INSIGHTS FROM MINDY THOMAS
Career Blog
Career advice, job search strategies, resume tips, and insights to help you land the career you actually want.
Surviving An Uncivilized Workplace-What About the No A–Hole Rule?
There are horrid abuse stories out in the workplace. Many of these stories have to do with people that annoy us, bosses that are mean-spirited and people that show up psychologically hostile. So, wouldn’t it be awesome if every organization employed the No A-hole rule?
The Secret & Generation Y
This past Sunday, I felt overwhelmed by such happiness while sitting at 45th and Spruce Street in Philadelphia. I happen to be eating brunch at Rx The Farmacy, an organic, farm to table, comfort-food bistro which has been jammed packed with customers since their opening day. I also happen to know both owners, and I can tell you that the passion and energy behind this restaurant is so exciting, it just fires me up.
Image and Your Job Search
You’ve heard that it takes less than 10 seconds for a recruiter to decide if they want to continue reading further. If you think that’s a ridiculous amount of time to review a resume, think about how quickly your image can communicate a message. The truth of the matter is that your professional image is the single, most important non-verbal communication there is.
How to Uncover the Hidden Job Market
The research shows that 80% of the jobs available are never really advertised. This doesn’t mean that you’ll be unable to land a job using the internet. However, if you are proactive about your search and change your approach to target specific companies and industries, you will be able to uncover hiring managers and potential leads for you to penetrate the hidden job market.
“The Second You Give Up is the Moment You Need to Keep Trying.”
For six long years, my client struggled with landing an entry-level writing job. She figured her resume was good enough and, after all, she was a trained writer who was published and won many awards for her stellar writing. As unbelievable as it may sound, my client actually received only one response to hundreds of applications over these last six years since she graduated from college in 2007.
How Job Seekers Can Avoid Joining A “Bad” Organization
I think you will agree that life is too short to work in a toxic atmosphere or for horrible bosses and bad coworkers. More times than not, job seekers will leave an organization in the hope of finding a better opportunity. In fact, the most common reason (other than a layoff), is a bad boss or toxic coworkers.
What You Don’t Know About Career Counseling
There are many people that call into my office after spending weeks, months or years trying to figure what they should do with their career. Depending on the individual seeking assistance for career counseling, it is likely that there are a variety of career services that might be offered. What most people don’t know is that there are a number of unknown byproducts that people gain by learning job search strategies and evaluating factors to identify new career options for themselves.
Our Career Voyage and Inner Growth
In the midst of 24×7 technology advances, a recent poll indicated that 82 percent of people in the United States believe in God. I was astounded at this statistic. Some folks call this belief “a sense of the spiritual or a quest for meaning.” In fact, it turns out to be a central theme in the lives of most adults.
Boosting Your Interview IQ
I think we can agree that there are a ridiculous number of interviewing books on the market today. Frankly, I have read many of these over the years, but my all-time favorite happens to be “How to Boost Your Interview IQ” by Carole Martin.
A Dream Come True – Actuary to Professional Poker Pro
Everyone loves successful career transition stories especially ones that truly demonstrate that anything is possible. I think that one of the reasons we love them so much is that it gives us compelling evidence that we also can reach for the stars and win. This story has to do with my own son Russell who was employed as an actuary for a large insurance company…er… up until last week.
How to Improve Your Chances of Keeping Your Job
While I listened to the morning show yesterday, US News and World Report reported some of the top reasons on how to completely “trash” your career. I think it’s worth a quick review, so let’s get to the top fatal flaws.
Is It Time For You To Make a Career Change?
I encounter clients everyday who absolutely know when to make the move. They are the folks that call me up and say that they are over the top. They can’t take it anymore and something has got to change in their life. But, in today’s economic climate, it’s a scary proposition and I get that. Without a doubt, you have to admire those folks with the guts to go full speed ahead and take on the challenge of finding a better way of life for themselves. Others stand still laden with fear.
How Are You Showing Up in Business?
I had the good fortune to attend a week long retreat in Italy with six American entrepreneurs led by Pamela Haack. We participated in an intensive study of what made business women successful, particularly in Italy. After traveling through medieval villages and towns throughout the Tuscany and Umbria regions, it became clear that showing up with a generous heart, a passion for your craft and, above all, a gratitude and love for people were critical elements that allowed them to be successful.
Becoming a Warrior in the Job Market – What does that look like?
You gotta love when you hear about the job hunters of the world who drive that job search process.
I just received an email from a client who spent 20 years as an computer operator . . . up until her entire department got offshored to India. And, let’s not forget that she trained everyone before she was let go. While she took six months off after the layoff, Lin decided to invest in career counseling. This was a huge investment on her part, but she knew she could not figure out the next steps of her career just by talking with her family members and friends.
Sinking Below The Noise of The World – Are You Able To?
“It takes practice to hear your true desires. Your passion will often come as a whisper or a serendipitous event that reminds you of what’s important and what makes you happy.”
Making the Move in Tough Times – It’s Happening Every Day
Career transitions are tough. So many people want to do it. So many folks want to cross that bridge. But they are held back by fear and many times . . . by a lack of support by the naysayers of the world. I have to tell you that I am truly amazed when a client just does it. It doesn’t matter which occupation or career path you choose. Everyone has a gift and our number one job on the planet is to find out what that is.
What’s Going On?
A couple weeks ago, I heard Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia talking on WXPN radio about Marvin Gaye and how he recorded that infamous song What’s Going On almost forty years ago. The mayor also talked about how music soothes our soul. It got me thinking how this song “rocked” us and the music world back then. The fact is that Marvin Gaye was describing some of the exact same issues many people are dealing with today.
Why Am I Not Getting a Job?
In Martin Yates’ book entitled, Secrets and Strategies for Success in an Uncertain World, he talks about not only having a killer resume . . . but also about how to quadruple your chances of landing more interviews. It’s about face time with your potential employer that enables you to land. Here’s a reminder about some of the success strategies regarding working your job search that you might want to employ.
Could Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagle Make It In Corporate America?
When Fox29 News called to ask me to comment a few weeks ago about this question, I immediately knew what that answer would be. See the video about Andy’s performance with Fox29 News Reporter Bruce Gordon and yours truly.
The Graduate
She was puzzled. Her parents were confused as heck. Her friends were altogether floored. After all, everyone thought she had the whole package. Even the graduate.
Your Career is Your Business. Isn’t it Time For You to Manage it Like a CEO?
Please call Professional Career Counselor Mindy Thomas, MS, CPRW, CLC, CJC, CJDC directly at 610.937.5632 or send us a message.