February 8, 2012

What Questions Should I Ask on an Informational Interview?

What makes an informational interview a success? Two-words: “Good Questions” and one word: “Curiosity.” If you look up “Informational Interview” in Wikipedia, here’s what you get: “a meeting in which a job seeker asks for career and industry advice rather than employment. The job seeker uses the interview to (ask the questions), gather information on [...]

Starting again, somewhere in the middle

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I had a bad day a few weeks ago. In one day my computer died, I dropped my Blackberry face down on gravel cracking the face, and I killed my husband’s power sander. Whew! What a week!! I feel like Alexander in that great kids book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad [...]

“In Transition” – You Must Be Kidding!

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I am in transition. There I said it. Two words with immediate power to define. As if I chose this situation. As if I am making something good out of a bad thing – covering up something potentially embarrassing with a nice, neutral label. I realize it is ironic for a career/interview coach to be in transition but it happens. It is what we do with this situation that makes the difference.

Secret to Finding a Dream Job? Keep Going

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I am coaching a friend in transition who has held professional sales positions in pharmaceuticals, the copy machine industry, and as an alumni relations professional with a major university. Most of his searching has been directed at finding another pharmaceuticals position. Another fact about my friend – completely unrelated – he has a real passion, [...]

Gaming skills a key to effective job seeking?

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Do you envision your job search as a game, such as the complex challenge of a World of Warcraft video game? If you choose that mindset, you will be a far more effective job seeker. It’s a given that effective job seeking is an entertaining enterprise. Nearly every day you talk with someone new. Every [...]

A Favorite Cousin and an Informational Interview

When Was Your First . . . Informational Interview?

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I realized recently that my first informational interview was when I was FIVE! Yeah, five years old.

If You Want to Network (with ME!): Professional, Thoughtful, Concise

I want to begin this with a bit of a warning: I receive a LOT of requests for informational interviews.

How to Find a Job in City A while Living in City B: Part II – Connections

Seven years later when I again decided to make a cross-country move to a place where I, again, didn’t know people.