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.
John M. O'Connor
Career Pro Inc.
Thought Leadership: Overcoming Executive Job Search Challenges
Website: www.careerproinc.com
Email:
Phone: 919.787.2400
Unconventional Wisdom? Advice for Executives in Transition That Works? That's what we specialize in at Career Pro Inc.
Among other accomplishments in the world of career services and outplacement, Mr. O'Connor became the first private practice Reach Branding Certified Specialist and has practiced as a career services expert for nearly 20 years.
With a unique fiction writing pedigree with fiction publications, he obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University. With over 20 years experience in outplacement excellence, professional transition, resume writing and career coaching, O’Connor applies his considerable job market expertise to career transitioners nationally, focusing on building personal brands.
He is a sought after author and contributing thought leader in the careers area. A contributor to Yahoo! Hotjobs, Monster.com, CNN-Money, The Ladders, AOL.com, and in many publications including the Wall Street Journal, his diversified experience includes serving as a college professor and as a United States Army officer. Other community commitments include serving his community, supporting autism awareness through www.idic15.org, and working with any charitable organization that needs his insight.
Sometimes at difficult times it’s hard to think differently. But those who do work to change their thought process often will win the right opportunity in this work life. Realize Values Are the Heart of the Matter – In order to think clearly and creatively about your career options you need to find out what matters to you in this work life. Ask yourself some very tough questions or have someone ask you tough questions. What can I accomplish through work? What impact on others will make the most difference? When have I been most happy? So what does matter? What matters is that ... Read more
Many indicators point to hiring in general picking up but one of the leading indicators proves that executives hires now look very strong now. Not only has the US Department of Labor backed up these statistics but many leading indicators prove executive hiring is climbing at a healthy rate. Any rate of advancement seems good vs. what we have had for over three years. But this growth in executive jobs also presents a dilemma for those in both a confidential search or non-confidential search.
... Read more
Have you ever hired someone? Sometimes the fictional stories don’t even come close to what happens in the “real world” of hiring. In 20+ years as a career adviser many stories stand out. In an effort to capture some of those ideas we recently filmed Rick, our fictional and very troublesome candidate. Stay tuned for the humorous analogy in this video. You won’t want to miss Rick’s interview mistakes. ... Read more
Most people try to add names to their lists and attempt to “add” to their circle of friends and business connections. Unfortunately numbers don’t add up to quality connections. Core mistakes that should be avoided include these comment thought process problems.
What can you do to make your networking successful in 2012?
1. Big Events May Not Be Big – One of the mistakes I see a lot of well-intended people do in networking is ... Read more
What are you doing to ensure a positive attitude and productive job search activity as we enter the holiday season? To me the holidays can make or break your attitude. Depending on your personal situation, investing time with family and familiar surroundings can be heartening or disappointing. It’s usually a bit of both, right? ... Read more
With the increase in broadband usage, social media adoption and the multiple powerful new technologies today video interviewing will only increase. Do you have high definition, digital television at home? If you do can you recall looking at your favorite sporting event or other show in the old way. It seems fuzzy, doesn’t it? It [...] ... Read more
Employed? Unemployed? Underemployed? To progress in your career you must think differently than the average person. You don’t really have to love your job but you better be passionate about what you want in a job (whether you are looking for a new job or not).
Evaluate your role at current organization. Evaluate your future with your organization or ... Read more
Career Pro Inc. supports all initiatives for veterans. Here is key information available through Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
The Gold Card provides unemployed post-9/11 era veterans with the intensive and follow-up services they need to succeed in today’s job market. The Gold Card initiative is a joint effort of
... Read more
A colleague of mine, Susan Whitcomb, raised an excellent question on Linked In about job search and it inspired me to think about a team approach in this area. During the most difficult period of search in at least the last 10 years I responded to her post and question with some ideas of my own and that have worked for my clients. Here is a primer of that discussion and some ideas for you if you want to hunt or use some the tactics of the pack or a team approach. ... Read more
Don't be fooled by "social media" and its relative ease of use. Most people know how to update their status, post pictures and videos and make comments. It's not hard to do. What's hard to do is to effectively develop your brand online. Professionally most people look at Linked In as the professional vehicle to do this and Facebook and Twitter as the hobbyist or social platforms. I recommend that you look at all of them as a part of your blended, professional brand. ... Read more
Realize Values Are the Heart of the Matter – In order to think clearly and creatively about your career options you need to find out what matters to you in this work life. Ask yourself some very tough questions or have someone ask you tough questions. What can I accomplish through work? What impact on others will make the most difference? When have I been most happy? So what does matter? What matters is that ... Read more
