Suggestions
Ellen Barker Dunagan, CPCC
Career & Executive Coach | Speaker | Personal Brand Strategist | Job Search Coaching | Outplacement & Career Transition
Ellen Barker Dunagan, CPCC, is a career and executive coach, speaker, and personal brand strategist.12 She is the President and Founder of Traverse Career Solutions LLC, where she specializes in career strategy, job search coaching, and outplacement and career transition services.1
Professional Background
Ellen's expertise lies in helping individuals navigate career changes and transitions. She offers guidance on various aspects of professional development, including:
- Career strategy development
- Executive coaching
- Personal branding
- Job search techniques
- Outplacement services
Content Creation
Ellen is also an active content creator on LinkedIn, sharing her insights and expertise through articles and posts. Some of her published pieces include:
- "Why a Career Change Doesn't Have to Be Scary"3
- "Career Hack: What To Do When Waiting For Your Interview To Begin"4
- "Looking For A New Job? Put Your Personal Brand To Work"5
- "Career Hack: How To Make The Most Of Your Next Networking Event"6
- "The Elevator Pitch: 3 Easy Ways To Craft Yours"7
These articles demonstrate her focus on providing practical advice for career development and job searching.
Credentials
The "CPCC" in Ellen's title likely stands for Certified Professional Career Coach, indicating that she has obtained professional certification in her field of expertise.
Ellen Barker Dunagan's LinkedIn profile can be found under the username "ellendunagan," where she shares more about her professional experience and services offered through Traverse Career Solutions LLC.1
Highlights
Informational interviews are a key tactic to a successful job search and career transition. How we conduct an informational interview—from how we prepare, to how actively we listen, to the action we take as a result—is important for making the most of this opportunity.
Read my Career Hack and learn 5 steps to making your informational interview a success!
Informational interviews are a great way to tap the hidden job market. They are also fantastic catalysts for strengthening your networking skills.
Here are three things I recommend to my clients when conducting informational interviews:
1. Share your resume and LinkedIn profile in advance. Example: "Hi Dan, I am really looking forward to speaking with you! I am attaching my resume and LinkedIn profile so you have more information about me before we meet."
2. Ask if he/she can connect you with other individuals in their network. Example: "You spoke highly of Sally in marketing. She sounds like a great person for me to talk to next and I would love to learn more about her career. Would you be willing to connect us?"
- Follow up to make sure the person you interview knows how he/she helped. Example: "Thank you for sharing what it's like to work at (insert company name). I enjoyed listening to you talk about your career. Thank you for offering to send my resume through your employee referral program for potential job openings."
Informational interviews provide a wealth of data, from unearthing hidden job opportunities to learning what it's like to work for a potential employer. A big plus: People really do want to help. So don't hesitate to ask! And you will also be growing your network -- a top strategy for achieving your career success.
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