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Career Development Articles
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- *** 10 Challenges Senior Executives Face in the Job Search - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2021 from Ford MyersOver the course of my consulting career, I have worked with thousands of key executives – CEOs, Partners, COOs, Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Directors and so on. Top business professionals like these present special challenges to the Career Coach, because these clients face unique ...
Views: 663 - *** 10 Tips for Summer Job Search Success - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2017 from Ford MyersEvery year as Summer approaches, most job seekers and career changers make the mistake of halting all their efforts. They believe there is no point in pursuing new opportunities during the Summer and that nobody is making hiring decisions until early Fall. Ford R. Myers, career coach, speaker ...
Views: 1228 - *** 12 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market - by Submitted on May 15, 2017 from Ford MyersEven in a down market, job seekers and employees are not powerless or without recourse. In fact, you have more control over your career circumstances than you might think. Over my 25 years of experience as an Executive Career Coach, I’ve developed 12 specific strategies and tactics that ...
Views: 1366 - *** About Personal Branding - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2020 from Ford MyersIn recent years, there has been a lot of conversation about “personal branding.” Some have found the topic confusing or simply irrelevant. Others have embraced the concept, worked hard to develop their own personal brands, and found great success in the effort. There are even certification ...
Views: 799 - *** Career Coaching is a "Two-Way Street" - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2014 from Ford MyersPeople who are seriously considering engaging the services of a Career Coach usually ask many questions about what the advisor "will do or should do" in order to make the coaching relationship work for the client. This is certainly reasonable and understandable. However, there are also several ...
Views: 1587 - *** Career Success Requires Parallel Paths - by Submitted on May 26, 2016 from Ford MyersIn my career coaching practice, I often find myself telling clients that they need to pursue two parallel paths in order to achieve career success and satisfaction. They inevitably ask, “You mean I have to work in two different careers at the same time?” No, that’s not what I mean. Here are ...
Views: 1421 - *** Closing The Interview “Deal” - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2015 from Ford MyersI recently featured an article in this e-newsletter about Accomplishment Stories. I’m going to assume that you have written and memorized your own Accomplishment Stories, that you’ve extensively practiced telling them, and that you’ve even used them in some interviews. To really leverage the ...
Views: 1264 - *** Congratulations! You Got The Job. Now What? - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2014 from Ford Myers*You’ve finally landed the job. Is this a good time to settle in and take it easy for a while, or is this the worst time to take your foot off the “career gas pedal?” A lot of people in this situation might think, “Whew – now I can relax, cruise a while and rest on my laurels.” Actually, your ...
Views: 1421 - *** Cover Letters – Purpose and Structure - by Submitted on May 28, 2013 from Ford MyersCover letters are not so much a part of your “Job Seeker’s Tool Kit” as they are part of the implementation of your overall “self marketing” strategy. That’s right – a cover letter is a sales presentation in disguise! With cover letters, you’re reaching out for a very tangible goal – a job ...
Views: 1584 - *** Creating and Formatting YOUR Exceptional Resume - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2017 from Ford MyersAn exceptional resume is not difficult to create – if you know the “code” NEWS FLASH: It’s not that difficult to put together an excellent resume! There are hundreds of resume books out there, with at least 50 different ways to write resumes “the right way.” But after almost 25 years of ...
Views: 1132 - *** Excessive Nasality Is Like Nails on a Blackboard - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsImagine nails on a blackboard and how it makes your skin crawl or how the hair on the back of your neck stands out. Now imagine a nasal voice similar to those who hail from Brooklyn or the Bronx. After hearing a sound like that for any great length of time, you might get the same reaction that ...
Views: 3526 - *** Five Career Tips - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2014 from Ford MyersThe career tips below were transcribed from an interview I did a few years ago when my book was first published (Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.) The comments I made at that time are just as relevant now as they were then, so I decided to share them with our readers again. 1. ...
Views: 1343 - *** Flip The Script For Career Success - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2018 from Ford MyersSeveral years ago, I was working with a client who was brilliant, talented, accomplished and highly educated. (Let’s call her “Ashley”). She was the sort of person who should have had plenty of opportunities coming her way. Yet, Ashley was really struggling in her job search. During the course ...
