For years, we have all heard that the best way to land a new job, especially one at a higher level, is to network. “There is a lot of truth to that,” Phillip Braddy, the Founder and President of CareerAdvisor, agrees. “Hearing through the grapevine about an open position or, even better, being recommended by a peer for a job, can help you get the employment of your dreams. The potential problem with this, however, is that networking can be a bit one-dimensional. That person may be familiar with the position, but they can’t help you with acing the interview or writing your resume. It’s basically like football, where you take the ball to your opponent’s 20-yard line but then end up turning

it over on downs. That’s why I started CareerAdvisor: I knew I had the skills to take the job search all the way to the end zone.”

At CareerAdvisor, Phillip uses his skills in HR, coaching, and resume writing to help job seekers land new positions quickly and at the pay they deserve. “I am effective because I understand both perspectives of the job hunt: those of HR and the job seeker,” he says. “That helps me strategize and see each step like a chess match, moving my clients closer to the job offer they are seeking.”

In helping C-level executives attain new positions, Phillip relies on his extensive background in leadership. “I spent nearly thirteen years working as a leadership researcher and consultant,” he explains. “That time helped me better understand the factors that facilitate the job performance and advancement of leaders and executives.”

After training hundreds of HR and organizational development employees and consultants in how to use assessments to support organizational leaders’ learning and development, Phillip emerged with a sixth sense about how to help executives go even higher in their careers. “I put all that experience together and have facilitated the development or promotions of over 100 leaders and executives – many of them at Fortune 500 companies,” he reveals.“I am often able to help clients land new roles in 15%-35% of the time it takes the average job seeker who is searching for roles on their own.”

Phillip believes that the key to the success of CareerAdvisor is that every step of the application process is carefully managed. “I am a certified resume writer, so one of the first things I do is sit down with my client and make sure that their resume is really highlighting their work history the way they deserve,” he explains. “So many of my clients have impressive achievements, but their resume isn’t showcasing that. A polished resume that brings out an applicant’s skills and accomplishments is incredibly important.”

He is also a Certified Employment Interview Professional  (CEIP) and leverages his Certificate in Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School Online. “Every executive knows that the interview is a two-way conversation: yes, the company is looking at you, but it’s your chance to look at them, too,” Phillip says. “I guide my clients to understand how to negotiate the terms they want, including the all-important salary.”

Phillip first became interested in helping others gain employment when he entered the industrial/organizational psychology field to study human behavior in the workplace. “I noticed pretty quickly that so many people were not satisfied with their jobs,” he recalls. “While many believe that dissatisfaction is an inevitable part of your work day, I disagree. I think you should be on fire for what you are doing, so I have developed myself into a coach who helps people surpass what they believe they can do, and it is immensely rewarding.”

He is thoughtful about where the industry may go as advances in technology and social media are made. “It’s an exciting time to be in this space, to be sure,” he says. “Companies are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to perform personnel functions, including employee recruitment and employee hiring. The increased use of automated tools provides companies with greater efficiencies but, in some cases, creates additional obstacles for job applicants.”

Phillip adds that employees and job seekers are also spending more and more time on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and other platforms, increasing the necessity that recruiters expand their recruiting activities beyond LinkedIn. “In addition, new social media sites have seen results in innovations, including the use of video resumes on TikTok,” he says. “Isn’t that amazing? You weren’t seeing that a few years ago, so the recruitment process is definitely evolving alongside technology.”

The most rewarding part of his day comes when Phillip gets a call from a client who says they have gotten a position. “I definitely celebrate with them,” he says. “I have gotten to know the client, and I know their hopes and goals. My clients are driven by ambition and persistence, and when that all comes together, nothing is sweeter.”

Phillip Braddy is an industrial-organizational psychologist who founded CareerAdvisor in 2021 to assist job seekers and leaders in accelerating their job search/career success. Leveraging his expertise in career consulting, he has written dozens of resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and professional bios for employees at all job levels within 15+ job functions. 

Phillip holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Psychology from East Carolina University and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from North Carolina State University.  He has 20+ peer-reviewed publications in the areas of employee recruitment, leadership/career development, and testing and assessment. He has written additional articles for Forbes and Industry Training Magazine. 

For more information about Phillip and CareerAdvisor, please see the company’s website.