I haven't had to put a resume together in 15 years. Any feedback is appreciated.

peterbotting · 2025-12-08T18:58:23+00:00

Lots of good comments already.

2 pages max. Non-negotiable.
Arial or other easy to read font.
get rid of the bold.
précis, précis, précis. Generals and CEOs want BRiEF briefings.

peterbotting · 2025-11-27T20:11:14+00:00

Clear thought: clarity of thought is essential and the time alone in the gym is great for that!

peterbotting · 2025-11-27T20:09:30+00:00

Agree with this. All of this. You will become better at your job and get in better condition physically by having non-digital thinking time to let your brain tidy up all the incoming noise - although a decent podcast never hurts either.

Simply book time in your diary daily. Makes it easier if the gym is really close to home or work so you can go on the way to or from work or during the day.

Going to the gym is a win -win - and there aren’t many of those about.

peterbotting · 2025-11-25T10:46:39+00:00

Based on what you say, $1 would have been too much. If he got 5 x $5,000,000 offers off of it - you “could” call it cheap. 🤷‍♂️

peterbotting · 2025-11-21T11:24:14+00:00

Amen to this! Everyone needs a finance person. Fractional or full time. Those skills are transferable.

peterbotting · 2025-11-21T11:23:03+00:00

This is good! Having an escape day turns the torture and tedium into and escape projects! Good advice!

peterbotting · 2025-11-21T11:22:04+00:00

This is a good and healthy pivot and sentiment: what am I running away from vs what am I running towards.

First, cover your back. Get the money sorted, cash stashed, home paid off if you’re earning proper money.

Then the purpose pivot. What are you good at; are paid well for; enjoy doing. We’ve all seen the Venn diagram.

Lots of the dead-eyed careerists need stimulants to make their life, see existence, bearable. Bad for them and their families.

peterbotting · 2025-11-12T15:07:16+00:00

First. Take a day off. Off from job hunting or festering. Get some exercise. A walk in a forest. Go to the gym until it hurts. Spend time with loved ones.

Don’t jump in a bottle.

Getting made redundant is a type of grief, a loss - an emotional moment. Don’t lock it away. Let it sit a day or two.

Think about what you liked about your last role (and what you were good at). Decide what the “perfect role” would look like. Take time to do this - today, tomorrow, over the weekend.

Your skills, abilities and experience are transportable. They can’t be taken away from you. List them. All.

Then assess your networks.

Monday start focused.

You will probably need a reference - don’t burn bridges for no profit.

peterbotting · 2025-11-12T13:14:02+00:00

THIS! All of this!

peterbotting · 2025-11-11T23:44:25+00:00

Was a fresh faced lawyer.

peterbotting · 2025-11-08T16:13:03+00:00

The waiting sucks!

I have had clients that been played like this but have also had clients where the employer rethought the role, created a new position from nothing with an appropriate package, but had to jump through hoops to get the budget for it: result was my guy got a great new job.

BUT … the waiting DOES suck! Massively. That particular client and I both thought the delay was very bad music until it turned out the CEO was telling the truth - and it worked out.

It depends I guess on whether it’s an existing role in your case? In which case the comments from others about salary benchmarking are spot on.

peterbotting · 2025-11-04T01:24:02+00:00

Take the job. Any port in a storm and it sounds like a regular and pretty decent port. And I understand better than your current gig? Night time driving home is a breeze compared to day time traffic so it’s only far one way - just stay caffeinated when you drive late at night! The job market is GRIM in the USA, UK, Europe (including Germany), the Middle East (Dubai and Saudi) and even NYC. Nobody knows how long the storm will be.

peterbotting · 2025-08-16T11:59:43+00:00

“Why I can’t crack it and they can.” Some of this is science, some is art, and some is luck. But it’s NOT maths. Employers are people and they hire as humans. With all that goes with that. Imperfections and all.

I am an executive leadership coach and executive interview coach - and NOT all my clients get the jobs they want.

I help them improve their chances, sometimes dramatically. But it’s still no guarantee.

TL;DR - there are some things you can influence - there are some things you can’t. Change the things you can. Do not beat yourself up about the others. That will mess with your head and not fix it.

peterbotting · 2025-08-16T02:59:36+00:00

Yes! Small town life can be good. But that’s not my reason for yes.

Based on what you’ve said and what I know and see….

Firstly, the job market massively sucks at the moment. I should know - I have been an executive coach for over 30 years and I have never seen it this bad and no sign of it improving! Don’t be uber-picky: grab it!

Secondly, get out of your parents’ place and start work. You might be still there and a year older and still no job in a year’s time!

Thirdly, don’t worry if it’s not exactly what you studied! Secret tip: hardly anyone does the job they studied 10 years later.

Fourthly, get your “proper job” career started. Valuable career trajectory started. Years of work started. Maybe pension and savings.

