Entries by Kelly Donovan

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LinkedIn redesign: the #1 mistake I see people making

LinkedIn’s major overhaul of the site took place in 2017, yet many users seem oblivious to the impact this is having on their profiles. One of the biggest changes was minimizing the amount of text that displays for each of your jobs as well as the About section (formerly known as the Summary section). Only […]

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Can you speak to your resume?

In addition to the plethora of common interview questions you need to prepare for, you should also be prepared to address questions about your resume. About ANYTHING on your resume–even the smallest of details. If you stumble or seem confused when an interviewer asks about something on the resume, that could be the end of […]

Insight for making it to the C-suite

I was recently interviewed by Reader’s Digest on the topic of “10 Things You’re Doing at Work that CEOs Wouldn’t.” Although I’m not a CEO myself, I’ve been fortunate to soak up insight from the C-level executives I’ve worked with over the years, learning about some of the leadership practices and habits that are the […]

6 ways to avoid sabotaging your career with burned bridges

We’ve all had those days when we want to yell at our boss, quit, and storm out of the office. But burning bridges isn’t the best way to build your career, and chances are you’ll probably regret how you handled it. Even if it is time to leave for new opportunities, you’ll usually be better […]

5 secrets for using industry groups in job search

Industry associations are a job seeker’s best friend—or at least they should be. There are thousands of associations that cater to professionals in virtually every industry, from the American Society of Civil Engineers to the American Marketing Association. Name a profession and it probably has a group, and there might be a local chapter in […]

Why you need a mentor and how to find one

Last night, I was fortunate to have a conversation with a highly successful entrepreneur who offered some excellent advice for improving and growing my business. Previously, I’d been stuck on one stumbling block that was holding me back (keeping me stuck). Afterward, the path I need to take was clear. This experience made me think […]

Should you be working for free?

At some point in your career, you’ve probably been faced with the question of whether working for free made sense. And, whether it was a volunteer gig with a non-profit or freelance work on a pro bono basis, you still need to be aware of the impact on your time and income. All of these […]

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Get known in your field: 3 ways

Introductions will be smoother when people have already heard of you. Doors will open more readily. And employers may be contacting you instead of the other way around. Building this kind of awareness for your personal brand takes time, but it’s worth it. Here are a few of my favorite strategies. 1. Publish, publish, publish—both […]

8 ways to navigate networking introductions with grace

It can be awkward when you’re being introduced to someone in a networking capacity as part of your job search. This is also where a lot of job seekers, even executives, miss out on potential opportunities because of how they approach the introduction. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes (and chances are […]

5 reasons to use only one LinkedIn Profile, not two

From time to time, folks tell me they want to have two LinkedIn accounts. Some of the reasons include: “I don’t want my boss to know I’m job hunting, so I’ll have a separate account for job hunting!” “I have a day job and a side hustle, so I need separate accounts for each.” “I’m […]