Executive Career Insights

Why It's Never Too Late To Achieve Your Career Goals

The weather played nice with us this weekend in DC and I had a chance to enjoy it tremendously on Saturday. I was happy to help one of my cousins celebrate the completion of his doctorate degree in management.

This is an amazing accomplishment and feat under any circumstances, what's unique in this case is that my cousin is 63...you see, at the age of 53, he decided to start college while holding down a full-time job and raising his children.

Once he got started, he was motivated to keep trying for the next level, so over a period of almost ten years, through papers and tests and late night studying, he persevered until he completed his doctorate degree.

So today I challenge you...what dreams are you deferring or denying because you think it's too late? What steps are you not taking today because you have convinced yourself that it's too late to get started? More importantly, what dream crushers have you let into your life that keep telling you that your time has passed?

My cousin's accomplishment reminded me and I am reminding you that it's not and never too late for personal and career success. Today, my cousin works as a professor where his own daughter received her master's degree...now how's that for an inspiration!

Related posts:

Dancing in your field of career dreams

Turn your career lights back on

Learning and growing from career mistakes

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Are you launching an executive job search for first time in 10+ years?

-- Are you puzzled about whether executive recruiters, online job boards, personal contacts or LinkedIn is the best strategy for you?

-- Are you still marketing that "write-it-yourself" executive resume that is getting no results?

-- Has the personal branding buzz gone over your heard because you still don't know your value proposition?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, take real action today and schedule your complimentary, career/resume strategy session with Abby Locke.

Why? She is an executive career architect helps senior-level executives to who struggle with self-marketing to to increase their brand reputation, become sought after leaders so that they can earn the salaries they deserve and achieve their dream careers.

 

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 10

I have being "tortured" - it's a good punishment though...my mother keeps making homemade bread and I keep eating it! Warm bread with the butter melting...can 2012 get here now, so I can start my diet. Aaah, no place like home and no person like my mother:)

Well, we have reached day 10 of our career success planning journey together...so what else could I have up my sleeves for you? Let's jump right in...on the 10th day of the holidays, my career coach said to me:

Identify and get a good mentor

It is good to have a pool of trusted individuals and advisors you can turn to when making critical career decisions, but who do you call on when you need to have a good heart-to-heart, transparent, eye-opening talk? If you are simply turning to close friends and family when you are stuck in your career progress, you are missing out on a vital resource that can benefit you for years to come - a mentor.

Every professional and executive should have a mentor. A mentor is ideally someone who is a supportive ally, who can offer you exposure to major assignments, help position you for promotions and serve as your personal cheerleader as your advance in your career.

Still not sure that you need a mentor regardless of your career situation? Here are seven benefits you get with a mentor:

1) Direct introduction or referrals to top players in your organization especially if you work in a very large, multi-layered organization.

2) Personal guidance on building strong relationships and getting access to key individuals who can help you excel in your career.

3) Access to the inside scoop on corporate culture and tips for navigating company politics or learning to "play the game."

4) Recommendations for high-profile projects and company initiatives and even strong support for new internal job opportunities.

5) Advice on your business strategy, your personal communication skills and honest feedback on your professional reputation.

6) Information on what is going on at the top of the company and long-term issues that would impact

So, what makes an ideal mentor? It really depends on where you are in your career and what your immediate career goals, however, three key things to look for are:

-- someone who is very successful in his/her career, a respected leader, an excellent communicator and who genuinely encourages and supports others in the same profession or field.

-- someone who is direct, honest and can give valuable, constructive criticism and advice.

-- someone who is well-connected, active in volunteer/community activities and very politically astute.

Related posts:

Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment

Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

Day 4: Take credit for your life and career achievements

Day 5: Identify and promote your personal brand

Day 6: Create a standout resume

Day 7: Beef up your online presence and get your "voice" heard

Day 8: Invest in your professional development

Day 9: Build relationships and expand your network

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 14 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

 

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 9

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you are not locked in a frenzy of last-minute shopping and stressed out crowds...all my shopping was done online. So I can relax, focus on family and the real reason for the season.

