Doug Phares

  View in browser Are you up to date on LinkedIn best practices? Want to earn even more credibility on this pivotal platform? Join our next LIVE Certified Digital Career Strategist cohort starting July 9th! This newly expanded program (used to be only 3 weeks, now it’s 5 weeks for the same price) lead by […]

The hopeful candidate is dressed for success in a suit and tie. He smiles at the camera, takes a calming breath, and clicks his laptop keyboard to start the interview. Within seconds, the mechanical voice of the interviewer glitches, repeating one phrase over and over. The candidate sits helplessly by, watching his opportunity dissolve in […]

The U.S. labor market continued its steady, but slowing, trajectory in May 2025, adding 139,000 jobs, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, a closer look reveals early warning signs that both workers and employers are entering a period of heightened caution. Pacing […]

I originally wrote about this in 2018, but it’s time for an update. At the time I said: “This whole “connected” society thing is cool, but I know a lot of people who view human interaction as a detached state, a necessary evil, or a little of both…I view it as a business opportunity. Actual […]

Right now, do you pivot or stay the course? Hunker down or rise up? The landscape seems to change not by the hour, but by the minute. As the current presidential administration continues to sow chaos throughout the global economy, it’s nearly impossible for business leaders to stabilize their footing for long enough to make […]

How natural it is for us to encourage our clients to “network.” But, are we educating them on how to network well?  Before you answer “yes, of course!” let’s look at two definitions for that term. You’re about to read the one so many of our clients (and some of our colleagues) rely on. Sadly, […]

Let’s talk about something that too often gets left at the threshold of a coaching session: mental health. As a licensed Mental Health First Aid instructor and long-time career coach, I’ve seen firsthand the emotional layers that clients carry into our spaces—layers that too many coaches overlook, rush past, or simply don’t feel equipped to […]

The word “networking” often has a negative connotation to some – it feels daunting and challenging. Networking conjures images of “working” a room at a networking event, shaking hands with scores of people, laughing and smiling ingeniously, and groveling for a job.  However, relationship building sounds much more palatable. We naturally build relationships with family […]

The traditional process of networking for a job is often described as a soul-crushing endeavor – filled with uncertainty, rejection, and anxiety. For many job seekers, networking feels like begging: a disempowering process of pleading, in a humiliating manner, for help, asking for favors, and hoping someone takes pity on them. But what if networking […]

Federal Government Overhauls Executive Hiring: What It Means for the Future of Public Sector Leadership ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (June 17, 2025) — The Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) today announced the release of a critical new guide, “Federal Employment Changes: OPM Overhauls the SES Hiring Process,” providing career services professionals with […]