Posts

"Manager" - That's Kiss of Death on Resumes/Cover Letters/LinkedIn Profiles

When American business had been the top dog in international trade its "management" was hailed as the key variable. Experts on management, from Peter Drucker to Alfred Sloan, were revered. Rosabeth Moss Kanter got in on it too.  Now with so many new moving parts in the global economy and all of them intersecting in unexpected ways a lot more is required than managing and fewer businesses are willing to pay for that stand-alone role.  Recently Google announced, for cost-efficiency, up to 10% of managers at all levels would go. Citi, UPS and Amazon are doing likewise. Overall there is a flattening of organizational layers , reducing demand for those managerial functions.  Therefore, the role of "manager" in job search materials not only doesn't give the edge, as it once had: Look I worked my way up to manager. It can knock you out of the box.  Instead, take an audit of your skills and quantify accomplishments, then create descriptions in the language of the key...

Post- Brian Thompson Assassination: "Power" Becomes Dirty Word, with the Capitalistic Values of the Legal System In-Play

Society is becoming more receptive to treating the typical power of capitalism's top players as a negative.  Late healthcare insurance leader Brian Thompson was allegedly gunned down because of the capitalistic values he symbolized and supposedly implemented. Much has changed since then in public opinion. Well known are polls such as those by Emerson College indicating young people's acceptance of that murder as "acceptable." Alleged killer Luigi Mangione is being hailed as a saint. Trial attorneys, of course, have to be right in sync with the court of public opinion. That's exactly why they often hire public relations firms to get their clients' stories out there, in ways that they want them told. So, it's predictable that the lawyer, now looped on the plaintiff side in to assist the previously pro se litigation "Savignac, et al. v Jones Day," positions and packages the term "power" in a negative way. As Bloomberg Law News reports Al...

Not Capitalism as Usual, Ranging from CEOs on Very Short Time (or hot seats) to Sainting of Luigi Mangione

  The top job in business, both for public and private companies, has lost its aura. The money, power and influence no longer seem "worth it." Recently in an BusinessInsider interview about whether Brad Karp would opt for another term as head of law firm Paul Weiss some observed that he would be "crazy" to do so. But Karp did and he has put the business on a souring upward trajectory.  In that, Karp is atypical. More often those in the top job are finding themself pushed out or throwing in the towel because of so much pressure from such a variety of constituents. CNBC reports record turnover in 2024, increasing almost 9% from the year before. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 327 chief executive officers left their businesses involuntarily or involuntarily. Those included Boeing, Nike, Starbucks and WW. Capitalism has become both impatient and unforgiving. Demanding more/different and faster are the usual Wall Street players, activist investors such ...

Boomers, Finally There's a Turnaround ...

  43,634.17 USD ▲  +184.27 (+0.42%) today December 18, 11:08 AM EST  ·  Market Open UPDATE: 42,326.87 USD ▼  -1,123.03 (-2.58%) today December 18, 4:59 PM EST  ·  Market Closed

You Can't Be Stuck in the Middle - Whether You're a Solo Entrepreneurship or Powerhouse Law Firm Like Paul Weiss

If you stand out there with the unique identity, the wind is at your back. If not, you will be battered with headwinds.  Today, hot off the press, my article on starting up your own public relations boutique is published in O'Dwyer's Public Relations . Of course, you must be differentiated.  In communications that type of one-of-a-kind positioning and packaging can happen through designing your enterprise as a niche service. Better yet, a niche within a niche. For example, your target markets are tech businesses which service the healthcare sector. For a large prestigious law firm such as Paul Weiss there is that same pressure for differentiation. In an interview today with Law.com , chair Brad Karp hammers: " ... critical that we evaluate, and continually reevaluate, what attributes distinguish Paul, Weiss in today’s marketplace so that we can adapt prudently, make wise investments and always operate from a position ahead of the curve." Of course, Paul Weiss will app...

Low Price of Entry, Clients Expected to Budget More for Your Services in 2025: Yes, Start Your Own PR Firm

  The chaos in all sectors makes this an ideal time to do something new: That is, start your own PR firm.  Unlike many other industries, the initial investment is low and you already know how to promote yourself. In the article I published today in O'Dwyer's Public Relations I provide tips on how to make your PR boutique get immediate traction.  Affordable Career Coach Jane Genova provides end-to-end career services, ranging from diagnosis of the challenges and fix-it strategies to preparation of resume/cover letters/LinkedIn profiles and how to gain control of an interview. I specialize in over-50 work issues. For a confidential complimentary consultation please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com . No pressure. Fees custom-made for your unique budget.

Promotions: The New Catch-22 (and portfolio careers should be catching on)

  What white-collar employee doesn't know: Promotions have become rare. The new meme has become to be grateful that you have a full-time job, with benefits. MSN documents: "Among 68 million white-collar professionals, just 1.3% were promoted in the first three months of the year, the lowest rate for any first quarter in data going back five years." With cost-efficiency still a "mission," among employers it's unlikely that situation will change. Actually, organizations might feel that they have received "permission" from the incoming Trump Administration to ramp up the cost-efficiency initiative even further. Cutting expenses is part of Donald Trump's passion. Promotions bring with them increases in compensation, which boost expense. Simultaneously, though, as this Reddit post indicates, many organizations are up or out. That is if you are not promoted you probably should interpret the decision as a signal that you better seek opportunities els...