You have finally landed the position of your dreams. The orientation is completed. Now what?

Whatever you do, maximize your honeymoon period. The honeymoon period is known as the first 90 days of your executive life in your new company. The single most important thing for you to do, is to form relationships with your new colleagues, both peers and direct reports.

You may be very smart, but you are not well versed about your new company and all the political intricacies that comes with it. The only thing that will keep you from making a misstep is your relationships and the associated good will that comes from them.

Make it a point to ask people how you can help them meet their goals as well as conveying how their ideas can be factors in the future vision of the organization.

You can avoid wasting a honeymoon…by being proactive.

Coach Kathleen

You may be at a low point in your job search and the leads appear to have dried up. This is a common phase in the 12 to 24 month executive job search. If you allow yourself to remain in this phase for very long, it will become a reality that will be hard to reverse.

Consider using your considerable gifts and talents to help others. Provide work and wisdom support for a not for profit group that you feel a connection to. You will increase your network while helping others.

It is in giving … that we receive.

Coach Kathleen

Hello to all my old and new friends from the Rehabillitation Institute of Chicago. I enjoyed meeting you at the Holt Symposium.

I await your comments and questions and look forward to seeing you next year at the Rehabillitation Institute of Chicago.

All the best,

Coach Kathleen Prunty

I am seeing a new kind of interviewee. The unemployed fresh graduate, living with parents or relatives, with no real bills to speak of.  These candidates are very interesting because they are not only looking for a job, but one that has work/life balance and meaning. Some people are in their careers for a lifetime and do not achieve that perfect balance. These “reverse retirees” are content to wait until the perfect job comes along, even if they are not sure what the perfect job looks like. If you are supporting a “reverse retiree” get them moving towards employment.

Even if it is not the perfect job, it will educate them on what position they do and do not want. More importantly, it will lessen a long unemployment gap… on the resume.

Coach Kathleen

I conducted a mock interview for a recent college graduate. I asked her to arrive at my office dressed as if she were going to an interview. Upon her arrival I noticed her beautiful interview suit. Unfortunately, I could not see much of the suit because it was hidden by a purse and a gigantic blue leather tote. She was also carrying a 3 inch 6 ring leather binder. For an interview, decide which item you will carry. You want to create an impression of a qualified candidate...not a hotel bellhop. Coach Kathleen.