CareerLab - Career Resources for Managers & Executives



	It's helpful to read the FAQs from beginning to end. However, you may jump to any topic using the drop down menu above, and this symbol will bring you back to the TOP. What Can CareerLab® Do For Me? Believing that every success can be improved, our team of experts can help you to: Explore, define, and understand your skills, talents, priorities, and possibilities, through interviews and written assessment. Create a blueprint or strategic plan for your career and your future. Make the best possible use of your talents right now. Advance your career to the highest possible level. Uncover niche market opportunities you can't find yourself. Reach your maximum earning potential, while at the same time achieving greater personal happiness and satisfaction.
	Can We Keep It Confidential? Yes, absolutely. Protecting your interests is the essence of our business. We will never speak with anyone about your situation without your explicit permission, or divulge private information such as e-mail addresses or phone numbers to any third party. We never sell any of our records. When you retain us, you are the client. We have no other loyalties, nor do we split fees with any other employment businesses, such as executive recruiters.


	Who Are Your Clients? Since 1978, our team of writers, editors, consultants, and strategic partners have created interviews, six-figure job offers, business opportunities, consulting assignments, and rapid advancement for hundreds of clients, both here in the United States, and abroad. And we've been hired as career and human resource consultants to more than 275 U.S. corporations, both large and small. Our senior executive client list (which we'll gladly share with you in person) is a who's who of business and professional leaders. Many of our clients have been presidents, senior executives, and board members of well-known companies, partners in major professional firms, consultants, entrepreneurs—yes, even NFL players. Today our high-level clients include the President of one of the world's largest oilfield companies, a banking executive consulting in Russia, a $450K/year law firm partner, the former head of Investor Relations for the Coleman Company, members of prominent boards of directors, world-class builders and developers—just to name a few.

	What Do Your Clients Have In Common? There's a Latin plaque in our office that says, "DVO FACIEM IDEM NON EST IDEM," meaning, "Two people can do the same thing, but it's not the same." In other words, no two internists diagnose an illness the same way, no two surgeons operate alike, and so on. We take that to mean we're all a little different and special. So while our clients are unique people, and we respect that, our typical high-level individual client generally fits this profile: A manager, senior executive, business owner, top professional, or management consultant with a difficult, complex, or sophisticated career problem. Often the issue is, "been there, done that." Seeking an objective and confidential sounding board "away from the fray." In a career dilemma. Facing some kind of crisis or transition, such as conflict with a boss or peer, downsizing, job loss, burnout, mid-life crisis or forced early retirement, or a combination of several life problems at once. For example, financial challenges, a family death or serious illness, or a partner's unemployment. Mid- or late-stage career. Usually age 35-65. Career-oriented: enormously successful in a "previous life" and wanting to continue or improve that pattern of success. Highly paid, often financially independent. Wishing to maintain or improve their present compensation or net worth--or else wanting to work for personal satisfaction where money is not the primary driver. Wanting to balance work, life, and family issues after a lifetime of having "given it all at the office."
	Do You Get Results? Our clients often have difficult, complex, and sophisticated career problems. They expect results, and that's what we deliver. We would enjoy discussing cases that are relevant to you.

	Do You Have Success Stories? Yes, we have created hundreds of big wins for our clients. When Ted Cline left corporate America at age 48, he came to us for help. Here is Ted's story, complete with comments in his own words. If you want specifics about cases like yours, please ask.

	Do You Offer Job Search Assistance? Yes, since 1978 job search and career transition advice has been our bread-and-butter. Let's talk about a specific program tailored to your needs.

	Do You Offer More Than Job Search Advice? Yes, we do much more than just job search. Any career problem—no matter how trivial or urgent—is our territory. We've seen most problems many times before.

	What Is the Job Search or Career Transition Process? Self discovery or career evaluation: Through personal interviewing, pencil-and-paper exercises, and structured career testing and assessment, we help you create an exact blueprint of the job or career that fits you best, and makes the best use of your skills, interests, and talents. In business this is called a roadmap or strategic plan. Implementation: In phase two, we finalize the plan you have created. We conduct an aggressive job search campaign—or help you reach the other career goals you have set, such as buying into a business or launching a consulting practice.
	Do You Have A Structured Program? Yes, but it's not canned. The process is flexible and tailored to your specific wants and needs. Some people begin with interviewing, others with resume critique, still others with career testing. There's no proper place to begin. In most cases, we start with a thorough career evaluation. A successful career transition program involves 10-30 hours of consulting. Smaller career problems—for example, a disagreement with a boss or peer—can often be solved much more quickly.

	How Often Will We Meet? Our initial meetings may be as brief as a few hours or as lengthy as a few days, depending upon your location and the complexity of your situation. Most non-Colorado residents travel to Denver to meet us and kick the process off. Once you engage us, we will serve as project managers to keep you on track, but you control the pace of the process. Many executives manage a hectic schedule while also working with us. We can meet as often or as seldom as you prefer, but two or three hours per week is common in the beginning. After the first few weeks, one hour per week is the norm. We'll meet with you in person, by telephone, or online—at your convenience.