Views: 1039 - *** Follow-up Steps after the Interview – Strategies to Help You Get the Offer - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2014 from Ford MyersMy clients often express frustration after they’ve completed their interviews for a position they want. The common complaints include, “Why doesn’t the company call me back?” or “I feel like I have no power; all I can do is wait for an answer,” or “Can’t I do anything to make the employer say ...
Views: 1311 - *** Follow-Up Steps After The Interview: Strategies to Help You Get the Offer - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2021 from Ford MyersMy clients often express frustration after they’ve completed their interviews for a position they want. The common complaints include, “Why doesn’t the company call me back?” or “I feel like I have no power; all I can do is wait for an answer,” or “Can’t I do anything to make the employer say ...
Views: 644 - *** Good Perspectives for Tough Times – Benefits of Using a Career Coach in a Bad Economy - by Submitted on May 12, 2020 from Ford MyersThese are tough times to be sure. Aside from the tragic health crisis, the Coronavirus has sent global financial markets into a tailspin. In addition, the negative impact on employment has already been profound. To provide some “real world perspective,” here are a few relevant news clips from ...
Views: 681 - *** Handling Difficult Interview Questions - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2013 from Ford MyersI have noticed over the years in my Career Consulting practice that candidates often get "trapped" in interview questions that are designed to make them say something negative or self-defeating (which generally leads to rejection). Indeed, job-seekers are not even aware of how negative many of ...
Views: 1346 - *** Identifying Your Top Values (And Knowing What To Do With Them) - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2017 from Ford MyersAt the beginning of every career coaching engagement, I have clients do a “Values Clarification Exercise.” I always tell them that this may be the most important and powerful exercise we will do in the entire program. EVERYTHING is rooted in your core values – everything you do, say, wear, ...
Views: 1075 - *** Interview Questions You Can Ask – Generic and Specific - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2016 from Ford MyersA few years ago, I wrote an article about questions that job candidates can ask interviewers. The piece received very positive response, so I decided to update it and share a new tip to make your interviews even more successful. The most important interview questions might be the ones YOU ...
Views: 1240 - *** It’s Not About The Job; It’s About Your Life! - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2015 from Ford MyersWhen it comes to job search and career development, I think 99% of the population has it wrong and “does it backwards.” This realization comes from my more than 20 years of experience as a Career Coach, and after working with literally thousands of clients. Looking back, I believe that this ...
Views: 1409 - *** It’s Not About The Job; It’s About Your Life! - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2021 from Ford MyersWhen it comes to job search and career development, I think 99% of the population has it wrong and “does it backwards.” This realization comes from my more than 25 years of experience as a Career Coach, and after working with literally thousands of clients. Looking back, I believe that this ...
Views: 695 - *** New Year, New Career: The Power Plan for Career Success in 2016 - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2016 from Ford MyersAmericans make all kinds of New Year’s resolutions – to lose weight, to stop smoking, or spend more time with family and friends. However, one rarely hears anyone say, “I’m committed to improving my career situation this year.” To encourage this sort of work-related resolution, I have ...
Views: 1321 - *** Performing an Internal Career Audit - by Submitted on May 29, 2015 from Ford MyersWould you like to get your career on track, with more power and momentum than ever before? Are you prepared to create the focused and productive career that you know you are capable of having — one that will give you great satisfaction and financial reward? When you think back to prior career ...
Views: 1372 - *** Perpetual Career Management - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2014 from Ford MyersAre you so busy “doing your job” that you can’t “manage your career?” It’s no surprise that people who are conducting a job search focus a lot of their time and energy on updating their résumé, networking, improving their interviewing skills, and so on. They know they need to “be at the top ...
Views: 1333 - *** Perpetual Career Management – The Interview - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2019 from Ford MyersThis month’s Feature Article is actually the transcript of an interview that was recently conducted at the offices of Career Potential, LLC. Ford’s associate, Susan Fletcher, asks important questions about how long-term career management ensures maximum success. SUSAN: What is the difference ...
