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Objective: To write a compelling article to help resume writers capture the attention of potential employers using a great resume objective.

The objective is the first thing people will see when they read your resume. A good objective will be concise, upbeat, and grab the reader's attention.

Also, it needs to be tailored to each position you apply for. You need to tell the reader exactly why you want to work for them. If you want to write the perfect objective, here are some tips:

This is the place to describe the kind of job you're seeking. Keep the objective neutral. Don't talk about your own desires, but instead state what you can do for the company.

So instead of writing a statement like, “A position where I have the ability to use my skills and grow, etc.”, be more specific about the job itself. Instead, write something like, “A position as an administrative assistant in a professional office environment. When you write your objective, focus on the company and the position. Keep this in mind: What would the manager want in a new employee?

One title per resume! Don't write a laundry list of all the things you're willing to do. The resume objective is a place to answer a very specific question: “What kind of job do you want?”

Keep it short. The objective should be no more than one sentence. You might use two sentences as long as both are short and get straight to the point. However, a long objective will not be getting a lot of attention.

This isn't the place to angle for a promotion before you've already gotten this job! Everyone wants opportunities to advance, and everyone knows it. Don't say the obvious here. Telling them in your objective that you're hard-working and responsible in those words should be redundant. Hopefully this will show up in your skill and experience!

So if you write your resume objective from the point of view of an employer, and if you keep all these tips in mind, you'll be that much closer to the perfect job!

Trying to Write the Perfect Resume? Visit Make a Resume. We cover everything from How to Make a Resume to Free Resume Samples for Dental Jobs and each other position you can think of.

Lily is a lovely, talented graphic designer who works for a vibrant top design studio downtown. Only a few weeks after she has started, major clients begin requesting to work with her. They like Lily's fresh creative approach, her friendly appearance and willingness to go the extra mile to achieve outstanding results for them.

Lily has each reason to be proud and happy. However, she's getting more and more tired, depressed and frustrated, loosing enthusiasm for her job. Why? Lily has noticed that while her colleagues are working at two, maximum three projects at a time with at least one assistant by their side, Lily often has to manage up to five projects with no assistant at all.

“I don't know what to do”, she sighs. “Sometimes I begin work at 6 am and stay until way after midnight. But no one seems to notice, let alone care.” To her it doesn't seem fair after all the good work she does and she’s eager to find out how she could bring the topic up in a conversation with her boss without sounding too desperate or angry.

By the way, Lily's boss appreciates her and often commends her youngest and most successful designer in front of clients. When asked how Lily reacts to those compliments, her answer doesn't come as a surprise to an experienced career or communication coach: “Mostly I say: 'It was nothing' or 'It really wasn't a massive deal'. I don't feel comfortable if she makes such fuss about it.”

Tell me, if you were Lily's boss would you ask Lily whether she needs any help when apparently she achieves great success single handedly even when working on multiple projects with tight deadlines? My guess: you would not and that is exactly the clue to solving the problem. If you work hard and deliver good results you need to learn to speak about them or they’ll go unnoticed.

It's a very common phenomena observed when people complain about not getting appropriate rewards for their hard and obviously successful work: Lily - like many other professionals , in particular women - trips over her own modesty. When we were children we were all told not to show off our accomplishments. We were taught to be modest. Fair enough! No one likes people who boast with their achievements.

However, if you take this childhood lesson as seriously as Lily, you might not get where you want to - especially in your career. If you want to get a superior job or your well deserved promotion, try this:

# If you work hard for your success, simply state so calmly and friendly and no one will take it as showing-off.

# If someone congratulates you, look him or her straight in the eye, smile and say: “Thank you. Yes, it took me many hours and weekends to complete the project. I'm really proud of the outcome and I'm very happy that you appreciate it.”

# Delete sentences like “It was nothing” forever. Never ever downplay your success. If you downplay it everyone else will.

Workplace has become a fast paced and competitive place. If you want that your success is being noticed you need to promote yourself. The good news is that you can learn how to do that even if you're the kind of person who likes not to stand in the spotlight. How? Get a communication coach who will show you simple and easy-to-use techniques how to talk about your successes while feeling good about it. Enroll in a course that's specialised in the art of effective but subtle self-promotion where you'll find great ideas and also like minded people.