Anyway, I won't hold you for long...just wanted to stop by and give you a burst of inspiration and motivation for your career. On the ninth day of the holidays, my career coach said to me:

Build relationships and expand your network

It is easy to convince ourselves that we are strong and competent enough to handle life's (work/career/family) issues on our own, but the reality is that we all benefit from blessing others and being blessed by others.

When you consider how much impact a personal referral, a solid Linkedin testimonial and an internal advocate in your target company can make the difference in your career...you have to agree that getting connected and staying connected to others makes good sense, not only for your career, but also for life on the whole.

Personally, I love Facebook because in the past three years, it has connected me to new friends and re-connected me with people from all phases of my life - from Pre-K through college and beyond. Pretty incredible, huh?

Beyond the occasional "join my network" emails through LinkedIn and status updates from Facebook and Twitter - assuming that you actually use those two social networks), do you know where your network is?

If you have been happily employed for many years, that is great, but it is no excuse for neglecting your network or taking your personal/professional contacts for granted. So how do you stay in touch with people throughout the year without being intrusive?

-- Make a list of birthdays and anniversaries so that you can at least send a card in the mail or an e-card. If you are close to the person, acknowledging their children's birthdays as well is not a bad idea.

-- Make an effort to send out an email at least once a year just to check in - how are you, what's new, still at the same job, etc

-- Make sure to inform your contacts everytime you get a promotion, new job, interesting or high-profile project just to keep them abreast of your career progression. Remember to be receptive and congratulatory when the same information is sent to you

-- Make plans to meet in person with your top tier contacts every quarter if you live in the same city, state or regional area

-- Make yourself available for recommendations or referrals when anyone of your contacts is seeking to make career moves

-- Make good use of Linked, Facebook, and Twitter to give everyone brief, but informational updates on your weekly activities

It takes more than building a network for effective executive career management, you have to go the extra mile to keep your network fresh and current.

 

Related posts:

Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment

Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

Day 4: Take credit for your life and career achievements

Day 5: Identify and promote your personal brand

Day 6: Create a standout resume

Day 7: Beef up your online presence and get your "voice" heard

Day 8: Invest in your professional development

 

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 4

There is no place like home for the holidays - I arrived safely in sunny, but surprisingly chilly GA, visited my aunt and had breakfast with my parents all before noon.

So I feel like my day is just getting started...but before I get distracted with my holiday activities, I wanted to stop by and give you a fresh dose of career success advice.

If you are just joining us, we are on a 12-day journey through feasible, easy-to-implement career success advice that will give you a jump start for the new year. Go ahead and gain some foothold on the competition, let them be merry while you diligently tarry.

On the fourth day of the holidays, my executive coach said to me:

Take credit for your life and career achievements

"Oh, it was not a big deal"

"That feels so natural for me, I didn't have to think about it"

"I can do that with my eyes closed and one hand behind my back"

Do any of the above phrases and comments sound familiar to you? More importantly, do YOU find yourself frequently using them? I cannot tell you the amount of times I have worked with clients and when we get to the "dig-deep" strategy session, even they are amazed by the number of achievements we uncover in one hour.

These life and career achievements you are sitting on are catalysts for where you want to go next -  they are a great source of motivation and serve as excellent reminders on what you are capable of  accomplishing in any situation or circumstance.

Besides the obvious achievements that are "earth shattering" for your industry or field, here are some other sources you can use to jog your memory about past achievements.

-- Company's annual performance reviews, assessments or evaluations

-- Company-sponsored awards or special recognition tokens (there is usually a reason, you earned that award)

-- Letters of recommendations or commendations from previous employers, vendors, clients or colleagues

-- Thank you letters or emails for happy, satisfied company clients (they are generally specific in nature regarding how you helped them)

-- High-profile company projects or special assignments (focus on the complexities, your role and then the results)

-- Academic / graduate school course projects (pick the toughest assignments)

What are you top five achievements for 2011?

