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What Can You Do to Promote Gender Equality at Work?

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In 1911, millions of men and women in Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany marched on rallies during the first International Woman’s Day. They fought for the right of every woman to work, hold public office, and vote. Today, we have come far in terms of women’s rights, but there’s still so much we can do to close the gap between…

Alert! Don’t Fall for these 3 Ego Traps that can Ruin Your Executive Career

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You’re on top of your game. You’re the boss and you have a corner office to prove it. Yes, it definitely took a lot of hard work to get to where you are now, but what got you to the top may not be enough to keep you in this position. Being the boss can make anyone prone to a…

Unexpected Succession Planning: What to Do if a Key Executive Unexpectedly Quits

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You may not be the CEO yet. But as a company executive, an executive’s unexpected resignation, termination, or even absence is cause for alarm. Best case scenario, you may be chosen by the board to serve as interim CEO or executive. On the flip side, you may lose your job or the company may go down in the dumps as…

How to Build a Strong Alliance of Supporters at Work

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

One of the secrets of succeeding in the workplace is building strong alliances. No matter how seemingly good and experienced you are, or even if you hold a top position in an organization, time will come that you’ll need someone else’s help. This is where building alliances comes in handy. Successful employees work hard to build themselves a network of…

When Office Friends Turn into Liabilities

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In general, making friends at work make Monday mornings more bearable and over time work a little less stressful. Having friends at work can make an otherwise stressful environment enjoyable, but things can also go sour under different circumstances. In light of International Friendship Day on July 30, we look at the different situations where office friends can become a…

The Common Questions Applicants Ask Their Would-Be Bosses on Interviews

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Are you a manager or executive interviewing someone for a job? Don’t expect that you’ll be the only one asking questions. Expect good candidates to raise their own questions during the job interview. They want to impress you and make themselves more memorable compared to other candidates. Here are the top four questions you can expect to get from a…

Do’s and Don’ts to Survive ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

It’s not designed to be the most productive day of the year work-wise – but the implications of ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’ go beyond the day. It could shape a child’s future career, or even a life. The purpose of ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’ is to expose kids to what their parent,…

Executive Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You’re an executive, and you’ve been contacted by a recruiter about an opportunity for a well-known firm in your industry. Congratulations! Although you’re excited about this position, you’re understandably nervous about the upcoming interview. Of course, the interview isn’t the be-all end-all to getting the job – there are also references to follow up with, and portfolios and numbers…

Career Advice from Moms, Dads, and the Parental Figures in Our Lives

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Editor

You may think of your parents as from a different generation, or even as archaic. But that doesn’t change the fact that they care about you and want the best for you. They’ve also been alive for a longer period of time, and likely have more work experience than you. So whether their wisdom is welcome or not, they give…

Don’t Accept that Management Job UNTIL You Ask Yourself these Questions

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Editor

For many people, getting a management role seems like the most obvious option in climbing their career ladder. While it’s true that nobody aspires to work at an entry-level job for the rest of their lives, the truth is that a leadership role isn’t for everyone. No, I don’t mean that you have to be born with it. Having a…

5 Things to Never Say (or Admit Out Loud) to Your Boss

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Editor

In a perfect world, you’d be on good terms with your boss. You might not be the best of friends, trading holiday cookies, or hanging out and drinking beer after work, but at least your communication lines are always honest and open. But you don’t live in a perfect world — no matter how nice your boss is. Your boss…

How to Stop Beating Yourself up over Your Mistakes at Work

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Editor

I found this interesting post on Reddit. Can you relate? “We were at a conference and I had to take notes and photos and write a report on it the following day, several people were speaking and at some point I got distracted with taking photos and forgot to take notes for one of the speakers except for one or…

How does Executive Outplacement Work?

