Career Thought Leaders » Louise Garver

Personal Brand – YOU

Louise Garver — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:54:08 +0000

Executives, yes this means you, too. Understanding and communicating your brand will help you in all stages of your job search, as well as in managing your career going forward. Do you have a rock solid brand message that clearly and concisely is achieving the results you desire? If not, it’s no longer a “nice to have, but a must have.” Don’t waste valuable time during the first quarter of the year when some of the best opportunities exist in the job market.

1. What do you have to offer? If you don’t know your strengths, skills and talents, and how to showcase them, how do you expect others to get to know these things about you? Sometimes we are too close to see the whole picture. Career brand strategists can help you extract what you don’t see and know how to leverage and become known for those talents in a compelling way.

Following Up After a Job Interview

Louise Garver — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:20:14 +0000

Over the last couple of years, some executives may have experienced a longer gap between jobs than ever before in their careers. As someone who wants to move to the next step in the interviewing process, you are anxious to hear back from the hiring manager after an interview. What can you or should you do?

Following up after an interview is crucial. CareerBuilder conducted a survey in 2011 and found that 22% of hiring managers dismiss candidates who don’t send a thank you note after the interview. Wow! What that says to them is that the candidate has poor follow-through and perhaps even lack of interest in the position. Not a good image for the hiring manager to have if you expect to get called back.

Career change – Top tips for a successful transition

Louise Garver — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:30:41 +0000

The facts are clear. Over the last decade, executives want a career change because they are dissatisfied with their job / industry, unhappy with salary, insecure about longevity of job, work in an obsolete industry, or a victim of corporate downsizing. Maybe you are among nearly 50% of job seekers rethinking their career path.

A recent Today show segment focused on Marla Romash, who after an amazing career in politics felt the urge to do something new. Today she is pursuing a career as a pastry chef. Check out the full segment at Today Show

Marla talks about moments in life when you know you want to do something different, have a sense of belonging and purpose and make a difference. A growing trend for the boomer generation is the urge to do something different when they turn 50+ and not have regrets that they didn’t follow their passion. It doesn’t always mean starting your own business; it can be just making a change in industries or role within an organization.

Networking: Who do you know who…..?

Louise Garver — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:33:35 +0000

Do you know who is in your network? Do you work your network effectively and efficiently? Let’s start with the facts. Everyone knows at least 10 people. Think of the old AT&T TV commercial where they talk about one person knows 10 people and those 10 people know 10 people and soon you have a screen full of hundreds to thousands of faces. How many people do you have in your network that you can connect with today? Have you lost touch with some, while others have diminished in their significance to your overall goals?

Executives are usually good networkers as they apply many of the principles of networking to their own teams and internal organization departments. However, many are reluctant and don’t network well. When it comes to stepping out of their comfort zone, some executives avoid working on strengthening their existing network or building new contacts. I’ve simplified the essence of networking to encourage executives to focus on their network and start using it today.

Step One in Career Action Plan – Career Coach

Louise Garver — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:35:59 +0000

It’s a new year and half the planet is looking at what the new year holds for them, whether it be a career move, physically moving to a new location to live, going back to school, starting a family, etc. This month, January, more than any other month of the year, I hear from people who want their resume reviewed, revised, or rewritten. What often happens is the client doesn’t know what the next step in their career will be, what direction they want to pursue, stay in the same industry or consider a new career, think about jobs outside the state or country, or even try consulting or entrepreneurship.

Career coaching is the first step in this process. Why? Because a focused and succinct resume cannot be written without a clear goal.

The Power of One

Louise Garver — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:59:11 +0000

2012. A New Year. This time of year many people make New Year resolutions, some easy to keep, others impossible. Have you ever thought about changing just one thing? That’s not overwhelming; it’s just one thing. The power of one can have a big impact on your life. Here are a few suggestions of how to incorporate the power of one into your life this year to change it for the better.

Tips to Position Yourself for a Promotion

Louise Garver — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:26:06 +0000

“Am I where I want to be in my career?”

There are many phases to a career. It can be thought of like a beginning, middle and end. In the beginning an individual experiences almost all new learning, skill development and obtaining industry knowledge. The middle (as well as the end) of a person’s career can be

Should You Slow Down Your Job Search During the Holidays?

Louise Garver — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:17:10 +0000

With the exception of the week between December 25th and January 1st, executive candidates should keep up the job search pace and not wait until January to initiate a new career campaign. So the answer is NO! Many opportunities may be missed during late November through December. You don’t want to kick yourself later saying. “I could have been hired, only if…..” Companies that are considering hiring campaigns in the new year (January through March are the months with highest hiring average) start now with their strategies, posting positions, and gearing up hiring agents and staff to start the resume review and interview process.

If you don’t have time to continue your job search strategies in full force during the busy holiday time, consider these as must do’s:

1. Continue networking.

To Be or Not to Be an Interim Executive?

Louise Garver — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:04:47 +0000

At a time of uncertainty in the world, a time where the economy is spiking and plummeting daily, what’s an executive to do when in the midst of a job search?

Interim Executive….

Many companies are using Interim Executives. To quote Karen Klein of businessweek.com: “Unlike consultants, Interim Executives work within a company, filling a position that has gone vacant due to an employee leaving, dying, or being dismissed. They can fulfill as many as three functions: Stepping into a job that needs doing, helping to interview and choose a permanent replacement, and diagnosing and implementing important internal changes.”

Advantages:

Five Secrets of Corporate Interviewers

Louise Garver — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:55:11 +0000

When a candidate makes it to the interview stage they breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the job search strategies they have implemented are working, at least to this point. But wait. The interview can make or break a hiring decision. As a jobseeker, you may have read articles about what you need to do to ace the interview and are comfortable with the approach or tactics. But do you know the secrets that hiring agents and interviewers are using to screen you out?