Plan Your Career by Julie Desmond

Julie Desmond is Talent Manager for Express Employment Professionals. Write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(Planning Your Career) Three R’s of job searching: Reorganize, retool, reconnect

Thursday, 10 September 2009 15:57 Julie Desmond

There are 2.3 million people who are unwittingly wearing the government’s ironic label, Discouraged Worker. These are the people who have stopped looking for work because “they believe there are no jobs available.” The label is incongruous because a discouraged worker is still, most likely, a worker. Discouraged or not, few of us have the luxury of retiring permanently. So what are these people working on?

(Plan Your Career) Adapting to a changing economy: Focus on your strengths

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 15:16 Julie Desmond

Sheila is having trouble moving forward to the second interview. She writes, “I think it ends up that I am strong in several of the skill sets but don't have a background in one of the skill sets. For example, the Hiring Manager at one of the interviews wanted someone with big 4 CPA firm experience and I do not have that background. I was really strong in the other areas so that is why I had a phone interview.”

*Plan Your Career) Should leaders apologize? Should anyone?

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 16:01 Julie Desmond

Top leaders never apologize; mistakes are part of doing business, they say. Thoughtful, compassionate leadership is the last thing a busy business owner has time for, but it can be a critical social skill to learn. Sometimes the only way out of an awkward corner is to say, sincerely, I’m sorry. At other times, simply pointing out the problem is enough. While wildly successful leaders don’t grovel, they do acknowledge their culpability by changing course when mistakes do occur, often owning the mistake without ever apologizing for it.

(Plan Your Career) Responsibility without authority: Successful assistants are leaders behind the scenes

Friday, 21 August 2009 13:35 Julie Desmond

Who is really in charge in your workplace? While your boss will take the hardest hit when something goes terribly wrong, if you are a successful administrative assistant, you know your leadership skills are invaluable. Stay organized, say seasoned administrative assistants. Delegate, control your technology and be humble because your most important task is making everyone else look good. You, in turn, will look awesome, and your long, successful career will be your reward.

(Plan Your Career) Gearing up for tomorrow’s green jobs

Thursday, 13 August 2009 15:25 Julie Desmond

Anna Pesola is an artist, welder and savvy career planner. Constantly striving to improve her marketability, she is applying this summer to engineering schools, hoping to achieve a degree in Renewable Energy Engineering. Only one school offers this degree at this time, but Anna sees this program as not the Only, but the First, of its kind. Anna is on the pulse of what America’s next wave of jobs are going to be about. According to one survey, the current 8 million green jobs could grow to as much as 30 million positions over the next 20 years. That’s something to get excited about – and to plan for.

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