"Ian is great to work with because he is very experienced and is an outstanding listener. He did a brilliant job helping me to concisely define my own career (and life) goals and objectives, which created an effective standard for evaluating alternative career opportunities. His help in building a negotiation strategy paid out 10x what I invested in his services. I expect to use Ian again in the future."

- Matt Valle, SVP, Sales - Chicago Illinois

Tags: Internal Promotion

"The Segal Graduate School at Simon Fraser University works with a very few select outside career coaches and experts to deliver parts of our Career Management Program to our MBAs. We have had the pleasure of having Ian teach and coach our students on various career topics.

I heard about Ian from an Executive MBA alumnus who used his services. Ian is one of a small group of external career coaches that I recommend to our alumni and the public. He comes from the executive search world and has the coaching skills and the business experience that I look for in career coach. I have no hesitation in recommending him – I consistently get great feedback from various people I have recommended to him."

- Kirk Hill, Executive Director

Tags: Testimonials

Interviewed by the Province newspaper's Working section for their Sunday edition feature story on the benefits of keeping your antenna up in order to be visible and aware of potential new opportunities out there. AKA the Passive Job Search.

Tags: Newspaper, , Job Search

"If you want to achieve Everest-like career goals, Ian is the guide to help you get there! Initially, I was attracted by his deep experience in executive search in my local market. Once I signed up for his services, I appreciated his customization of a best practice approach to my specific needs. I would not hesitate to recommend him and have done so on three or four occasions already."

- Cory Smith, Business Development Executive, Ernst & Young

Tags: Testimonials

"Ian helped me to take my rather unclear thoughts and ideas regarding my future career path and crystallize them into a realistic and achievable plan to move forward. His approach is straightforward, forthright and it is clear he has a good deal of experience in his field."

- Brett Margolis, General Manager, Shanghai

And while I am at it, thought I would mention another recent media appearance, although it is woefully late.

The April 2007 issue of Maxim magazine ran a few quotes from me on salary negotiations. If you happen to have that issue hangingin around, it is on page 126.

Tags: Magazine

"Ian is the best of the best. He really helped me to be where I'm today."

- Alex Yu, Google

"One of the best decisions I've made in my professional life is hiring Ian as my career coach. He is attentive to my professional goals and comes to each of our meetings with new ways to tackle my objectives and get results. Creative, positive...simply a great coach!"

- Sheila Dunn, Director Marketing

Tags: Job Search, Career Change

"Working with Ian Christie of BoldCareer.com has proven to be one of the best decisions I have made in my professional career. With Ian’s assistance, I developed an understanding of my own skills and abilities, and I now feel empowered as I know how and to whom I can market my skills to achieve desired results.

I found the traditional job search frustrating as few opportunities arose and even fewer seemed to have the appropriate fit for me. I was a very challenging client as I had extensive experience in a unique industry with seemingly little transference to other industries; particularly industries that provided the personal fit I so desperately sought. Ian facilitated a structured analysis and definition of my skills which we then packaged and used to approach targeted firms. As a result, I was offered exactly what I was looking for: a challenging position; working with exceptional people and technology; and, within an industry that I am passionate about.

Ian is a very personable and intelligent individual. He has exceptional knowledge of the job market and effective job search strategies, and his commitment to my success was obvious. Working with Ian provided outstanding results that far exceeded my expectations. I recommend Ian to anyone who wants to take charge of their career and establish a trajectory that can create considerable personal and professional growth. Thank you Ian!"

- Sean Ellickson, Product Manager

"I'm just following up with you to let you know that your mock interviewing service was such a valuable investment. I got the job offer and will accept it. Thanks for all your help."

- Celeste, San Francisco

If you happen to have access to the BNN - Business News Network in Canada on Tuesday June 5th, you can see me in a taped interview at 8pm ET. Or, shortly after airing, it will appear at BNN.ca (click on the Workopolis TV button on the left).
The host, Bruce Sellery, did a great job of getting me to summarize my Getting Market Ready concept as it relates to job search.

Tags: TV, , Getting Market Ready

"I thought that you might be interested to know that I recently received a promotion, and am now Vice President/General Manager.  This is a significant step for me, and was achieved with your assistance.  Your counseling and suggestions provided me with the tools and the plan to take the next step forward.  Two promotions since our first call - not bad."

- Preston Mckenzie, VP & GM, Publishing Thomson Corp.

"It would have been very difficult for me to get through this process without your help. Your last email analyzing the situation accomplished something incredibly important - it got my family to feel good about me taking this offer. You provided the credible outside expertise that we needed to bring our expectations into perspective."

- Matt V., SVP Sales - Chicago, IL

"Ian's delivery is very professional and helped me get back on track with my career by helping me see more clearly where my skills and passions lie."

- Erik Bayfield Project Manager

"There are times when a manager needs an ally and a coach. You were this and more. You created a comfortable context by phone and e-mail, even before we met where you could share your insights on the management issues I was dealing with. It is reassuring to know you are there -- and that we could work together again if and when the need arises."

- Wendy, Program General Manager - Montreal, Quebec

"I was positive our meetings would be good as I was impressed by your knowledge at your presentation, and they are great - I always look forward to the meeting as I know I will learn a lot, but I never expected to get such excellent feedback over the email. I really feel like you put a lot of thought into your responses and your feedback. I really feel like I am receiving valuable advice and my money is well spent. The other thing that has come from working with you is that I feel much more confident about walking in there and telling them what I can offer now that I know what I am looking for - I feel so much further ahead. Thanks for all your help!"

