In 1997, business guru Tom Peters wrote an article for Fast Company, “The Brand Called You.” The timing for this revolutionary concept was especially powerful for me, as a recent college graduate just beginning my career.Now, I know the phrase “personal brand” can turn some people off (much like the word “networking.”) If it sounds too salesy or buzzwordy to you, I totally understand; all we’re talking about it is the conc...

For a long time, the conversation about attracting and retaining millennial employees focused on perks. Over the past few years, companies have realized that creating a millennial-friendly environment doesn’t just mean video games and free granola bars. Employers are making significant strides in offering benefits that are important to millennials, from open offices to flexible work schedules to time off for volunteering.In...

As you set your New Year’s resolutions (mine include eating less sugar and reading more fiction — book recommendations welcome!), don’t forget to set some professional goals. To get you started, I rounded up career advice that will help young professionals catapult to the next level. And, here’s a secret: If you’re a more seasoned professional, these tips will work for you, too. It’s always smart to go back to the basics fo...

Shirley was taught to put others' needs before her own. She usually gets stuck with office "odd jobs." Jerry keeps getting promoted into administrative roles he dislikes. Although he does a great job, he prefers working with people. Many employees don't stand up for themselves and express their feelings. They're not assertive. Assertive behavior differs from aggressive behavior. Aggressive people accomplish goals at all...

What’s your story?Why should I care?Storytelling has a transformative power that almost magically turns a drab, boring resume into an absorbing and persuasive piece that compels the reader to want to meet the real person behind the words.An effective resume is not merely a collection of words – it is a reflection of a person; a textual compilation describing all aspects of someone’s professional experience, placed on a piec...

In my work as a career success coach, I regularly survey thousands of professionals each year. These surveys and studies allow me a special lens into the deepest thoughts and beliefs of people who are building careers that excite and inspire them, as well as those who are despairing and disillusioned, and desperately want a change but can’t figure out how to create it. These clients and respondents communicate in many diffe...

1. Knowledge: Before you make a call have the required information. 2. Goals: Know what you want to accomplish. 3. Attitude: Make the person feel that you're interested in him and the message.-- Make a great first impression. Show the caller that you're helpful, confident and competent. If a potential employer's first contact is over the phone, she gets cues from your voice. You can influence your listener's reactions by co...

Part 1The telephone is the most common business tool and its proper use is essential for career advancement. Are you telephone savvy?When you make calls do you:1. State your message briefly and clearly?2. Leave your name, organization and phone number, repeating these twice, slowly and clearly?3. Give the full name of the person for whom you're leaving the message?4. State the date and time of the call?5. State whether you...

Students often enter college without looking ahead to the jobs that will result from their chosen fields of study and what those jobs will pay. Unrealistic expectations about their living arrangements and available spending money can result from a lack of knowledge. By taking a few minutes to answer some important questions and then doing a bit of research, serious student disappointments can be avoided. College applican...

Successful people are great communicators who recognize that conversations are part of an evolving social process. They aren’t just skilled listeners; they’re attuned to subtle social signals that are more revealing than words alone — and they use them to their advantage. We’re more connected than ever before. The ability to reach out and communicate with people around the globe has never been more accessible. But are we pa...