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By Rita Ashley, August 19, 2010 6:43 am

Jobs are like busses, if you get on the right one, you arrive at your destination

Abstract: Career planning for job security – Visibility, choosing the right employer, your brand and importance of a Mentor.

Are you in the career you planned when you were in college? Have you had more than one career? Do you know where you want to be in three, five or seven years? Do you know how to decide? Do you know how to make it happen? Continue reading 'Job security through career planning'»

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By Rita Ashley, July 7, 2010 11:47 am

Career development as an investment strategy; invest in your future.

Career development is not something most people think about. Most people are job-focused and ignore the impact today’s job has on tomorrow’s opportunities.

Why implement a career development strategy?

• Managing your career means you are likely to earn more money over your lifetime.
• As you age, excellent career development can alleviate ageism issues.
• With a career development plan in place, job search becomes easier. It is your hedge against unemployment.
• Your personal brand precedes you and jobs more often come to you.
• Career development planning reduces the risk of layoffs and obsolescence. Continue reading 'Are you building a career or just looking for a job?'»

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By Rita Ashley, May 20, 2010 12:44 pm

The price seems high the rewards, intangible; the value, great. So difficult to make that decision to hire a coach. Last night, I reviewed the statistics for a few of my recent job search coaching clients. Here’s what I found.

Client 1: Granted interviews with every company (10+) to whom he was introduced. Was told his resume was impressive and organized. Of seven options, it was he who declined to go forward with six companies, not the prospective employer. Once he decided on the two companies where he’d most like to work, received offers from both. Negotiations improved the offer of his choice. Continue reading 'More proof coaching works'»

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By Rita Ashley, May 9, 2010 5:15 pm

Jump from Director to Vice President

The biggest leap you will make in your career is from Director to Vice President. The jump from Director to Vice President is so difficult because a Vice President is commonly an officer of the company with implied legal liability.

The Board and “C” level employees are certain to vet a prospective Vice President very carefully because it is extremely costly to remove a VP once in place. Firing a Vice President creates bad publicity and can affect the stock price, not to mention the disruption of running the business.

1. The clearest path to jump to a VP level job is to be promoted. More commonly, currently in place Directors are promoted to Vice President because they have proven they can stand up to the challenge and the scrutiny of the Board. They have proven themselves in a manner no outside candidate can. Even if you are not especially interested in a longer career with your current employer, a promotion is your clearest path to VP. Take steps to make that happen possibly using a Coach. Once you have achieved VP status, you will be seen as a VP candidate generally. The key to promotion for a technology executive for any position, is to be seen as a business person who understands technology.

Significant first step? Ask. Let your manager know your career goals. “Roberta, my goal is a promotion to VP within the next 18 [or what you feel is fair] months. Shall we discuss what you need to see to to consider me for VP?” Discuss a timeline and mileposts. That doesn’t work? Ask someone else. Continue reading 'How to get promoted from director to vice president'»

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By Rita Ashley, May 4, 2010 1:34 pm

Is there a tug of war to get your team to do what you need done?

When was the last time you had a new idea and spent most of your time ‘selling’ it to your direct reports? Or worse, monitoring to insure they do what they committed to doing? Continue reading 'Leadership, not Management'»