Career Development

How to Get Promoted in Accounting — Even After Getting Laid Off

From broadcast journalism to talent recruiting: Jed Gifford on finding the sizzle factor

Jed Gifford's career path does not fit a conventional HR mold. After earning a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Texas and spending seven years in television, covering events ranging from the Daytona 500 to the Stanley Cup Finals, he made a deliberate pivot toward talent acquisition

The "Sizzle Factor": What Actually Makes a Candidate Stand Out

Benchmark Search President Troy Ashby on the "sizzle factor": what separates a strong resume from a candidate a hiring team actually remembers.

How Relationships Build a Career, Deepen Service and Define Purpose

Retired Whitley Penn Chief Growth Officer Felix Lozano on how relationships, proximity, and the courage to say yes built a nearly 40-year accounting career.

What to Do When Your Career Feels Stuck: Invest in Yourself, Stay Intentional, and Build the Right Network

Work doesn’t feel the way it used to. Between new tech, changing expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up, a lot of people—even those who look successful on paper—are quietly wondering what’s next. In fact, recent workforce studies suggest a large share of employees feel disengaged or uncertain about their next move, despite…

What to Do When Your Career Feels Stuck: Invest in Yourself, Stay Intentional, and Build the Right Network

Andrea Carter shares practical ways to break out of career stagnation and build momentum with intention.

How to Succeed After Getting Promoted: Seeking Feedback, Acting with Intention, and Leading with Perspective

Stepping into a leadership role today isn’t just a step up—it’s a shift into constant visibility, where expectations arrive immediately and the margin for error narrows. As organizations flatten structures and demand faster decisions, newly promoted leaders are expected to deliver impact from the outset, often without the space to fully adjust. According to…

Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’s Advice on Long-Term Success

Career advice in finance and accounting often centers around promotions, titles, and compensation. But in an era where professionals frequently change jobs every few years—the average American worker now stays in a role for less than four years—industries are facing growing talent shortages and reevaluating what long-term career success looks like. The question many…

Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’s Advice on Long-Term Success

Vaquero Midstream EVP and CAO Sandra Fendley on why great work, mentorship, and curiosity build a more rewarding career than chasing titles.

Spiral Growth: The Career Strategy That Builds Real Leaders

How "spiral growth" pairs mastery of your core role with cross-functional stretch work to build promotion-ready leaders.

Christie Linebarger’s Journey to Leadership: Grit, Growth & Leading with Heart

Leadership conversations are shifting as companies navigate rapid change, tighter labor markets, and evolving employee expectations. Teams want leaders who show up with humility, clarity, and a genuine investment in people—traits that can’t be faked and can’t be automated. And with studies consistently linking team engagement to the quality of direct leadership, understanding how effective…

Courage, Clarity, and the Power of the Pivot: How Risk, Mentorship, and Self-Advocacy Drive Real Career Growth

With global systems shifting and the need for adaptable leadership rising, more professionals are reevaluating their career paths nowadays. According to the World Economic Forum, 50 percent of all employees will need reskilling by 2025—a pressing reality in fields like international development and finance, where change is constant. For leaders navigating complex global issues,…