Good work resulting in excellent outcomes is worth to be talked about. And so are you! Take action! Get your credits, get your promotion! You deserve it!

Claudia Raab is an internationally experienced journalist, communications professional and as director of Raab & Raab Performance Consulting.

5 Steps for Surviving the Job Search Doldrums

It's a slow time of the year for job seekers. Security recruiters offer advice on using the down time to put your job search in shape for next year.

The period of time between Thanksgiving and the New Year is notoriously slow for job seekers. While some things speed up–perhaps your heart rate when trying to find a parking space at the mall–others, like lining up that interview for your dream security job, come to a screeching halt. During this month, companies are advertising fewer jobs, and employers aren't conducting as many interviews to fill positions. It's not just your imagination.

Many employers don't post jobs at the end of the year because they don't have the budget for a new hire, says Jeff Combs, practice lead of IT risk recruiting for executive recruitment firm Alta Associates. “If they're posting,” he states, “it's because they want to get a pipeline going into the new year, when they've a new budget”–but they still might be slow to respond to candidates who answer their job ads. Combs states that out of each 20 clients with job orders for a recruiter to fill, typically only four or five of them are serious about actually hiring someone between now and the end of the year.

Even companies that are serious about the hiring process might find it next to impossible to get the ball rolling on the interview process. “With the stress, [holiday] celebrations, and people not wanting to lose vacation time, it's difficult to get everyone mentally lined up for the interview process,” Combs says. Nevertheless, security job seekers can still take advantage of the hiring lull by using the time to regroup. Here are some tips on how to do that, between bites of pumpkin pie.

1. Reevaluate yourself. Take the time to plan your search and be analytical about it, Combs states. “You're marketing yourself when you're looking for a new job, so take the time to brand yourself.” To do that, you need to understand what makes you better than the other candidates applying for the same job. “Think about what your differentiators are, and how you're going to define and articulate them,” he states.

You should also give some serious thought as to what you really want to do. Want to work for a larger company? Move from the technical realm into security management? “Ask yourself what your motivations are for wanting to make the move,” Combs says. “Do you want to do the same thing for another company, or do you want more responsibility?” If you consider these things prior to the application process, then you're starting from solid ground.

2. Do your homework. Research different companies in your region and identify ones that you think may be able to use your skills, says Evan Scott, president of executive search firm Evan Scott Group International. “Search company websites and see what kinds of jobs they are advertising for,” he says. If they seem to be a fit, get some contacts and send out some initial e-mails introducing yourself. Or, if possible, take some time to visit certain companies.

“It's a good opportunity to canvas all the companies that might support your professional interests within a commuting distance,” Combs states.

3. Party, er, network. With all the celebrations going on, networking is often easier to do this time of year, Scott states. “It's a great opportunity to meet new recruiters and begin to plant some seeds for meetings in January.” If you’re looking for positions at the CSO/CISO level, Scott suggests reaching out to retainer-based search firms, which tend to handle high-level job postings. (A recruiter who works on retainer has an exclusive contract to fill a job. For the inside skinny, read “The Moving Game,” written by a CSO who's been there, done that.) “Recognize they might not have a fit for you now, but set up a meeting anyway; it's a good time for them to know who you're.”

Combs says it's also a good time to reach out to existing contacts. “Let headhunters you know and trust know you're ready to start looking,” he states. “Touch base with friends, past colleagues, current colleagues or organizations you might be a member of, like the Information Systems Security Association or (ISC)2, and see if there are any networking meetings you can take advantage of.”

Once you do make the connection, whether new or old, make sure you set a timeline for following up, Combs states. It's especially important to do this time of year, when people are increasingly busy outside of work. “You don't want to pester people, but set a date to speak again and be disciplined about it.”

Combs and Scott both predict that social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace will continue to grow in popularity, and effectively change the job search process. Scott states he hasn't seen such techniques used very much at the senior levels, but that they might be more effective for middle management and junior-level positions. Regardless of your experience level, it's not a bad idea to put yourself on a network like LinkedIn.

However, it's still good to exercise caution when using those tools, states Combs. “Steer toward ones that are more professionally focused,” he says. “Use them in a way that's constructive toward your professional goals and maintain a high level of professionalism through them.”

