Blog – Page 12 – Dawson Consulting Group

Be a Leader for Life!

January 21, 2009/in Author, Career Development, Job Search, Leadership, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

We often reserve the title “leader” for bosses, teachers, and presidents, who are leaders in the “official” sense of the word. However, if we think about it everyone is a leader or has the potential to be one. Whether we are aware of it or not, even seemingly insignificant actions impact the people around us, and we often base our own actions on what we see those around us doing. So how can you become an effective, influential, and positive leader? Doug Gehrman recently published his book Leadership for Life: Your Guide to Becoming a Transformational Leader and joined us this week to share his insights on leadership in the workplace and in daily life.

Power Referrals for Your Job Search & Career Advancement with Andrea Sittig-Rolf

January 6, 2009/0 Comments/in Author, Career Development, Job Search, Networking, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

So you have a perfect resume, a top-notch cover letter, glowing reference letters, and the confidence and attitude to interview like a pro. Ready. Set. Job search success… almost. Your preparation, positive attitude, and resume are vital to the life and success of your job search, however there is one integral element missing from this scenario… networking. It is easy to underestimate its value and dismiss it, but in fact seventy five to eighty percent of jobs today are found through contacts and associations. Cold calling seem too intimidating? For many the answer is a resounding yes. Even approaching an acquaintance or friend to discuss jobs and careers can create some nervousness and trepidation. Yet networking remains arguably the most important tool in a successful job search, so take a deep breath and commit to networking your way to a better job and better career. This week we invited Andrea Sittig-Rolf, founder of Sittig Incorporated and author of Power Referrals: The Ambassador Method for Empowering Others to Promote Your Business and Do the Selling for You, to discuss insights for building lasting relationships, and tips for job search and career success.

Insights on Building Your Career Momentum

December 19, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, Health Care, Job Search, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Interview with Dan Oglesby, SR VP Human Resources, Spectrum Health

Job Search: The Total System is your proven, step-by-step resource for achieving a better job, for better pay, and a better life. For years our clients have used our tools and techniques, and they have gone on to accomplish bigger and better things in their careers and in their lives. One of our foremost success stories, Dan Oglesby, now Senior Vice President of Human Resources with Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids Michigan, discussed how Job Search: The Total System helped him leverage his career transitions throughout the last 10 years. His remarkable career in human resources and experience helping Spectrum Health become one of the foremost health care systems in the country, position him as a leader in talent management and human capital performance.

The FISH Principle of Life and More!

December 16, 2008/0 Comments/in Author, Career Development, influencing, Job Search, Networking, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Stephen Lundin, Chairman and co-Founder of Ontend Creative Partners, as well as a noted author and speaker on work culture, innovation, motivation, and customer service was the featured guest on Total Career Success VoiceAmerica Radio Show. Dr. Lundin discussed his bestselling book FISH! and upcoming book CATS: The Nine Levels of Innovation and how positive energy and innovation can improve and put joy in your job search and career.

We led this week’s show with some tips for your job search, especially as we enter the holiday season. While the majority of people perceive the holiday season as a slow time that often puts a damper on a job search, it is important to remain active and proactive in your job search throughout the season in order to be prepared when the pace picks up again in January. Here are a few tips for a fruitful job search amid the holiday buzz:

Entrepreneurship for Everyone!

December 8, 2008/0 Comments/in Author, Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Job Search, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Success in any career position involves hard work, commitment, a goal-oriented work ethic, and an entrepreneurial mindset. However, in a contract position or in the contingency workforce in which you really are working independently, it is even more essential to cultivate and refine these traits in order to achieve goals and ongoing success. Michael Gerber, founder of “E-Myth Worldwide,” was the featured guest to discuss the traits, skills, and practices of the successful entrepreneur. Whether marketing a business or your skills for a potential job, it is essential to tap into your own creativity and imagination in order to define and achieve your entrepreneurial vision and goals.

