Will Employment Gaps Hurt My Executive Job Search - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Will Employment Gaps Hurt My Executive Job Search With unemployment  at around 10% and job search frequently stretching out beyond 10 to 12 months, more and more executive job seekers are stuck figuring out how to deal with prolonged employment gaps on their resumes and other career marketing communications. How do you best deal with these gaps and not risk sending up all kinds of red flags? You cant lie and make up a job to fill the gap. You cant extend the length of employment for jobs on either side of the gap thats lying too. A new study by Recruiting Trends offers hope. The May 2010 survey of 111 national recruiters revealed that theyre thinking differently about screening and engaging talent: 81% of recruiters will lend leniency to time gaps on the resume 89% of recruiters will look favorably at volunteering as an alternative to career employment to fill in the gap 93% of recruiters were positive on temporary and consultative engagements as a bridge between positions 48% of recruiters would look toward individuals looking to make a significant career change Your takeaway Perhaps  recruiters and hiring authorities arent as concerned as they used to be about employment gaps. But play it safe.  Avoid gaps altogether  with a consulting gig or by volunteering. Both options provide a wealth of benefits and can, in themselves, lead to long-term job opportunities. More about the benefits of volunteer in my Executive Resume Branding post, Volunteering Powers Up Your Personal Brand, Network, and C-Level Executive Job Search. Other related posts: The Inside Story on Working With Executive Recruiters How to Write An Irresistible C-level Executive Brand Resume 16 Deadly Executive Job Search Mistakes How To Tap Into Hidden C-level Executive Jobs 00 0

Celebrate Your Independence by Doing Work You Love

Celebrate Your Independence by Doing Work You Love I love the fourth of July from barbecues to fireworks, its always a fun time. On our nations birthday, few people are focused on their careers. Rightfully so as this is a time to celebrate. But what if this 4th you not only celebrated our countrys independence from England but also your own independence from a boring dead-end job or career?For inspiration, you need look no further than our founding fathers and in particular Ben Franklin. A true renaissance soul, Ben Franklin was not only a statesman but an author, publisher and inventor. Did you know he was also an advocate for literacy and responsible for founding the first public library? You could even call him Americas first self-improvement guru with his catchy words of wisdom from his monthly tome, Poor Richards Almanac.With so many different careers, Ben Franklins resume would today be labeled scattered by experts in resume writing and recruiting. Who would want to hire such a flake? Choose one path and stick to it would be the advice today. I couldnt disagree more.In todays fast-paced, ever changing global economy, whats needed are more innovative renaissance souls like Ben Franklin people with ingenuity who are looking for new challenges to grow and learn and try new things. In her book The Renaissance SoulMargaret Lobenstine advocates this approach and encourages the Jacks and Janes of all trades. Margaret was a guest on my SIRIUSXM radio show when her book first appeared. Her advice, Dont choose and forsake all your interests for just one career but find a way to have it all. For example,I created what Margaret calls an umbrella career. Under the umbrella of career consulting, I do lots of things from coaching to training to radio to TV, all under the auspices of career development. Margaret has it all by taking a staged approach, opting for one career then the next. So prior tobecoming a career coach and author, Margaret enjoyed beinga Bed Breakfast owner.Shes probably onto her next renaissance career by now. Inspired to have it all? Learnmore about this multiple careers approach.If youve got lots of ideas on what youd love to do with your career, dont lament. Celebrate them and share them here on my live radio show! Call in and Ill help you combine your interests into a unique and rewarding career. Like Ben Franklin, Margaret, me and countless of my renaissance soul clients, you too can have it all! Take it from Poor Richard, You may delay but time will not and get started on your dream careers today. Happy 4th!(Photos courtesy of the 2010 Macys Fireworks display as viewed from my iPhone and Flikr user jepsculpture.)

