Archive: May 2010
You have more time than you think (part 2)
On Thursday, I posted a Q&A with Laura Vanderkam, author of the new book 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, about some relatively painless ways to squeeze more downtime from each week. Vanderkam's book offers invaluable...
Support your local library, find job-search tips
It's a holiday weekend, time to relax, recharge and prepare for another week of job hunting. You'll need the rest because, even with this short work week, the summer season of job-search seminars and networking events is kicking into high...
You have more time than you think -- really
My to-do list is seven pages long. I have laundry I haven't washed since 2008, e-mails I haven't answered since 2007, and stories I started writing in 2006 and have yet to finish. If anyone's guilty of thinking she doesn't...
How would you feel if you worked at BP?
To say that energy company BP has an image problem on its hands is likely the understatement of the year. [Photo by hill.josh] As if it weren't bad enough that 11 oil rig workers died in last month's offshore...
Who's Hiring? MicroGreen Polymers
Over the last few weeks, I've written about economic indicators pointing toward a coming surge in high-tech jobs and growth in the construction and manufacturing sectors. While most of these reports talked about statewide job increases, they were light on...
So many networking events, so little time!
It's late May, so, besides trying to help people find work in the Seattle region, much of my time for the next three weeks will be spent flitting from theater to theater to see as many Seattle International Film Festival...
And the award for Least Trusted Profession goes to...
...Politician! Congratulations, Politician -- come up here and accept your award! In a new survey commissioned by Sandler Training, a sales and management training company, 68 percent of 1,200 U.S. adults polled chose politicians as the profession they trust...
Beating the resume-tracking numbers game
One of the most common mantras that is drilled into every job seeker's head is "personalize." Personalize you cover letter, your networking, your interviewing techniques to make a connection with hiring managers and convince them that you are the exact...
The biggest office peeves -- and what to do about them
Ah, the office nuisance. We hate to work with them but love to regale our friends and family with stories about how horrid they are. [Photo: Editor B] A new survey sponsored by staffing firm Randstad looks at what...
Calls to Employee Assistance Programs increasing
Stress stemming from the monster recession we just lived through has been a hot topic on NWjobs during the past couple of years. (Here's an example. And another. And yet another.) [Photo courtesy of macinate] Yes, experts say the...
Construction jobs build hope of sustainable recovery
For most of the last two years, when there was news of yet another bad report of job losses, it was a safe bet that the leading industries were construction and manufacturing. After the housing bubble burst in 2007 and...
Career change for people unsure which path to pursue next
We talk a lot about career change on this blog and on NWjobs in general. But what if you hate (or lose) your job and have no idea what work you'd like to do next? In the newly updated...
Networking events that mix business with pleasure
As Seattleites, we can be a bit stand-offish at times. Perhaps a little distant. But when the weather is nice and the days are long, it's like we all turn into garrulous Californians. How else can we explain the large...
How to make time for networking
You've undoubtedly heard it said hundreds of times: the more people you meet in your field, the better it is for your career, whether you're looking for a new position, running your own business, or hoping to cushion yourself...
How to help, not hover, over your kids' job search
Right on cue with the nice weather, the kids are coming back from college, like the swallows of San Juan Capistrano. Many graduation ceremonies will begin this weekend and will run throughout Seattle in the coming weeks as thousands of...
Get crafty: Local conference to give artists a business boost
Designers, visual artists, and crafters rejoice! A small business conference made just for you is headed to Seattle this summer. If you've been itching for tips on how to grow your business or wanting to congregate with dozens your...
Shop talk in the workplace WC? No thanks!
Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail published a hilarious story about employees who've seen more of their boss and co-workers than they'd like at the gym. [Photo courtesy of avlxyz] As the article discusses, for those who work out at or...
Microsoft offers job skills program for returning vets
The ads for the U.S. military always show young, energetic, motivated people learning technical skills, discipline and the value of taking on new challenges. While at least some of this may be true, the ads don't tend to dwell on...
Could you take care of Mom (or Dad) on top of your career?
This past weekend, many of us spent time wining and dining our moms, burning up the phone lines with her, or honoring her memory. But how many of us in touch with our aging moms have broached the topic of...
Casting a wider net to find networking opportunities
When compiling my weekly roundup of job-search events, it's always gratifying to find a few new listings thrown in with the usual weekly or monthly regulars. This coming week, I discovered a whole array of job-search activities down in Tacoma...
Rocking the boat at work: When (and how) to do it
Every week, we read about bigwigs standing up for their beliefs at work, consequences be damned. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons] Take the president of local bank Frontier Financial who was reportedly fired last month when he refused to change his...
It's time to take job-growth momentum seriously
On Wall Street, traders are tense as the market seems to react spasmodically to the weakest of economic rumors. On Broadway, tourists are nervous after a string of bomb scares. On the Gulf Coast, environmentalists are anxiously awaiting the desperate...
How your resume can help you change careers
One of the trickier aspects of our current Great Recession economy is that it has forced many people to consider changing careers to find better job prospects. For some, this can be exhilarating, for others, it's terrifying; most experience a...
U.S. retirement age: Work till you drop?
You've probably heard it said that continuing to work into your golden years can keep your mind sharp and help stave off dementia. Good thing, considering how many older Americans can't afford to retire. [Photo: Kevin Zollman] As the...
Celebrating our maritime and labor heritage this May Day
Happy May Day, everyone! May 1st has been claimed by many cultures and organizations, celebrating everything from the advent of spring to religious rituals to international socialism. This year, by happy coincidence, the labor-themed holiday has another layer of significance...
Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl, a career guide based on her 59 jobs over 40 years in 22 cities.
Lisa Quast is a certified career coach, mentor, business consultant, former corporate executive and author based in the Seattle area.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
Former contributors
Matt Youngquist is the president of Career Horizons, a career counseling firm.
Natalie Singer is a Seattle writer, editor and small-business owner.
Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide."
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