Global Career Blog | Global Career

Look back on 2012–now write it down!

January 2, 2013 By Larry Braman

Your accomplishments will help you land your next role.

Who knows what 2013 has in store for any of us professionally? As you look back on last year, could you have predicted the opportunities that came your way, or the challenges you endured?

I know that in 2012, there were readers of this blog who…

were unexpectedly presented with an exciting career opportunity—either within or outside their place of employment.

decided (or needed) to return to professional life after a short or considerable time off.

graduated from school and began looking for work.

were laid off.

In this new year, there’s a good chance that one of the above may happen to you. (If not this year, you know it will happen eventually.) Don’t get caught unprepared, especially when you may have very little time before an interview! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Career planning, Interviewing, JOB SEARCH

B is for breathe

September 19, 2012 By Larry Braman

Low, full breaths can help us regain a sense of calm and focus in our most stressful moments.

“But I can’t just call timeout in the middle of a stressful interview and take a couple minutes to close my eyes, make sure I’m breathing right, and get my focus back.”

Last Wednesday, I was teaching stress-reduction techniques to a seminar full of job seekers. We were focusing on what for most of us is the most stress-inducing piece of the puzzle—the interview. (I’ll tell you how I handled that question in a moment.) [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviewing, JOB SEARCH, LIFE at WORK, Stress

The guy with 2 LinkedIn connections

July 26, 2012 By Larry Braman

In job search, good connections are essential.

Tom, a new client, arrives with a wealth of experience in the financial sector—and two LinkedIn connections. Plus, as a result of a car accident right after his layoff from a major financial institution, he has been out of the job market for nearly two years. But now he’s ready to get back in.

An ideal position soon becomes available at a major bank in the area. Tom knows no one there, and it’s no surprise that his two LinkedIn connections come up empty. I offer that my 500 connections might turn up something. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviewing, Job Applications, JOB SEARCH, Networking

Titanic rumors? Sea for yourself.

May 5, 2012 By Larry Braman

Ignoring rumors can be a life saver at work.

During the recent 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, the New York Times told the story of Lawrence Beesley, who was among the mere 14% of male second class passengers to survive. It’s likely that ignoring a rumor saved his life. It can do the same for yours—literally, or professionally.

Early in the “women and children first” phase of the evacuation, Beesley “was standing on the top starboard deck of the boat with a large group of men when a rumor went around that [Read more...]

Filed Under: LIFE at WORK, Rumors and Gossip

Job landing secrets from the best job lander I know — Part 2

January 24, 2012 By Larry Braman

To land your job of choice, you've got to be open to trying something new!

My friend and client Kathy Bristow shares more strategies that have enabled her to land jobs time and again—with little or no direct experience in her chosen field. (Read part 1 here.)

4. Don’t go back to school.

I love being a student more than anything else — it’s so tempting to sign up for a program (convenient, online!) that promises a shiny new set of qualifications and guaranteed employability. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Job Search, JOB SEARCH, Networking

Job landing secrets from the best job lander I know

January 13, 2012 By Larry Braman

Job landing secrets from the best job lander I know

High-level search strategies can land your job of choice--even with little previous experience in the field.

One year ago, I went to a neighborhood holiday party that resulted in a new job. It’s a great job that aligns well with my priorities: 10 minute commute; in my target industry; plenty of growth potential; solid match to my skills and interests.

It’s also a job that I never would have landed were it not for this party. In fact, I couldn’t even complete the on-line application, because I lacked certain minimum qualifications and the software blocked my submission. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Job Search, Interviewing, Job Applications, JOB SEARCH, Networking

Managing the job posting laundry list

December 19, 2011 By Larry Braman

Don't weed yourself out of a job you want.

You see an exciting job posting, right up your alley of expertise. It’s nearby. The organization’s values align with your own. And then you start reading. And reading. And reading.

Soon there’s an ache of nervousness in your belly as you wonder how you can possibly fulfill every requirement listed in what was once a job posting but has turned into a Hemingway-esque short story, but with more adjectives.

Your excitement turns to consternation as you ask yourself, “Should I really apply for this job?” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Job Applications, JOB SEARCH

Why job seekers should not take the holidays off

November 23, 2011 By Larry Braman

The holiday season can be an ideal time to reach hard-to-access contacts.

“Everything slows down at companies in December,” my client said, “so I think I’m going to take the month off.” My reply: “Missed opportunity!”

Everything slowing down is exactly the reason we SHOULD be intensively networking right now–reaching out to our existing contacts, and working to establish new ones. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Job Search, JOB SEARCH, Networking

Exposure in the Court: a Lesson in Empathy

October 27, 2011 By Larry Braman

There's nothing like jury duty to remind us of our shared humanity.

One after another, the potential jurors were “thanked and excused.” For two long days, the proceedings plodded along. Had the lawyers not finally agreed on the people sitting in the jury in the box, I’d have been in there next.

Last week, I came tantalizingly close to serving on the jury for a DUI (driving under the influence) trial. As always, jury duty gave me an intimate—and for the most part, edifying—glimpse inside our justice system. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Empathy, LIFE at WORK

When bad interviews happen to good people

October 11, 2011 By Larry Braman

Interview nerves can lead to undesired results

Interview nerves can point you in the wrong direction.

My wife, Cindy, is in the process of interviewing candidates for the administrative assistant position that is available in the department she leads.

Yesterday, she had an interview scheduled with a man we’ll call “James.” The interview was scheduled for 2:00. At 1:55, James had yet to show, so Cindy told her co-worker that she was going to run down to the restroom. “If James arrives, have him wait for me in the conference room and tell him I’ll be right there.”

Cindy walked down the hall, pushed open the restroom door, and saw…a man. A very shocked man in his mid-40s and wearing a suit. The following exchange occurred.

“Are you Cindy?”

“Yes.”

“Am I in the women’s restroom?”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviewing, JOB SEARCH