Testimonials
Through Get What You Set workshops and individual coaching, scores of professionals, recent grads and students have accelerated or launched their careers by deploying our practical tips and relevant resources. Here's what some have said:
Click here for partial lists of career workshop venues.
"Your workshops and career course meshed very well for us, and I'm getting consistently positive feedback from students who are engaging with the material. Our Career office is now working with the students to apply your concepts and strategies. It's taking them from zero to sixty in terms of preparing them to promote themselves in the job market."
Rhonda Mack
Associate Dean, School of Business & Economics
College of Charleston (SC)
"Thanks for coming to UMass Boston and presenting such an interesting and informative workshop on developing winning personal marketing messages and job hunting strategies. The students found it very helpful! I hope that we can replicate it at a future Golden Key event as I think this can be a valuable "service" to our members."
Anita Miller
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Massachusetts, Boston (MA)
Board of Directors
Golden Key International Honour Society
"Thank you again for coming to speak at HBS. Having spoken with many of the participants I can say that you made an immediate impact. Many students have already changed their resumes and are thinking differently about how they position themselves. There have been several requests for the event to be repeated next year."
Alan Sonnenfeld
Vice President, Jewish Students Association
Harvard Business School (MA)
"We sincerely thank you for the wonderful, informative workshop. We've heard nothing but praise and gratitude for the timely information. Your simplistic design for creating an objective statement was pure magic. We knew right away that the students had grasped the concept because of their success in duplicating the formula during the interactive portion of the program. The afternoon was most productive for all of us."
Eunice Lewis-Broome
Special Projects Manager & Assistant to the Vice President/Dean of Students
Hunter College (NY)
"Students benefitted from your workshop in a number of ways. One is that it helped them to articulate who they are, what they've accomplished and how that can be beneficial to a potential employer. It's very complementary to the kinds of messages we're trying to share with our students. We look forward to having you return to campus next semester."
Sheri Ziccardi
Director, Career Services
Emerson College (MA)
"From what I've heard, students were pleased with your workshop. I especially liked your phrase book. We look forward to the survey responses so we can sign you up for next year."
John H. Noble
Director, Office of Career Counseling
Williams College (MA)
"Thank you for your engaging and informative workshop for our graduate students. You helped the students understand the importance of writing about their impact in powerful language, and your exercises were especially effective. Their evaluations were very positive."
Michele Rapp
Associate Director, Graduate Student Career Services
Suffolk University (MA)
"Your workshop delivered perfectly by bringing to campus an engaging, interactive presentation that challenged our students to use new lenses through which to transform their professional image of themselves. You then provided students with the techniques to translate those reframed images into language certain to capture the attention of prospective employers. Perhaps the true litmus test was audience response - students are still talking about it and we look forward to welcoming you back!"
Linda Kent Davis
Director of Career Development
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MA)
"Thank you for the tremendous value I got through GWYS! In today's market where so many people are applying for the same position, simply "getting in the door" is difficult. You helped me focus on the high points in my career and transform a boring resume to a personal sell out. Without GWYS I would have not found and secured my new job, let alone it being such a perfect match to my passion, skills and future career goals."
- G.F., Program Director
"While exploring your proprietary taxonomy, I became aware that I had lost sight of the wide ranging value of the work I had been doing at my company. I always thought about my work in terms of the tasks I was performing, yet you helped me reframe my actual accomplishments with more clear and compelling terminology. I’ve felt a huge lift in my mood and confidence, as if I’ve rediscovered something about myself that I had simply misplaced. I hope as many people as possible have an opportunity to have the same experience."
- D.B., Ph.D., Industrial and Organizational Psychologist, VP Employee Intelligence
"I am amazed at the difference your insights and strategies have made in giving me fresh ways to communicate my skills and experience. You do to resumes what Warren Buffett does to stocks: increase the value ten-fold. Thanks!"
- O.B., Attorney
"I have just accepted an offer for a position and a great deal of the credit goes to you. Your knowledge of the employment terrain from both the employer and employee viewpoint is unmatched. Your attention to the details of my experience, areas of expertise and personal objectives, and your ability to translate them into a dynamic plan which addressed the reality of today's economy really put me on the right track. I'm grateful for your help."
- I.K., SVP Marketing/Investor Relations Services
"I cannot thank you enough for your help with my interview preparation. My two sets of meetings were incredibly productive, and I am focused on internalizing the basic message: I have been recognized as someone who is gifted at identifying value and being able to create and execute a strategy to capture it, along with the three follow-up points we discussed. Internalizing this message would have been helpful any time. Doing it before a double header afternoon ... Priceless!"