Know Your Etiquette for Office Holiday Parties

Know Your Etiquette for Office Holiday Parties Yes, it’s that time of year again.   In just a few weeks, many corporate professionals will be attending holiday parties with their coworkers. Time to kick-off your heels and celebrate another year towards retirement, right? Wrong. Even though you are attending a “party” there is still etiquette you need to follow to ensure that your reputation and job are intact on Monday morning. Make sure your spouse or significant other is actually invited to the event before you show up with him or her on your arm. As many companies are scaling back their celebrations due to tough economic times, some are only having parties for their employees â€" no guests. If your party is at a colleague’s home, take a small gift with you for the host/hostess. A holiday bouquet or goody that can be shared at the party would be sufficient. Only take a bottle of wine or other alcoholic beverage if you know your host is serving alcohol during the party. Know the dress code for the evening…and then abide by it. Even at the office party, what you wear can affect your coworkers’ and bosses’ perception of you. Wearing clothes that are too low cut or revealing is a no-no at a business function. If there is a meal, whether sit-down or buffet, remember your table manners. If there is more food available at the buffet, make sure every table has already had their first trip to the food line before you make a second. Always take the time to thank the wait staff and others who are serving you during the party. While there may be alcohol served at the party, this is not the time to see how much “holiday cheer” you can consume in one evening. As you are happily mingling with others, be conscious of how much you are drinking. Too much drinking, leads to too much talking which leads to nothing good on Monday morning. If there is mistletoe at the party, steer clear. Although this is a holiday tradition that has been around for years, stealing a kiss from the wrong person under the mistletoe can lead to an awkward situation or even worse, a possible reprimand for sexual harassment (yes, we’ve heard of this!). Network, network, network! Very rarely is there a time where all levels of an organization are together at once and there may be many new faces to greet. Try to meet colleagues in other departments and if you have the chance to rub elbows with the CEO, simply introduce yourself, thank him/her for the party and move on. While networking is okay, cornering the CEO to give him a 5-minute version of your resume is not. Lastly, in today’s world of social media and smart phones, you can almost bet there will be a few pictures taken during the party. If you are asked to be in a picture, smile and keep it professional. Even though some of your coworkers may be your “friends” on social media sites, you don’t want inappropriate pictures of you being fed to others throughout the company. While the annual holiday party can be a great time to socialize with your colleagues, the bottom line is that you need to remember that an office party of any type is still about business. Don’t overindulge in alcohol, put lampshades on your head and pose for pictures, or stalk the CEO the entire evening â€" you don’t want to be the one with the red face at the water cooler on Monday morning.

How to Write a Resume For Separating From the Military

How to Write a Resume For Separating From the MilitaryAfter you finish a job, before you go back to your civilian job, you need to write a resume that is different from the resume you would have used for military service. Because military personnel do not accept new jobs until they have passed a certain level, it is important to leave some time for you to obtain a job once you are discharged. Since most military personnel are called up after about four months, this means that you should start by preparing your own resume.Since military personnel are called up after about four months, it is important to start by preparing your own resume. In order to prepare your own resume, you will need to follow these steps:o When you are out of the military, you should consider using resumes that include information that pertains to your career prior to enlisting in the military. A resume that includes your resume and the dates of when you were deployed to each location you lived or worked during the course of your military service is needed if you want to have this information included on your military resume.o If you did not complete any college courses, this does not mean that you should not use resume writing for separating from the military. If you are trying to get a job as an entrepreneur, you should be prepared to take college courses if they are offered at your area's school. Most businesses require that their employees complete one year of college before being considered for employment, which gives them time to interview candidates.o It is important to note that military personnel are given an excellent opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge over time. When you are planning to leave the military, this is a good time to use resume writing for separating from the military. Even though you have already acquired some experience, you will still need to update your resume to make it more professional.o If you are a new service member, it is possible that you w ill not have any military experience when you get back from active duty. This does not mean that you will have to discard your resume completely.Military personnel who are going to get laid off will have the opportunity to get new work by leaving resumes for the best job openings they can find. You may also want to consider submitting your resume through a professional resume writing service if you plan to get hired through an agency.

