Let’s Ban the Phrase “Pick Your Brain”

Pick your nose.  Pick your poison.  Pick your teeth.  Pick your battles.  Have you ever noticed how almost every phrase in the English language that starts with the words “Pick your…” seems to have a negative connotation? Following up on my most recent post, about networking etiquette, I thought I’d make one more quick suggestion […]

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Three Tips on Networking Etiquette

While it’s been amazing to watch so many people finally “get” the importance of networking in recent years, and commit to strengthening the quality of relationships in their lives, many folks are still a bit behind the learning curve — and could likely benefit from every helpful hint they can get on the subject!  Along […]

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Burning Question: Next Call You Need to Make?

“Do you know the next call you need to make?” Over the years, I’ve consistently made the claim that “job hunting is simple, it’s just not easy.”  No matter what anybody tells you, or tries to sell you, the truth of the matter is that looking for a job is not rocket surgery (to combine […]

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Book Review: Peaks & Valleys (Spencer Johnson)

Maybe I’m just in a “valley” today as I write this, but I’m afraid I can only offer a lukewarm recommendation of the latest career-related book I’ve read — Peaks & Valleys — which is the newest installment from Spencer Johnson, the best-selling author of The One-Minute Manager, The Gift, and Who Moved My Cheese? […]

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Networking Insights from Virginia Kirn

While the phrase “it’s not what you know, but who you know” has floated around for decades in the business world, I think people these days are sensing (accurately, in my opinion) that relationships have become even more important in the career/business success equation than they ever have been before.  Arguably, more important by a […]

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Soul-Searching vs. Shrewd Market Analysis

I’ve been meaning to write a posting on this for a while now — and I think it’s time to do so, since I’ve had three clients call me today with questions/concerns that relate closely to this issue. Basically, here’s what’s on the table.  Millions of Americans have been thrust out of work over this […]

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Does Talent Always Speak For Itself?

While this particular article appears to have already made the rounds around much of cyberspace, I can’t resist joining the party and passing it along since I a) find the whole thing fascinating and b) I think it relates, in some small way, to the modern interview process and how employers may be so “rigid” […]

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Thanks Monsoon! (for Taking Pride in Your Work)

Among many possible things I might enjoy having be part of my epitaph, one day, the label of “loyal customer” would probably be up there in the top ten somewhere.  Not being a very outgoing or assertive shopper, I’ve always paid close attention to how companies treat their customers and have tried to throw business […]

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Website Review: JobNob.com

Remember yesterday’s post, when I discussed how the vast majority of “new” employment sites that are sprouting up out there aren’t all that valuable to the average job seeker?  And how most of them simply recycle the same old tired job leads you’ve already seen, trying to attract a new audience for advertising purposes? Well, […]

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Check Out This Cool New Job Website! No, Wait…

As legend has it, job leads used to be found in some mysterious medium called…a newspaper.  Hearkening back, one’s job search during those days largely consisted of waking up on a Sunday, pouring a copy of coffee, and spending a leisurely hour looking through the classified section of the paper and circling any applicable positions […]

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