Entries in Career strategies (6)
Are you a Timex Watch in a Digital World?
Don Straits , Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 3:36PM This post continues to reaffirm how imperative it is for executives to adapt to the new career paradigm. Every day, without exception, I talk with executives who just don't get it. The net result is they are out of work, out of touch and will be left out in the cold.
Thank You Letters are Boring: Give Yourself a Competitive Edge
Don Straits , Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:29AM Thank-you letters are so boring. But you feel compelled to write one because the career books, career counselors, and HR managers tell you that is what you are supposed to do. If you don’t do it, then you failed to show professional courtesy. If you do send one, the recipient will appreciate it, but it is rarely the defining factor that gets you the job. Furthermore, they all sound alike. Yawn.
So here are a few thoughts on giving yourself a competitive edge by writing Thank You letters with pizzazz.
EMERGENCY ALERT: Many Executive Careers Will Be Coming to An Abrupt End
Don Straits , Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 3:55PM WOW, sounds like a hurricane warning. Maybe a Fox News Alert announcing impending doom. But trust me, this is real. I have been in the leadership development arena for 18 years, and I have never seen anything like what is currently going on in the marketplace.
Regardless of your corporate position, whether you are currently a CEO or an emerging executive, you could find yourself without a career if you fail to heed my warning. I realize I have been hammering this in my blog over the past couple of weeks—but it is of such paramount importance I cannot emphasize it enough. I’ll warn you in advance, this is going to be a long post, but it just might save your career from certain peril….now and in the future.
Paralysis by Analysis: The Challenge of Going from Being an Analytical to a Visionary Leader
Don Straits , Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 9:15PM Analytical thinkers represent a resource and value that is truly extraordinary to our society. They encompass a wide variety of careers from accountants to auditors to actuaries to programmers to market research statisticians to research scientists and many others. Their contributions to our society are priceless from sophisticated software programs to wonder drugs. Every day we enjoy the benefits they have created without ever realizing where they came from.
As a career strategist, I never cease to admire their intelligence and focus. When an analytical wants me to help guide their career into a leadership role, I face an enormous challenge. Sometimes their greatest strengths become a liability in their attempt to transition to a leadership role.
Ethics and Professionalism in the Recruiting Industry 2008
Don Straits , Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11:18AM Carl Bradford, executive recruiter and principal of the Bradford Consulting Group, National Practice Director for The Adler Group as well as Certification Expert for Lou Adler’s Recruiting Method, conducted a comprehensive survey of job seekers in October of 2008. This was a very professional survey which compares and contrasts the way job seekers from different parts of the country perceive the ethics and professionalism of the recruitment industry. I asked Carl if I could share some of the results with other recruiters, job seekers and career industry professionals here. While the complete survey results are confidential, Carl graciously agreed to share an overview of the results with everyone.