How the Blog Works

Please send your comments via email in confidence to jcushman@jc-a.com; the subject line should include "BLOG Comments." Remarks will be posted as received without attribution as soon as possible. Should there be editorial changes, I will ask permission before posting.  If there are delays due to meeting client deadlines, I will let readers know when the information will be updated. Suggestions about adding additional subject areas are most welcome. New material will be briefly introduced and posted for two weeks on the first page.

All remarks from readers, particularly those about search firms and their representatives, will be posted without attribution. I will be certain to mention that these are personal observations and, again, must be evaluated in that light. There may be wildly different experiences from different individuals.

Readers are welcome to raise questions about career-related issues and ask for responses from me or other visitors. If this becomes an active “corner” we will set up a separate section. If two participants want to discuss a question and both agree to release contact information so they may chat privately, that will be arranged through JC&A.

The subject areas are:

Moving Out? Moving On?: Aging industry leaders are in transition and are grappling with challenging questions about next stages in their lives. Not everyone is ready for the golf course (at least full time).

Searches via the grapevine: What jobs are available? What search firms are handling them and what we know about them (for better or worse)?

The Gender Gap (NEW TOPIC): A lively discussion is underway about why women are paid less and why the top jobs are held by men in more than 70+% of the cases. A recent PR Week Salary survey talked about the salary differentials and lack of women in top posts.

Search firms - a 360 degree evaluation: Who treats candidates poorly (particularly those who are out of work) and which firms do a good job? It’s time to hold firms accountable for rude behavior and conversely praise those that treat the job seeker with respect and dignity.

Hiring Trends: As the market shifts toward favoring job seekers, how are companies and agencies coping with too few good people?

Ethics: It’s an embarrassment that we don’t walk the talk. The arrogance and lack of understanding about how to establish internal controls, education and monitoring of performance leaves us vulnerable again and again. Just because the culture of an organization focuses on responsible, honest behavior, is no guarantee that there won’t be criminal behavior.

Offers: The delicate negotiations around an offer, either through an intermediary or in direct negotiation, are subtle, critical and often fumbled.

Topics Outside the Box: Questions are coming in regarding consulting, how to deal with headhunter calls and all sorts of issues not covered anywhere else. This is where you will find them posted.

Feedback: At this early stage in the life of the blog, many readers have specific suggestions ranging from the tactical to the strategic. We’re paying attention to them all.

CES Notes: A section dedicated just to Judy's visit to CES reporting on her observations and experiences.