- L.A., Investment Manager
"I am writing to thank you profusely for the time, expertise and personal care that you gave me. As you know, the process of finding meaningful employment is harder as an over 50, but what you showed me just might be what saves me. I am working on a new resume with much enthusiasm."
- T.R., Credit Officer
"Having not written a resume in decades, I'm grateful for your help in creating a resume and LinkedIn profile that sums up so eloquently and accurately what a “mature” professional brings to the table. My contact at Korn Ferry said my resume looks great and he is going to work with his colleagues to find something for me."
- M.J. Attorney and Business Consultant
"Thank you, Ira, for reviewing my resume and coaching me for an upcoming interview. The strength of your approach is consistency and cohesiveness throughout the entire process. My end result was twofold; development of a resume that stands head and shoulders above the rest and the ability to relate so strongly to the resume that it restored my confidence and self-worth. Your protocols are really top notch."
- B.M., IT Application Director
"When I first met Robyn I had a vision of where I wanted to be in my career but had a difficult time putting together a concise resume to tell my story. Through Robyn's resume coaching, I now feel my resume represents my most valuable skills and achievements and have the framework to tailor my resume for any point in my career."
- T.P., Apparel and Footwear Sales
"I learned more from your seminar in 90 minutes than I have all year at the career development office."
A.S. - Smith College
"I thought your workshop (through FWA) was fantastic and wish it could have been longer! It was great to be put on the spot and really think about how we add value to our firms and how our internships can add value to our resume. I feel much more comfortable and better positioned to take on the upcoming recruitment process."
K.D. - University of Pennsylvania
"Your presentation was great and I've been raving about it ever since to all of my friends! I'm updating my resume this week by using the tactics you taught us to tweak and improve it."
D.G. - NYU/Stern
"This workshop was one of the most informative and helpful activities regarding job hunting that I've ever attended. I now understand why my resume was very shallow even though I've done some impressive things. Thank you!"
J.L. - Williams College
"Your seminar was extremely worthwhile. It helped me realize that a resume/objective statement (and likely the interview process) is an exercise in marketing and the messages we deliver must be compelling."
M.G. - MIT
"I learned more about my resume and how to present myself in 90 minutes last night than I did all semester doing interviews. I appreciated the opportunity to reflect upon what value I was bringing to my internships so that I can be more effective with recruiters."
A.I. - University of Pennsylvania/Wharton
"Thank you very much for leading the career development workshop. The exercises were extremely useful and helped me gain important perspective on my career goals."
Y.S. - Harvard Business School
"The information you presented has been incredibly helpful in the revision of my resume and I'm sure that I will find additional benefit when I begin interviewing."
B.B. - Emerson College
"The session was very informative. This will do nothing but improve my chances of starting a wonderful career!"
L.R. - Hunter College
"As the President of the real estate club I hear several successful business people speak every week, yet none have inspired me as much as you did today. I had an interview postponed this morning for a spring internship, but after the workshop, I was ready to keep persisting to get a job no matter what. "
D.L. - College of Charleston
"Your workshop was very fresh and relevant. It brought out a new way to market oneself, different from how it is usually explained."
J.B. - Boston University Graduate School
"Thank you for helping me realize that I have to become more confident with who I am and portray that confidence to potential employers."
R.G. - UMass Boston
"I thought your presentation was great, and if I ever have another chance to listen to you speak, I would in a heartbeat. Thank you for your time."
K.S. - Endicott College
"We've had world renowned authors and business leaders address our group about career development topics over the many years that I've been affiliated with HBSAB. Ira's presentation stood out because he exposed one of the most uncomfortable challenges one typically experiences in a job search or career change: the process of self-promotion. While many thought leaders speak to the issue, Ira actually presented a novel and practical way of solving it."
Richard Lange
Governor and Career Committee Chair
Harvard Business School Association of Boston
"Robyn delivered practical, real-world information and ideas to educate new grads on the interview process. Everyone in the room will think of her -- and, more importantly, put her smart advice to good use -- when they're in the hot seat vying for a job."
Tory Johnson
CEO, Women For Hire
Workplace Contributor for ABC's Good Morning America
"I want to thank you both so much for the terrific workshop. I have been to many, many FENG meetings, yet I cannot remember one that was so thought-provoking, practical, valuable, and fun. Your approach takes the old “problem - action - result” framework to a much higher and value-added level, and everyone benefited from your advice. I would certainly recommend you to other FENG chapters, as you offer some of the best value propositions out there."
