A blog about finding (and keeping) a job in Seattle -- Career Center Blog

Recession Generation has stories to tell, lessons to teach

May 23, 2012 | Posted by Natalie Singer

In The Seattle Times' new special report The Recession Generation, young people are opening up about what they face in the job market today. Their stories are worth reading and learning from. I admire their persistence, their optimism, their continuing passion for their dream careers even when they remain just that -- dreams -- while these workers pay the bills by serving burgers and handing out gym towels. I am rooting for them to get out of their parents' basements and into a home of their own. I also want to tell them that even though I'm sure many of

Post a comment |
E-mail |
- Share:

Contact info: New rules for the modern job market

May 22, 2012 | Posted by Matt Youngquist

If you're a passing sports fan of almost any stripe, you've probably heard the name John Wooden. Coach Wooden, arguably the most revered sports coach in history, led the UCLA men's basketball team to 10 national championships in a 12-year period. And as legend has it, he'd start each season by teaching all of his new hotshot players something abruptly fundamental: how to put their socks on and tie their shoes properly. Seriously, he really did this. What does this story possibly have to do with a career blog? What's the aspect of the job-hunting process that most people take

Post a comment |
E-mail |
- Share:

Three tips to rev up forgotten resume elements

May 21, 2012 | Posted by Randy Woods

The rise and near ubiquity of online resume-processing algorithms has done quite a number on the art of resume writing over the past few years. Almost gone are the days when an eye-catching font, a coordinated color scheme and a subtle use of graphics could catch the eye of a hiring manager. More often than not, the online resumes that reach the HR department today have been digitally ground up, cleansed of unwanted material and presented as identical chunks of relevant data -- the Courier-font equivalent of a fast-food hamburger patty. There are, however, still some areas within digitally submitted

Post a comment |
E-mail |
- Share:

Summer work attire: flip-flops, tube tops and Speedos, oh my

May 16, 2012 | Posted by Natalie Singer

With so much rain and gray all fall and winter, an early spate of sun and warmth is all we need around here to go a little crazy. You know what I mean: Shorts as soon as the temperature hits 60 degrees; Seattle beaches blanketed with stripped-down bodies desperate to soak up the elusive Vitamin D, Puget Sound winds and icy water be damned. Whether you're working or job searching, be forewarned: Some clothing trends are best avoided no matter how beautiful a summer we have. Because we're so unused to sun, the potential for a workplace fashion faux pas

Post a comment |
E-mail |
- Share:

Interviewing success: a riddle to ponder

May 15, 2012 | Posted by Matt Youngquist

Eons ago, in the decade known as the '90s, I was lucky enough to learn the career-counseling trade at the hands of an incredibly wise mentor. This individual came from a blue-chip sales and marketing background, and he drew heavily upon his in-the-trenches business expertise to teach people how to sell themselves more effectively and win job offers. On this latter note, every time my boss would finish an in-depth interview training session with a client, he'd conclude the session by asking: "If I were waiting outside in your car after your next interview and got to ask you a

Post a comment |
E-mail |
- Share: