Career Strategy Blog
If AI Changes the First Rung of the Career Ladder 🪜, Where Do Future Leaders Start? 🤔
I was on a call with a group of career professionals recently when a conversation about higher education gradually turned into a conversation about...
How Much Talent Is Hiding Behind the Wrong Job Title?
When I work with executives who are considering a career change, one of the first things I notice is how much their job title can influence the way...
I Earned Three Degrees 🎓🎓🎓. Here Is What They Did Not Teach Me About Building a Career.
Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, and neither finished college. When I was in high school, I didn't even realize that going to college was an...
Am I Too Old to Get Hired, or Is My Job Search Showing Its Age? 🕰️
Age and the executive job search comes up in my conversations with experienced leaders more often than you might think. Sometimes they ask me...
When Did Looking for an Executive Job Become a Full-Time Job With No Job Description?
One of the things I hear from executives in transition is how much time they spend looking for their next...
Going Back to School as an Adult: Why Investing in Yourself Still Matters
It’s August, it’s hot, and everywhere you look, kids are heading back to school. Families are adjusting schedules, stores are filled with notebooks...
Who Is Telling Your Story? Why Every Executive Should Protect and Accurately Represent Their Professional Reputation
A few weeks ago, I received a message from a prospective client. He had been referred to me by an executive recruiter and was preparing to move...
The Most Expensive Career Mistake Nobody Talks About Staying in a Role After You’ve Stopped Growing
Most career advice focuses on making the right move. The right company. The right promotion. The right industry. The right opportunity. But after...
The Promotion Gap: Why Many Professionals Are Already Operating at the Next Level Before They Believe They Are
One of the most surprising things I have learned after working with hundreds of executives, directors, and senior leaders is this: The biggest...
The Difference Between Training and Trust What Adopting a Rescue Dog 🐶 Taught Me About Leadership, Networking, and Career Growth
Last November, I adopted Bodhi after fostering him for just a month. Going into the experience, I thought I understood what I was signing up for....
The Executive Visibility Problem 👀 Why Waiting Until You Need a Job to Use LinkedIn Puts You Behind
Many executives tell me the same thing: “I really do not spend much time on LinkedIn unless I am looking for a job.” That approach made sense years...
Beyond Learning: Why Executive Visibility Depends on Contribution
Most executives understand the importance of staying informed. What many underestimate is how much professional silence affects visibility. At the...
The Hidden Reason Executives Get Overlooked: Why Strong Executives Struggle to Gain Traction When Their Value is Not Immediately Clear
Many executives believe they are being overlooked. They apply to roles. They connect with recruiters. They activate their network. And still, the...
Reinventing Your Career: Why Executives Must Evolve Before the Market Forces Them
Many executives believe reinvention happens only when something goes wrong. A restructuring. A leadership change. A long job search. But reinvention...
Cleaning House 🏡🧹: What Letting Go Taught Me About Executive Career Reinvention
Sometimes career insights come from unexpected places. Today, mine came from a spare bedroom. I spent four hours working with a professional...
The Resume Dating Problem: Why Hiring Executives or Recruiters Lose Interest When the Resume Does Not Feel Like a Match
One of the most common frustrations I hear from executives sounds something like this. “I paid good money to have my resume written. Why should I...
From Endings to New Beginnings: Navigating Career Transitions with Clarity 🍂
Every leadership career includes endings. A role concludes. A company changes direction. A promotion does not materialize. A restructuring alters...
The Game Changed: Why Systems and Branding Now Matter More Than Your Track Record
You built your career the right way. You delivered measurable results.You led organizations through complexity.You earned credibility over decades....
The Career Plateau No One Talks About – When You Are Good at Your Job but Not Growing
There is a stage in many executive careers that rarely gets named. You are performing well.You are respected.You are trusted.Your compensation is...
Executive Hiring Is Not About Chemistry. It Is About Commitment.
At senior levels, hiring rarely follows the emotional arc many executives expect. Early conversations feel positive. Interviews flow easily....
Navigating Extended Executive Job Searches Maintaining Confidence Through the Long Game
Executive job searches have always required patience. Today’s market requires something more demanding: the ability to stay strategic, grounded, and...
Career Identity After a Defining Role Ends: How Senior Leaders Rebuild Confidence Without Shrinking Themselves
Few career transitions feel as destabilizing as this one. The role ends. The title disappears. The structure that once shaped every day goes quiet....
Overcoming Age Bias in the Executive Job Search: Where Senior Leaders Can Reduce It and How to Do It Without Shrinking Themselves
Age bias is one of the most misunderstood dynamics in executive hiring. It is rarely explicit.It is almost never acknowledged.And it is often...
Patience Is a Strategy: Where Senior Leaders Lose Momentum by Moving Too Fast
Patience is one of the most underrated skills in an executive job search. From networking conversations that take months to mature, to hiring decisions delayed by internal shifts, progress often unfolds quietly. This article explores where patience matters most, how leaders can practice relaxed intention, and why staying steady creates access to the right opportunities at the right time.
The First 30 Days That Matter: How Senior Leaders Set the Tone for the Year Without Burning Out 🔥
January has a reputation for urgency. Calendars fill quickly. Expectations spike. Organizations push to prove momentum early. Executives feel...
The Reset Most Executives Skip: How to Close the Year Without Carrying the Weight Forward 🧠
Many executives enter the new year already mentally exhausted. This article explores why clarity comes from intentional year-end reflection, how senior leaders close the year cleanly, and what to release before stepping into what comes next.
The Last Great Networking Window of the Year: Why Mid-December Opens Doors Others Will Miss
Mid-December is not a pause in the executive job market. It is a strategic window. While many leaders disengage for the holidays, hiring priorities, shortlists, and recruiter pipelines for January quietly take shape. This article explains why staying visible now creates leverage later, how senior executives build momentum without sounding transactional, and what intentional outreach looks like during the final weeks of the year.
The Last Great Networking Window of the Year: Why Mid-December Opens Doors Others Will Miss
Executives often assume December is a slow period for career advancement. The belief is common. The pace feels lighter. Leaders travel. Offices...
The Silent Q4 Advantage: Why Senior Leaders Get Hired When No One Is Watching
Discover why mid-December is one of the most strategic times for senior leaders to network, reengage recruiters, and gain visibility for early-year hiring. Learn how executives can use Q4 to accelerate their job search.
Gratitude Is a Leadership Power Skill: How Appreciation Accelerates Executive Success
Thanksgiving invites us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the people who shaped our year. But for senior leaders and executives, gratitude is more...
How Executive Recruiters Really Evaluate Candidates — And What Senior Leaders Get Wrong
Most executives misunderstand how search firms operate.They assume recruiters are scanning for experience, titles, or industry fit. But executive...
How to Tell Your Story So People Remember You: A Guide for Executive Leaders 📖
How to Tell Your Story So People Remember You: A Guide for Executive Leaders By Clair Levy | Precision Resume Solutions 🎯 Why Your Story Matters...
Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It)
Executives often assume their experience speaks for itself. But if your resume isn’t landing interviews, it’s not because you lack results, it’s...
Let’s Talk Numbers: A Confident Approach to Job Offer Negotiation
FEATURED IN THE JULY ISSUE OF LIVING MAGAZINE You've made it through the job interviews, charmed the hiring team, and now there is the offer....
Owning Your Career: Part 1 – How to Set Career Goals That Take You from “Doing the Work” to “Leading the Direction”
Let’s be real: You’re not trying to “find yourself.” You know who you are. You’ve led teams. You’ve delivered results. You’ve probably done half...
Owning Your Career – Part 2: How to Build Genuine Career Connections (That Open Doors)
How to Build Genuine Career Connections (That Open Doors) 🤝 Let’s be real: “networking” doesn’t always feel good. For a lot of people, it feels...
Owning Your Career – Part 3 – Why You Need a “My Interests” Document When Networking (Not Just a Resume) 📄
When you’re actively job searching or even just exploring what’s next, the first question people often ask is: “Can you send me your resume?” But...
Owning Your Career – Part 4: How to Ask for and Ace an Informational Interview (Without Making It Awkward)
Informational interviews are the secret weapon of intentional career growth. Learn how to ask, prep, and follow up—without it feeling awkward or salesy.
