Time management is the demon that destroys a carefully executed job search. One client of recent memory spent seven hours a day at the computer sending emails, requests for introductions and participating in various LinkedIn groups. After three months he had only made five new connections that referred him to opportunities. And not one of the opportunities was right for him. He was demoralized. The demon was elated. Continue reading 'Six tricks to subdue your job search time management demon'»
career advice, coaching, Executive topics, Job Security, networking, Uncategorized, Warnings
| 
career advice, executive careers, LinkedIn, Rita Ashley, time management
I published this blog last year and it resonated with a lot of senior executives who, in their private moments, admit to feelings of being an impostor. Yesterday, I mounted my first photography exhibit and when it was finished, I was overwhelmed with feelings of self doubt. What made me think I had any right to pass myself off as a photographer? In dealing with these feelings, I confronted my own ‘impostor.’
Continue reading 'Are you a Fraud? Silence your internal critic.'»
Open letter to resume writers: Stop stealing from your clients.
After reading the seventh professionally crafted resume that sucked it is time for me to hollar-back. When I see candidates being victimized by job search parasites I am enraged. Stop selling your services as a resume writer if you have never hired anyone. Don’t put up your shingle if you haven’t been in a professional role supporting those who do. Just because you can write or use a layout template doesn’t qualify you for the arcane art of resume writing.
Continue reading 'Bad resumes from professional resume writers maim your job search'»
Ageism, Ask a question, career advice, Executive topics, resume, Uncategorized, Warnings
| ageism, career advice, resume, resume service, resume writer, Rita Ashley
- Objective: Determine, do I want a face to face interview?
- Strategy: Create a real connection
- Tactic: Ask questions to demonstrate company knowledge, outcomes they can expect and your serious interest.
Telephone interviews for executive job seekers are daunting, filled with land mines and, the results, difficult to interpret. Make it simple with a clear objective and understanding the interviewer’s objective. Continue reading 'Telephone interview questions to ask'»
Ask a question, Branding, career advice, Executive topics, Interview, Uncategorized, Warnings
| career advice, executive careers, executive jobs, how to say no to a job, interview tips, Rita Ashley, telephone interview
Just because you are vulnerable doesn’t mean you have to be a victim.
One estimate of job openings filled by recruiters is over 35%. The percentage is higher for executive-level positions in the $100,000+ salary range. Clearly, cultivating a professional relationship with a recruiter or two is an excellent career development strategy. But how do you avoid exposure to the wrong ones? I believe knowledge is power. The more you know about how and why recruiters set traps for you, the easier you can avoid getting caught. Continue reading 'Clues to spotting bad recruiters and scams'»
career advice, Executive topics, recruiters, Uncategorized, Warnings
| bad recruiters, career advice, executive careers, executive jobs, privacy, protect yourself, Rita Ashley, scams
How to train your recruiter.
All recruiters are not created equal. How do you find the right recruiter(s) for your company?
Bet you have asked this question. And bet you got a lot of different answers. That’s because there are so many different styles and needs reflected in the answer. There is a lot of confusion about what to expect, how they are paid and how to vet them. This post is targeted at employers looking to hire a recruiter or recruitment firm. The second post for candidates will follow soon. You will notice little overlap but both need to know about each other’s bar. Continue reading 'Employers ask, “How do I find a good recruiter?”'»
First step to business success, find the man behind the curtain.
Today I read three posts on the importance of state-supported seed funding. The mortality statistics on seed-funded efforts makes one wonder why we even try. Here’s what I think is the best insurance for success for any new venture, seed funded or otherwise. Continue reading 'Why seed funding fails'»
Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor. The earliest of leaders, into ancient Greece and beyond, all had mentors; people to guide and provide insights as we find our way to success. It is not a step to be overlooked in building a career and is sometimes the difference between mediocrity and greatness. Continue reading 'Importance of role models and mentors'»
Ageism, Ask a question, career advice, coaching, Job Security, Mentor, networking, Uncategorized
| career advice, mentor, Rita Ashley, role model, RuPaul
Employees succeed at the hardest tasks because you expect them to.
Here’s the straight scoop. I will help you discover why employees become unmotivated. I have spent a lot of time supporting high tech executives and I have seen what works and what doesn’t work to attract and retain excellent employees; employees who become proactive because they feel part of the team. I have noted, analyzed and now hope to articulate, what I have observed over the last 20+ years. Continue reading 'Turn unmotivated employees into high performers'»
They get what they need from their coach or, an homage to my clients…
Some clients invite my support for job search or promotion, others as an ongoing career coach for leadership, problem solving and career refinement. Here’s what I learned from over ten years of coaching executives.
Continue reading 'What makes a successful career coaching client?'»
Advice for LGBT Job seekers
Objective: Work in a GLBT friendly environment
Strategy: Look before you leap
Tactic: Learn if the company values diversity
“Be yourself. People like people with self-confidence. Be honest. If you disagree, then disagree. Take the track that you are who you are because of your experiences. Approach the interview not as black or white, gay or straight, but as a candidate who wants to learn as much about the job as possible.” Teresa T., VP Human Resources
Gail, an out lesbian, loved her work and her team. She knew a promotion to Director was right for her and she refused to accept the company’s intolerance of her sexual orientation as an obstacle. She felt if only she put in more hours, solved more key problems, they would see the error of their ways. Instead, they assigned her an escort for trips to the rest room. She finally quit. Continue reading 'LGBT Career support'»
A powerful new job search tool.
The newest job search tool to hit the job search community was fought tooth and nail by job boards. They accurately divined that the tool could put an end to their scams and upsells. The new URL extension, .jobs, could eventually wipe out any need for either job boards or job search engines in their current guise. Continue reading 'Job search tool could be death to job boards'»
Manage your job search while you are employed.
“I can’t afford a protracted job search with no income. I have to look for a new job while I am working and make the transition as quickly as possible so my finances do not take a hit.” Joel P. VP Marketing.
The time has come to make a change. For whatever reason, you are ready to find a new job. When you opt to remain employed while searching, you make decisions about how you will conduct yourself, the ethics of your situation and when and how to tell your current employer. Continue reading 'The stealth job search'»
Don’t spit the dummy.
None of that is important for your job search.
It’s easy to get angry. The media feeds us fodder for frustration. The statistics are horrible. Over 10% unemployment with no end in sight. We hear of bankruptcies, foreclosures and all manner of frightening financial predictions.
Ageism, Branding, career advice, coaching, Interview, Job Security, networking, resume, Uncategorized
| agism, career advice, executive jobs, interview, over 50, overqualified, resume, Rita Ashley, unemployed
Scale the ‘Overqualified’ hurdle
Few comments by employers are as demoralizing to executive candidates than, “We like you but you are overqualified for this job.” This post addresses what employers actually believe and gives you the career advice you need to overcome their objections. Continue reading 'Overqualified doesn’t mean unemployable'»
Ageism, Branding, career advice, coaching, Interview, Job Security, recruiters, resume, Uncategorized
| ageism, agism, career advice, executive careers, over 50, overqualified, Rita Ashley
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