 

Related posts:

Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment

Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications. Have you seen our holiday specials?

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 3

My bags are packed - with laptop in tow of course, I will be working. Life as a soloprenuer does not always get a break for the holidays...but no complaints from me:)

How are you doing so far with your career success advice? Don't just take it in and think about it - apply some action so that you can start the New Year off to a bright start.

Well, if you celebrate Christmas like I do, this upcoming week is going to be hectic with last minute shopping, accomodating guests and pulling out all the stops for the big day.

So, I am not going to keep you long. Here you go...on the third day of the holidays, my executive coach said to me:

Jump start your long lost career dreams

Here it is...your opportunity to walk into your field of dreams without any external criticism, objections or negative doubts. Ignore the voices that keep saying that your career dream does not make sense and will never financially support you.

This exercise is about re-evaluating those career dreams and figuring out if now is a better time for you (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) to take the leap.

-- What is in your treasure chest? Are you holding on to news articles, magazine clippings, books, videos and CD's that nurture your dreams? Has today's technology made it easier to achieve the career dream?

-- Bring your dream out of fantasy into reality and walk in it. If you have always wanted to be a real estate agent, see what comes to mind and write down the details.

What kind of clients/target market do you want to have?

What does a typical day look and feel like? How many clients are you working with on a weekly or monthly basis?

Are you doing straight sales or do you see yourself doing training and consulting to larger groups?

I can speak from personal experience that once you surrender to what your heart is saying, opportunities seem to pop up everywhere you turn.

Understand that it doesn't mean that you quit your job and throw caution to the wind, however, you can start making significant strides towards reclaiming your career dreams. I am a living example of that...remember my story?

 

Related posts:

Previous day: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Next day: Take credit for your life and career achievements

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications. Have you seen our holiday specials?

12 Days of Career Success Advice: Day 2

 

Aaaah, my excitement level is at an all time high - one more day until I head to Georgia. Smiles - you would think I was two years old, giddy with joy about going to see my parents for the holidays. I know the importance of family and remain committed to celebrating life and my loved ones.

That being said, I will still be working up until Christmas Eve as resumes, cover letters and career planning need to get done for my proactive clients.

2012 is coming, whether you like it or not, so why not give yourself a competitive advantage over your peers and get clear, focused and organized.

As I continue my 12-day series on career success strategies, here is my tip for the second day...okay, okay, I will put it in the right format.

On the second day of the holidays, my executive coach said to me:

Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Sometimes it feels like a breakthrough to finally know where your heart is and what you want to pursue and other times, you miss out on new opportunities because you are too busy look at the past.

We have all been there - took the wrong job, made a bad career move, didn't hold out long enough to get the promotion, whatever it is, let 2012 be the year that you let it go.

The challenge is working hard to find the hidden "gems", embracing the learning experiences and positioning yourself for optimal career growth. Sounds logical, makes complete sense, but is a lot harder to practice.

Do not allow past career speedbumps define your professional future; shed the emotion baggage, take a deep breath and begin to forgive yourself. In all my years as an executive career expert, I have NOT met anyone with a perfect career background.

Engage a more positive mindset before making long-term critical career decisions. Instead of complaining and throwing in the towel, try a few career rebounding strategies and get back on track.

-- minimize that "hard-to-explain" job's space on your current resume and career marketing documents.

-- explore the possibilities of getting re-assigned to more challenging roles in current company

-- evaluate how far off you really are from your career goals and develop plan to get back on course

-- consider internal leadership opportunities in a different functional area if a new job is not an immediate possibility

-- keep yourself challenged and motivated by enrolling in evening classes or online programs. What better way to take full advantage of a lull in your career growth than to enhance your competencies and marketability.

-- anticipate future interviews and start building your selling points with strong achievement examples and other S.T.A.R. stories.

-- seek out leadership roles within your community, professional/local associations and even alumni groups.