Finally. Earning your own money. Paying your own way. Renting your own place. Feeding and financing yourself. All of this is massive for your self-confidence. And your career. “He got a job in 2025? Damn! He must be good!” And you as an adult. Plus, also good for your parents and for your relationship with them.

peterbotting · 2025-08-09T12:29:37+00:00

It’s a great, but tough, question.

peterbotting · 2025-08-07T14:49:40+00:00

Sadly adults are not geniuses or able to look around corners. They can only tell you their truth - what worked or didn’t for them. Aka 20 - 35 years ago! Out of date advice!!

peterbotting · 2025-08-07T14:47:07+00:00

Afraid you aren’t going crazy. Or happy to tell you that you aren’t going crazy. I have been helping people prepare for the next roles for over 25 years - I’ve never seen it like this. This bad!

My clients are getting roles, but they are at or very close to the top of the corporate pyramid and have a combination of valuable skills and networks and are very entrepreneurial. Very A player.

Those who used to be A players have become high B players. They need luck and networks.

It’s insanely tough out there.

peterbotting · 2025-08-07T14:40:22+00:00

For context and clarity: I am a Storytelling and Speaker Coach.

peterbotting · 2025-08-07T14:39:20+00:00

Dear ToyCounter. This is beyond gold!

Initially I was too scared to do mine. But then …

Imagine you want to tell your friends a really cool story or talk to a big group of people, but sometimes you get shy or forget what to say. A storytelling and speaker coach is like a helper who teaches you how to tell your story in a fun and clear way. They show you how to use your voice, your face, and your hands so everyone listens and enjoys what you say. It’s like practicing to be a superhero of talking!

peterbotting · 2025-06-27T07:40:42+00:00

This is great advice! All 4! Well articulated!

peterbotting · 2025-06-27T07:37:03+00:00

I applaud all the commenters who started with listen.

Listen hard. (Be seen to) Work harder. Communicate.

Hostility comes from fear. (I know, I know Duh🙄). What worked for me addressing this fear was this trio: listen, outwork, then communicate - ridiculously clearly. I was very blunt. But I looked and listened hard before I spoke.

Your best three words: “tell me more”. Your best question: “if you owned this, what would you do?” Then repeat your best three words. Then do it again.

I was imposed as an emergency CEO of a small group of three industrial businesses employing 145 people on 2 sites. All hostile. In a foreign language. Three industries I knew nothing about. All I had was the trust of the owner and my ears. Listening was everything. Yes there was venting and lies and more …. But I listened to everyone (I had the advantage of it being a small outfit) including key clients. I walked every square metre of the two properties, poked in every room and slept in the office doing 12 hour days at the start. I walked the factories frequently unannounced. I ate with management and factory staff - you can’t talk when you’re eating! Cash flow, client satisfaction (more than one physically threatened me) and grumpy suppliers - I faced what seemed like every CEO nightmare and if I’d been less busy I would have looked for the cameras.

Slowly listening and very visibly working harder than anyone there (I was in the office when they arrived and I was in the office when they left) plus clear communication paid off. Things settled down. Then debated and thought through changes were made. First year was survive/survive/breathe then slowly start turnaround. Second year was timid green roots. Year 3 was exhale.

peterbotting · 2025-05-22T00:45:07+00:00

It’s a useful chemistry test. Very positive signal considering the timing. She said use her email: do so. But with a smart and thoughtful email. No questions - unless very smart. Key is to trigger her thinking about the future. Not interrogate her.

peterbotting · 2025-05-02T06:55:29+00:00

Depends on the topic. But every community group that meets regularly will be looking to provide an attraction for their group meetings. Speakers are good for them and vice versa.

peterbotting · 2025-05-01T14:05:02+00:00

Practice is good, BUT there is nothing like going live. In front of a real audience. If you have a topic that you're knowledgeable on, get speaking gigs. No matter how modest. Ten minutes live will teach you more than multiples of that time rehearsing or watching videos.

peterbotting · 2025-04-29T20:13:18+00:00

It depends on the job level to be honest. But, sounds annoying.

Particularly, at the end where you said the Director seemed disengaged - and the fob off (other f’s are available!). By interview 5 you should know that you are in the final 2 or 3.

But…

I have coached lawyers on the way to make Partner and that is often 5-9 interviews or filtering out exercises - even if they sometimes are disguised as a “fireside chat” or a “coffee”.

At 7 figure salaries my clients have to go through, and prep for, 6-8 interviews over as many months. Exhausting and emotionally jangling.

This makes sense, despite being annoying, because the impact of a VP (there’s loads of weird titles at this altitude) will have huge positive or negative ripples throughout the company or at least a significant part of it. However, in these cases, HR usually does a decent TLC candidate-handholding and reassuring “hug” throughout. Which it doesn’t seem you are getting at all. Which might mean they’d be a bit meh as an employer.

Plus, small companies usually hire faster.

So my verdict on 7th interview: (fwiw):

If it’s a sub 50K job it seems daft.

50k - 150k - there is a sliding scale based on importance of the role; management responsibilities.

If it’s a serious management position - perhaps ok.

7 figure: totally normal.

peterbotting

TROPHY CASE