by Fredia Woolf | Apr 19, 2010 | Advice, Management
This week, I invite you to join me on my travels. I have returned to the land of my birth, South Africa, where I am visiting my aging parents. I confess that it was with some trepidation that I agreed to go and spend a week with them out in the bushveld. My cell... by Fredia Woolf | Apr 2, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers, Management
Whether you are president of a board, a senior executive or a job seeker, you need to be good at influencing others. We live in a complex world where there are limits to our authority; no matter how senior we are, the old hierarchies and command and control... by Fredia Woolf | Mar 26, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers
Customizing your career used to be necessary for career changers and candidates transitioning between the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds. But, in the current job market, where there is no cookie cutter candidate and candidate supply in most fields exceeds... by Fredia Woolf | Mar 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
The Boston Business Journal interviewed a number of prominent women leaders asking them to reflect on their career paths and what they learned along the way. These women work in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and their observations could be useful... by Fredia Woolf | Mar 10, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers
A colleague working at a prestigious university for the past 15 years posted the following on his Facebook: “I have reached the time in my career when I try to make my résumé as short, rather than as long, as possible.” Yet, recruiters complain about the increasing... by Fredia Woolf | Feb 24, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers, News
Tania Jones’ job search lasted ten months, one week and five days. She counted each one of them. Unexpectedly laid off in the depths of the 2009 job slump, she was diligent and proactive in sending out her resume and seeking out contacts and opportunities. But,... by Fredia Woolf | Feb 10, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers, Recruiters
What do John Thain (former Wall Street golden boy) and Toyota have in common? Both have known fame and fortune, and both found themselves in trouble when the wheel of fate turned. This week, Mr. Thain landed a fancy new job after a year of unemployment, and we await... by Fredia Woolf | Feb 3, 2010 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Recruiters
A critical differentiator between you and other equally qualified candidates competing for the same job is what people say about you. These days, employers are taking more time doing background checks on people because the risk of hiring someone “blind” is just too... by Fredia Woolf | Jan 26, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers
What is the current picture of the career marketplace? Some statistics are downright dispiriting. For example, the US Labor Department reports 7.2 million jobs lost in the US economy from December 2007 to December 2009, and a recent study shows that two thirds of... by Fredia Woolf | Jan 12, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers, Uncategorized
The movie Invictus has some powerful messages for aspiring leaders and job-seekers alike. Based on a true story about Nelson Mandela engaging the South African rugby team to unite people in his fledgling “rainbow” nation after the fall of apartheid, the movie can... by Fredia Woolf | Jan 5, 2010 | Advice, Job Seekers
Our friend Nicholas is back from the holidays. He was determined to restart his job search with vigor and focus. But as so often before, this feeling of resolve and optimism has dissolved into sporadic activity and apathy. So, what should Nicholas do to get his job... by Fredia Woolf | Dec 29, 2009 | Advice, Job Seekers
As a new year beckons, it’s time for new hopes and resolutions, and it’s time to let the struggles and disappointments of the old year just float away. If you are seeking a new job, it is time to hatch your campaign plans and try new approaches with a... by Fredia Woolf | Dec 22, 2009 | Advice, Recruiters
It’s been a long, hard year, and you are ready for some down time during the holidays. But, before you go, take a little time for reflection about what kind of leader you have been this past year. This is a tongue in cheek list of Leadership Don’ts – ways... by Fredia Woolf | Dec 15, 2009 | Advice, Recruiters
“People don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses,” is a common saying. And now you are looking to make a new hire; do you ever wonder what kind of boss you are? In today’s blog, I’ll tell you about a tool you can use to better understand how you are perceived at work and... by Fredia Woolf | Dec 8, 2009 | Advice, Recruiters
An ongoing part of organizational life is the need to hire people. Whether in a growth mode and building a team, recovering from an unpleasant layoff cycle, or replacing people who departed, many hiring managers and recruiters dread the recruitment process. And,... by Fredia Woolf | Dec 1, 2009 | Advice, Job Seekers
We all know changing jobs is one of the most stressful of human activities. The job search itself can be a lengthy trial testing the hardiest of souls. It is fraught with pitfalls, traps and treacherous moments that can derail you at any time. Knowing how to use... by Fredia Woolf | Nov 19, 2009 | Advice, Job Seekers
We are following in real time the personal job odyssey of our friend Nicholas and seeing what we can learn from his story. Last week, he almost blew his chances of being considered for a position at a company by being a little too pushy and persistent in his contact.... by Fredia Woolf | Nov 10, 2009 | Advice, Job Seekers
Have you ever wondered if there is something you are doing wrong in your job search? I am not suggesting that it’s your fault if your search stumbles or gets stale – it’s a very tough market out there – but there may well be times you do foul up. So, if you do,... by Fredia Woolf | Nov 3, 2009 | Advice, Job Seekers
A tight job market creates pressure for everyone. Job seekers and recruiters alike are frustrated and annoyed, and some people behaving badly, perhaps without even realizing it. So, let’s set out some Rules of Fair Play about how recruiters and job seekers should... by Fredia Woolf | Oct 27, 2009 | Advice, Recruiters
How much of your time is spent charging furiously through the day, fighting fires, reacting to a never-ending stream of requests, sitting through unproductive meetings or wading through an infinite to-do list? What can you do to get on top of things so you feel...