Basically, I am encouraging you to engage in activities and efforts that will re-build your confidence, motivation and outlook of your career. It always starts in the mind, if you believe that you can rise above this, opportunities will start to open up right before eyes. Try it and see.

Related posts:

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications. Have you seen our holiday specials?

Holiday Cheer: 12 Days of Career Success Advice

It's the most wonderful time of the year - I would sing to you, but alas, it is one gift I was not blessed with:) I am beyond excitement this week as I prepare for my travel to Georgia this weekend - there is nothing in the world like spending time with family and loved ones around the holidays.

I recognize this time of year can be very difficult for many people, so I never take for granted what or who I have in my life, not only around the holidays, but all year round.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I am going to do my share for spreading cheer and giving hope to those who are unemployed, underemployed or simply dissatisfied with their careers. Maximize this time of year to take in all the advice and tips you need to get motivated, recharged and focused for 2012. So here I go...

On the first day of the holidays, my executive career coach said to me:

Conduct an honest self-assessment

Whenever I talk to clients who have reached a crossroads in their careers, I always hear "I don't know what I want to do. Can you give me an test to figure it out?"

Well....there are career assessment tools that help provide clarity about your values, interests, personality and skills, but there is no magic wand available. However, you can take the first step and make a commitment to really uncover those things deep inside your heart.

Take a look at your current job and evaluate your career progress in the past five years and ask yourself these questions:

-- What do you value in work - achievements, recognition, status, autonomy or making a difference? Is is present in your current job?

-- What skills are you good at and really enjoy using - writing, teaching, leading others, building, analyzing?

-- Does your current job fully maximize your talents, strengths and favorite skills?

-- Are you passionate about what you do and genuinely interested in your company's products, services and clients?

-- Does your paycheck make elated, happy or disgusted - bottom-line are your financial needs being adequately met?

-- Are your job tasks and required responsibilities at a reasonable level or do you feel excess pressure and demands?

-- Are you stuck in first gear or does your job give opportunities for growth and personal development?

Are you moving forward, are you stuck, are you right on track? Well, don't sit there staring at the questions, nodding and shaking your head - go ahead, take notes and decide how you feel about your current career.

 

Related posts:

Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment

Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments

Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams

Day 4: Take credit for your life and career achievements

Day 5: Identify and promote your personal brand

Day 6: Create a standout resume

Day 7: Beef up your online presence and get your "voice" heard

Day 8: Invest in your professional development

Day 9: Build relationships and expand your network

Day 10: Identify and get a good mentor

Day 11: Stay focused and committed to your career goal

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

 

A Winning Recipe For Career Success

This year, I dramatically changed my eating habits - I took the plunge and eliminated all poultry and meat from my diet...now I am not a fully converted vegan because I still indulge in dairy and seafood from time to time.

Needless to say, I am constantly seeking out new recipes and experimenting with new food ingredients to create delicious meals.

Earlier this week as my stomach grumbled for breakfast, I rummaged through my pantry to see what I could whip up and decided to make vegan blueberry pancakes - yep, pancakes with no eggs or cows milk. Well, keeping my fingers crossed and adding a splash of ingenuity, I created a new breakfast favorite - and a yummy one I might add:)

If I stuck to what I knew, tried and true and didn't take the chance, I would have missed out on something great. Sounds familiar when it comes to career success, right? What have you NOT tried that may be the catalyst to real career success? How would you like a simple recipe that can get you in gear for 2012?

 

1) Grab a pen and paper and map out your SMART career plan

It's easy to stay on the sidelines and assume that your peers' career success came through good luck and the right contacts. Wrong! Lasting professional success and career mastery take careful planning, diligence and commitment.

-- Write down your career aspirations on paper to make them real and personal to you; partner with a career coach to help keep you motivated and on track.

-- Evaluate your current career situation and determine where you want to be in the next 12 - 36 months

-- Identify what you need in terms of education, experience and advanced training/education that will take you to the next level and invest in the necessary resources.

 

2) Lose the wallflower syndrome and get visible in your field

Being invisible works if you are a wallflower, however, if you need connections to the key players, a vibrant, active and growing professional/personal network is the way to go.