VoiceAmerica Radio Interview with NACE President Dr. Manny Contomanolis

December 2, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, College Grads, Education, Job Search, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Finding a job that is “the perfect fit,” even for individuals with pages of references and years of experience, often proves to be a challenging task. If you are a college student and or recent graduate seeking a professional position for the first time, the job search process can seem almost overwhelming. After all, you are charting unfamiliar territory that is far removed from the comfortable academic routine of college. But do not despair! With your degree and intelligence, eagerness and enthusiasm, and a little help from Total Career Success, you will soon secure the perfect job and be on the road to success. Total Career Success founders Ken and Sheryl Dawson sat down with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) President Manny Contomanolis to discuss issues and trends facing college students and recent graduates who are currently involved in job searches. (Listen to the interview) Their Total Career Success radio show focused specifically on job markets and trends for first-time job seekers, as well as tools for success and finding the right fit for YOU.
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Dr. Bill Pepicello, President, University Of Phoenix, on Career Advancement through Education

November 10, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, College Grads, Education, Job Search, radio show, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

As the sixth president of the University of Phoenix, Dr. Bill Pepicello is responsible for the leadership of the largest private university in the United States. He has extensive experience in higher education, having served as Provost for the University, Dean of the School of Advanced Studies, as well as in executive, administrative, and faculty positions with a number of prestigious institutions. He holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in Linguistics from Brown University. Dr. Pepicello serves on a number of national, state, and local Boards and is recognized as a leader in the changing landscape of American higher education.

Dr. Pepicello spoke about his perceptions on how education positions one for success in their field of choice, how the current economic conditions will challenge various career aspirations, how global competition impacts career choices and addressed questions from the audience.

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Armed to Get a Job!

October 28, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, College Grads, Job Search, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

5 Weapons for College Grads to Attack the Job Market and Win

The new college graduate is eager to get that first professional job! Degree in hand and four or more years of hard work to get an education in their chosen field, they are anxious to put it all to good use. As they face a dampened 2009 job market as predicted by the latest National Association of Colleges and Employers’ survey, they need to be armed for competition.

2 Principles of Professionalism in the Workplace

October 6, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, College Grads, Education, Leadership, Networking, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Last week I had the privilege to speak to a leadership class at Texas Woman’s University. The co-ed class was a diverse group of health care managers and aspiring managers from many cultures, backgrounds and ages. What was most interesting was the unanimity in definition of professionalism! To be sure the class responded to my question for a definition with an assortment of qualities, characteristics and values including: integrity, attitude, respect of others, courtesy, responsiveness, consideration, openness to communication, accountability, and competence. However, as we analyzed the list a consensus of two underlying principles of professionalism emerged.
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Total Career Success University

August 1, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, Job Search, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. I’ve been very busy working with our webmaster to get our new subscription section ready to demo. The site is coming along nicely. We’ve added some flash interactive quizzes and I’m editing some video for the site as well. Our initial approach was to have two separate versions so people could choose whether they preferred more text or more interactivity and video. We decided to go with one version.

Get Off the Treadmill!

July 14, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, Cycle of Success, Job Search, Linkage, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Are you working away your life but feel like you are getting nowhere? Now is the time to get off the treadmill and begin to run free! It is easy to get so focused on the tasks at hand, mired in daily responsibilities, and driven by a non-stop hectic pace. But there is a way to get off the proverbial treadmill and redirect your career. Here are some key steps to take:
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What I Learned at the NACE 2008 Conference

June 6, 2008/0 Comments/in Career Development, College Grads, Education, Job Search, Total Career Success/by Sheryl Dawson

Wow! What a great conference…

I went to the NACE conference this year, not as an exhibitor, but sort of as a researcher – an information seeker. Although I have many years experience in corporate outplacement and career transition, I didn’t claim to be an expert on what college career centers needed specifically. I wanted to find out first hand, so, I headed to New Orleans!

The keynote speaker was Daniel Pink, author of the bestselling Free Agent Nation. His address was titled “What Talent Wants: Inside the Hearts and Minds of the Free Agent Work Force.” That topic really was a great opening to an ongoing theme that permeated the entire conference. The question that I kept hearing over and over again was… “How do we best reach the millennial generation?”