5 Common Executive Job Search Dilemmas - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

5 Common Executive Job Search Dilemmas

Loving Who They Are and Who They Arent - Kathy Caprino

Loving Who They Are and Who They Aren’t A few days ago, I was taking a break with a friend, sitting outside in a beautiful park, soaking up the sun.   I relished the chance to sit quietly in nature and catch up.   We got around to discussing our personal lives and the inner workings of our family dynamics. We shared, laughed, winced, and sighed â€" at all the things that are going very well, and those things that we wished might have been different.   (It’s wonderful to a have a friend you can be truly candid and authentic with, isn’t it?) What a gift. After sharing a bit about our perceived triumphs and disappointments, my friend said something that reached in and plucked a heartstring for me.   She said: “Kathy, I’ve realized that in order to be happy and not drive myself mad, I have to love my kids and my husband for who they are, but also for who they aren’t.” Wow, did that resonate for me. My friend was talking about that fact that, despite everything we try to do for our family, and how hard we strive to shape them (and our relationships) in ways we think are healthy, happy and productive they’re just not always going to be who we think they should be, or who we think we want them to be. But rather than waste precious time longing for them to be different, it’s so much more peaceful and fulfilling to accept them as they are, and love them for who they and for who they are not.   It’s an easier and more joyful life when we embrace the idea that if parts of our loved ones were different â€" even tiny fragments or slivered dimensions they simply wouldn’t be the people we love so deeply. Our discussion reminded me of something my husband said to me years ago when we were first married.   I was picking a quarrel with him about something insignificant about his behavior (some imagined huge “flaw” of his that I was deeply annoyed about), and he said, “You know, Kathy, I don’t view you and our relationship the way you do.   I don’t extract out the small, petty things I don’t like, examine them and make a federal case of them, or wish they were different.   I accept what is.   I look at you as a whole package that I’ve married â€" not something I can dissect and separate into little pieces that are good or bad.   I take the whole thing.”   My friend and I explored this, and agreed that women seem to do more of this “separate, evaluate, and denigrate” thing.    We hone in on the stuff that we believe should be modified.   We magnify it and make it a huge bone of contention.   Men on the other hand, don’t seem to have this ever-constant need to pick us apart and talk to death about the stuff they wish were different. Whether it’s a gender thing or not, I know this to be true â€" when I am able to fully accept my family (and everyone else I know, for that matter, including myself), my life goes better.   My job, I realize, isn’t to play creator or “tinkerer” â€" it’s to be fully present, alive, loving and accepting, to the greatest degree I can. When I’m able to do that, I realize that all is just as it should be. How about you Do you find more joy and peace when you accept your loved ones for who they are, rather than tinker with them to be someone else?

Can Your Family and Friends Boost Your Networking Success

Can Your Family and Friends Boost Your Networking Success Networking seems so simple, but so tricky at the same time. Many professionals and executives believe they will have easy access to a job if there is a family member or friend in the company. However, this isn’t necessarily true. And even if it is partially true, you have to be careful how you approach the situation. When it comes to personal branding for senior level managers, always having a professional approach is critical. You could be putting your family member’s or your friend’s reputation on the line by asking for a favor. Here are other things to consider. Use Them, But Don’t Abuse Them There’s no harm in asking someone you know to help you get your foot in the door. But you don’t want to make them go out of their way and potentially damage their own reputation and success on your behalf. As you know, c-level personal branding takes a lot of time and effort to build, but can be damaged instantly. Don’t abuse your close connections by pressuring them to fight for you, especially if you may not be completely qualified. Verify Your Qualifications First The best thing you can do right away is ask your close connections whether you are qualified for a position they have available. You should also learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile before you even reach out to them, just so your information is current. The worst thing that can happen to both your reputation and your friend or family member’s is to make the effort to get your foot in the door, only to find out you don’t meet the necessary qualifications. Understand Their Risk in Helping You Family and friends can boost your networking efforts, but also take into consideration the risk they are taking in helping you. They’ve worked hard to get in the position they are in just like you have. If they recommend you and you don’t fit with the company for some reason, their own c-level personal branding could take a hit. Sometimes it’s not worth the risk for them, so take that into consideration before asking any favors. Professional Resume Services can help you with your networking efforts. Whether you need to learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile or brush up your resume, we are here for you when you need us. Feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Can I Get a TS4 Sim Card As a Replacement For My Old Cellular Phone?