Owning Your Career – Part 5: Executive Presence
How to Present Executive Presence Online and Offline (Without Feeling Like a Performative Robot) Executive presence is not about pretending. It is...
Owning Your Career – Part 6: How to Stay Ready for What’s Next (Even When You’re Not Job Searching)
Executives who wait for opportunity to knock are already behind. In Part 6 of the Owning Your Career series, discover how to stay visible, valuable, and prepared for your next role—before it is even posted. Learn why active LinkedIn engagement, consistent professional branding, and a “ready file” of accomplishments are no longer optional in today’s hidden job market. Whether you are actively job searching or not, this guide helps you stay in control of your career momentum and executive presence year-round.
Elevate Your Executive Impact: Strategies for Leadership Advancement and Professional Renewal 🌟
A successful executive career isn’t just about achieving milestones—it’s about continuous evolution, strategic foresight, and meaningful influence....
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 1 – Preparation
Finding the Competitive Market Value for Your Position As an executive or anyone embarking on…
NEGOTIATING YOUR WORTH: PART 2: THE POWER OF RESEARCHING COMPANIES 🔍
Let's be real—before you walk into any negotiation, you've got to do your homework. No one likes surprises, especially when it comes to your...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 3 – Ten (10) Salary Negotiation Mistakes That Can Cost You the Offer You Deserve
Negotiating your salary can feel like stepping into the ring, but you can secure the offer you deserve with the right tactics. It's easy to...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 4 – Hitting the Bullseye 🎯 on Salary Questions
When it comes to salary negotiations, think of yourself as an archer lining up the perfect shot. The salary question is the target, and your...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 5 – Seven (7) Power Moves to Up Your Negotiation Game (With the Right Effort and Attitude)
Let’s face it—negotiating your salary or benefits can feel like walking onstage for the performance of a lifetime. 🎭 The spotlight is...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 6 – Maximize Your Compensation How to Negotiate Sign-On Bonuses, Equity & Profit Sharing Like a Pro
So, you got the job offer—congrats! 🎉 But before you pop the champagne and sign on the dotted line, let’s talk about something just as exciting as...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 7 – Why Negotiation Matters: Don’t Leave Money (or Perks) on the Table
Negotiation isn’t just about salary—it’s about getting the best total compensation package so you don’t wake up months later thinking, "Wait… I...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 8 – How to Respond with a Counteroffer (Without Losing the Offer) 💼
You got the offer—cue the happy dance! 💃🎉 But before you say “yes” too quickly or “no” too boldly, take a beat. If the offer isn’t quite what you...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 9 – Declining the Offer
How to Know When to Walk Away from an Offer (and How to Do It Gracefully) You’ve got the offer. You’ve asked the right questions. Maybe you even...
Negotiating Your Worth: Part 10 – What to Do After Accepting the Offer (Before Your First Day)
You negotiated like a pro, the ink is dry, and your happy dance is complete. 🎉 But before you coast into your new role, there’s a critical window...
Bold Industry Moves: Unlocking New Paths to Career Growth
If you're in the middle of your career, you've already put in the work, built expertise, and gained valuable experience. But what happens...
What Are the 10 Key Moves You Need to Make Your Resume Stand Out From the Competition?
A standout resume grabs the attention of hiring managers and recruiters by offering a clear, concise, and compelling snapshot of your skills and...
How to Seize Career Opportunities and Leverage Your Strengths as a Woman
This article offers practical strategies to help women unlock their full potential, thrive in…
Creating a Career Development Plan That Works
Not having a solid career plan is like wandering through the job market without a map—sure, you
Mastering Business Success Without a College Degree
Succeeding in business without a college degree is entirely possible if you follow the right steps. You can build a thriving business from the...
Six Actions to Ensure a Successful Job Search and Interview
Did you recently quit your job (or just think about doing so) and are looking for greener pastures? Were you part of a restructuring and find...
Navigating Your Job Search in 2024: Tips for Success
Have you recently quit your job, faced restructuring, or are exploring new opportunities? No matter your situation, these tips on resumes, cover...
Elevate Your Job Search Success in 2024 with a Tailored Resume
To maximize your chances of success in your job search, you must make minor adjustments to tailor your resume to each specific job you are...