Career Briefs: Future-Proof Your Career

Dear Reader:

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Thursday is Thanksgiving, and I hope you're surrounded by loved ones, enjoying delicious food, and taking a well-deserved break. As we head into the holidays, it's a wonderful time to reflect on what truly matters most.

I recently stumbled upon this photo of myself in kindergarten, proudly sporting a macaroni necklace. It got me thinking about what my priorities were at that age. I'm pretty sure my "thankful" list would have been simple: reading with Mom, playing soccer with Dad, Barbies with my sister, and phone calls with my grandparents.

Kindergarten Sarah didn't care about material things or fancy parties. What mattered most was having parents who were present and loved her.

Sometimes, I admit, Adult Sarah forgets that. I get caught up in the day-to-day, the deadlines, the to-do lists. But then something happens – a photo, a conversation, a quiet moment – that brings me back to what's truly important.

As you gather with your family and friends tomorrow, I hope you'll take a moment to appreciate the people in your life and the simple joys that make it all worthwhile.

I am grateful for you and being able to reach your inbox each week with the latest job search news and trends. Thanks for being here!

Rooting for you,

In This Issue:

• Briefcase Coach’s Commitment to Quality

• The Future of Marketing is Now

• Need for Continuous Learning to Fill Skills Gap

• AI’s Place in the Resume Business

• Using AI to Become a Super Manager

• Continued Rise of Fractional Leadership

• Free Resources: Job Searching on a Budget

• CHRO: One of the Fastest Growing C-Suite Roles

• What Makes a Great Entrepreneur?

• CIO Salaries on the Rise

• Generative AI Uses Surge in the Enterprise

• Advertise with Briefcase Coach

Briefcase Coach’s Commitment to Quality

At Briefcase Coach, we're proud to be a small business offering personalized, white-glove service to every client. We're not a resume mill; we believe in taking the time to truly understand your unique career journey and craft compelling, impactful documents that get results.

Because of our commitment to quality, we only work with a select number of clients each year. Don't miss out on the opportunity to have your career documents ready for a successful 2025. Reach out for a consultation today!

The Future of Marketing is Now

We just got back from the MarketingProfs B2B Forum, and wow! The energy was electric, with the highest attendance since before the pandemic. If the turnout is any indication of the investment companies are willing to make in their 2025 marketing efforts, it's clear that marketing is more critical than ever.  

Speaking of marketing trends, LinkedIn just released its "Global Marketing Jobs Outlook" report, and it's a must-read for anyone in the field. Andrew Hutchinson of Social Media Today recently shared a great recap highlighting some fascinating shifts in the marketing landscape, including the rise of AI and the increasing demand for marketers with expertise in areas like content creation and social media management.

Need for Continuous Learning to Fill Skills Gap

Korn Ferry's research shows the increasing importance of upskilling and development opportunities for employee retention and attraction. However, there's a large gap between employee expectations and what companies offer. Executives who prioritize continuous learning not only enhance their own capabilities but also foster a more engaged and future-ready workforce.

By actively seeking learning opportunities and promoting a culture of growth within their organizations, executives can set themselves apart and thrive in this dynamic environment. How can you prioritize continuous learning in your company? Embrace a growth mindset and identify skill gaps and ways to build them within yourself and your team.

AI’s Place in the Resume Business

The time has come to embrace AI. There is no use fighting it, it is here, and while it seems unsettling at first, I do believe (when used the right way) it can actually HELP businesses and employees, not replace them. I don't think a day has gone by over the past year where I haven't been asked, "how is AI-changing the resume writing business."

The honest answer: A lot. Many people are choosing ChatGPT as their writing companion or their first author on their resume. Some people are getting great results, but many struggle to provide systems with high-quality information, compelling metrics, and well-crafted prompts, leading to outcomes that feel uninspired and... bland.

One of the keys to a great resume is that you have to know yourself, your target audience, your value proposition and your impact BEFORE you start writing. And for most people, it's hard to read the label when you're inside the jar. I'm not bearish on AI-generated resumes. I'm just not optimistic that human users of AI are good at feeding the systems and refining the content to match their target audience.

