(and what the algorithm isn’t telling you) You’re out there, showing up. Posting thoughts, sharing wins, maybe even daring to say something real. You bought LinkedIn Premium because someone swore it would “boost your reach.” And yet… tumbleweeds. A handful of likes...
Understanding how different recruiters operate can help both companies and professionals navigate the hiring process more effectively. Here’s a generalized comparison of contingency and retained recruiters from both perspectives. For Employers: Choosing the...
STEP THREE: New Career Options Imagine a New Position that Challenges & Inspires You Where would it be geographically? What sector? Would it be remote or in the office? Would you prefer to be a consultant, business owner, or a full-time...
Part 1: Navigating the Emotional and Practical Aftermath of Unexpected Job Loss Introduction: You’re Not AloneLosing a job can feel like a seismic shift. Whether due to funding cuts, leadership changes, or evolving priorities, the sudden separation often leaves...
How long should a resume be? From my experience, even the most seasoned professional can present themselves effectively in 2 pages. I’ll sometimes include a third page for an abbreviated bibliography, including relevant publications and/or academic appointments....
(Part two of a three-part series) In part one of our series on resume design for nonprofit professionals, we got into what you accomplish by putting together a good resume and the necessary areas to include. In this part, we’re going to look into what sections...
The world as we knew it has shifted. Certainly, and surely. Our organizations may expand, but it more likely that they will contract. Likewise, our internal staff may expand, but it is probably the case that it may have to contract. After...
Of all times the word networking really hits one’s ear, it is when it is used in conjunction with looking for a job. The word alone tends to evoke an emotional response. Those energized by the idea might enjoy talking with people, but they aren’t necessarily effective...
Q: I have contacted everyone I know about leads for jobs. A few have been helpful; most have been non-responsive. What do you suggest? A: Respectfully, stop and reassess. When people suspect you are “using” them, they may clam up and withhold likely leads or limit...
Question: I am going to graduate from a great college, and I am looking ahead sorting through options. I did internships over the past two summers, but neither of those employers has offered me a full-time job. What do I need to create the “dream job” for myself?...
Q: During my current job search, I have networked with several people, and these are my concerns: The trend seems to be positions with term limits or temporary positions; I am not excited about the opportunities I see, and Hiring directors at nonprofits have a...
Q: I am definitely overqualified for my present role. I hold an advanced education degree and have been in the workforce for more than 25 years. I took this job two years ago to keep myself productive. Now, I regret the choice. My immediate supervisor is a lifer...
Q: I have heard so many different suggestions of what to include on my resume. What do you suggest? A: Focus on accomplishments, money and mission. By accomplishments, I mean anything that pushed your organization ahead and for which you can honestly claim...
Q: I have been in the workplace for the past 30 years, and I have many leadership skills. I was laid off during a downsizing after 15 years with that organization, and it has been more than three years since I my last paycheck. It is also difficult finding a job...
Q: I am part of the senior leadership team at a national not-for-profit. We are hiring a new executive director, and I was asked to review references for the two finalists. Most of the references were superb. However, there was a reference for one of the candidates...
Q: I am older than 50, and I am having a difficult time accepting repeat rejections during my job search. It is frustrating and difficult to find meaningful work. What is an older employee to do in this economy? A: Your issue is well documented. A New York Times...
Question: I hear what you need to get a senior-level job these days is an “Executive Profile,” not a resume. A friend described the profile as a detailed document describing the information usually contained on a resume and more. Can you elaborate? Answer: We have...
Q: I have been crushed by the lack of response to my resume. My more than 33-year career has been as a corporate executive, an entrepreneur and an adjunct professor, so I am very taken back at the seeming lack of interest. After circulating the current version of my...
Q: I have been a professor for the past 15 years and would like to serve the not-for-profit sector in a leadership capacity. I have tried everything from applying online and following up on job board posts to responding to newspaper ads. Nothing has even resulted in...
Q: I live and work in South Carolina and want to relocate to the North East for family reasons. My spouse and I have family in New Hampshire, and, for the sake of our two children, we would like to find solid positions in that general area. I feel as though my...
Question: I am sick and tired of working on my resume. It is full of gaps, and I am feeling very frustrated with it. Do you have any ideas about how I can get a handle on this process? Answer: The more I do this work, the more I realize that your resume is truly a...
Question: At my prior job, I held two interim roles. One was that of Interim Executive Director for which I eventually interviewed as a permanent position, but I was not offered the job. When I showed my resume to another recruiter, he began to question me about...
Question: I submitted my application to several organizations where I thought my credentials and background for senior leadership would be welcome. The response has been disappointing. What am I doing wrong? Answer: The reasons underlying lack of response frequently...
I have read many of your blogs. I use networking as a tool for professional advancement as you repeatedly suggest, but, frankly, it is not working. When I meet people and give them my card, they seem eager to help. When I contact them, few respond and those that do...
