You are great at selling — but you’re a little less great at actually closing sales. You know better than to try some of the less attractive closing tactics like the “assumptive close” — intentionally treating a potential buyer like they’ve already agreed to do business with you. But, you love the product you’re selling, […]

Sitting in my office and looking at the beautiful Milwaukee waterway, I reflected on some of the hiring interviews I had conducted recently. I see many potential hires making the same mistakes, and I can’t help but wonder – what’s causing that? Candidates are often nervous, but why? They’re presenting a finished résumé, and they […]

When you’re looking for a new job, it’s normal to expect a lot of questions during your interviews. You’ll be asked about your job history. You’ll be asked how you’d proceed in a hypothetical situation. You’ll be asked about specific skills and your five-year plan. It can feel like all you’re doing is answering questions. […]

A mentor is something we all want. It’s also something that’s really easy to ignore. Finding a mentor usually is relegated to the back burner by the more pressing things in life: career, family, hobbies, commitments, chores and meetings. Being mentored is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself, and it’s something […]

You may not always know how you’re doing at work, and that’s why feedback is crucial to seek. Don’t take this the wrong way, but sometimes as humans, we are terrible at seeing the reality of situations. At home, with friends and especially at work, most of us think we’re fabulous at a certain thing, […]

It’s a familiar movie scene: A successful magazine editor — or sometimes she’s a creative director at an advertising agency — floats into the office, an assistant hands her a latte, and she sits at her spotless, midcentury-modern desk. She has none of the sticky notes, stapled receipts, soccer pictures, inboxes, outboxes, notebooks, reports, cords, […]

If your approach to choosing a company to work for is simply “it’s the biggest company in town,” or “its website is awesome,” you should think again. With a little energy up front, you’ll not only discover a good company to work for, but one that will be the perfect fit for where you want […]

For many of us, as kids, the dream was a simple one: Become a race car driver, a princess, an astronaut, a magician or a movie star. Then we grew up and realized that the world actually needs accountants, doctors, designers, writers, salespeople, teachers and executives. But just because the adult you has a job […]

“What’s your roadmap for the next four quarters?” “What’s your five-year plan?” “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” Questions like these can be scary and overwhelming. They have their place of course, but they’re no way to look at everyday life. It would be debilitating to think in five-year segments all the time. […]

With family flying in, cookies in the oven and mistletoe to hang, the hustle and bustle of the holidays make it quite difficult to get anything done. But don’t let this discourage you from acing your job hunt. Check out these job opportunities and tips on how to get your foot in the door. Gather […]

You go to school to build your knowledge base. But, the hard skills you bring to the table as a result are just one part of the whole package in which employers are interested. Soft skills – those you were born with, developed and gained throughout the years – are important, too. So much so, […]

Summer is officially over, and fall is in full swing. With fall being such a busy season, people can get off track in pursuing their career goals. Check out these five tips to find career bliss and achieve your goals this fall! Evaluate Your Current Position According to a survey by Gallup.com, “Only 30 percent […]