A common career decision is whether to move for a job opportunity or to stay in a place where you already have strong ties to family and friends. There isn’t one right answer, of course, as people have different values and priorities, so I interviewed people who made different decisions to hear their perspectives for […]
How to Use Volunteer Work to Make a Career Change
By Last updated: Wednesday, August 1, 2018
My career change from tech to career counseling started with a volunteer experience. At the beginning of my career change, I had no relevant job experience and I had taken only one undergraduate class that was even slightly relevant to counseling (it was Introductory Psychology). Doing volunteer work is an excellent way to gain experience […]
Personal Branding Has a Branding Problem
By Last updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2018
After years of job seekers being bombarded with career advice about personal branding, a lot of people are expressing disgust. A new industry is capitalizing on hatred of personal branding and reassuring job seekers that they don’t have to do anything as tawdry as personal branding. If you Google, “I hate personal branding,” there are […]
Ways to Earn Quick Money
By Last updated: Thursday, June 7, 2018
There are many reasons why someone might need this list of ways to earn quick money: a bout of unemployment lasts longer than expected, a freelancer has a dry spell, an unplanned bill arrives, or a person wants to save for something specific. This list is provided as a convenience to readers. Please do your own […]
How to Land a New Job After Being Fired
By Last updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2018
If you’ve ever been fired from a job, you may be anxious about whether being fired will affect your ability to land new employment. I queried hiring managers and career experts for their advice about how to land a new job after being fired. Here are their responses: “When you are job hunting after being […]
Please Don’t Take That Counteroffer!
By Last updated: Friday, March 16, 2018
My heart sinks when someone tells me they plan to accept a counteroffer. While my standard response is something measured like, “Let’s talk through the pros and cons,” my internal response is, “NO, please don’t take that counteroffer!” Here are some of the reasons why: – Once you tell an employer you were thinking of […]
Are Assholes Winning?
By Last updated: Sunday, March 4, 2018
(Warning: This post uses strong language because I highly recommend a book with strong language in the title.) Sometimes Assholes Succeed This year I’ve watched in dismay as some truly terrible people have scored business successes that seem to reward bad behavior. Clients report to me their confusion and frustration as some of the most […]
Career Tip: Join a Professional Association
By Last updated: Saturday, March 17, 2018
Western culture is enamored with the myth of the independent lone achiever. Instead of lauding team members, we love success stories that portray a trailblazing pioneer unfettered by social and group connections. In reality, teamwork is effective in endeavors ranging from science to entrepreneurship to sports. In career development, joining a professional association offers opportunities for […]
Why Business Owners Should Hire Content Writers
By Last updated: Monday, January 29, 2018
In my consulting work, I often help business owners navigate challenges such as having too much to do and too little time to do it. Also, many business owners worry about how to increase sales but their marketing budget is usually limited. Hiring a content writer is one of the best strategies for a business owner to […]
Dr. Lynn Chang Explains Career Zen, an Eastern & Western Approach to Career Joy
By Last updated: Sunday, January 28, 2018
One thing I love about my job is that I meet people like Dr. Lynn Chang. I first met Lynn in a class I taught at the University of Texas. Many years later, we reconnected and I learned about Lynn’s unique approach to career counseling. I interviewed Lynn about her integrative approach that blends Eastern […]
