The First Transitions’ Executive Career Transition Program is individualized and covers all of the elements required for an effective personal marketing campaign. The program includes personal counseling sessions which emphasize major strategic phases: Personal Assessment and Evaluation; Campaign Objectives and Strategy; Resume and Correspondence Development; Interviewing and Presentation Skills; and Campaign Implementation. The counseling relationship is further enhanced with emotional support and ongoing review and analysis of campaign progress.

The First Transitions’ staff focuses on customizing program content to the individual's specific circumstances and personal and professional objectives. A complete program manual is provided. Participants receive up to 1,000 copies of a professionally typed and printed resume and personalized stationery, secretarial support, telephone answering service and 12 months utilization of office space and career counseling assistance. The Personal and Professional Assessment is included as a preliminary aspect and foundation for this program.

I. Re-orientation Counseling

Situational Review

• What is happening to me?
• How do I handle family, friends and other contacts?
• Family communication and support
• Spousal participation
• Financial planning

Restoration of Self-Confidence

• Positive mental approach and projection recognition of accomplishments/contributions
• Focusing on the future
• Draft Rationale for Leaving Statement

II. Personal Insight and Analysis

Strategy and Assessment

• Personal Background Information Summary          
• Identification of demonstrated abilities and interests
• Career pathing which defines/clarifies immediate, mid-range, and long-range personal and professional objectives
• Professional personality and career assessment
• Values awareness

Management/Leadership Style

• Methods
• Effective communication
• Corporate politics

III. Presentation of Information

• Completion of Rationale for Leaving Statement
• Preparation of career profile
• Development of accomplishment-oriented resume
• Executive Search Firm correspondence
• Additional written communication
• Electronic communication

IV. Campaign Strategy

Focus

• Industry, company, functional and geographic definition
• Contacts (personal, referrals, targets, search firms and associations)
• Market awareness
• Strategic networking
• Follow-up, scheduling and control
• References
• Research methods

Special Considerations

• Pre-retirement planning
• Self-employment options
• Education, special training, etc.
• Family/personal factors/leisure-time activities
• Finances

The Interview

• Pre-planning and research
• Behavioral interviewing techniques
• Handling difficult questions
• Asking the right questions
• The importance of listening
• The presentation Search and company interviews, utilizing audio-visual equipment for replay and critique
• Telephone interviews
• Etiquette

Employment Offer Negotiation

• Influencing potential employer to commit first
• Establishing salary range and incentive structure of position offered
• Building in future increases
• Negotiating fringe benefits
• Relocation costs
• Geographic cost implications
• Trade-offs
• Timing considerations

 V. Post Campaign Activity

• Informing the network
• Maintaining contact