My Older Coworker Wont Stop Mothering Me

My Older Coworker Won't Stop Mothering Me Q: How can I get my coworker to stop mothering me? I have been at my job about six months and am by far the youngest person in my office of 10-15 people. I am in my mid-20s in an office where everyone else is 40+. For the most part, everyone works together well and the age difference doesn’t matter. But I have one coworker, an older woman we will call Sue, who insists on “parenting” me and getting involved in my personal life. She often brings in “treats” to the office and will email everyone that they are available, but will insist on bringing some to me at my desk “since she knows how much kids eat.” The first time I took a day off, the next day Sue asked me if I got sick unexpectedly. In confusion, I told her, no, I took a pre-approved vacation day. She said that she was “surprised I didn’t tell her about this beforehand” and proceeded to ask if “I was visiting my boyfriend.” We are on totally separate teams and our work does not overlap at all! There is literally no work-related reason she needs to know everything I do, and even if she did, she doesn’t need to know what I do outside of work. This pattern has continued. If I take some time off, she will either ask about it before or after (depending on if she notices it on my calendar beforehand) and pry into why I need time off (“are you visiting your parents/visiting your boyfriend/taking a personal day/sick?”). Recently, I went in for a kidney surgery and was out of office for a while. Sue, via Facebook, decided to contact my mother! She asked my mother to keep her up-to-date on my surgery and progress. My mother, thinking it was a nice gesture, agreed to do so. During the time I was off, she texted me regularly to ask how I was doing, and if I didn’t respond within a few hours, she would contact my mother. Now that I have returned to the office, Sue keeps monitoring me and asking health related questions such as “Are you feeling okay? You’re drinking a lot of water today” and “I noticed you’ve gone to the restroom a lot today. Everything still working down there?” I asked her to please stop asking me because it makes me uncomfortable and informed her that I would come to her if I had an issue I wanted to discuss. Afterwards, Sue messaged my mother on Facebook to ask her if I was okay because I was unusually rude to her! Help! A: Sue is out of her gourd. The “I know how much kids eat” thing is pretty amusing. Does she think you’re 14 and having a puberty-induced growth spurt? But amusement aside, she’s crossed multiple lines here. Being mothered by coworkers is annoying in general, but Sue is going way beyond the usual annoying parenting that 20somethings sometimes have to deal with. Contacting your mother?! Monitoring your bathroom use?! She’s so far out of her gourd in this area that the gourd is in another solar system. From today onward, cut Sue off cold turkey. You’re no longer going to entertain even mild remarks or inquiries about your personal life from her. She needs to hear, clearly and repeatedly, that this is unwelcome and not okay. That means: * Tell your mother immediately not to have further contact with Sue. Ideally, if Sue tries to contact her again, your mom would say, “Jane is an adult and manages her own life. I’m not the right person to contact about this.” But if your mom won’t do that, she needs to at least ignore Sue and not respond to her. (Also, if I’m inferring correctly that they’re now connected on Facebook, ask your mom to sever that connection.) * When Sue asks about your time off, say, “Why do you ask?” If she continues to pry (“are you visiting your boyfriend?”) or does anything other than back off, say, “Sue, I’d rather not discuss it. Please don’t continue to ask me about how I’m spending my days off. Thank you.” * If she expresses surprise that she didn’t know about your planned days off or anything else about your life, say, “I’m confused. Our work doesn’t overlap at all. Is there some reason I’m missing that you would need to know?” * If she continues to ask questions about your health, say, “I’ve got it under