by Karen Alphonse | Aug 14, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am a senior leader seeking a foundation executive role.  I have had a difficult time penetrating this market even though I am well-connected in my community. What do you suggest? A: I see you already value connections and connectedness. At this point, work...
by Karen Alphonse | Aug 7, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q:  I am applying to an organization I know. Grant procurement is a big piece of my job, and the organization is an upstream grantor organization. Do you have any tips about how to approach the group? A: This can be a tricky, yet wonderful, opportunity to showcase...
by Karen Alphonse | Jul 31, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am so frustrated with my job search that I do not know what to do with myself. I have been at it for almost two years. I keep sending out cover letters and resumes to opportunities posted on the Web. No one acknowledges my applications. I have had a couple of...
by Karen Alphonse | Jul 24, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: Throughout my career, I have not only done marketing, but it’s also pretty much all I have done. I want to expand my leadership options. What do you suggest? A: Now is a great time for you to identify what actually comprises marketing and understand how those...
by Karen Alphonse | Jul 17, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I liked the cover letter you drafted, but, somehow, it sounded more driven and business-like than I am. Should this concern me? What do you suggest? A: Revise it immediately. It is critical for the cover letter to be an accurate snapshot of you and not of just...
by Karen Alphonse | Jul 10, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I live in Portugal and want to relocate to the United States. I work for an international educational and economic development organization. My spouse is a physician and has limited English speaking skills. I am fluent in English. However, it has been a while...
by Karen Alphonse | Jul 3, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q:  Recently, I have reached out to people in my networks for support and help. A few have been helpful, but the vast majority have been either unresponsive or they have completely ignored me. This is aggravating. I know the best networking happens with people you...
by Karen Alphonse | Jun 5, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: It feels I have sent my resume to a hundred employers during the past two months, but I have not had a single interview or call-back. What’s wrong? I thought I had a pretty good resume and cover letter. The lack of feedback makes me wonder about the quality of my...
by Karen Alphonse | May 29, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am a very Senior (C-Suite) executive and I want to redo my resume. Should it be chronological or functional? What do you suggest? A: As a senior executive, you have many options for creating a sophisticated resume. These days, you do not necessarily need to...
by Karen Alphonse | May 22, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am an in-house candidate in a hot, national executive director search. I know everyone on the Search Committee as well as many of the key stakeholders. How can I competitively present myself? What steps should I take to have them take me seriously? A: Your...
by Karen Alphonse | May 15, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I have a phone interview scheduled next week? What do I say? How do I prepare for it? A: The phone can be a tricky venue, and there are a number of aspects to it you need to consider. The first aspects are with regard to your execution of a phone...
by Karen Alphonse | May 8, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I was born outside the United States. Should I include this information on my resume? Should I talk about it in my cover letter? A: Unless the prospective job deals with your country or region of origin, avoid referencing it on your resume or in your cover letter....
by Karen Alphonse | May 1, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I was born, bred and educated in the Midwest. Since graduation three years ago, I have been working as a program director at a local not for profit. My particular program has been quite successful. However, the organization is in jeopardy because of the loss of...
by Karen Alphonse | Apr 24, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
Q: How can a talent acquisition specialist/recruiter help our organization? Our budget has been cut, and people just don’t see value in outsourcing human resource functions. A: An experienced recruiter can add immediate value to your search for top talent. A good...
by Karen Alphonse | Apr 17, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: I am discouraged, upset and depressed about my job search. What should I work on next? My resume? Or …? A: Without a doubt, work on yourself first. For now, set aside the resume, and stop typing the cover letter. No document will hide your frustration and...
by Karen Alphonse | Apr 10, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management, Recruiters
Q: Are cover letters useful?  I hear employers are not reading them anymore. A: We are in a new world of employment, and protocols are evolving.  In the past, employers relied on cover letters as both a screening device and as a way to decide whether an applicant...
by Karen Alphonse | Apr 3, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers
Q: Should I include graduation dates and dates for all of my diplomas on my resume? A recruiter told me to get rid of them because they “date” me. What do you think? A: The sad truth is when dates are left off the resume, the reviewer is likely to draw...
by Karen Alphonse | Mar 27, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management, Recruiters
Q: As a recruiter, what do you look for in a leader? What signs indicate leadership? A: Sometimes, it is difficult to quantify the traits comprising successful leadership. The obvious traits include: effective communication of a vision to others; the ability to...
by Karen Alphonse | Mar 20, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
Q: What should be included in an Executive Director job description?  A:  The position description for a nonprofit Executive Director should include language addressing core competencies and other operational skills. For many organizations, these include: Passion for...
by Karen Alphonse | Mar 13, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q:Â Â What leadership qualities are sought in a nonprofit Executive Director? A:Â Â The obvious leadership qualities of a nonprofit Executive Director include: vision; passion for the mission; strategic planning ability; financial management skills (budgeting,...