4. Sharpen your resume. These quiet weeks are also a good time to hunker down with your resume. You could start by spending some time visiting job list aggregators like SimplyHired and Monster. Although the listings might be sparse, it's helpful to know what’s out there before you work on your resume. “That way, they're writing it with the goal of solving the problems the job descriptions are asking to be solved,” Combs says, and listing their accomplishments and skills in a way that satisfies what the market wants. Writing it with that context in mind can improve your chances of scoring an interview. “It all goes back to figuring out what your differentiators are and branding yourself,” Combs states. “Then make sure your resume reflects that.”

Recruiters can also help, Scott states. “If you can develop a relationship with a recruiter, ask them for their advice,” he states. “It's a good idea to ask them for samples of resumes they like.”

5. Be patient. During this time of year, don't take it personally if things aren't happening quickly, Combs states. Recognize that it's natural for things to slow down during this season; that's not a reflection of your worth as an employee or job skills. Instead, he states, “take advantage of the fact that it's slower, and do the 'housecleaning' that most people don't get to do when things are moving quickly. And try to enjoy the holiday season.”

8 Signs It's Time to Look for a New Job

Short of being handed your walking papers, there are often telltale signs that it's time to look for a new job. You haven't been promoted since the Clinton administration. The most exciting assignments are routinely handed to your peers or underlings. Your desk keeps moving farther and farther from where the action is.

But some indicators are less obvious, such as subtle shifts in an IT organization's structure that can result in career stagnation. A variety of career experts, headhunters, recruiters, CIOs and IT staffers shared their takes on when it's time to move on.

1. Your role has become marginalized.

If you're being bypassed for promotions or interesting assignments, or they're consistently being offered instead to IT workers in subordinate positions, “that would be an obvious sign,” says Robert Rosen, CIO at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in Bethesda, Md., and a past president of Share, an IBM user group in Chicago.

Often, the handwriting is on the wall. You just need to cease, step back and read it. “If you feel like you're no longer contributing, there's a good chance you might not be,” states Frank Hood, CIO at The Quiznos Master LLC in Denver.

2. You've stopped growing.

“If you're not learning each day, if you're not doing new things, and if you're not improving” it's time to move on, states Sara Garrison, senior vice president of product and solutions development at Sabre Holdings Corp. in Southlake, Texas.

Red lights should be flashing if you've effectively been in the same role for two or three years and haven't taken on any significant new challenges during that time, states Umesh Ramakrishnan, vice chairman of CTPartners, an executive recruiting firm in New York.

3. You're missing from the large picture.

Most CIOs assemble a road map of where they intend to take their organizations over the next 12 to 60 months, including the top IT/business projects they plan to work on, notes Joe Trentacosta, CIO at the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative Inc. in Hughesville, Md. So, if there are a lot of upcoming projects that don't include your area of expertise or in which you figure to play a minor role at best, “that's a warning sign,” he states.

Further, if you've been relegated to a commodity-type IT function that offers little value to the organization or can easily be outsourced, “it's time to move on to a new opportunity,” states Hans Keller, chief technology officer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

4. You're being excluded.

If you're a CIO or other senior IT manager, the warning signs can include not being asked to participate in new business decisions or being excluded from formal or informal executive committee meetings, says Craig Urrizola, CIO at Saladino's Inc., a Fresno, Calif.-based food distributor.

The view is equally bleak if you're an IT staffer whose input on new projects is no longer requested or is sought out on just a limited basis.

5. Your level of influence is waning.

A CIO certainly has more clout within an organization than a network engineer. But all IT professionals possess some level of influence within their work teams or at least among their own peer groups. If you see your powers of persuasion shrinking, it's time to move on, Keller advocates.

6. You no longer enjoy the work.

“Someone once told me that we're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time,” states Michael Nieset, managing partner for the technology practice at the Cleveland office of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. “Sometimes people stay in suboptimal situations because it's comfortable for them. You've to take control.

“If you're not excited about the projects you're working on, fix it,” he states. “If you're wholly engaged, passionate about what you're doing and doing what you're good at, you'll be fulfilled and rewarded accordingly. “

7. Continuous improvement isn't part of the mantra.

Sometimes there are organizational changes — or lack thereof — that you should regard as career alerts. These include stagnation within a corporation or an IT department. If your IT organization has been using the same application-development techniques for 15 years and has made no effort to update its approach, “then something's wrong,” states David Van De Voort, principal consultant at Mercer LLC in Chicago. If your company is unwilling to invest in continuous improvement processes such as CMMI, ITIL or Six Sigma, it may be time to seek a company that's, he adds.