control.” If she continues to ask after that, say, “As I said, I’ve got it under control. Please stop asking.” And/or “it’s weird that you’re monitoring how much I’m drinking / using the bathroom. Please stop doing that.” (If that feels too rude to you, please know that it’s not â€" she’s the one being rude and it’s perfectly appropriate for you to assert boundaries with her. But if you know that in reality you’re not going to be able to use that kind of wording, then you could just stick with “I’ve got it under control.”) * If she makes more weird age-related remarks like the one about bringing you treats since she knows how much kids eat, say, “Sue, I’m an adult. That’s a really weird thing to say to a colleague.” (In fact, that frame â€" “that’s a really weird thing to say to a colleague” â€" should be your positioning on all of this. What she’s doing is super weird, and it’s totally reasonable to let your face, tone, and words convey that.) You might be able to get it under control this way â€" if you refuse to let her mother you, hopefully the lack of gratification will eventually get her to stop. But you might need to have a big-picture conversation with her as well, either now or if doing the above for a couple of weeks doesn’t stop it. That would sound like this: “Sue, I’m not sure if you realize how differently you treat me than the rest of our colleagues. I’m an adult and I don’t need mothering. I’d like you to stop monitoring my health and my days off, asking about how often I’m drinking water or using the bathroom, or generally acting like my mother. And speaking of my mother, please don’t continue to contact her. I need you to treat me like you would any other colleague, rather than a young person who needs your assistance. Can you do that?” Ultimately, whether or not Sue stops isn’t fully in your control. But your response to her is, and you have a lot of power to starve her of the info and responses that make this rewarding for her. Try that, and I bet that even if it doesn’t stop 100%, she’ll pull way, way back. And meanwhile, colleagues who see you handling it this way will see you being mature and reasonable and her being … quite strange. Read next: Can My New Company Make Me Change My Name? Q: How do I avoid talking about the details of an injury when I return to work? I lost the tips of two fingers in a lawnmower accident recently, and will return to work after two weeks off. I don’t wish to provide the details of my absence or injury whatsoever to my peers. It doesn’t help that I work in a large school and am the department head of technology, and should know better about safety around machinery. What is a polite way to answer about my absence and/or bandaged fingertips? I’m truly dreading returning to work for this one reason. A: “It’s a long story, but I’ll be fine!” â€" said cheerfully and followed by an immediate change of subject. Or “Oh, it’s too gruesome too talk about.” Or “I’m in denial that it even happened. Tell me about where we are with the X project!” Or “Just an accident, and I’m working on forgetting about it.” The key with all of these is to say them cheerfully and immediately change the subject. Polite people will get the message that you don’t want to talk about it. Rude people may continue to push, at which point you can say, “I’m really trying not to relive it â€" thanks for understanding!” Another option is “I’d rather not talk about it,” but I think that will make it more dramatic and cause some people to speculate on what happened and why it’s off-limits. Read next: Can I Really Be Fired Over My Private Text Messages? These questions are adapted from ones that originally appeared on Ask a Manager. Some have been edited for length. More From Ask a Manager: How to handle a nosy boss My client won’t stop asking about my dating life My coworker keeps making snide comments about my hours Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions and subtitles off, selectedAudio TrackFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. 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5 Skills For Making A Successful Career Transition - Work It Daily