Q: I am looking for an Executive Director role at an established regional not-for-profit organization, and I am interested in understanding how to determine my “fit” with an organization’s work culture during the interview process. Please advise. A: Prior to the...
Q: I have been in the workforce a number of years and want to “de-age” my resume. How do you suggest I go about achieving that? I am proud of my years of service and many accomplishments, so it feels strange to consider eliminating years of good work from my resume....
Q: I just had my resume professionally reviewed and my coach suggested I include a line stating, “Willing to relocate.” Do you agree with this advice? How would you respond to a resume with this information? A: First, I have never seen any resume with such a...
Q: On my job application is the following question: “Have you ever been fired, asked to resign or been laid off by any former employer?” I am stumped. On one former consulting assignment, I was not renewed. Also, I used to be part of a university special...
Q: I submitted a resume and cover letter for an Executive Director position in July. The organization starts interviews in November. I just redrafted my cover letter based on additional information I have learned in the interim. What should I do? Do I submit a...
Q: I now have five versions of my resume. A prospective employer has requested yet another version with a different format and emphasis. What should I do? Do I submit my application with the existing version, or do I accommodate the request? A: You always have the...
Q: When I recently left my 20-year tenure at a respected entertainment company, I thought my next career move was going to be pursuing a similar position at a similar corporation. However, upon evaluating what professionally interests and inspires me, I realize my...
Q: I just eliminated all of the dates from my resume because I fear “age-ism” is playing a role in the low response rate I’m receiving. What is your advice? Should I keep the dates on? A: This topic has definitely evolved in the employment world. It used to...
Q: You suggest as a search strategy to build relationships with a range of organizations within my field. Building those relationships seems like a long-term strategy. Is there networking I can do in the short run to improve my chances of locating my next position?...
Q: I have been researching positions in the nonprofit field dealing with the growing economic and social concerns related to poverty, unemployment and hunger in the United States. Because these are particularly challenging times, it seems the focus of my application...
Q: I am a successful, junior executive in the hospitality industry, and I have four pending job offers. All came to me by referral, and I will get a considerable bump up in compensation by taking any one of them. I am in the middle of my career and calculate having...
Q: Throughout my career, I have not only done marketing, but it’s also pretty much all I have done. I want to expand my leadership options. What do you suggest? A: Now is a great time for you to identify what actually comprises marketing and understand how those...
Q: I liked the cover letter you drafted, but, somehow, it sounded more driven and business-like than I am. Should this concern me? What do you suggest? A: Revise it immediately. It is critical for the cover letter to be an accurate snapshot of you and not of just...
Q: Recently, I have reached out to people in my networks for support and help. A few have been helpful, but the vast majority have been either unresponsive or they have completely ignored me. This is aggravating. I know the best networking happens with people you...
Q: I have a phone interview scheduled next week? What do I say? How do I prepare for it? A: The phone can be a tricky venue, and there are a number of aspects to it you need to consider. The first aspects are with regard to your execution of a phone...
Q: I was born outside the United States. Should I include this information on my resume? Should I talk about it in my cover letter? A: Unless the prospective job deals with your country or region of origin, avoid referencing it on your resume or in your cover letter....
Q: Should I include graduation dates and dates for all of my diplomas on my resume? A recruiter told me to get rid of them because they “date” me. What do you think? A: The sad truth is when dates are left off the resume, the reviewer is likely to draw...
Have you ever wondered why it takes several days to get around to revising your resume or why you spend hours agonizing over each bullet? I do, too. After many years of working in the recruitment field with countless candidates, I still ponder, perseverate, and,...
This series covered all aspects of the reference process. Part One covered working with references as they relate to the candidate. Part Two focused on engaging with the references themselves, and Part Three put the ideas into practice through the reference check...
In parts One and Two of this four-part series, I outlined the “homework” required to best prepare yourself, a candidate and a reference for a formal reference interview. In this entry, details of the actual process, from questions to ask to delivering the results, are...
In Part One of this series, I outlined the homework I do with regard to references before placing the formal reference checking call as it relates to the candidate. Today, that homework process continues to unfold with a focus on the references. Preparing the...
Do you want to see a “perfect” resume? Many people would so as to emulate it. However, there is no such thing. A great resume is a work in progress – a snapshot of where you are professionally and the journey that brought you there. A good not-for-profit resume is...
Many organizations are familiar with using references in the final phases of search to support or eliminate one winning candidate. References can serve equally critical functions, however, beyond giving you data about your proposed “winner.” In this four-part series,...
While social media is a great way to network with colleagues during a job hunt, remember not to focus all of your efforts online. There are many places for you to connect with others in the community. According to the 2011 Nonprofit Employment Trends Survey from...
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