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Executive Career Change Stories

I often use career change stories to describe a specific issue or situation and then explain what someone needed to do to overcome the situation or resolve the issue. The stories I list below relate to the personal experiences of some of my executive clients that I thought would have a broader interest. In reading the stories, you may find answers to some questions you hadn’t even thought about asking.

Make Your Career Search Message Clear

Job seekers often attempt to spread the net wide when searching for another job only to be disappointed when they don’t find anything. This story describes Brian’s experience when he realized this approach wasn’t working. It then explains how to create a clear and highly effective message. Read more >

Recruiters Do Not Return Calls

Job seekers often spend too much time sending their resume to recruiters and trying to contact them only to be frustrated by a lack of response. This story describes what Sam learned about how recruiters work and how he could increase his effectiveness when contacting them. Read more >

Making an Industry Career Change

Job seekers are usually unsuccessful at finding a new job in a different industry because they don’t understand how they need to translate their skills and experience. This story describes what Kristin encountered when she tried to change jobs in what she thought was her industry and learned how to translate her skills in a way that could be understood by others. Read more >

Multiple Resume Versions

People in mid career often spend too much time modifying their resume in an attempt to tailor it to specific opportunities. This story describes the problems Tom encountered by constantly revising his resume and describes the purpose of your resume and the only six pieces of information it must contain. Read more >

Keep Your Head in the Game

When executives fail to detect potential problems within an organization, it usually results from their taking too narrow of a view of their job and responsibilities. This story describes how Cheryl could have enhanced her career had she spoken out about a revised policy that had the potential to adversely affect the company. Read more >

Networking for Employment

While networking is the most powerful activity people in mid-career can use to find a new job, most people think it is similar to networking for business. This story follows Chuck as he implements a simple three-phase process of building relationships with others that increases his effectiveness at networking for employment. Read more >

Job Search When Relocating

People in mid-career who need to look for a new job in a distant location often don’t know when or where to start. This story follows Sharon as she develops and successfully implements her plan to find employment in a new location without compromising her current job. Read more >

Managing Your Own Promotion

In their climb up the corporate ladder, executives often over-commit and their personal lives take a toll or they suffer burnout. This story describes how Dan was about to be promoted to a role where he knew that the last person to hold the position left because of burnout. It describes how he was able to restructure the position and successfully sell it to top management as a condition of his accepting the promotion. Read more >