Media/Speaker Queries: You're invited to click on each Career Thought Leader's name above for full contact info and to inquire about availability for interviews and speaking engagements.
Charlotte Weeks, CCMC, NCRW, CPRW
Weeks Career Services, Inc.
Thought Leadership: Career Strategies for Association Executives
Website: www.weekscareerservices.com
Email:
Phone: 312.662.1410
Charlotte Weeks, Certified Career Management Coach, Nationally Certified Resume Writer, and Certified Professional Resume Writer helps mission-driven executives find their passion and land at the top! Her association background includes working in human resources at the American Medical Association and leading The National Resume Writers’ Association as president. Charlotte provides comprehensive career coaching and resume services for association executives and is currently developing an information product line to further help them in their careers. She has been featured in the media multiple times, including in CEO Update, WGN-TV, Yahoo! HotJobs, and Men’s Health Magazine. Charlotte’s book contributions include The Twitter Job Search Guide, Designing the Perfect Resume, and Step-by-Step Cover Letters: Build a Cover Letter in 10 Easy Steps Using Personal Branding.
“Thinking about sending the boss a holiday card?” asks Allison & Taylor, a reference checking firm in Rochester, Michigan in their article Deciding Whether to Send the Boss a Holiday Card.
You probably have a good idea: a 2008 survey quoted 50% of holiday card recipients as indicating they were more likely to do future business with a company (or individual) that sends holiday greeting cards.
And with your co-workers vying with you for the boss’s favor, your holiday card might prove to be ... Read more
Recently, I went on my first vacation since 2003. Though I’ve been fortunate to have travelled quite a bit since then, it had been a full eight years since my last vacation.You might be confused – aren’t travel and vacation the same? Not necessarily. These two trips had one important thing in common – NO work. None. Not an email, voice mail, or social media check in. It was actually a little difficult for me to unplug, but the results were astounding. Not only did I have a wonderful, relaxing time, I’ve seen a difference in how I’ve felt about my work. I’ve been more creative and excited about projects. Taking time off might be even more important for those who love their jobs and are in a cause-focused industry (clearly, this could apply to many association professionals). It’s easy to burn out without even noticing. You may get tired more easily, feel less passionate about your work, and generally just go through the motions of performing your duties. Ironically, NOT working can make you better at it! So, take your vacation time and unplug! If possible, get out of town for a change of scenery – it doesn’t need to be far or expensive. You’ll come back revitalized and excited about jumping back in to work (well, after the first morning back!)... Read more
If you’re in the association industry and you’re not on Twitter, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Association professionals seem to be among the most active posters in the Twitterverse, and much of the content I’ve seen is highly valuable. Whether the Tweeters are individuals or associations, you can connect
... Read more
It’s no secret that finding that a job in today’s economy is tough, even for seasoned executives. While there are still great opportunities available, the competition can be brutal.
These strategies can go a long way toward helping you stand out.
1. Establish relationships with recruiters
Companies are more likely to use recruiters for senior -level positions ... Read more
Recently, a study came out that said volunteering could increase longevity – if you were doing it to truly benefit others and not for self-serving reasons. This made me wonder about two things. First of all, is it even possible to do something to help others WITHOUT it coming back to you in some way? There was actually a “Friends” episode where Joey bet Phoebe that she couldn’t help someone without feeling altruistic. To prove otherwise, she donated to a telethon for Sesame Street, which she hated. Ultimately, she ended up happy that her money is what helped Joey reach his goal for donations – and she lost the bet.... Read more
This past week, I attended The National Resume Writers’ Association’s conference, this year held in Portland, Maine. Though it’s nice to be able to interact with members virtually, I get more in the 3.5 days each year than I do in 12 months!Ironically, where I learn the most at these events is outside of the conference room. With no set agenda, topics come up naturally – I end up learning things I didn’t know I even needed to know! Still, I’d guess that some of my biggest takeaways at conferences come from conversations I’ve had with colleagues at dinner, while exploring the town, or in-between sessions.... Read more
Even in the best of times, job hunting can feel like tossing your resume into the open sea. Now, with record numbers of applicants, you may not receive a response at all. Career experts agree that if resounding silence is all you get in response to your resume, you may want to know some of the most common reasons why. ... Read more
Bullying: at one time or another, most of us have felt the victim of someone’s unreasonably antagonistic behavior. It’s often viewed as a dynamic between young people, and conventional wisdom says that this type of conduct is left behind in childhood as we exit the schoolyard.
Not so, “Bullying regularly occurs with adults, in the workplace. And it often continues even after someone has left a job, with the bully giving a potential employer an unwarranted bad reference,”says Jeff Shane, Vice President of Allison & Taylor Reference Checking, a firm that offers “Cease and Desist” letters to stop the bullying.
Most of us have heard that you should spend 40 hours searching for a job if you’re unemployed and 10-15 if you’re currently working. It’s a good idea to spend as much time on your search as possible, but what’s more important is HOW you’re using those hours. If it’s on busy work (aka applying to online jobs that aren’t a fit, endless “networking” on Facebook, etc.), you may be able to reduce your daily “search” time.... Read more
