Job hunting in the "C-suite" -- CEO, CFO, COO, CIO -- in a down economy and post-Enron takes a customized set of interview skills. That was the message Tuesday at a panel discussion presented by the Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group and Kaplan & Associates. "What Boards, CEOs and Investors Really Want in a Senior Executive," held at Penn State Great Valley in East Whiteland, was attended by 65 people, nearly all men, split between chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief financial officers and chief information officers in job transitions. About a third raised their hands when moderator Alan Kaplan asked how many had been job searching for six months. Roughly another third acknowledged job hunting for more than a year.

Looking for a job? Older workers should sell the advantage of experience and downplay age. Here are other hints:

• Confidence is key. You need to look healthy and energetic.
• Age has advantages. Indicate the benefits that come only with experience, using words such as “coach” and “mentor.”
• Avoid phrases such as "we did that 20 years ago, and it didn't work," even if true. Instead, offer reasoned pros and cons that illustrate an important selling point for older workers: the value of experience.
• Pay attention to grooming. If a graying beard makes you look older, consider shaving.
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As a career consultant/coach, I am often asked: "Is it time for me to make a career change?" My response invariably is: "To do what?" And, more importantly, "Why?"

I am reminded of the exchange between Alice-in-Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat. To paraphrase, Alice asks: "How do I get out of here?" The Cat responds: "Where do you want to go?" Alice says: "It really doesn't matter." The Cat replies: "Then any road will take you there."

Forbes Magazine July 22, 2002

Unemployed execs are still turning to questionable career counselors to find jobs. The Internet makes it all that easier to pick them clean. Complaints about unscrupulous career counselors have been around for years. They charge the unemployed thousands of dollars up front with the implied promise of landing them a job. It's a mystery why experienced white-collar workers still fall for these often fruitless services. And now the counselors are employing a new twist: They use the Internet to search for and entice job seekers and even, apparently, to pluck plausible job listings from subscriber-only Web sites, using these leads to create a show of doing real work for the client.

Mitch Wienick has been a high-powered top executive at several large companies.

The Philadelphia Inquirer — Monday, March 25, 2002

Mitch Wienick has been a high-powered top executive at several large companies. So when he was looking for a new position, it might seem ironic that he ended up joining the very career management firm whose founder he had consulted between jobs.