‘Expert Answers’ Category

June 25th, 2008, 6:40 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: No Magic Bullet Answers

Contributed by: Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
What is the best answer to the strength and weakness interview question?
I got this exact question after a workshop I recently led. Other than his name and industry background, I had no other information. Yet, he fully expected me to come up with answers to very personal interview questions.
Actually, […]

Read the full article »

June 24th, 2008, 6:27 am

Dressing Your Resume For Success Part Two

By: Kathryn Sollmann, Co-founder Women@Work Network
Last week, we covered the first of seven signs that your resume needs to be updated. Here are the remaining six ways you can keep your resume as up to date as this season’s fashions.

Read the full article »

June 19th, 2008, 6:00 am

When The Negotiation Gets Tough, The Smart Take a Break

Contributed By: Carol Frohlinger, Esq., Managing Director, Negotiating Women Inc.
Emotions and our ability to control them, make all the difference in our negotiations. The more important the negotiation is to us, the more challenging to manage our emotions. I had a personal experience recently when my temper flared and, as a result, […]

Read the full article »

June 18th, 2008, 11:43 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: When Quantity Matters

Contributed By: Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
Typical resume advice says that you show quantitative results — revenue generated, costs saved, profits increased. But what about people who aren’t in sales or don’t manage a budget. What results can a mid-level manager or someone new in a career show?
The benefit of quantitative descriptions is not […]

Read the full article »

June 11th, 2008, 7:30 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: How To Find Time For A Search

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
Between interviews, networking, researching companies, canvassing job boards, and following up with recruiters, a job search takes as much time as my job. I feel like I need to quit before I start looking. Yet, traditional advice says the best time to look is when you’re employed. […]

Read the full article »

June 10th, 2008, 7:23 am

Retaining Women in the Workplace

Contributed by Maureen Frank, Managing Director, Emberin
Become a ‘marketer’ to women
In order to successfully retain and attract female employees, employers have to be successful ‘marketers’ to women. We are trying to ‘sell’ to our female employees the concept that they really want to work for our organization. So how can we do that?
Why […]

Read the full article »

June 5th, 2008, 7:26 am

Ask A Recruiter: How To Ask For Help

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
The typical advice says that you should tell everyone that you are looking. But is that really helpful for management-level, finance jobs? Will people really get leads from their manicurist?
If I could choose between help from my manicurist or the Managing Director of a bulge-bracket investment bank, then […]

Read the full article »

May 28th, 2008, 1:33 pm

Ask-A-Recruiter: My Job Title Doesn’t Accurately Reflect my Responsibilities

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
This question came up at a recent coaching session with a new client:  My last job has a title that sounds much more administrative than the actual job.  How do I accurately list the title on my resume without pigeonholing myself into administrative jobs with a similar title?
There are few […]

Read the full article »

May 21st, 2008, 7:52 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: Do Recruiters Read Their Mail?

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
This question came up at a recent workshop which I led about what happens behind-the-scenes during the hiring process: Do recruiters read the cover letters, thank-you’s and all the other time-consuming materials that jobseekers are supposed to send?
If you ask ten recruiters the same question, you may hear up […]

Read the full article »

May 14th, 2008, 12:46 pm

Ask-a-Recruiter: When Should Lawyers Change Jobs?

Contributed by Irene Pokh 
“I am an associate at a top law firm and I am keen to change jobs soon, what is the best way to do this and should i start looking now, or wait until after the summer?
The best way to begin a job search is to assess your current situation – figure […]

Read the full article »

May 7th, 2008, 1:35 pm

Ask-A-Recruiter: Surviving A Lengthy Unemployment

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
In this down market, many people were laid off simultaneously, so it is taking longer to find a job.  Are there are any special tips when you have been unemployed for several months with no job in sight?
The same basic job search rules apply in an up or down market.  […]

Read the full article »

May 6th, 2008, 3:30 pm

How to Achieve Work/Life Balance

Contributed by Karen Elizaga of www.forwardoptions.com. Karen is a life and career coach for women and girls.
All too often, the achiever/overachiever in us zealously books appointment after appointment and takes on one commitment after another. At work, we feel compelled to be the “go to” woman in hopes that we will make significant career […]

Read the full article »

April 30th, 2008, 11:28 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: Optimizing A Long-Distance Job Search

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
I have been planning a move to another state, where I don’t have a job yet.  Should I just move and try to find a job when I’m there?  Are employers more interested in candidates who are instate rather than long-distance?
Moving to a new geographic location without a job is […]

Read the full article »

April 16th, 2008, 7:33 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: Talking to the HR Department

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine
I dread calling up HR to ask about my resume or my search status or even just to clarify a job posting. I find recruiters to be very short and difficult to deal with. But I know I need to network. What can I do?
Many people need to deal with recruiters for […]

Read the full article »

April 9th, 2008, 7:24 am

Ask-A-Recruiter: How To Start A Career Change - Part 2

  Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
 
I am lawyer who is sick of practicing law. I have practiced corporate law for 5 years at a big firm, want to leave the law for a job in business with greater autonomy and better quality of life.  How do I market myself? Where should I start my […]

Read the full article »

April 3rd, 2008, 7:37 am

Ask A Recruiter — “I want to leave the law. What should I do?”

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine
I am lawyer who is sick of practicing law. I have practiced corporate law for 5 years at a big firm, want to leave the law for a job in business with greater autonomy and better quality of life. How do I market myself? Where should I start my job search?
The […]

Read the full article »

March 26th, 2008, 7:04 am

Ask A Recruiter: When To Jump Ship Or Hang On

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
The following question came up at a recent workshop that I led about career management during a down market:
“My company is downsizing in waves. People are telling me to grab a buyout if I can because future severance packages will probably be less generous. Should I try […]

Read the full article »

March 18th, 2008, 3:26 am

Hit Me with Your Best Shot: Performance Management Feedback

by Connie Thanasoulis

Connie is a co-founder of SixFigureStart, a success coaching firm for college students and professionals.  
Most Fortune 500 companies agree that 360 degree feedback (feedback from your boss, your peers, and your team) is the best way to identify and then improve your performance on the job. These four basic principles form the logical underpinning of the […]

Read the full article »

March 11th, 2008, 7:54 am

“Out at Work” – Interview with Arden Hoffman, GALN at Goldman Sachs

by Erin Abrams

In response to recent reader requests, The Glass Hammer decided to publish an article on special issues that gay and lesbian people might face in the workplace. We wanted to find out what it’s like to be “out at work” at a major financial institution, and offer some advice to our readers about how to […]

Read the full article »

March 6th, 2008, 7:20 pm

Traveling Feast: What to Order and Not Order During a Business Meal

by Connie Thanasoulis

I never liked business lunch meetings, especially if it was with a more senior person. One tomato stain on your shirt and you look sloppy. One dot of balsamic vinegar on your tie and you look more junior than you ever wanted to be. Well, here is a way to relax during […]

Read the full article »