Achieving your ideal role through time-tested coaching. John Hughes is a seasoned Executive Job Search Coach offering tailored strategies to empower you to achieve your goals with confidence and precision.

Are you navigating a career transition and feeling frustrated by the lack of progress?

Is your concern about job security in your current role compounded by uncertainty about how to effectively seek your next opportunity?


Fifty, Fat & Fired – The Executive's Guide to Getting Back Into the C-Suite
offers a clear, actionable roadmap to help you land your next executive position with confidence and precision. This comprehensive guide provides not only the steps, processes, and templates you need for a time-efficient and highly effective job search, but also detailed coaching to help you implement the program’s elements seamlessly. It includes strategies for effectively dealing with the immediate aftermath of losing your job, accurately identifying the elements of the ideal job for your current needs, networking strategically, mastering the interview process, and much more. Every chapter is designed to empower you with practical tools and real-world insights.

Drawing from over two decades of experience in successful executive searches and coaching hundreds of professionals, I have distilled proven strategies into this book to help you overcome challenges and turn your career setbacks into opportunities. No matter how overwhelmed you may feel today, this book will help you regain control and position yourself for a role that aligns with your strengths, aspirations, and values. Discover how to transform this period of uncertainty into the launchpad for a fulfilling and rewarding next chapter in your career.

John Patrick Hughes holds an MBA in International Management and Finance from the Irish Management Institute in Dublin (with Fordham University), a Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Penn State, and a BS in Business Management from Le Moyne College in upstate New York. John currently resides in Florida and has been happily married for longer than he can remember and certainly longer than he deserves.

What people are saying

  • “I’ve known and worked with John for fifteen years and he is unquestionably one of the foremost experts in helping others find their true work calling. In this book, John walks you step by step in finding that next great position including identifying your ideal job, networking, interviewing, and negotiating the offer. John’s five tools of an effective job search have been tried and true for countless executives over the years. If you’re looking for a job or thinking about making a transition, this is the book for you.”

    Will McDade | Retired Executive

    CFO/COO - Interstate Batteries

    Sr. Vice President - Keurig Dr Pepper

  • “Over the last twenty years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with many executives, and without a doubt, John stands out as the best in his field. His passion for helping others, combined with his innate instincts and talents, has played a crucial role in assisting hundreds of executives in securing positions. This book serves as a fantastic resource for executives of all ages who are committed to landing their next big opportunity. It offers valuable advice from someone who has navigated the experience personally and gathered insights from thousands over several decades.”

    Kenton Kisler

    Founder at Executive Connection

    Co-founder at Pragmatk

  • "John's Job Search Boot Camp program is a true example of his servant leadership and genuine desire to help prepare and mentor professionals in seeking new positions. For many, becoming unemployed is a new and stressful experience and John's steady hand of support provides the encouragement and confidence necessary to successfully transition your career."

    Stephen Shelton

    Chief Audit Executive – Fossil Group, Inc.

  • “John brings a proven, straightforward process to your job search with weekly disciplined accountability. He has incorporated years of successful searches into his approach with a genuine interest in the candidate’s success.”

    Michael Topa,

    MTM Global LLC.

Our Services

John is glad to provide a range of personal consulting services.  These categories can be customized to meet the needs of the individual professional.

  • A low-commitment entry point during which you share the current state of your job search, so John can identify the issues and opportunities with your current approach, provide an orientation on the Five Essential Elements of a Successful Job Search, as well as provide some coaching on the first steps you should take to put your search on a more effective path.

  • Work one-on-one with you throughout the job search cycle via a series of calls / video chats every other week.  Over time, we will cover the following phases of your cycle:

    • Effectively dealing with the imminent loss or aftermath of your job termination;

    • Preparing yourself and your family for the challenging process ahead;

    • Build your understanding and co-develop with you your personal templates based on the Five Essential Elements of a Successful Job Search;

    • Provide personalized coaching on the topics of networking, engaging with recruiters effectively, interviewing, and job offer negotiation.

  • to accelerate your search as much as possible with the shortened time lag of course corrections and enhanced accountability afforded by weekly interactions.  In addition, pre-interview prep and post-interview action planning sessions are part of this program.

  • John would love to speak at your next meeting, conference, seminar or training.

    Some of John's topics include:

    • The Five Essential Elements of a Successful Job Search

    • Networking is a Contact Sport

    • Integrity-based Business Development

About the Author

John Hughes has been the Director of Business Development at BDO USA, the fifth-largest global accounting, tax, and advisory firm for the last seven years. His prior roles in Dallas include Manager of Business Development at Wilson Perumal & Company, Head of Field Finance for FleetPride, and the Director of Finance-Operations & Supply Chain at Hostess Brands.

His prior professional experience includes Vice President of Financial Planning at Musician's Friend in Oregon, M&A and valuation projects in Latin America, as well as various financial leadership roles at IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, and Aramark. He leads the Ambassador Program in the Dallas FEI chapter.

John’s career coaching experience includes leading BDO’s Friend of the Firm Job Search Boot Camp and leading the Atlanta Chapter of FENG for three years, during which he led career search discussions twice a month. Since 2018, he has led BDO’s Friend of the Firm job search assistance program. Through these presentations and three progressively shorter career transitions, he developed the Five Essential Elements of a Successful Job Search process.

He utilized this process to move to Dallas without knowing anyone. How effective was it?

  • Within four months, it resulted in a one-month project.

  • Six months later, it resulted in a multi-year role.

  • Years later, it facilitated a change in careers within two months.

  • The last transition was ten weeks and resulted in offers in two different industries and roles.

 

John has an MBA in International Management and Finance from the Irish Management Institute in Dublin (with Fordham University), a Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Penn State, and a BS in Business Management from Le Moyne College in upstate New York. John currently resides in Florida and has been happily married for longer than he can remember and certainly longer than he deserves.