5 Skills For Making A Successful Career Transition - Work It Daily Do you know how to make a successful career transition, this post will tell you how. In the summer of 2005, I realized my 23 year career in broadcast media, radio, was about to change dramatically. I could feel the winds of change blowing in my “corporate culture.” Internal changes started to happen yearly (sometimes twice a year) with regard to sales commissions, and how we packaged and sold our products and services. New management was brought in, people shifted in a very stable management structure. It just felt weird. I started my personal career transition process, in my head, simply by thinking about why I was feeling like it wasn’t working for me on many levels anymore and I wanted and needed it to be working. First, I had to honestly assess if there were any more mobility opportunities where I was. Then, I had to look at myself with regard to what I really wanted to do, and determine if I was qualified and prepared to do it. I spent almost a year, going on interviews, both locally and nationally, exploring other industries and employment jobs to try to see what resonated with me. As I look back, it was really a smart process and revealed a lot about me. Back then, jobs were much more plentiful and there were a lot of them in my business. Today, I would not have those same choices and options. 5 Tips For Making A Successful Career Transition Here are some of the lessons I learned about the career transition process that you can apply to today’s employment situation: 1. Identify What You Want To Do And What You're Qualified To Do Look at all your “transferable skills” - all those jobs you've done that define your skill sets. 2. Don’t Rush Change, Trust Your Process Opportunities will present themselves, but they may not be all the right or best decisions to make. Qualify the opportunities, based on your situation. 3. Be Prepared And Honest When Presenting Yourself You really can’t fudge the truth when creating a resume. Know what your strong assets are and lead with them. Don’t hide your liabilities, but don’t lead with them. We all have “stuff” or else we wouldn’t be human. 4. Evaluate Your Current Skill Levels The business world has changed and what’s now required to get hired has changed. Review your personal, professional, technology, and social networking proficiency. If you need to upgrade some things, take some local courses through local chambers, schools, professional organizations, or online. 5. Know That Personal Branding And Your Image Sets You Apart Personality, mindset, energy, attitude, image are all important today to stand out and get noticed. Again, evaluate where you are with regard to your professional image, online and offline networking, sales, communication skills, and being a part of your community. Upgrade, improve, tweak, grow whenever and wherever you can. Don’t wait until you are out of work or laid off. If we have learned one huge lesson from the current employment scenario, it’s pay attention to and keep changing with change. In conclusion, career transition is happening all the time, even when you are working and employed. Keep moving and changing. Keep adding value for what you do. Stay relevant and current. Think about how you can become more indispensable! Related Posts: 6 Tips For Managing Your Finances During A Career Transition Career Transition For Middle-Aged Professionals Resume Tips For A Career Change Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

