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

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

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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

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Advantage employee: Worker confidence on the rise

May 14, 2012 | Posted by Randy Woods

Seattle's current run of consecutive outstandingly beautiful weekends is not the only sunny news to hit the Puget Sound region in recent weeks. As the afternoons grow longer and the temperatures get warmer, there appears to be a gradual and sustainable return to normalcy in the job market, both locally and nationally. For an economic recovery to occur, the first thing that needs to change is attitude on the part of both hiring managers and job seekers. Employers must feel optimistic enough to risk expansion and focus on acquiring talent rather than cutting costs. At the same time, workers must

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For Mother's Day, honor mothers by changing the workplace

May 9, 2012 | Posted by Natalie Singer

On Sunday, mothers around the country will be showered with flowers, gifts and pancakes by their appreciative children and families. I will be part of this national lovefest, and I will enjoy it as I do every year. But I can't help thinking that one fervent wish I have harbored since I became a mother will not be fulfilled by a pot of tulips, a spa day or even the adoration of my loved ones. I was reminded again of this unfulfilled mother's desire when I recently rejected a job offer. The job was with an exciting, vibrant company, doing

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Job seekers: high-five those helping hands

May 8, 2012 | Posted by Matt Youngquist

Used in its most common form, the phrase "human resources" strikes many folks as a cold, capitalistic and rather demeaning way to refer to the living, breathing souls who make up the workforce within any organization. If you're in the midst of seeking a new job, however, this label is extremely appropriate. In fact, it's safe to say there's no greater resource involved in finding work than tapping into the community of human beings all around you -- be they your neighbors, family members, past or present co-workers, vendors, your hairdresser, your parole officer or pretty much anybody else you

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