85 Broads-Komen NYC Team is Half-Way There

You can only imagine how excited I was to log into the 85 Broads NY - Komen Race for the Cure page this morning and find out we've achieved nearly 50% of our fundraising goal!


That's right our 28 team members have secured 42 gifts to bring us even closer to our $3,500 target. I'm so proud of the efforts of these fantastic women in our FIRST year of building a team (in only 2 months, I might add). I can't wait to walk with everyone on Sunday!



I'm also grateful to the supporters who have brought me 37% of the way towards my $250 Challenge. And, my FREE Assessment offers still stand for donors who contribute to my Challenge before Race Day on September 13th. Read my earlier blog post for more details on how to claim your Thank YOU!



Together, we WILL Run Breast Cancer Out of Town!

In Topsy-Turvy Times, Focus on Your Spheres of Control

I received a message today from a colleague that mirrors the topsy-turvy nature of our times -- everyone seems to be wondering: "How the events on Wall Street affect me and my career?" As an eager, soon-to-be-entry-level-employee, she's concerned about being able to secure a stable position upon graduation. I'm hoping she doesn't put all of her "eggs" in one basket (i.e., only targeting the firm at which she interned last year).

While a certain degree of concern is normal, I coached her to not get too distracted by the external events -- of course, not to bury her head in the sand either! Know Your Market is a key Competent Advantage component. I encouraged her to focus on aspects of her search that are within her sphere of influence and control:

• Professional Collateral - having an updated CV/bio that can be shared at a moments notice. What specific experiences can be highlighted given the current turn-of-events? What key skills are especially relevant right now in your target company/industry? How can you show you've mastered them?


• Personal/Professional Network - using your inner circle to help get to the people you want to meet. What Web 2.0 resources can be tapped (e.g., social networking sites)? How can you access people in different ways: cross-functionally, across organizations/industries?


• Plan "B" - considering other roles/companies/industries if your current target is in a restructuring stage. Who else would value the skills/talents you bring? How can you use your network to identify key contacts and information?

What do you think? What strategies are you using to navigate the career landscape these days?

Does Your Career Portfolio Match Your Shoes?

Now that fall semester and campus recruiting are in full swing, I thought we'd continue our conversation on career portfolios. OK, I was KIDDING with the title for this post. In our last post, we confirmed that we're NOT talking about fashion accessories! (just checking to see if you're paying attention)

A career portfolio is:

• a reflection of your professional self
• a record of your professional (or academic) development
• tangible evidence of your "on-the-job" (or "in-the-classroom") performance

With that said, what do you think you should include in your career portfolio? Many career portfolios include:

• Resume or CV
• Licenses or Certifications
• Letters of reference
• Transcripts or diplomas
• Professional affiliation documentation
• Work samples (e.g., reports, presentations, etc.) With samples, it is important that you eliminate information that could be considered confidential.

The exercise of creating your career portfolio can help you to critically examine your life experiences and accomplishments. If you are preparing for an interview (or a performance appraisal meeting with your manager), the process enables you to highlight specific accomplishments and identify valuable workplace skills.

As usual, tell me about your experiences and thoughts. Soon, we'll discuss tips for organizing your career portfolio.