	Can We Keep It Confidential? Yes, absolutely. Protecting confidentiality is the essence of our business. We never communicate with anyone about your situation without your explicit permission. When you retain us, you are the client. We don't have loyalties to anyone else—nor do we split fees with other employment businesses, such as executive recruiters. Regardless of the issue, you can count on confidentiality. If you want to test the job market, we can help you design and administer a low-key approach to keep your job campaign hidden from your current colleagues.

	What If I Want To Relocate—Or Stay Where I Am? We work internationally, and many of our clients relocate. We can help you relocate anywhere in the world, or if you prefer, we can help you maintain your present residence. Geography—where we are or where you are—is not a limiting factor in our working together. FAX lines, FedEx, e-mail, teleconferencing, and long distance telephone are key tools of our trade. We've had clients in most major cities in the U.S. and abroad.

	Do You Offer Secretarial Support? Yes, we offer the simplest and fastest electronic solutions possible. We can wordprocess your documents with a 24-hour turnaround. Through our lettershop partners, we offer automated mailing list and stationery selection, printing, folding, stuffing, and mailing—whether for one letter or 10,000.

	Will You Find Me A Job? Although we're not recruiters or placement people, we work with them daily. If you're job hunting, we'll introduce recruiters and headhunters into your search (they're one and the same) but we're not headhunters ourselves. We do have hundreds of business and industry contacts, and when appropriate, we'll share our contacts with you or make personal introductions. We seldom ever spearhead a career move, or direct a job search campaign, without introducing the candidate to several of the right people.

	What Is Expected Of Me? Our process is similar to any healing or self-improvement program, such as weight loss, physical fitness, or a college education. As you know, in the case of a weight loss program, a physician can't produce results alone. The patient has to contribute by exercising more and eating proper foods. A similar interdependence applies to career transition. We ask you to complete simple homework assignments, to keep appointments and commitments, to act on our advice—assuming you agree with it—and to make your best efforts to participate. The career transition process is like a tennis game, in that if both of us do our parts, the outcome will be tremendously successful!

	Will You Guarantee Me A Job? Good question! It seems that guaranteeing employment would be akin to guaranteeing a marathon win after knee replacement surgery. Likewise, it's hard to guarantee a job, because we can't control the hiring process. No one can. Employers must like candidates and find them qualified to hire them. And that's under their control, not ours. Second, we don't know how clients will participate or how strenuously they will work. Therefore, while our success rate is incredibly high—nearly 100%—we never guarantee jobs, and neither do other reputable career firms. Beware of any career marketing firm that guarantees you employment—especially if they promise to do all the work! A firm can guarantee to keep working with you until you're employed, or until you reach the next milestone in your career—but that's an entirely different promise altogether. That we can deliver.

	Where's the value in your service? Many prospective clients have asked, "If you won't find me a job, and you can't guarantee me a job, where's the value in your service?" That's a fair question. Our value-added lies in our 25-year track record of spectacular success. Our team members have created and implemented winning strategies for hundreds of executives and professionals. It's hard to present a career or life-planning issue we haven't solved many times before. We understand the business world and the job market inside-out, and we know what generally works and what doesn't. We can help you take your career to the next higher level, precisely because we've done it so many times before.

	What Are Your Professional Fees? Although some candidates retain us for an hour or two—for example, to polish a resume or prepare for a critical interview—most prefer project prices. If you have a corporate-sponsored outplacement program, we will gladly work within your budget. Once we understand your situation, we can quote an accurate and affordable price.
	Are Your Fees Tax Deductible? JOB-HUNTING EXPENSES —Source: US Master Tax Guide Individuals may deduct all expenses incurred in seeking employment in the SAME trade or business, regardless of whether or not search is successful. Such expenses include the typing, printing, and mailing of a resume, and travel and transportation expenses. Expenses are not deductible for an individual seeking employment in a NEW trade or business, even where employment is secured. An individual seeking his first job or switching his trade or business, or a person with a long period of unemployment will be denied a deduction. To the extent that job-hunting expenses are deductible, they are only deductible as an itemized deduction on Schedule A, of Form 1040, subject to the 2% floor. EDUCATION AND RELATED EXPENSES —Source: US Master Tax Guide Education expenses are generally deductible if the education that is undertaken (1) maintains or improves a skill REQUIRED by the individual in the individual�s employment or other trade or business, or (2) meets the express requirements of the individual�s employer or the requirements of law or regulations imposed as a condition to the retention by the individual of an established employment relationship, status, or rate of compensation. Because the expenses of a job search and related career management or transition expenses are specific to an individual, the deductibility from a tax point of view are not always black and white. The gray areas involve the interpretation of what is the SAME trade or business verses a NEW trade or business. With educational expenses, there are also many interpretations that determine the deductibility. CONCLUSION Job hunting and educational expenses may be deductible, but you should always seek professional tax advice as to the deductibility and the proper documentation in reporting these expenses to the IRS. What would you like to do? Tell us a little about your situation, or contact Bill Frank. The timing is perfect to consider new opportunities.