Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are just one more of the many stumbling blocks to rising to the top of an applicant pool in today’s extremely competitive job market. They generally need to be taken into account in preparing resumes for all but the top, C-level positions in a company. However, first let’s properly define ‘C-level’ or ‘C-suite’ positions. While it is not uncommon for people to ... Read more

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. ... Read more

It’s A New Year.  Time To Get Serious About Job Search. Mission Viejo, CA – After personally helping thousands of job seekers with their process, Tim Tyrell-Smith has something significant to share with the job search community.  He’s making his strategy available to a much broader nationwide community. Tyrell-Smith announced today that a new online job search strategy tool has just entered private beta.  Members of his LinkedIn group and Facebook page were offered the chance to participate in this first testing process. Why this strategy tool and why now?  “I meet hundreds of job seekers every month who are working without a strategy and have admitted to wasting months without a focus around their effort,” said Tyrell-Smith.  “This strategy tool solves a major problem for job seekers at a critical time in their lives. “   ... Read more

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. ... Read more

We all get busy.  And as much as I think you will read everything I write, you just don’t.  At least not right away. So today I’ve compiled a summary of reader favorite posts of 2011.  And If you haven’t read them yet, maybe you should since someone else apparently has. And if you get really interested, you can get nostalgic and read the favorite career advice from 2010. ... Read more

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. ... Read more

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: ... Read more

Superheroes abound on TV today. Each one has a set of arsenals at their fingertips – super strength,  x-ray vision, ability to morph into a deadly weapon, the list goes on. A superhero knows intuitively that if they jump so high and so far they can land on their opponent, surprise attack and win the battle. They have strategized the right moves at the right time, and used the right weapons. Job seekers are really no different – they need their own set of tools and strategies. Even if you have a great resume, it is just one tool in the arsenal. So what job strategies do you need to be a superhero in your job search campaign? ... Read more

Those on the employment market will find the following statistics informative.According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, of all jobs "created": 32% are new ones. 68% are to replace employees who left for one reason or another. Of all hires made, 40% are selected from internal candidates. Of special relevance to an executive in targeting his or her job search efforts is the fact that by far ... Read more

Don’t you love it when someone just “says it like it is”. It’s like a breath of fresh air. I want to share something with you that “says it like it is” when it comes to your job search. There are 3 consistent Steps to success in a job search – regardless of which industry you are in, what title/role you are pursuing, or where you live geographically. Note that each of these 3 steps have innovative new elements to them which you need to master to be competitive. … Read more