Can I Get a TS4 Sim Card As a Replacement For My Old Cellular Phone?If you have just purchased a new cell phone, a number of people will be asking you the question, 'Can I get a TS4 Sim Card as a replacement for my old cellular phone?' Unfortunately, there are no options for this in TS4 as there is in TS3. To get a new SIM card for your cell phone you will need to get a phone that does not currently have it, and this can be a very expensive procedure.First, make sure that you are not buying from any carriers that sell unlocked devices, because some carriers are trying to make money off of these unlocked phones by charging consumers huge fees and the phones may not work at all! Take the time to look up which phones are compatible with your phone and whether or not they're going to work with your carrier. Also, as with any phone, it is important to get it checked thoroughly by a professional technician.If you have purchased a SIM-less cell phone, your best bet is going to be to use a s ite like Simmiles.com. This is a network of affiliates that will allow you to purchase an international SIM card with a top level internet connection.You'll find that there are numerous compatible phone models that will offer SIM cards at prices as low as twenty dollars. The downside is that most of these are SIM-only, meaning that they will only work with your cell phone if you purchase an additional SIM card. So, if you're looking for a new cell phone, this is not a good option for you.Simmiles.com is one of the better places for your sims replacement needs. They are one of the only places that will give you the option of making a return and getting a refund when the SIM-less phone you purchased does not work with your cell phone.There are other options out there, but you should know that these alternatives will be less efficient than purchasing a SIM-less phone and then making a return. Since it is more complicated to have your phone and SIM swapped, then purchasing a sim-less ph one might be the better alternative.Simmiles is one of the few places that will give you a 100% guarantee on your phone, no matter what it was used for. So, this is definitely the place to buy your sim replacement. It's also a very cheap solution if you're just trying to replace the SIM card that came with your phone.

10 Things You Should NEVER Eat at Your Desk

10 Things You Should NEVER Eat at Your Desk We get it. You’re busy. You’re on deadline. You have Mister Rogers-meeting-gorillas YouTubes to catch up on. For whatever reason, lunch these days is more often than not consumed at a desk, next to important papers, laptops, and dirty coffee mugs. And that also means, it’s consumed next to coworkers who may or may not delight in your culinary sensibilities or want to watch you eat. After several long conversations about what are the worst, most offensive things you (or a coworker) could eat at his or her desk during the working day, here’s what we came up with. Make mental notes now. Leftover Fish Santiago Urquijoâ€"Getty Images Sure, fish is super healthy. And with the number of people cutting back on, or giving up meat entirely only increasing, fish is certainly a healthy alternative. But bringing leftovers from last night’s dinner really runs the risk of stinking up the place, because reheating fish can do a olfactory number on the office. As one Redditor commented last year about this very issue, “ I did that once, and really it was just as overpowering as someone smoking in your office without your permission and telling you to just get over it. Then they leave and you are still stuck with the smell for the rest of the day.“ So there it its: Fish is the new smoking.-MA Pasta BWFolsomâ€"Getty Images/iStockphoto I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that a big bowl of pasta is the worst thing you can eat at lunchtime. Unless you’re training for the Olympics, it is scientifically impossible to shove a bunch of carbs down your throat and continue doing anything afterwards. And it’s messy! Unless you’re the type of person who puts broccoli in penne, drizzles it with olive oil, and calls it “pasta,” you will get sauce on your clothes, and you will hate yourself for the rest of the day. Guaranteed. â€" KB Fast Food Jonathan Knowlesâ€"Getty Images Look, sometimes weeknights get away from you and you’re not in your best shape during working hours the next day. But vodka tonics taste so good! What else tastes good during those moments where you’re not feeling your best? Delicious, greasy fast food. But whatever you do, don’t eat it at your desk. You’ll scream hangover â€" or even if you were stone sober the night before, you’ll still risk looking like a high school kid who snuck away from campus for caloric delights that your doctor would surely frown upon. -MA Corn on the Cob Tanya_Fâ€"Getty Images I grew up in the middle of Illinois, so if there’s one thing I know, it’s corn. Let me tell you a little something about corn on the cob. If you’re eating it fresh â€" and I PRAY that you are â€" you need lots of butter and salt. You also need corn on the cob holders. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION. Take a look around your desk. Do you have a pair of those handy? Does your office cafeteria keep a stack of them next to the other, equally necessary utensils? Ours sure doesn’t, even though it serves corn on the cob pretty much every week (Even in winter! When it is very out of season!!!) Eating an ear of corn without holders is like slurping gazpacho without a spoon. It’s gross, and I don’t want any part of it. â€" KB Cereal Getty Images It’s fine to let some foods just be home foods. Work isn’t you’re dining room table or your late night comedown spot on the couch. Which is the only two places you should be eating cereal, from a bowl, with milk. Think about it: You’re so used to eating cereal in such a relaxed, just-woken-up or just-ready-to-go-to bed state of mind, how will that vibe not translate into your work space? The last thing you want your coworkers to see is you bliss out over foods three year olds love. -MA Sushi Beeldbewerkingâ€"Getty Images/iStockphoto Really? You’re going to bring a meal that’s meant to be eaten cross-legged on the floor of a Japanese restaurant into your cubicle? You’re going to use chopsticks to dip pieces of raw fish into tiny bowls of soy and wasabi while you go about your afternoon routine, checking emails, taking client calls, et. al? You’re going to convince your coworkers to split a bunch of sushi rolls between all of your workspaces, so you can feel real cultured while your scroll through your Facebook feed? Really? -KB Ribs Getty Images/iStockphoto Ask any meat lover and they’ll tell you, ribs are great! Of course they are. They’re also one of the most disgusting things you can watch another person eat. Not only do you look like a legit caveman or cavewoman, you are running the risk of getting your entire space, body, and face disgustingly dirty. At all costs, resist the ribs. -MA Fried Chicken Getty Images/StockFood Fried chicken smells good … at first. But by the end of the day, that oil-soaked bucket you threw in the trash will have lingered in the air for so long that everyone in your office will feel like a KFC employee. Y’all have worked too hard for that. â€" KB Tacos Aleksandr_Vorobevâ€"Getty Images/iStockphoto At a previous job, there was a fantastic taco truck that set up shop outside my office. It only appeared twice a week, and therefore, had lines down the block. On a nice warm summer day, it easily took 35 minutes to get tacos. But they were worth it! But here’s the thing with tacos. There is a certain degree of neck tilting one has to do that most other foods don’t require. There’s no other way around it, and, even if you’re super skilled at this technique, the chances of food NOT falling out the back of the taco is pretty slim. It’s not a great look, for one, and getting grilled onions all over your keyboard â€" which I did too many times to remember â€" is also a bad move. Turns out, IT hates to fix a keyboard because of you can’t put food properly in your mouth. â€" MA Pancakes Michael Mller / EyeEmâ€"Getty Images/EyeEm You’re a grown up. If you’re going to eat something with sticky, messy, penetratingly sweet-smelling maple syrup to start your day, don’t do it in front of other people.- KB

