Richard Bolles | Great Occupations
Job Search: Tips & Templates for Thank You Notes

Job Search: Tips & Templates for Thank You Notes

by | posted in: Career, interview, job search, strategy | 0

I remember a story that Richard Bolles tells in his classic book, What Color Is Your Parachute?, about a baseball team hiring someone for their public relations position. The woman who was hired later asked why they picked her out of the 35 or so applicants. They told her that she was the only one who had written a thank you note after the interview. Sometimes I’m still taken aback when a client asks me if he or she should write a thank you note. Yes, always, always write a thank you note. Since it’s such an overlooked step…

Right Now Could Be The Right Time To Change Careers

Right Now Could Be The Right Time To Change Careers

by | posted in: Career, Career Change | 0

It’s 8:05am on the first day back to work in 2011. Are you sitting in your cubicle wondering how you go to this point in your life? When you were 9 years old did you dream that you would be doing what you are doing — now that you are 30, 40, 50, or 99 years old? When asked what we wanted to be when we were 9 years old, we may have answered a Pop Star, Astronaut, Pilot, Doctor, Army man/woman, etc. No one - at least no one that I have ever come across - dreamed of being an Actuary, Customer Service Representative, Cashier, or etc. What happened? How did things get off course? Or did life take a better course since many of you have exceeded your dreams?

Ready Yourself for Your Job Search – Get Clear About What You Have

Ready Yourself for Your Job Search – Get Clear About What You Have

by | posted in: Career, job search | 0

After you get clear of the baggage and get clear about what you want, you want to get clear about what you have to offer. In the READY module of the Job Search Boot Camp, we like to call this your Value Proposition. Below are 4 areas we suggest you self-examine so you can bring it all together for a prospective employer. This will be especially important for when you’re faced with that all-important question, “Why should I hire you?”

Part II: Cultivating Your Individual Brand

Part II: Cultivating Your Individual Brand

by | posted in: Career, Career Change | 0

Taking stock of your career assets includes taking a look at your personal traits. Traits are not the same as personal values, nor are they the same as skills. Traits specifically describe how we do our work in the world. Create a list of your traits – you can find traits online, of course, but the best list I’ve ever seen is in What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles. Round up what you think are your top 5 traits and then, if you dare…