Briefcase Coach's Career Briefs: Job Search Smarter

This Week's Resources:

• AI Option for Professional Headshots

  • It’s Talent, Steve.

    • AI Controversy Causes Executive Shakeup

    • Maximize Career Growth with Self-Reflection

    • X's New Job Search Feature

    • Navigating the Great Urban Exodus

    • Enhanced Career Services at Universities

Every generation has experienced a major disruption.

The light bulb.

The telephone.

The internet.

.NET.

“What the heck are we supposed to do” about change? It’s talent.

Credit: Thank you to Rob Dromgoole, who shared this video in the Recruiting Brainfood Facebook group

Executive Shake-Up at The Arena Group Amid AI Controversy

A recent reshuffle of leadership at The Arena Group is said to have been due to a controversy involving the use of AI to produce content for Sports Illustrated and TheStreet, which was then misleadingly attributed to fictitious writers. COO Andrew Kraft and President Rob Barrett were ousted. Despite statements that the terminations were part of a larger reorganization by majority owner Manoj Bhargava, the timing coincides with a Futurism report unveiling the AI debacle. The Arena Group's stock has experienced a downturn, suggesting the need for strong leadership to navigate innovative technology and critical reputation management.

Key takeaway: Jobseekers and executives alike may take note of the company's handling of the situation and the potential consequences of integrating AI solutions without transparent practices.

Maximize Your Career Growth with Self-Reflection

It’s the time of year for all “year-in-review” lists. If you search Google for such lists, the results are endless. It seems every major publication has curated some form of 2023 review. But have you ever considered creating one for yourself? According to Rob Kim’s article in the University of British Columbia magazine, creating a professional best-of list for yourself can be rewarding and a strategic move to identify and prepare for upcoming opportunities. The article emphasizes the benefits of such reflection, including celebrating past successes and identifying new skills and areas for growth.

Inspired by Kate Whalen's Reflective Learning Framework, the piece suggests a three-step approach:

1. Organizing work achievements month by month to create a timeline of professional snapshots

2. Noting emotions associated with these accomplishments

3. Thinking ahead to future goals.

X Rolls Out New Job Search Feature

HR Dive recently released a brief on the accessibility of X's (previously known as Twitter) job search feature, 'X Hiring.' The expansion opens the feature previously reserved for verified users to all users, aiming to directly compete with LinkedIn and other job boards such as Indeed and Monster. The feature, initially exclusive to verified organizations, allows users to search for positions by keyword or location and filter for remote-only roles. For executive jobseekers, X Hiring presents a new avenue to explore career opportunities, keeping in mind the platform's current reputation and user dynamics.

Our takeaway: We'll be shocked if the new feature becomes popular. Yesterday, when we searched for "Vice President," we found only a few job openings, many duplicated in multiple locations. Additionally, the feature doesn't offer many filtering options.

Navigating the Great Urban Exodus

The pandemic spurred a migration trend, where many city dwellers sought refuge from urban confines by moving to suburban or semi-rural areas. This piece from Business Insider by Kelli María Korducki reveals that while some have embraced the switch, others feel disconnected from their social and professional networks and struggle to assimilate into their new communities.

"I liked the idea in theory, but I wasn't ready for it"

Considering a move? It is important to carefully assess your priorities, ensuring that any move aligns with your personal and professional aspirations. The article underscores the importance of weighing the trade-offs between space and affordability against the value of proximity to crucial networks and cultural amenities. Although remote work has expanded living options, the article suggests that choices are often steeped in compromise, raising questions about the true cost of the homeownership dream and the challenges of finding a fulfilling balance between the city's pulse and the tranquility of suburban or rural life.

Eleven Secrets for Optimal Client Service

This video should be mandatory viewing material for people who work with customers. In the video, UVA Law adjunct professor Jim Donovan, vice chairman of global client coverage at Goldman Sachs, discusses how to provide optimal service to clients. He gives eleven “secrets” for providing outstanding client service. Donovan’s 11 rules are below, but watch the video for a more in-depth explanation of each.

1. Never use jargon

2. Pause when communicating

3. Give advice that is contrary to your own interests

4. Ask open-ended questions

5. Be positive and upbeat

6. Take care when mixing business and social interactions

7. Be humble

8. From the beginning, make sure the client knows they are important to you

9. Give advice, and don’t back down

10. Control the meeting

11. Have an agenda

Universities Revolutionize Career Services to Deliver on Investment and Boost Alumni Success

There is a growing demand for tangible returns on educational investments in response to a significant evolution in career services at higher education institutions. Recognizing career success as a primary motivation for obtaining a degree, universities are increasingly enhancing their career support infrastructure. This is a shift from previous perceptions that career discussions were antithetical to education. This article from The Hechinger Report underlines the urgency of this transformation as career preparation is not only crucial for student success but also for institutional sustainability, given that satisfied alumni are more likely to contribute financially.

As job seekers, this awareness of enhanced career services can be vital in selecting educational programs that will support ongoing career development and understanding new expectations and opportunities in the evolving landscape of higher education and workforce preparation.

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