8. Greener pastures truly are greener.

If you've reached a crossroads where you've become disenchanted with your employer for one reason or another (long hours, infrequent promotions, career malaise, etc.), and you've received a job offer from another company, it might be the right time to jump ship. “In situations where things don't fix themselves — if you hate what you're doing, or you're not proud of what you're doing, or there's an issue you need to speak to your boss about but you don't because you know it won't do any good — that's when it's time to look for a new job,” states Joel Reiter, an application analyst at U.S. Bancorp in St. Paul, Minn.

In this situation, however, be certain that you're not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Make sure you're moving toward a good opportunity and not just moving away from one that has gone bad.

On the web job services were meant to automate the job search process, getting jobseekers in front of prospective new employers faster. How well is it working for you? If you've sent out dozens of resumes and gotten tiny or no response, it probably feels like you're sending your resume into a vast black hole. Do you feel like shouting “Hey, is anyone out there?”

To better the odds that your resume is being seen by a real person who can offer you a real job, here are three guidelines to make your resume more effective.

1. Include Key Words

With paper resumes a thing of the past, employers use candidate tracking databases to store resumes. Recruiters and hiring managers use key words to query and find the candidate resumes that match the job. If you aren't using the right words to describe your employment experiences, then your resume might be rejected before it's ever seen. Review the key words your resume uses to:

* Describe your current career objective. Do your qualifications match the job description? Look closely at areas listing your technical skills, job responsibilities, and core competencies.

* Attract your industry. Are you using your industry's current buzzwords? Avoid obsolete terms and phases that might label you as behind the times.

* Attract your occupational field. Does your resume give the impression that you're cutting edge or over the hill? Make sure your resume shows why you're a good choice for the job.

2. Use the Correct Electronic Version

If your resume can't be opened as an attachment, then it can't be seen. Because of the threat of computer viruses, many companies only accept resumes through their own on the web forms which ask you to cut and paste (rather than attach) your resume. Make sure you’re sending your resume in a format that will work for the recipient.

* If a resume attachment is requested: Save your resume as a Word document (.doc or .rtf). This is the standard that most companies use. It should retain the formatting that you used for your resume. Avoid fancy formatting options such as columns, boxes, and tables.

* If an email or on the internet form is used: Use ASCII, plain text, or text only (.txt). This removes formatting, but the information is preserved. Be sure to review your resume before sending it so that it is still easy to read and user friendly. 3. Make Your Resume Stand Out from the Crowd

With hundreds of candidates to select from, what makes your resume shout “Pick me!”? If your qualifications are similar or equal to the vast majority of other candidates, employers will need a compelling reason to select you out of the crowd. You need a differentiating edge, or you'll be ignored.

The ideal way to differentiate your resume from others is with accomplishments. And those accomplishments really stand out when:

* They're quantified or measurable. Can you define how much you accomplished in dollars saved, contracts won, or percent changed?

* They highlight your transferable skills. Can your skills be used by this company, even if your job experience is in a different industry? Transferable skills help employers visualize you in their organization.

* They show corporate impact. How can you help them save time, save money, increase their profit margin, improve sales, or increase revenue?

While the World wide web is still a great tool to connect quickly with employers, you need to take steps to ensure your resume won't be ignored. Before you apply on the web again, use these three tips to make sure your resume gets the attention it deserves!

Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach, helps jobseekers coast to coast navigate the Internet by staying abreast of the significant technical changes that affect on the internet job-search strategies. Visit Deb on the web at http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com

Resume Posting Service

This is a service that allows job seekers to post their resumes to an on the internet job search site, which is used by employers and recruiters. Using a resume database of an online job site makes it easier for employers and recruiters to identify you. When posting your resume, always use key words, as this increases the chances of your resume being found easily by an employer for an interview. This service is usually free for job seekers.

Advanced Word Processing Programs

Use MS word as it includes both, basic and advanced tools that help you to create and format your resume. Don't forget to keep a back up of your Ms Word-based resume in some other application like Notepad or Wordpad. These applications convert your resume into ASCII text that allows your resume to be read properly in email format.

Mention keywords that are closely associated with the job for that you are applying for.