-- Volunteer for internal and external company events and take advantage of opportunities to represent the company at conferences, forums and trade shows.

-- Join two or three professional and industry organizations that you can participate in on a regular basis.

 

3) Know and promote your personal brand

Let's face it, you may love and respect others' career success, but there are some things that you do better than anyone else. Leverage that knowledge and learn to communicate your unique promise of value effectively to employers and recruiters.

-- Create and keep an updated LinkedIn profile and make sure it includes recommendations from previous employers and colleagues.

-- Compile a brief Google profile so that you are easily found when interested employers and recruiters want to learn more about you.

-- Establish yourself as thought leader by actively participating in company blogs, industry forum and professional online discussions.

 

4) Stay in ready mode with an updated executive resume

Don't wait until there is a crisis to have your executive resume and career marketing documents handy. Be proactive in chronicling your career achievements every six to twelve months or consider developing a master resume.

-- Give yourself credit for all the direct impact and contributions you made in terms of revenue growth, cost savings, image reputation, customer attraction, market expansion, technology integration, employee satisfaction and much more.

-- Where possible, quantify your achievements using dollars and percentages as numbers can really create a compelling story.

 

5) Keep your eye on the future and stay ahead of the curve

Don't get lost in the shuffle because your work world is changing. Pay attention to evolving trends in your industry and identify the major skills and/or new technologies that are important.

-- Maximize participation in annual association conferences and local business events as opportunities for informal education.

-- Research and register for appropriate e-courses, training programs, professional certification classes and learning circles that would directly benefit your career.

So there you have it - five ingredients to get you going...what are you waiting for? Get to cooking!

 

About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer

Ask yourself these questions:

-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?

-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?

-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?

-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?

If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke.

She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.

Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications...click here to schedule a resume consultation.

What's Your Career Calling?

As I sat in the hair salon last week, I saw a recent copy of the Oprah magazine and quickly dived into its content after seeing a topic close to my heart.

Finding our true calling - isn't that what we are all striving for? At the end of the day, no matter how we define success or how many zeroes are at the end of our salary, there are always nagging questions - "Am I following my calling? Is this really my life's purpose?

Well, the article in Oprah magazine showed a unique way to deeply explore your true interests, passions and talents. It asked readers to complete the following statements...to introduce the concept to you, I thought it was only fair that I do the exercise and show you my results...the bolded part of the statements are my thoughts.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of being an accountant like my father - I was fascinated with his adding machine and large, leather bound ledgers.

I can't pass up a book or movie about a true depiction of someone's life - especially if that person overcame significant odds in his/her life.

If I played hooky from work for a week, I'd spend the time in a beach or spa retreat enjoying healthy food, a great book and much relaxation.

Most people don't know this about me, but I really enjoy cooking and anything food related - gourmet food supermarkets, cookbooks, cooking shows, cooking classes...you get it:)

I am the go-to person when friends need help with making critical decisions about their career and certain life issues - having a listening ear is welcomed in any situation.

If I could star in my own how-to-TV show, it would be about encouraging people to move beyond their fears, embrace their true talents, and finally experience career happiness.

If I were to make a homemade gift, it would involving creating a meal for someone - no surprise there!

I've tried it only once or twice, but I really enjoy --I got stuck on this one because if I really enjoy something I tend to keep trying it more.

The close I come to a runner's high is when I'm doing public presentations, either online or in-person to an energetic, engaged audience.

If I won the first prize for a talent show, it would be for doing pretty good imitations of people I know - a great sense of humor never hurts (smile)

Hmmm....so this is what it looks like when you are done. The next step would be to see if there are any patterns, consistent themes or eye-openers. While I am very comfortable with my current choice as an executive career expert, I am off to analyze my results.

I look forward to hearing the patterns you find when you go through the exercise.

Are you seeing any patterns that I might be missing?

 

Related posts:

Career lights should never go out

Dive into your career dreams again