Views: 802 - *** Plug Into the Competition and Win - by Submitted on May 26, 2016 from Ford MyersOne important way that you can improve your odds in the job search is to research and be aware of the competition. There are two kinds of competition in this context: other companies in your field and other professionals in roles similar to yours. Always know who they are and what they’re doing. ...
Views: 1247 - *** Plug Into the Competition and Win - by Submitted on Jul 07, 2022 from Ford MyersOne important way that you can improve your odds in the job search is to research and be aware of the competition. There are two kinds of competition in this context: other companies in your field and other professionals in roles similar to yours. Always know who they are and what they’re doing. ...
Views: 646 - *** Productive Career Strategies During The Coronavirus Pandemic - by Submitted on May 12, 2020 from Ford MyersNormal channels and methods for face-to-face networking have been disrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic. But we don’t have to stop networking! Instead, we should shift our networking to online and virtual channels (including e-mail and telephone)! You can still maintain your existing network ...
Views: 676 - *** Questions To Ask At A Networking Meeting - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2019 from Ford MyersMuch has been written about how to expand your contact network, how to set-up a networking meeting, and how to structure the networking discussion. No matter how strictly you follow the meeting agenda, however, there should be time left for “general conversation.” This is how you will build ...
Views: 779 - *** Retirement: A Natural Evolution of Career Development - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2017 from Ford MyersOver the past few years, our career coaching practice has been attracting a growing percentage of clients who want to talk about retirement planning – not just career planning. I have wondered why this is. Is it because people are becoming more aware, educated and savvy about the subject of ...
Views: 1015 - *** Sales 101 in Job Interviews - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2016 from Ford MyersThe information below was excerpted from a recent article written by Marc Cenedella, Founder of The Ladders. It offers a perfect introduction to this month’s topic, “Sales 101 in Job Interviews.” The most successful hot dog cart in New York City isn’t a hot dog cart at all. It’s “The Halal ...
Views: 1327 - *** The Importance of “Third Party Validation” in Job Search - by Submitted on May 15, 2017 from Ford MyersWhen you’re conducting a job search, you need to “sell yourself.” You need to tell everyone who will listen how fabulous you are and how qualified you are. Right? Well, sort-of. Of course you have to “sell yourself,” but there is a better way to establish your desired impression or ...
Views: 1138 - *** The Job Search Success Interview - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2013 from Ford MyersInstead of just being another applicant or job seeker, we are now positioning every client to be an expert, a problem-solver and a solution provider. This has made all the difference. Marc: What's your favorite strategy or technique that's working really well for your clients to find the job ...
Views: 1299 - *** The Power of “Pull Marketing” in Your Job Search - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2015 from Ford MyersWhen you’re searching for a new job, would you rather be “chasing after employers,” or would you rather have employers “chasing after you?” The answer is quite obvious – given a choice, you’d much rather have employers chasing after you! Is this some fantasy or “pipe dream?” No, the choice is ...
Views: 1325 - *** The Seven Truths of Career Success - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2012 from Ford Myers1. The most qualified candidate does not necessarily get the job offer Many times, candidates with lesser qualifications get job offers simply because they've prepared and presented themselves in a more compelling way. In other words, they're better self-marketers than the other ...
Views: 1412 - *** Thinking of Changing Careers? Here’s How to Get Started. - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2015 from Ford MyersIf you’re seriously considering making a career change, it will be important to go through some preliminary “internal exercises” to discover what type of role would be best for you. Here at Career Potential, LLC, we use at least seven exercises that are very powerful. These are explained in ...
Views: 1383 - *** Use of The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in Outplacement - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2016 from Ford MyersBefore discussing how type is used in the field of outplacement, we should first define what the word “outplacement” means. It is: the career consulting services provided to an organization to facilitate a reduction in workforce. Corporate outplacement is actually a benefit that the employer ...