Advantage Of Posting On the web

As soon as you post your resume on the web, your resume and skills are made available to numerous employers and recruiters. Ultimately, you gain access to a large number of opportunities. The same can’t be reached by viewing employment advertisements, company web sites, employment web sites or newspapers.

Disadvantage

As each coin has two sides, so does posting on the internet. The biggest advantage of posting a resume on the internet is that it also makes all your personal information visible to everyone. You might be troubled by a number of phone calls from various agencies, employment consultants, headhunters and even telemarketers. In order to avoid this, don't provide too much personal information and be careful with what you chose to disclose.

Resume Bank

You need to be very alert when choosing to use a resume bank, as some offer free service, while others might charge a monthly fee. Besides the service cost, what’s more important is the scope of the service. A few offer national exposure and at the same time, some are attached to professional associations or a network of businesses. Rather then regretting it later, be careful before when submitting your resume. Always weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Key Reminders

It is always useful to post your resume on the internet as it provides a wide network of job opportunities. For a specific job, you need to go to the best resume bank available, create a strong resume and post your electronic resume. Be confident when you meet an employer and make each possible effort to present yourself professionally.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online - http://www.sixsigmaonline.org offers on the web six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

There are a number of common mistakes that people make when writing their resumes. Each of these mistakes can really undermine you, no matter how much good work you have put into writing and formatting.

Here are the most common mistakes and how to repair them:

1. Using Little Fonts: People tend to change jobs much more frequently nowadays than they did in the past. Consequently it can be a struggle to squeeze in all your previous work experience in one or two pages, and as a result, many people are tempted to use a little font. This is not a good idea, you should never use a font size smaller than 10 points. Instead, you should aim to edit your resume to make it more concise. Additionally, it's okay to omit information which isn’t relevant to your potential employer - for example, if you're aged 50 and applying for a senior management position, it isn't necessary to include the part-time Summer job you had in high school in your previous employment!

2. Too Much Text: When writing your resume, especially the previous experience section, you want to avoid use long wordy paragraphs. You want to be concise and focus on conveying the key points. Use action words like “managed”, “developed”, “created”, write simply, and even think about using bullet points instead of paragraphs of text.

3. Inaccurate Proper Names: Double check that all proper names (especially school and company names) are correct, and spelled correctly. Don't use variations or abbreviations of the names, no matter how widely understood that you think that they’re - use the actual name.

4. Typos, etc.: They look careless and they are careless. Typos, spelling and grammar mistakes will simply convince potential employers that you're poor at paying attention to detail. Use the spell checker in your wordprocessor software, but be aware this won’t catch everything, so ask friends and family to double and triple check your resume too.

5. Personal Web Sites: Many people include a link to a personal web site in their resume. This is mistake unless your web site is entirely focused on material related to your career. Non-work related information on your web site may encounter as frivilous, time-wasting, irrelevant or inappropriate. If your web site includes jokes, photographs, stories, blogs, information about friends or social events, don't include a link to it in your resume. If you really want to include a link to a web site in your resume, then set up a web site just about your professional career, and link to that.

By S. Tanna. First published at http://www.jobpixie.com/resume_tips_mistakes.php

As after any workout you may feel overwhelmed (sore muscles). Don't despair. It will get easier after the groundwork is done. It is very important that you continue to work out. Practice, practice, practice, and become stronger, smoother, and more comfortable.

The goal isn't to become over-rehearsed and stiff, but to be prepared and natural. Can you imagine an actor going into a performance without a rehearsal? This is your time to prepare and rehearse.

It is important that you continue to work on your communication skills. If you feel you need one-on-one help, think about working with a professional, or work with a friend or relative who will give you positive and constructive feedback. It is also important that you practice the right way. If you keep practicing, but are repeating mistakes, you’ll not improve. Consider a tennis or golf swing - it takes a pro to show you the right way.

Maybe you won't get a job offer every time, but preparation will greatly improve your chances and your confidence. Treat each interview as a new learning experience. You might even begin to enjoy the process - some people do!

The Mock Interview

Try the mock interview you might enjoy it. You'll get valuable feedback needed to improve.

As with each skill you've ever learned, you've to learn the technique and then practice, practice, practice.

Julia's story:

Julia is an accomplished tennis player who has worked on her stroke and technique for many years. She has taken lessons from pros, and listened to their advice when they gave Her their critiques.