What Are You Passionate About How To Find The Answer

What Are You Passionate About How To Find The Answer Sometimes, its hard to know who you are and what youre best at, or whats the best career, hobby, or plan for yur unique skills, interests, and traits. And yet, the habits and traits that truly passionate people share in common are things that we can emulate ourselves, no matter how indecisive you might feel at the moment.How do you find yourself?Before you can identify your passion, you have to really understand who you are as a person. You have to accept your flaws, overcome your insecurities, and become comfortable in your own skin.Connect with your own emotions. Be selfish. Embrace yourself for all that you are. Once you have accepted yourself and unearthed what makes you tick, youll be able to find your passion.Why is it important to get to know yourself?In short, if you dont know yourself, theres no way to know what you want out of life what will drive you, give you motivation, and push you towards success. Its also crucial t o happiness and fulfillment. Its a learning process, of course. And it takes time and dedication to break down your own self-made walls. But once you do, youll feel lighter, happier, and ready to face your passions head on.How do you discover your passion?Follow the six steps below to help you identify your passions and start reaping the benefits of that knowledge1. Identify your strengths.Make a list of things you know youre good at. It could be a task, a technical skill, or a soft skill more related to your personality, your way of doing things, or your attitude toward life. For example, I am a strong writer, I am very organized and good at remembering peoples details, I am warm and friendly, and I am good at building relationships and bringing people together.Sometimes, you can easily identify a strength (i.e., Ive been told I welches a good writer and received good marks for my writing since I could write), and sometimes its good to keep a compliment or feedback log to track the feedback others (classmates, colleagues, supervisors, friends, and family) give us in buchen to better identify what were good at, especially as seen from an outsiders perspective. Research from Jacques Forest and his colleagues showsthat when we use our strengths, well find more happiness, so we definitely want our strengths to inform our passions and what we aim to pursue2. Sign up, take risks, and take note.There are a couple crucial questions to ask yourself here. What makes you excited? What makes you wonder?Many people dont realize what their passion is until they stumble upon itand find they enjoy it. The key is to take note of what makes you more excited to live life, and what takes you out of the mundanity of your day-to-day details. I have always loved writing, but I remember the first time I went to a literary reading more than just the act of writing itself, it was the sense of community and togetherness I loved, and being able to connect with others over the different writings wed heard. I was hooked.Most times, you dont even know what to try. Say yes to everything put yourself in new situations and take risks. I didnt like gardening until someone asked if I wanted to sign up to volunteer during college. I didnt know I enjoyed helping people until I graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology and my first job offer was at a mental health nonprofit. I didnt know that training was even a job option until it was part of my second job out of college, and I received extensive training from exceptional mentors on how to conduct a memorable training for diverse adult learners. I didnt know I loved the entire job search process until someone asked me to help them edit their resume and look for jobs. Sometimes, you just have to say yes, and try something new in order to find the thing that may become your passion in life.3. Re-imagine possibilities.So, as mentioned above, I loved literary readings great But now its time to re-imagine possibilities. At firs t, I attended some and started to talk to other writers. Eventually, I decided to start my own reading series, something I had never considered before or never thought I could do, just because I loved the feeling of being at one with quality readers/writers. And so I did it. Similarly, after her first hike in her early 20s, a good friend that she truly loved and felt most in wonder at nature. She ended up moving to the Pacific Northwest so that being outdoors could be a bigger part of her life. After taking a cross-country hiking and camping trip, that is 4. Out with the old in with the new.Once youve narrowed in a bit more on what types of things you like to do, make those a bigger part of your life. I noticed I found less enjoyment in going to bars, where I felt I couldnt truly have a meaningful conversation with friends, and started subscribing to newsletters to learn about literary events in my area. Through this, Ive been able to build a network and attend quality events where friends may be performing, hosting, or at the very least, just recommending5. Reflect repeat.Reflect on new experiences and see what brought you joy. Maybe you liked the act of gardening after volunteering one day, but the garden is too far. Maybe you enjoyed teaching literacy skills, but youd like to work with adults instead of kids. Maybe cooking is your thing, but you want to specialize in vegetarian options. Repeat the experiences you enjoyed, while making alterations that fit you and your life. In the gardening example, perhaps you could start a community garden closer to your home, for instance. Schedule it in, and make it work6. Ask others.Some people discovered their passions early in life. Others developed them later on. Some are still searching. Everyone has a story to tell and wants to share it. If you know someone who has a clearly defined passion, ask her how it evolved. How did she build it? How does she make time for it in her life? Did she go looking for it, or did she stumble upon it? behauptung questions can help you in the pursuit of your own passion.Resources for finding and developing your passionFinding a passion comes easily to some, but many need guidance to get there These resources can help you explore your talents and what makes you happy.1. The Happiness of Pursuit by ChrisGuillebeauAt age 35, Chris Guillebeau set out to travel to every country on earth and interviewed hundreds of people who here reveal their motivations, desires, journeys, and quests.2. Callings by Dave IsaayThe founder of StoryCorps shares stories ofpeople doing what they love, including people who discovered their passions early in life and later and many who overcame great odds.3.The Passion TestbyJanet Bray Attwood and Chris AttwoodThe authors provide a test for identifying your passions and a step-by-step program of action for implementing them in your life.4. Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertGilbert shares inspiration and offers guidance and motivation on livi ng your best and most creative life.TED Talks1. Why some of us dont have one true callingWriter and Artist Emilie Wapnick explores how people can have many different interests and pursuits over the course of their lives.2. How to find work you loveScott Dinsmore quit a job he hated in pursuit of work he found more meaningful. Here, he shares how to discover what matters to you.Podcasts1. HappierGretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft explore how to embrace the things that make you happy.2. WorkingOn thisSlate podcast, people with unique jobs describe the ins and outs of their daily lives.3. The Accidental CreativeTop thinkers, leaders, and artists share insights on work and life.Find your passionA client asked me recently, How many passions should you try to include in your career? She is a highly analytical thinker, and I appreciated the question. My answer? As many as you can, ideally. But also remember-- You dont only have to do one thing. The thing about passions is that you dont onl y have to do one-- You can have multiple at any given time, they can change or morph, and you can combine them or separate them, depending on what they are. And thats OK its all part of what makes you unique. Power on--Chelsea Fonden is a career coach and resume writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Over the past 5 years, she has worked with countless jobseekers across industries and professional levelsand holds a passion for womens advancement in the workplace. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland and has worked for several NYC non-profits, as well as in freelance roles.