Since 1991 (when I was out of work for the first time in my career), I can’t begin to even estimate how many 90-second announcements I have heard. I also can’t tell you how many I have given. It is an interesting process to be sure.When I was in the Army back in 1969, the “Who am I” questi...

When my wife and I were first married, we had occasion to go to book a several day vacation at Kutsher’s Hotel and Country Club. I’m not even sure we had children at the time, it was that long ago. For those of you not familiar with the Borscht Belt of grand resorts in the Catskill Mountai...

I am often asked how one should budget one’s time when conducting a job search. The easy answer is that it depends.I would suggest to you that the primary element of your search is, of course, networking, networking and more networking. The reason I say this is, it works best.That said, ju...

As many of you know, in 1991 and 1992, I was unemployed. (Yes, two long years!)Hard to say exactly why it took so long to find another job, but suffice to say that it was a recession and after 9 years in the Advertising business (which was in the dumper) and no recent experience in Publish...

If there is any complaint I hear more than any other, it is that those we send messages to about jobs opportunities are not responsive. Sometimes even when a company or recruiter has taken the time to interview one of our members, weeks and weeks later all that is heard is silence.If this ...

One of the many concepts I learned when I worked for a large corporation (that will go nameless) was “just in time budgeting.” When I worked for this firm I thought it was a bad idea, but as life has gone by, I have come to appreciate some of its finer qualities and applicability.You see, ...

One of the pearls of wisdom I heard from a friend of mine in 1991 was that no one is out of work forever, it just seems that way.When you are employed in a W-2 job, weekends and evenings are hopefully your time to relax. Snow days, holidays are also to be anticipated and enjoyed. After all...

Although everyone thinks that spring is a time of renewal, actually (just like networking) any point in time and any excuse will do, as will any season.For those who are in their 40’s and 50’s, periods of unemployment early in our career have probably been non-existent. The experience of b...

I have never actually read any of the books that begin with the title I selected for this editorial, but I think I know what they were all about.Okay, maybe I don’t. Still, the thought comes to mind upon reading one of the responses I received recently that there is one aspect of your requ...

As you all know, I get a lot of email. Most of it is actually pretty routine.There are the inevitable members asking me to reset their password for our website or to have their email address changed. Each week I also get a few good news announcements. (I always enjoy being the first to kno...

I have often been heard to say, “Cash is a four letter word.”It is for this reason that taking a sound approach to your job search REQUIRES that you have your financial house in order. There is nothing that is more distracting than to be concerned about your finances during a search.With a...

When I was growing up, my father was in the construction business. Being a plumbing contractor or a consultant or even a job seeker these days isn’t all that different with respect to finding what I call “work opportunities.”I sense from talking to many members that there are those among u...

Job search is in many ways a unique experience.In contrast to the world of work where we have had folks reporting to us and have had folks that we reported to, the world of job search can tend to be a lonely place.Back in the day, outplacement facilities with their rabbit warren of cubicle...

As we used to go around the table at our meeting here in Connecticut (pre-Covid-19), I was always surprised by the time devoted in 90 second announcements to where folks wouldn’t move and what kinds of jobs they wouldn’t take.I have always been of the philosophy that I will go anywhere to ...

There are, unfortunately, all kinds of events and holidays during the calendar year that can cause us to delay addressing our job search, and I thought I would use the “idea” of these dates as a prime example of the inaction it can cause in all of us, myself included.I think the fear that ...

One of the most vexing problems potentially facing those who are active in their search is the decision to accept a job offer you don’t really think is right for you.The agonizing issue of turning down a job offer is only matched by the difficulty of getting one in the first place. Those w...

If losing your job wasn’t bad enough, the reluctance of business associates at your former company, as well as those who serviced your company as attorneys, accountants or recruiters to return your phone calls can be particularly disheartening.Actually, if you gave it some thought, you wou...

There are lots of good reasons to keep you chin up. Of course, the most important reason is that it is easier to hit!Okay, I am just kidding with you. But seriously, some members have been active in their search for so long, that I fear many of them are beginning to believe things that hav...

Unfortunately for all of you, my wife bought me a book once when we were on vacation about the whale ship Essex. No need to go into all the details here, but the short story is that the ship was rammed by a whale and began to sink.Being a devoted sailor, I have certainly read other novels ...

There is no topic that comes up more frequently than how can we keep our alumni members deeply involved in the goings on of our organization.Among a small number of our members there is a desire to put their whole ugly job search thing behind them and move on with their lives. In some case...

One of the most difficult challenges in a career is being faced with taking a step or two back.Because we tend to stay with companies longer than most senior managers, the gains we make in our career in terms of compensation and responsibilities are hard won and painstaking achieved. So, w...