Julia is now seeking a job. She feels that she knows her subject, but doesn't feel good about how her last three interviews have turned out – no offers. Julia begins to think she might need some work on her interviewing style, and decides to get help. She looks for a pro to put her through practice where she has the ability to gain feedback and tips. This was the way she conquered her tennis game. Why not with her interviewing techniques?

Working with a professional and getting feedback on your performance through a mock interview is similar to working with a sports coach to learn how to improve your game. Both will enable you to learn where your strengths lie and where you may need work to improve your performance. Time spent practicing will assist you greatly in either situation. An added bonus to preparing and practicing is the self-confidence you'll gain. In today's competitive world, you must be prepared, be in top shape, and most of all, believe in yourself.

What happens in a mock interview?

An in-person session is a mock interview videotaped and critiqued. You'll view the tape with the coach and discuss your performance body language, facial expressions, eye contact, general enthusiasm, your answers. (Usually, one to two hour sessions). A phone-session will be audio-taped. You will listen to the tape played back and critiqued by the coach. You’ll received feedback about your answers, your enthusiasm, your use of language, your tone how you are being perceived. There is tremendous value in learning the proper techniques from a coach and then practicing them. When you devote the same energy to the interview process as you do to your golf or tennis game you’ll find new confidence and become a winner!

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Try her practice interview and pick up a copy of her FREE 9-part “Interview Success Tips” report by visiting Carole on the internet at http://www.interviewcoach.com

5 Ways to Stand Out and Get Your Dream Job

For students finishing up their college careers or even business people looking to succeed in their current jobs, no question is more common than, “How do I stand out?”. As one of our readers, “John Con”, asks,

“What do you wish you did/didn't do in college that would help you succeed today or more precisely- what will make a person stand out?”

As I am constantly being asked this question by other friends just finishing college and even older friends who are looking to improve or change their careers, I want to put my thoughts and experiences thus far out for communal cogitation.

These are not so much the specific actions I believe are best; there is no specific combination of activities that guarantees success. However, this is a set of goals that grant you to stand out and can be reached through any number of paths.

1. Be a Whole Person This isn't just the usual tip Career Services hands out as you fill in the last few lines of your resume, it is an integral part of any interview. If you spend each spare minute working and studying rather than pursuing your other passions you'll swiftly run out of material for situational interviews. In fact, a number of the recruiters I've talked to actually frown on a straight 4.0 students to the point of being especially critical of those with above a 3.8. Don't take this as an excuse to not study but, when you're faced with a choice between taking part in a student organization or a committee and studying to make sure you get a straight 4.0, go with the depth of experience that external activities can provide.

2. Be Passionate Notice it says “be passionate” not “show passion” or “feign excitement”. Those around you can swiftly detect whether you're truly passionate about the organization you're working for or the position you are interviewing for. Once you’re in a given role you need that passion even more to spread to those around you for motivation and to demonstrate commitment to your manager (without even trying because you believe in what you're doing).

3. Be a Leader Everyone talks about “leadership”, there are even majors and innumerable development courses for it but, it doesn't have to be that complicated. Find something you’re passionate about and learn what it takes to lead by interacting with people who have similar beliefs. Gather the thoughts, views and goals of the group, combine them with your vision and help the group achieve them by planning a strategy with them, not for them. Your passion to lead change, in any group whether political, academic, athletic or otherwise, is directly translatable to leading in the constantly changing corporate environment.

4. Be Reflective and Relative Each single business out there's looking for improvement and advancement. This forward-looking progress is often the result of reflecting on the current process and interpreting it for improvement. As Revans says, “Lasting behavioral change is more likely to follow the reinterpretation of past experiences than the acquisition of fresh knowledge”. Take the time to reflect on what you've done, how you can improve it, and how it relates to other areas or people in your life.

5. Be Externally Aware Having a basic knowledge of what’s going in your industry and the business world in general can help not just in your interview but throughout your career as you encounter problems. Many innovations are merely the result of an externally cognizant manager applying a new technology or process in a way never considered before. Without external awareness, you'll be less able to make these new adaptations and cross-applications. Get out there, read news, keep a finger on the pulse of the blogosphere for different perspectives that never make it to the mainstream and finally, read books, it's the only way to get your head out of the whirlwind of up-to-the-minute daily news.

