by Karen Alphonse | Apr 9, 2019 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Q: I am frustrated with my resume. I have never led – nor do I want to lead – an organization or a team. My professional life is only one part of what I do. My employers can count on me to implement, execute and work well with others on the... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 15, 2019 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am pulling together my resume, biography, and LinkedIn Profile, although they are well-written, typo-free and professional, hiring managers do not respond well to them. I am not getting offers. I thought I had the perfect package. What’s missing? Perfection can... by Karen Alphonse | Jan 31, 2019 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Leadership has many facets that include having a vision, implementing plans and programs, managing, influencing and motivating others, ensuring the financial health and sustainability of your organization and building strategic partnerships/relationships.... by Karen Alphonse | Dec 14, 2018 | Advice, Job Seekers
A:Congratulations. This is a great question. I am guessing that this interview will take place outside of your town and that train or plane travel will be involved. I can remember showing up for an important interview after 36 hours on the road because of plane... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 18, 2018 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
As an employer, you might be thinking about using a search consultant to conduct resume screenings and interviews on your behalf. The best way to work with a search consultant is to give that person ample information about your organization’s culture and about the... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 10, 2018 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Many companies now conduct behavioral interviews that rely on how a candidate responds to unusual questions. They also require candidates to take sophisticated assessments to determine, objectively, natural strengths and areas for growth. What is the best way to... by Karen Alphonse | Aug 8, 2018 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Most people have reasonably good resumes. They are typo-free and they track the skills, accomplishments, training, and education of the resume holder accurately. However, to be competitive, a resume needs to be better than good. What makes a resume stand out? Two... by Karen Alphonse | Jul 1, 2018 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 10, 2016 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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... by Karen Alphonse | Dec 2, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Question: Our company is about to hire a new COO who will manage the whole finance department. We want to be very sure she has strong interpersonal and technical skills. We have spoken to all of her listed references, and, while they have been off the charts, I... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I am at the top of my game having just been promoted into the CEO role at a major corporation. Yet, I am feeling strangely dissatisfied and lonely despite my professional accolades. It seems as if I attend meeting after meeting and as if I am not... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 21, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Question: I am applying for C-Suite position with a company. The position description requires a “thoughtful” cover letter. What does this mean? How do I draft one? Answer: As you already know, you need to respond to the skills, traits and qualities listed in the... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 30, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Question: I am a licensed social worker who has been putting time in at law firms and finance companies on Wall Street for the past two decades. I have been promoted regularly and earn an executive salary. At the same time, I have taken social services courses to... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 9, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I am a human resources officer, and our company wants to set up really effective professional development programs. How should we go about doing this? Answer: Kudos to you for thinking seriously about this. Many employees welcome the chance to grow and... by Karen Alphonse | Aug 19, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Question: I am a highly qualified financial manager who just moved across the country for family reasons. The location where I am presently located has much lower salaries than the DC area from where I relocated. I cannot move back to DC to take advantage of the... by Karen Alphonse | Jul 29, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I struggle to be the kind of boss my employees will respect and like. But, I am often confronted with shoddy work, poor employee attitudes and mistakes that shouldn’t be happening. What I am supposed to do? Can I continue to be nice while things fall... by Karen Alphonse | Jul 8, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Question: I have been doing international contracts for the past decade. Many of them have been with affiliated organizations. Recently, I saw a great opportunity with an NGO with which I worked several years ago. I want to apply, but I hesitate. Is there some... by Karen Alphonse | Jun 17, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am an international development professional. I have worked many years on economic development issues for NGOs in Eastern Europe and Africa. It’s time for me to launch myself as a leader. I just saw a Director role that has been posted for two locations, ... by Karen Alphonse | May 27, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am a CFO, and a well-respected, local nonprofit is looking for an operations person with a strong finance background. This is a really exciting opportunity as the organization is in growth mode, and I could see myself leading it one day. The crunch is about the... by Karen Alphonse | May 6, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: How can you tell good managers from bad ones? What sets them apart? A: No one deliberately sets out to be a “bad” manager. Therefore, I would reframe the question as one that focuses on a leader’s effectiveness. Effective leaders often have concrete ideas as...