Can your life coach be too young?

January 29, 2012

Today’s New York  TImes raises a good question: Should your life coach have a life? Read the full article here. At first I thought they meant, “Should the life coach have fun, family, etc.?” but they were referring to the increasing number of 20-something coaches. One 27-year-old coach works with several clients in their fifties. [...]

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5 Outdated Job Search Tactics

January 21, 2012

Job search, like almost everything else, has changed in the 21st century. For instance, you may be wondering, “Is it still correct to use ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ in a cover letter?”  (Actually not..) This question provides the opening for a provocative article in Business Week. Read the full article here. I’ve added my thoughts [...]

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Career Advice: Do You Have To Say Yes?

January 17, 2012

Sunday’s New York Times features a section called the Career Couch. Each week a pressing problem is offered for career advice. This week, the question was about handling the difficult situation when your boss adds more tasks to your workload than you have time to do properly. Read the full article here. Career advice from [...]

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Career Planning: Do you count on a bonus for personal extras?

January 15, 2012

Today’s New York Times “Social Q’s” column addressed this question: For the last 7 years, Anonymous had received a “generous cash bonus” from her boss – “in addition to the regular company bonus.” She explains, “I do many personal errands for him during the year.” This year: no bonus. She wonders why. (I’m assuming the [...]

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Career Change: Cold Feet = Empty Wallet

January 11, 2012

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Cold hands, warm heart.” It’s a nonsense thing people say when you shake hands and yours are cold. When it comes to midlife career change, I’d add a comment: “Cold feet = empty wallet.” After years of working with mid-life professionals and executives seeking a career change (and handling my [...]

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Guest Post: The Wealthy Retiree: Is This A Good Time To Start A Business?

January 10, 2012

Below is a guest post by Linda Hampton. If you are saying, “There are no jobs out there,” read on! Did you know that many super successful businesses have been started during economic downturns, including Hyatt, Burger King, IHOP, The Jim Henson Company, Microsoft, and even MTV.  They started on a wing and a prayer [...]

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Midlife Career Change: 3 Ways To Sabotage Your Next, Best Career Move

January 8, 2012

You tell yourself you need a career change. Maybe you’re forced out by a layoff or your industry has moved in a new direction, where they’re going east and you’re facing west or vice versa. Or maybe you just wake up every day, thinking, “I absolutely DREAD going to work.” The most common ways I’ve [...]

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That Nice, Fair, Friendly Workplace Is Still A Frog, Not A Prince

January 4, 2012

In this illustrated extended blog post, author Alison Green debunks myths that many of us have about the work place. Read it here. Ms.Green points out that we should distrust myths like, “Companies are required to be fair and just,” and, “The HR department will help you.” A company’s HR department, ethics policies and “family [...]

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Job Search Tips: Posting “Job Wanted” Messages On LinkedIn And Elsewhere

January 1, 2012

Recently I’ve seen several job search messages posted on LinkedIn. Often they follow the format: “Seeking employment in the [city] area where I can use my sociology degree and have an opportunity to grow. I’d like to work in a nonprofit theatre organization but I am open to anything. I was just laid off from [...]

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Job Search: How To Avoid Writing A Proposal To Nowhere

December 27, 2011

Several years ago, my friend “Mike” was desperately trying to find a new career, when a miracle seemed to land in his lap. “John,” a Fortune 50 vice president, expressed interest in Mike’s system. Mike eagerly began developing a proposal, meeting John for lunch (I never asked who paid) and walking around with dollar signs [...]

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