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Editor

As of August 2014, about 119 CEOs announced their resignation, the highest recorded number since 2008, according to an article published in Chief Executive Magazine. Executives know that figuring out the next phase of their career isn’t as simple as submitting a resume. Transitioning from one C-level job to another, after all, requires a lot of upfront work. Business owners,…

3 Questions to Ask a Corporate Outplacement Provider

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Editor

Layoffs are difficult for employees and business owners alike. As the boss, you’re torn between trying to conserve all remaining resources of your company and doing the right thing for the people who worked with you for years. Deciding whether to offer outplacement services or not isn’t just a moral question. It’s also a question of protecting your company’s image…

4 Top Job Options for Employees 50 and Over

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Editor

The times are changing. The unemployment rate for workers 50 and up is higher than it was in the last Great Recession. While the unemployment rate is going down, albeit slowly, many older workers remain unemployed six months to a year, way longer than young employees with less work experience. It’s as if older workers are past their “sell-by” date….

Are Listening Skills—and Decent Customer Service—Lost in this Generation’s Fresh Graduates?

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Editor

Here’s a typical scene every time I go through a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru… Me: One medium hot latte with skim milk Crew: Okay, would you like it hot or cold? Me: Hot (okay…he’s too young to be deaf) Crew: Whole or skim milk? Me: Skim milk (getting impatient here…) Every. Single. Time. And that was just a single item order….

Corporate America Doesn’t Care About You: It’s Time to Put Yourself First

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Editor

When was the last time you came home late because you needed to finish an urgent project? Did you take your work home recently? Have you ever missed your kid’s recital because of work? Sacrificing work/life balance to move up in the corporate ladder seems like a fair trade, at least on the surface. Martin Yate, author of New York…

Does Your Boss Secretly Hate You?

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Michelle Riklan

I was eating at a restaurant when I overheard this woman complaining about her boss to a friend. After ranting, her friend said, “Suck it up, you’re lucky to have a job.” After hearing this conversation, I realized that sometimes, no matter how nice and polite you are; your boss just doesn’t care. After all your effort, he can’t even…

Luck Ain’t Gonna Be Enough

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Michelle Riklan

How often have you heard a friend gush at someone else’s extraordinary luck? “Wow! He must be really lucky to get that job!” Admittedly, the competition for high-paying jobs in big name companies is fierce, there could be 100+ applicants fighting for one vacancy. So from an outside perspective, it may seem that whoever receives the job offer must be…

Position Yourself to Get the Job

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Michelle Riklan

You may have heard that you need to “brand yourself” in order to be successful in your career. While “branding” (which is defined as “to make an indelible mark or impression on somebody or something”) is a valuable strategy, you may be more comfortable with the idea of simply positioning yourself to be successful in your job search and career….

Recent Graduates and Today’s Job Search – Part 3

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Michelle Riklan

How to Track and Plan Your Job Search Finding a job is a job. It requires time, dedication, research, homework, and an organized plan. So how do you get started? 1. Prepare your personal inventory. You are more than just your major. What do you have to offer? This may be a good time to meet with a career…

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Michelle Riklan

As Valentine’s Day approaches, images of hearts, flowers, and Cupid come to mind. I have always thought of Cupid as an extraordinary Talent Acquisition Manager. After all, just think of some of the “job requisitions” that come across his desk! Are the position requirements realistic? I am reminded of the lyrics in Fiddler on the Roof’s infamous song, Matchmaker. “For Papa, make him…

CAREER CHANGE – Do I Stay or Do I Go?

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Michelle Riklan

In difficult economic times and with the national unemployment average holding steady in the 9 percent range, making a career change may be a scary prospect. It is certainly not impossible, but the possibility must be approached strategically and realistically. Statistically, people change jobs 9 times during their lifetime and change careers 4 times. There are many reasons why; downsizing/layoff,…

Returning to the Workforce

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Michelle Riklan

People return to the workforce for many reasons: Stay at home parents are ready to resume or start a career. Financial changes have dictated a need. Retired persons are bored with retirement or need extra money. Business owners are looking for an opportunity to work for a company. Whatever the reason, hundreds of thousands of people are attempting to return to the…

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