WATCH How to create personal boundaries at work

WATCH How to create personal boundaries at work We spend A LOT of time at work.  And colleagues can quickly become friends.  But if you find yourself working with someone who has mistaken your friendliness for flirtation, then its time to re-establish your personal boundaries.  Todays Bossy Skirt clip offers three actionable and drama-free ways to keep things professional (and comfortable) at work. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0'); }); Source: [Daily Fuel]

3 Ways to Deal When Your Coworkers Hate Each Other And Youre Stuck in the Middle

3 Ways to Deal When Your Coworkers Hate Each Other And Youre Stuck in the Middle In an ideal world, wed all just get along. But, when it comes to work (and lots of other parts of our lives for that matter), we sometimes dont get to choose who we surround ourselves with. This can be tough, especially when youre deckenfries with someone you dont like for hours on end at work. Different personalities, styles and backgrounds can all come together at work to create some serious clashing on all fronts. This means its really not that uncommon for coworkers to dislike one another or even hate each other (yikes).From time to time, we might even find ourselves caught in the middle of a workplace battle. We might end up stuck between two people who dont get along and want to involve us in the drama of the situation. This can be uncomfortable and stressful especially when we plain dont know what to do.Here are three tips for how to manage this tricky situation1. Dont choose a side.Do your best to remain neutral at all times. Dont engage in any sort of gossip about your coworkers, or choose sides. You want to stay as far away from this as possible. Getting involved in discussions about these coworkers in even a small way may tarnish your reputation and could even impact your performance review. Steer clear, stay neutral and dont choose a side. This is better for your mental health and your professional brand.2. Set and communicate clear boundaries.Setting meaningful boundaries personally and professionally is going to be key to your success. When we have healthy boundaries, we can accept positive people and actions into our lives. At the same time, we protect ourselves from people and situations that are harmful.When it comes to coworkers who hate each other, platzdeckchen clear boundaries by openly communicating that you wont get involved in their situation. Its okay to be very clear and say things like I understand Lisa is bothering you, but Im not going to engage in a discussion about her with you. We need to end this chat here. Sure, people might not like how direct youre being here. This is about you protecting yourself personally and professionally not them. I want you to know that you deserve to set a boundary around this, and adopt a laissez-faire attitude around what others may have to say about it.3. Discuss concerns with your manager.If two coworkers hate each other, its pretty likely that this is going to have an impact on your ability to get your job done. This is especially true if you need both parties participation in a project, for example. If your coworkers are starting to have an impact on your ability to do your job, you need to address this situation with your manager. The best bet for an effective discussion is to focus on facts and remove emotion. This makes sure your account of the situation is professional and ensures you wont be seen as a complainer.Being caught in the middle of two coworkers who hate each other is tough. This can only go on for so long before it will start to impact your engagement at work. Remember to stay as disconnected from their drama as possible by setting healthy boundaries. Its not your job to manage your coworkers, so when the time comes youll need to leave addressing the situation to your manager.