Views: 1304 - *** Your Compensation Negotiation Strategy - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2015 from Ford MyersBack in September of 2012, I published an article in this e-newsletter titled, "Salary Negotiation: 21 Rules of the Game." The piece provided specific tips and techniques for increasing your salary offers. In this article, we're going to "step back" and take a broader view of the salary ...
Views: 1320 - *** “Red Flags” – Warning Signs to Watch-Out For in Job Search - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2016 from Ford MyersIn all my years of experience in the career services field, I have coached thousands of job seekers through their searches and career transitions. I have also worked as an executive recruiter, filling positions for corporate clients. I have seen the hiring process from the perspectives of ...
Views: 1366 - ***3 Steps for a More Mature-Sounding Voice - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThe number of adult voices I hear which sound like teenagers, preteens, or younger still is astounding. Add the familiar Valley Girl sound to the picture and you have an image which does not project maturity. I am not talking about sounding old. I am talking about a voice which you would call ...
Views: 2164 - ***5 Phone Interview Questions You Will Be Asked (And Tips on How to Answer Them) - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2014 from Peggy McKeeHow to answer common phone interview questions Hiring managers don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of time, money and energy interviewing every potential candidate face-to-face. So most of them fall back on the practical: phone interviews. Do well with the phone interview, and the ...
Views: 1657 - ***5 Secrets to Moxie Your Way to Success - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Regina BarrSo, what is moxie? According to Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, moxie is defined as: 1. Energy, pep 2. Courage, determination 4. Know-how expertise For me, moxie is more of an attitude, a way of approaching your life and work. I recently had the opportunity to speak at the ...
Views: 1245 - ***5 Steps for Overcoming a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA voice that lacks color is dull and uninteresting. It also says something about you, as the speaker, which may or may not be true. If you speak in a monotone, how do you think others perceive you? A few words that come to my mind are cold, indifferent, and unemotional. Do those words ...
Views: 15542 - ***5 Tips for Getting Paid What You're Worth - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2011 from Regina BarrAccording to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, if current wage patterns continue, a 25-year-old woman, working full time, will earn $523,000 less than the average 25-year-old man by the time they both retire at 65. Want to get paid what you're worth? Then ...
Views: 1844 - ***5 Ways Your Voice May Be Sabotaging Your Success - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2014 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago, Barbara Walters interviewed Kathleen Turner, commenting on Turner’s “low, wonderful voice.” The actress responded that she could not understand how a woman could spend thousands of dollars on her clothing, hair, and makeup and not spend some of that money on her voice, as she ...
Views: 2076 - ***A Nasal Voice Could Be a Stumbling Block to Your Success - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome of the adjectives that come to mind when I hear someone who has excessive nasality are whiny, strident, shrill, and grating. And, given the right volume, tone, and duration, it can lead some listeners to develop a headache. Don’t laugh. It has been reported that the voice of Mary Hart, ...
Views: 3884 - ***Accents Are Not a Problem As Long As Your Speech Is Understandable - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsA lot of people contact me because they want to speak more clearly, more distinctly. What I explain to my clients and customers is that my goal for them is not to eliminate their accent – merely to have them be understood the 1st time they say it. I like accents. An accent or even a dialect ...
Views: 1850 - ***Are commitment and attitude really important? - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2013 from Genevieve de LacazeAccording to a Stanford Research Institute study, success is 88 percent attitude and 12 percent education. It’s not hard to believe; especially when you consider the opposite. Have you ever been convinced, persuaded, impressed or even trusted someone who shows up sometimes and does ...
Views: 1454 - ***Are You a Multi-Tasker? - by Submitted on May 23, 2014 from Kitty BoitnottAre you one of those people who really believe that you can multi-task and do it well? Can you listen to your children complain about their day while you are cooking dinner with half of your attention on your children and half on what you are doing at the stove? Or perhaps you are a ...
Views: 1166 - ***Are You Sleep Deprived? - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2014 from Kitty BoitnottDo you ever feel that sleep is a luxury that you can’t afford? Most of us don’t get the sleep we need in order to perform at our optimum level. That means that most of us are mildly to severely sleep-deprived much of the time. We tell ourselves that we don’t have time to ...
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