Written for Dumb Tiny Man by Brandon who blogs with 4 other young professionals about “Work, Life and the pursuit of happiness” at NewlyCorporate.com.

How to Let the Headhunter Do the Job

Once you're close to getting an offer, having faith in the professional's ability to close the deal will work to your advantage

State you've been informed of your status as the leading candidate or you've received an official offer of employment. Your courtship as a potential candidate for the headhunter's client has indeed been a journey.

Finishing this journey depends on trust and faith. You’ve to trust the headhunter can communicate with the client and reinforce why you’re the best candidate for this job. You’ve to trust the headhunter's capability to fulfill your expectations about compensation and other benefits—and to negotiate in earnest. And yes, you’ve to have faith you are up to a new assignment.

If you haven't already, you’ll probably be asked to provide references who can confirm your fitness for the job. Make sure the references you provide know you well and will state good things about your work experience, professionalism, and capacity to tackle a new senior-management role. Pitfalls of the Counteroffer

If you're in line to become a C-level officer, don't be surprised if the hiring company wants to run a background check and perhaps even asks you to get a medical exam. Given the investment the company is contemplating, these are reasonable requests. You should also brace yourself for what could appear to be a too-good-to-turn-down counteroffer from your current employer, with a fatter salary and a loftier title. But it rarely makes sense to forsake a promising new position under such circumstances.

Accepting a counteroffer, after all, will only buy you and your employer a tiny extra time to attempt to find common ground about how you can live up to your true potential. Your current employer might also wrongly perceive that you're motivated purely by financial gain, which could change the way it treats you in the future. And should you accept a counteroffer, you can kiss goodbye the relationship you've developed with the headhunter who has taken you this far in the process. Beware of Family Ties

Much in the same way the headhunter must orchestrate mutual commitment between you and the client hiring organization, you must inform and manage communications with those closest to you about your potential transition. If you've told the headhunter and the client you're willing to relocate, you should really mean it. If you've a trailing spouse, partner, and kids, you owe it to those currently pursuing your candidacy for this new leadership role to make sure those family members are on board with the change and are willing to disrupt life as they know it.

More than a few executive headhunters have seen their otherwise flawlessly orchestrated search assignments go by the boards because the candidate never fully won the support of loved ones for relocation during the recruitment process.

It's this potential search-busting dynamic that leads many consultants to simply steer clear of any high-performing executives with a child who is a junior in high school. To the list of relocation nonstarters one might increasingly consider adding an executive's inability to sell the family's home for something near what they paid for it (in which case the executive's net worth could take a real beating if the new employer doesn't cover the loss) or a family's commitment to serve as caretakers for aging (perhaps also ailing) parents or other relatives. Creating a Win-Win Scenario

As the executive search approaches a successful conclusion, you should plan to be in close and nearly constant communication as the headhunter negotiates and otherwise advises the client about the true market value of someone with your credentials.

Often, these discussions lead to the hiring organization concurring to pay you more than it had anticipated when it first launched the search. That might be because someone of your caliber was deemed unattainable at the outset or because the hiring organization has received advice from a compensation consultant.

You can trust the headhunter to go to bat for you and, in the interest of closing the search to the client's satisfaction, try to create a win-win scenario. After all, he wants to work for the company again, and if your new role requires you to recruit new external talent, the headhunter might also view you as a future client. Onboarding Feedback

As you prepare to sign an offer of employment, you should press the headhunter and your new employer to include a provision for performance feedback, or what is often referred to as “onboarding” feedback. You’ll want the employer to commit to gathering feedback from key stakeholders about your performance 90 to 120 days after you start the new job. Such feedback is intended to reveal how your entry into your new employer organization has been perceived, how peers, boss, and subordinates would rate your performance to date, and whether you truly mesh with the organization's culture and internal politics.

That kind of environmental intelligence is critical. It can help you course-correct if need be. Otherwise, it should make you confident others believe you're firing on all cylinders.

After you start work, you can expect tan occasional call from the headhunter to make sure things are going well and to see how you feel about the new job. Take these calls and maintain your relationship with the headhunter. Staying on the headhunters' radar—and continuing to build your own professional network, for that matter—is one of the ideal ways to position yourself for the career and lifestyle you want.

Joseph Daniel McCool is a writer, speaker, and advisor on executive recruiting and management succession ideal practices.