Category

Job Search

41 articles from fifteen years of writing for senior executives.

Most senior roles are never posted. They are filled through people, often before a specification is written, which is why a search built around applications tends to stall and a search built around relationships tends to move.

These articles cover the whole campaign: deciding what you are actually targeting, building a named company list, getting past applicant screening software, working with recruiters who are paid by the employer rather than by you, and running the whole thing while still employed.

August 25, 2026

Eight things to do when the fall hiring season starts

Labor Day restarts the executive hiring cycle. Eight things to do in September and October to use the season properly, whether you

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August 11, 2026

Job application strategies for senior candidates

Why senior applications get filtered out before a human reads them, and what to do differently. Covers targeting, tailoring, scree

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April 5, 2023

Career Search - Avoiding The Pitfalls of Electronic Resumes and Job Postings

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS When I work with my clients, I often hear that they struggle with the technical as

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April 5, 2023

How Job Search Is Like Online Dating

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS In honor of Valentine's Day, I think it timely to point out the similarities of job searc

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January 27, 2023

8 Tips To Kickstart Your Career Search

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS Whether you have just been laid off or have been working on a career campaign for

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May 1, 2020

5 Tips to be a Successful Networker

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC About 85% of open positions are filled through networking. This means that

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March 17, 2020

A Message from Linda

To our clients and friends,With all of today's health concerns due to COVID-19, we wanted to let you know that our primary concern

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February 2, 2020

Grow in Your Career Through Self Reflection

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindavan/ lindavan@myexecutivecareercoach.com W

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January 6, 2020

Should You Take the Promotion or the New Job?

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindavan/ lindavan@myexecutivecareercoach.com Y

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June 24, 2019

Treat Your Career as a Business

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindavan/ lindavan@myexecutivecareercoach.com H

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March 26, 2019

What do you want to be when you grow up?

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindavan/ lindavan@myexecutivecareercoach.com M

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March 1, 2017

How to Bring Positivity to the Interview Process

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Positivity is contagious. It can uplift the people and the energy surroundi

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February 1, 2017

5 Body Language Tips that will Boost Your Effectiveness

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC You are an executive. You want to present yourself with confidence and pois

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January 9, 2017

17 Ways to Kick Start Your Career Search in January 2017

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Send Your Thank You Notes Be sure to send thank you notes within 24 hours o

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January 9, 2016

Job Search Planning for 2016

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC There's nothing like a new year to make time refresh your career planning.

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November 30, 2015

Passive Job Market Application Strategies

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Here are a few strategies that will help make your passive market applicati

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November 30, 2015

December IS an Important Month for Your Career Search

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Some people may think December isn't an important month for your career sea

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July 29, 2015

Back to School Signals Back to the Hunt for Job Seekers

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Summer is a time when many people relax and go on adventures. Kids may be o

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July 28, 2015

Summer Reading List for Job Seekers

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Summer is great time to catch up on your reading list. If you are not worki

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May 6, 2015

5 Old School Job Search Tactics That Still Work Today

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Some of the job search tactics of yesterday are still applicable today. You

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January 26, 2015

4 Top Social Media Platforms for Jobseekers: Why you should and how you can get online bef

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC You've landed an interview - congratulations! A great way to secure your ch

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January 3, 2015

Four Great Ways To Build Your Resume While Looking For Your Next Executive Position

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC There are lots of creative ways to build your resume while you look for you

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December 15, 2014

How To Build Your Confidence Before A Job Interview

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC After all of the networking, emailing, and inquiring about jobs, you've fin

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November 3, 2014

7 Steps To Finding Your Next Job With A Recruiter

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS, CELDC Are you ready to find your next job, but feeling paralyzed about how to sta

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October 21, 2014

5 Job Interview Mistakes Executives Need To Be Aware Of

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS,CCMC,CJSS,CSMCS Landing your next dream job is a little more complicated than it used to be. With mor

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September 10, 2014

LinkedIn For Executives: How To Create A Winning Profile

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS,CCMC,CJSS,CSMCS LinkedIn is a great tool for find a new job if you use it correctly. It's not enough

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February 22, 2014

Fast Facts For Phone Interview Savvy

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS You have created a killer Value Proposition, an attractive resume, attended networ

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December 16, 2013

Networking During the Holidays: 7 Tips for Successful Job Search

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS Parties galore, lots of good cheer, network during the holidays for a bright New Y

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October 18, 2013

The Key To Being Articulate And Confident In Your Job Search

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS If you are at the start of your career search or you are struggling and feel like

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April 10, 2013

What "Mad Men" Teaches Us About Career Search

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS This past Sunday marked the opening of the new season of the hit TV series, "Mad M

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March 13, 2013

Older Jobseekers: 4 Tips to Prepare For Career Search Success

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS Many older workers have been shell-shocked with how hard this challenging economy

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February 10, 2013

Career Search And Preparing For Remote Interviews

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS All of your hard work has paid off and now you have been contacted to schedule an

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January 7, 2013

Eight Tips For Organizing Your Job Search In Today's Challenging Job Market

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS The beginning of a New Year brings with it an opportunity to clean your slate. You

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December 9, 2012

10 Tips for Networking During the Holidays To Move Your Career Search Forward

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS, CSMCS "Tis The Season!" is a phrase that for some says, "take a break and relax", but fo

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September 8, 2012

A Fresh Look at Recruiters As You Kick Start Your Career Campaign

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS While September is Back-to-School for some, for others it is the kickoff of their career

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August 5, 2012

10 Cool Resources - Catalysts for Your Career Campaign!

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS There is an adage that says, "There is no substitute for preparation." As we enter the be

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July 9, 2012

Summer Beach Reading = Career Campaign Improvements!

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, CCMC, CJSS Being proactive over the summer will put you in good stead when the fall hiring season starts

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June 3, 2012

Summer Assignment: Establish or Enhance Your Social Media Presence To Catapult Your Job S

By Linda M. Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS If you were to ask me what one of the most requested speaking topics people have reque

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May 6, 2012

How To Fill Your Pipeline For The Upcoming 2012 Summer Season

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS In a few short weeks, we will be preparing for picnics, barbeques, beach trips and other

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April 1, 2012

Sometimes You Have To Transition Even Though You Do A Good Job!

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS New York is ripe with sports sensations. First it was Jeremy Lin and Linsanity. Now, ther

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March 4, 2012

What Do Career Search And March Madness Have in Common?

By Linda Van Valkenburgh, MS, CCMC, CJSS Another exciting season of NCAA Men's Basketball is moving in the direction of the playof

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