vs. Limiting Beliefs With the help of a coach or some insightful books, you can identify limiting beliefs. What tends to not be so easy is turning them around into an empowering belief. Conversely; false assumptions are very easily corrected once identified. However, realizing you are holding on to a false notion is the harder part here. One way to get this clarity is through a conversation with someone who gives you information that makes you realize you didn’t have the facts before – whether you sought out the person’s perspective or stumbled upon it. Of course; always double check as your informant’s “facts” may be false assumptions as well. Continue Reading »

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We're in a recession, right? So why is there a talent shortage in the clean tech sector? Given all the news reports about unemployment numbers, it was a bit startling to see a headline reading: “People power in short supply for green tech” Emerging clean energy businesses are finding that there’s a shortage of highly qualified employees and executives available to fill their business needs. Continue Reading »

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Question: What are some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to a job interview: Answer: 1. Not being on time. 2. Offering a weak or wimpy handshake. 3. Showing disrespect or being discourteous or rude. 4. Texting or talking on cell phone during interview. Continue Reading »

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Today's marketplace is one of the most challenging ever for job-seekers. You may be competing against hundreds of other candidates for one position. Learn tips for keeping your resume out of the black hole by clicking here.

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Here is a heads-up: The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day is on April 22, 2010. Is it possible that 40 years have passed and we are STILL working on building a clean energy future? There is lots of global concern for renewable energy, climate change, sustainability, and green jobs. In fact, the Earth Day Network already has over one billion people in 190 countries! My particular passion has to do with green jobs and the future of the world of work in the green economy. Green jobs do exist and are becoming more plentiful daily. Is there one or more green career opportunities in your future? Continue Reading »

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I was chatting with Julie Walraven about career stuff and I made up a word, on-the-fly, that is pretty cool. I was talking about how professionals need to manage their own careers… they need to manage their careers like an entrepreneur manages his business.  Flexibility, vision, discipline, etc. Career-oriented + entrepreneur = careerpreneur What do you think?

If you are a careerpreneur you believe that you are the CEO of Me, Inc. If you are a careerpreneur you know that your ability to provide income, or income security, comes from the strategy and tactics you employ in your career management. If you are a careerpreneur you know that change is inevitable and you constantly position yourself to survive/win. If you are a careerpreneur you network because you have learned to love it and do it right, not because you are in a pinch and need to lean on others. If you are a careerpreneur you are FREE, not burdened down wondering when you might lose your job. If you are a careerpreneur you… _______________________________________

Okay that is too fun.  Now that’s two words/phrases I’ve made up in this career space (the other is “income security,” which replaces “job security“)!

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Yuanjie writes: I am now writing my resume and cover letter based on your online advice. I am a student and will get my PhD degree in mechanical engineering soon. My resume is slightly more than one page. Do I have to compress it into one page?

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The Career Doctor responds: I’m glad you are thinking ahead and working on your job-search materials. What do you plan to do after you receive your Ph.D.? Continue Reading »

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