Ask the Briefcase Coach

  • I’m seeing the rise in AI-generated “professional” headshots. Many of my LinkedIn connections have recently updated their profile pictures, and I suspect that most of the headshots were created with generative artificial intelligence. I personally believe that professionals should update their personal branding materials every 2-3 years as it’s important to make sure that your headshot…

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  • Evaluating Multiple Executive Offers If you’re an executive in the enviable position of needing to choose between multiple job offers, you’re undoubtedly on the cusp of a significant career decision. The prospect of choosing between these offers can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. Each opportunity represents a different path, with its unique set of advantages…

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  • What can employees do to help get themselves promoted? A promotion can be a great way to advance your career, gain new responsibilities, and increase your earning potential. Why do employees get promoted? Why was one employee promoted over another? Is it because they are clearly the best? Do they out work or out perform…

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  • Recruiter terminology can be confusing. As a job seeker, it’s helpful to understand the language of recruiters. We broke down some of the most common industry words and explained why they should matter to you. As with most industries, recruiters have a language all their own, filled with terminology that is hard for an outsider…

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  • What to Wear to an Interview: Men’s and Women’s Attire With the trend towards in-person interviews increasing in the coming year, it is clear that when it comes to what to wear to an interview, confusion reigns.  “Many have forgotten what professional wear even looks like,” a recent article in Forbes states. A Wall Street Journal…

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  • Reduct your anxiety over a layoff with these 6 tips. If you’re feeling anxiety about layoffs, you are far from alone. According to Zippia.com, between June 2021-June 2022 there have been 7.736 million private industry layoffs. Tech has been particularly hard hit, with bad news coming from companies like Netflix, Peloton, Robinhood, and of course…

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  • To celebrate the success of an employee or team member is an easy way for leaders to boost employee morale and retention without adding a line item to the budget. According to Gallup, it can be even more impactful than a bonus, promotion, or paid company benefit. There is no lifetime cap on winning. My…

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  • The gold standard is a professionally curated resume, which can be expensive. Alternatively, DIY job seekers can use a resume template to create a powerful resume. Content on a resume is important but equally important is resume format. Resumes should be formatted with the intention of grabbing the employer’s attention quickly.

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  • A job search can be overwhelming and exhausting. Even just the idea of searching for a job can leave you feeling paralyzed. I believe an efficient and effective job search requires the preparation of three key components.

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  • Depressed. Unemployed. No energy to look for a job. Does this sound familiar? Dear Sarah, I lost my job back in June. I knew it was coming— our company had been on the decline for the last year & Covid was the nail in the coffin. Even though I had time to mentally prepare for…

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  • Voicemail Greeting Examples and Scripts Below Today’s job search tip is simple: Listen to your own outgoing voicemail greeting. It may be worth your time to make sure it is a positive reflection of yourself and your professional brand. A crucial part of your job search strategy and professional brand development is effective communication. It…

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  • Don’t sign the non-compete…. until you review it with a lawyer. I heard a heart breaking story last week of a high achieving job seeker who got an offer from an industry competitor. When asked if she had a non-compete by the recruiter, she responded no because she couldn’t remember signing one. She even asked…

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