Using AI to Become a Super Manager

In this issue of Lenny’s Newsletter, Hilary Gridley provides valuable insights on how managers can leverage AI to become more effective leaders. It introduces the concept of the "supermanager," who utilizes AI to scale their efforts, improve team performance, and foster a culture of continuous learning. Hilary shares practical strategies, such as building custom GPTs for tailored feedback and using AI to enhance team writing, debate, and synthesis skills. By embracing AI, managers can focus on high-impact coaching moments and create a more capable and adaptive team.

Continued Rise of Fractional Leadership

This HBR podcast episode explores the growing trend of fractional executives, who offer their expertise to multiple companies on a part-time or project basis. Fractional leadership offers a unique career path for executives seeking flexibility and variety in their work. Earlier this year, I spoke with Maddie Niebauer, CEO of vChief, about the growing trend of fractional leadership roles. We discussed how fractional roles can benefit companies and executives, offering a flexible and cost-effective way to access top talent. If you are considering this type of role, Maddie's insights are really valuable. 

Free Resources: Job Searching on a Budget

A job search can often feel daunting, especially when on a budget. However, a successful job search doesn’t need to break the bank. With a wealth of free and inexpensive resources, it’s more than possible to enhance your job-hunting efforts without stretching your wallet.

In this post, we provide a variety of tools and platforms that can assist you in finding your next opportunity, crafting an impressive resume, and preparing for interviews, all without compromising on quality or effectiveness.

CHRO: One of the Fastest Growing C-Suite Roles

A recent study by LinkedIn deemed the CHRO position the third fastest growing CXO position. The CHRO role has been the third-fastest growing C-suite title over the last two years. The title of Chief People Officer can also be found on the list at the ninth position, which indicates that two types of HR-oriented roles are being prioritized, albeit at different scales. This article by HR Digest explains how the growth of this position is boosted by the development of AI and changing trends in skill sets. A variety of experience is also important, as the road to the top is not as linear and straightforward as it once was.

What Makes a Great Entrepreneur?

Ever wonder what sets entrepreneurs apart? Are they born with an innate drive, or are they shaped by their experiences? Recent research suggests that entrepreneurship might be less about nature and more about nurture. An analysis by The Generalist looks at seven studies on the subject, revealing some interesting insights.

It turns out that many entrepreneurs share a common thread: a history of being both "smart" and "illicit" in their youth. These individuals often demonstrated high aptitude coupled with a penchant for rule-breaking. They also tend to be generalists with diverse skill sets, drawing from a variety of experiences. Interestingly, a sense of being under-compensated by the market can also be a catalyst for entrepreneurship. This often stems from informational asymmetry and misjudgment by employers, leading individuals to forge their own path.

CIO Salaries on the Rise

CIO salaries are on the rise! The market for CIOs remains extremely active, with private equity driving a lot of activity. CIOs are now heavily involved in business decisions and more deeply integrated into business units, and their compensation has increased as they have become more integrated into business operations.

The market for CIOs is competitive, with high demand for those with experience in AI or machine learning. Companies are offering substantial retention packages to CIOs who are driving the desired impact across the enterprise. According to this article from CIO.com, Korn Ferry looks for CIO candidates who are very capable in three areas of leadership: functional, enterprise, and transformational.

Generative AI Uses Surge in the Enterprise

In 2024, enterprise spending on generative AI surged to $13.8 billion, up more than 6x from 2023, with the application layer experiencing the fastest growth. According to this report by Menlo Ventures, companies are using generative AI tools to optimize workflows, with code copilots leading the way with 51% adoption. Other popular use cases include support chatbots, enterprise search and retrieval, data extraction and transformation, and meeting summarization.  

While most organizations are still in the early stages of generative AI adoption, clear trends are emerging, with a focus on practical, ROI-driven use cases to enhance productivity and efficiency.

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