by Karen Alphonse | Jan 22, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Jan 15, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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....
by Karen Alphonse | Jan 8, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Thanks to you, our readers, for all of your questions and comments throughout the years. We appreciate interacting with you and receiving your input! As I look back, I am amazed at how skillfully many clients navigated ever-changing markets. Last, year we worked...
by Karen Alphonse | Dec 18, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Recruiters
Q: Can you describe your “perfect search”? How was it developed, and how did it progress? Why do you think it was so outstanding? A: A perfect search directly and efficiently addresses the client organization’s needs by identifying a superior candidate to perform a...
by Karen Alphonse | Dec 11, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Recruiters
Q: Our organization posted an Office Manager role two months ago, and the response was disappointing. We are looking for someone with superior writing and speaking abilities, aspirations of moving ahead in his/her career and a great command of office accounting and...
by Karen Alphonse | Dec 4, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I completed a very detailed job application two weeks ago. As part of the process, I had to answer a question detailing how I would go about raising money for this particular organization. In my strategy submission, I included specific names and organizations...
by Karen Alphonse | Nov 27, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Nov 13, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am completing applications for senior leadership positions in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco I used to live in LA, and I went to graduate school there. But, I currently reside in Seattle. Which address, California or Seattle, Washington, should I...
by Karen Alphonse | Nov 6, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Oct 30, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Oct 22, 2012 | Advice, Management, Recruiters
Q: I am the search committee chairperson for a philanthropic organization with networks across the Mid-Atlantic and on the East Coast. We are reasonably well supported and are financially stable. What do you think we should look for when we select our next leader? A:...
by Karen Alphonse | Oct 16, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Oct 9, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Oct 2, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Sep 25, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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?...
by Karen Alphonse | Sep 18, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Sep 11, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
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...
by Karen Alphonse | Sep 4, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I have been consulting on economic development issues for a while and want to step into a leadership role as an Executive Director or a Chief Operating Officer. I have been applying for positions, but I am not getting call backs. What should I do? A: Without...
by Karen Alphonse | Aug 28, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: Lately, I am feeling like a failure. It is the middle of life, and I have nothing to show professionally for all of my past efforts. I have degrees from two prestigious universities and a decade worth of “flat” achievement. I have sent out a ton of resumes,...
by Karen Alphonse | Aug 21, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I have made it to the second round of interviews for a position that interests me, and I need to address salary. I am a female executive with 20 years’ of solid, leadership experience. How should I go about approaching this sensitive issue? A: Earlier in my...
