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... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 29, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 22, 2013 | 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 | Oct 15, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 8, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
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... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 1, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: What do recruiters look for in cover letters and resumes that will give an applicant a significant edge over others? A: Kristina DeLuca has an interesting blog seeking responses to this very question. To her blog, many respondents advise showcasing the following... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 24, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: How do you put a diversity plan in place? A: The discussion about how to implement a winning diversity strategy is as intriguing as it is ongoing. I read a recent thread on this topic on LinkedIn where there were comments about identifying specific goals, figuring... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 17, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...