- Nick B, Manager in Accounting Firm - Vancouver, BC

"Writing things down really works. There's no way I would have followed through on writing that plan if I didn't feel the pressure of being accountable through these weekly logs."

- Jane, HR Director - Edmonton, AB

"Dear Ian, Searching for a job is tough, finding the right job is even more difficult. I realized that in order to find a new job I needed to prepare myself. And I knew that I couldn't do that alone. After so much time with one employer, I wanted an edge. I wanted guidance finding new opportunities, preparing for interviews, and I had doubts about my marketability in a competitive industry. Thank you, Ian, for your heartfelt advice, perspective and compassion.

The enormous value I received from your positive and encouraging coaching cannot be overestimated. When you are knee deep in the changing tides it can be easy to lose sight of the horizon. Being able to have a personal and objective resource for all of the important questions and moments of self-doubt helped me stay focused. The experience of being coached by someone towards a very specific goal, which involved some difficult thinking on my part and a lot of patient probing on your part, was very positive. It got the job done. And it got me the job. Thank you for being there for me on this difficult, but enlightening journey. I truly hope to work with you again in the future."

- Stacey Mountford, Senior Sales Representative - Vancouver, BC

"A portfolio career, like a financial portfolio, yields the best returns with savvy management. Ian Christie is a wizard at helping you find the most highly leveraged personalized strategy for investing your crucial time and attention resources for greatest impact."

- Marc Le Brun, Chief Technology Officer - Bay Area, CA

"Ian helped in the proposal phase of a new business venture. He was able to focus my energy and provide contructive feedback on the project. Ian's help was invaluable. I highly recommend his services."

- James Sprenger

"Ian has given me the confidence to take my career to the next level. He knows his stuff, and his advice is practical. I learn something from every conversation with him. I now know where I'm taking my career, and my search is more methodical and focused. I'm starting to build a network that will help me not just now, but in the future. Ian deserves a lot of credit for my future success."

- Larry Reid, Director, Software Development - Vancouver, BC

"Your skills in clarifying and organizing thoughts and presentation are considerable. I won't hesitate to recommend you to others."

- Bob Ogilvy, General Manager - CA

Whoever nominated this blog for the Recruiting.com 2005 Best Blog Awards under the Best Job Seeker Blog, thank-you! I am honored.
You can check-out all of the nominees here:

Tags: Recruiting.com

"After a long fruitless job search had me wondering 'what's next?', I began working with Ian. He helped me focus on the areas that I really wanted to work in, as well re-instilling the confidence that had gone missing.  Ian provided excellent feedback on my resume and cover letters, and was instrumental in my now successful job search.  Thanks Ian!"

- Bruce Foreman, Sales Manager - Oakland, CA

"Ian brings clarity, confidence, energy and wisdom to my career planning. He has accelerated the development of my personal branding & self-employment plans. I now know where I am going and how to get there."

- J. Flynn, Sr. Project Manager - London, England

"Ian stepped into my job search after several months of searching. He helped me craft the perfect resume and cover letter for my field. These landed me an interview with a great company. Ian then coached me through the interview and offer process. Within 2 weeks, I landed the job I wanted. Thanks Ian!"

- Max Feldman, Webmaster - Vancouver, BC

"I began working with Ian on my personal career planning in 1998. Ian helped me to improve my professional situation by walking me through an analysis of my achievements, goals, strengths and weaknesses. Knowing where I was in my career made it possible for me to make the right moves and get to where I wanted to be. He has coached me through my last two career transitions. Getting a professional coach was the best career decision I've ever made."

- E. Poulsen, VP Sales - Neuchatel, Switzerland

"Ian -- I wish I had your address. I would send you a hand written card thanking you for your valuable time and unique insights. You have given me priceless gifts in preparation for my meeting. I am deeply grateful and look forward to sharing the outcomes."

- Anna Kanski, Senior Strategy Consultant - Denver, CO

A nice surprise today…in the electronic recruiting industry, everybody reads John Sumser’s daily Electronic Recruiting News (ERN) email. While I haven’t had the pleasure of speaking with John, I have been reading his daily writings since my days at Monster.com beginning in 1999. He is a deep thinker and highly relevant commentator on the industry - where it is and where it is going. And, he has a strong conviction that blogs are here to stay.
The subject of today’s issue was a list of the 20 or so best blogs in the recruiting, job search, and HR space. I was delighted to see that my blog made the list.
There are many fine blogs on the list like Recruiting.com that I read regularly, and some others unfamiliar to me (which I definitely will be subscribing to).
Thanks John!

The recruitment industry has been buzzing recently with CIBC World Markets taking legal action against Genuity Capital Markets for poaching employees.
I was delighted to receive a call on the subject from Canadian Business Magazine to discuss the employee side of the equation. It ended up in the Jan. 31 - Feb. 13 issue of the magazine in a small way. The article isn’t online unfortunately, but the gist of the quote is when you decide to leave, try and resign with some class. Give appropriate notice. Don’t do anything that could come back to haunt you. Common sense, really.

The Globe & Mail, a national newspaper in Canada, published an article on Saturday, July 31st titled “Disengagement said ‘common’ in workplace.” I am pleased to have been interviewed for this article. The big, I will say it…”cheezy” photo of me, however, has caused some ribbing from friends. Oh well.

Tags: Newspaper

I had the wonderful experience and pleasure of being the guest on CBC Radio One on tuesday for a phone-in edition of Mark Forsythe’s BC Almanac. The subject was “quitting your job and getting a new one.”
I have to admit it took me 2 minutes to get my radio voice, but it was fun.

Tags: Radio