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... by Karen Alphonse | Apr 15, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: About 10 years, ago, I came to the United States from a country overseas. I earned my first degree in accounting followed by a second degree in business organization from solid colleges. I know I am highly qualified, competent and have excellent references. ... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 25, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I have a feeling one of my references is not giving me a good evaluation. In my last set of interviews, the prospective employer seemed very enthusiastic about hiring me. But, after conducting reference checks, he refused to return my phone calls. What can I do... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 18, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am redrafting my resume, and I want to know whether I should include my address. What is the protocol? A: The protocol of including an address dates back to the time when prospective employers responded individually to applications with customized letters. ... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: We are a group of entrepreneurs excited about making our socially responsible start-up a success. Part of that success is bringing the right kind of Executive Director on board. In our discussions, we are struggling with how to draft a compelling position... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 4, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I left my last position in a hurry. I was so eager to get out that I resigned without giving my supervisors much explanation or time to organize and fill my role. I thought I was leaving to take on the “Dream Job,” but, I am two weeks into it and realize this is... by Karen Alphonse | Feb 25, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am preparing for a huge interview and want to have good answers for the tough questions. What do you advise? A: Candor wins over canned responses. While this has always been at least somewhat true, honesty is highly sought particularly in an environment where... by Karen Alphonse | Feb 18, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I work for a multinational communication firm with offices all over the world and in North America. I have been extremely successful at publicity and media outreach in my present role, and I am a company top-earner. I would like to expand and become a more rounded... by Karen Alphonse | Feb 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
I recently read the Harvard Business School article, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are,” (Cuddy, Amy. TED Global, October 2012 <http//:www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your-body_language>.) In summation, Cuddy, a B-School researcher and socio-psychologist,... by Karen Alphonse | Feb 4, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: My recent one-hour interview went very well. It is an exciting opportunity for the right person, and what they propose is a needed initiative in the community. They are looking for a leader with knowledge of the area and with relationship-building skills who can... by Karen Alphonse | Jan 14, 2014 | Advice, Featured
Q: Does gender still play a significant role in promotion decisions? Is it easier for a mediocre male to land a prize leadership role? A: This is a very live topic. Maria Rachelle addressed it in her Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Why Do So Many... by Karen Alphonse | Jan 7, 2014 | Advice, Featured
Q: I know this sounds ungrateful, but I truly hate my job. I am a development professional, and I feel that my current job stifles my initiative. I get caught training a lot of junior member of staff, and this is really not in my job description. Then, when I bring... by Karen Alphonse | Dec 17, 2013 | 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 10, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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?... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 19, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 12, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Q: How does the gender gap affect working women today? Have any strides been made since the Women’s Liberation movement to make women’s workforce issues a matter of public debate? A: Women have certainly made strides in terms of their visibility and the variety of... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 5, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: We hear so much about “leadership” these days. How do you define it? A: While I do not know how to define leadership in all of its scope, I can offer the working pieces that comprise its foundation: a set of attributes allowing one person to assume decision-making...