James Hockenberry
Chairman, Princeton Chapter
Financial Executives Networking Group
"Thank you both for sharing your expertise with our job club. As before, you stirred everyone up and made us think about how we really come across. Your frank approach forces us sit up straight, and be quick and memorable. I look forward to using your techniques immediately."
Larry Blake
Co-Organizer
Project Management Institute (Westchester Chapter)
"Get What You Set made a tremendous impact on the college students that participated in the Financial Women's Association's Wall Street Exchange summer program. The students learned how to think in an entirely new way and use powerful language to portray their assets both on their resumes and in interviews. The fact that no one wanted to leave when the session was over demonstrated how much you engaged and inspired them. Thank you!"
Mary Anne Liss
Financial Women's Association
"I wanted to thank you both for the wonderful presentation you gave to our members. I was really wowed by your presentation. Everyone came over to tell me how worthwhile it was, and they all went away with a new understanding of how to present themselves positively and how to describe their value in their resumes. We would love to stay in touch and arrange another program in the future."
Ellen Aronovitz
Employment Director
The Eliezer Project
"I was so pleased to watch you at the JCC in Manhattan. The audience seemed to be right with you, engaged and participating. A number of people came up to me after the workshop and described it as top notch. Thank you for all that you do to combat the economic downturn."
Susan J. Rosenthal, LCSW
Manhatttan Coordinator, Connect To Care
Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services
"Thank you for your amazing insight and energy. I was lucky to hear your presentation at the Women For Hire event and in ten minutes of clarity, humor and power, you turned my thinking around from solely focusing on the positions I held, to focusing on what I had accomplished. You are a realist with a heart and I'm glad to have met you."
A.B., Film Festival Producer
"Thank you for your networking seminar, which was expert and right on the mark. I utilized the principles you outlined that very week in my networking efforts to remarkable effect. My calls went more smoothly, my meetings were more productive, and people were more receptive."
J.R., Physician & Entrepreneur
"The workshops that you led were exactly what I needed; high level, sophisticated and on target. The partner approach and interactive environment was particularly effective. Using your language system has set me apart both on paper and in person and played a critical role in landing my new job opportunity."
K.A., Magazine Publisher & Marketer
"While other organizations march to the ho-hum drumbeat to job hunting, Get What You Set gives the tools that the job seeker needs to effectively obtain employment. Even in this difficult economic environment, your presentations and training have streamlined the process and enabled me identify and articulate how I'm different than my peers."
E.P., Paralegal
"Thanks again for another insightful seminar. These sessions have been invaluable in helping me think about my value proposition and how to differentiate myself in the marketplace."
N.T., SVP Marketing
"A heartfelt thank you for the WONDERFUL program you presented. It was inspiring, thoughtful, filled with common sense, and very encouraging. It is obvious how much time, thought and practice have gone into your ideas."
S.L., Graphic Artist
"In just a short time, you showed me an entirely different way of thinking about resume building and the overall selling of myself. I had a few "ah-hah" moments from thinking in non-linear, non-generic ways."
T.B., Communications Director
"The GWYS workshop series was exactly what I needed to re-ignite my career search after months of tirelessly searching. Your guidance gave my résumé a professional polish and your sophisticated approach and coaching restored my confidence. Please continue providing your services to the community. They are invaluable."
J.H., Technology Marketing Manager
"I learned so much from your seminar. The exercises, the attributes assessment, your illustrative examples and brass tacks approach have moved mountains for me. Redoing my resume will be so much easier now."
S.G., Fashion Buyer & Retail Consultant
"Your workshops were GREAT! You developed a nice rapport with everyone and we all felt safe in the group. You strike a good equilibrium between feeding us the answers and helping us discover them ourselves. Thanks for all your help."
D.B., VP, Technology Sourcing
"Thank you very much for your insightful and engaging seminar at the JCC. I found it extremely helpful and immediately rewrote my resume. It's amazing what a difference your one seminar made!"
R.S., Strategic Planner, Advertising
"I was in a family business all my life and never had to enter the job market. Your workshop gave me an entirely new way to think about how to sell myself. I only had to read other peoples resumes before. Now that I attended your workshop, my resume needs a complete re-do."
J.M., Retail Business Owner