Archive: July 2010
Job search events to get you through the 'dog days'
As we turn the corner into August this weekend, we officially enter summer's "dog days." While we Seattleites are blessedly free of the infernal heat and humidity that usually stifles the rest of the country this time of year, August...
No swearing in office e-mail? WTF?!
Straight from the You Can't Make This S--- Up! files comes my favorite workplace news item of the week: Goldman Sachs announcing its plans to use software to screen employee emails, texts, and instant messages for expletives. [Image by...
Why is it so hard to find a job today?
I constantly interview companies in the Puget Sound region and document their hiring process. If you've been job-seeking for months and haven't had good success, I'll show you why it's so hard to find a job today.
ForbesWoman names Seattle ninth best U.S. city for working moms
For the second year in a row, ForbesWoman.com has culled, sorted, and ranked data on the largest U.S. metropolitan areas to produce its list of the 50 best cities for working mothers. [Image: U.S. Employment Service poster from 1940s] Seattle-Tacoma...
Social network feature rewards those who follow
Most companies these days are looking for good leadership qualities in their job candidates. But to get to that all-important interview, sometimes it's good to be a follower. The social media landscape has made the act of following -- friends,...
Artists: How to stop hating your day job, part two
In my last post, I gave suggestions for artists and other creative types who feel frustrated by their day jobs, based on a conversation I had earlier this month with Summer Pierre, author of the new book, The Artist...
Pleasure or pain: What motivates your hiring manager?
People, in general, are motivated toward pleasure or away from pain. When you're interviewing for your next opportunity, try to figure out if the hiring manager is driven toward pleasure or avoiding pain. You can increase your effectiveness in connecting with the manager if you speak his or her style.
Artists: How to stop hating your day job
"As an artist, I have always felt I was living two lives -- my 'day job life' and my 'real life' as an active artist....I thought until I 'made it' I didn't have a choice. 'Making it' meant fame,...
Are you speaking the hiring manager's language?
Many hiring managers hire people who are just like themselves. They choose people with similar mannerisms, appearance, intelligence and culture. Some go as far as hiring people from the same educational background, experiences, gender, race or religion.
Your summer vacation situation revisited
I'm starting to think that studies on our national attitude toward summer vacations are about as reliable as all those studies on the effects of wine on one's health. [Photo by Rodarte's] One week we hear that a glass...
Private sector provides encouragement for job seekers
Before getting into the list of job-seeker events for the rest of this month, I thought it was necessary to point out some recent jobless figures this week that may have gone unnoticed amid the good news down in the...
How you manage introductions could get you -- or cost you -- a job
The best way to build relationships is to be a resource to each other. One way to do so is to make proper introductions between two people who could benefit from knowing each other.
Texting the boss: Yea or nay?
A new survey about how we communicate with the boss recently got my attention. [Photo by Zawezome] According to the makers of the mobile phone texting app textPlus, some young workers have no qualms texting the boss about urgent...
How to find a job as an executive - part 2
In my most recent post, Mark Tranter, partner with CFO Selections in Bellevue, differentiated between well-networked executives and executives who didn't pay attention to building relationships. Here are some more in-depth of strategies you can use today to make your transition more successful.
Networking tips for the video-game job market
To gamers, it seems like a natural progression: After mastering every nuance of their beloved video games like Halo or World of Warcraft in their teens, game aficionados learn some C++ programming skills in college and land jobs in Seattle's...
How to find a job as an executive
"There are two types of CFOs, those that have a network and those that don't," says Mark Tranter, partner with CFO Selections in Bellevue. While both executives are competent, the non-networked CFO averages one year of unemployment while the networked CFO gets multiple job offers within weeks of announcing a move.
Do we really need anonymous peer reviews of workers online?
Maybe you've heard about Unvarnished, the new social networking site that allows peers to review past and present colleagues -- anonymously. [Image by RubensLP] Think LinkedIn meets Yelp. Only unlike LinkedIn, Unvarnished -- which is still in private beta...
How to capture a recruiter's attention in seven seconds
I see candidate frustration daily. The biggest complaint I hear is, "I just paid a professional resume writer to craft the perfect resume and have sent it to countless employers. Why am I still not hearing back?"
Events to help you declare your job-search independence
There may be a lot of rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air this weekend, but for many Seattleites looking for work there has not been much worth celebrating these days. The latest job creation figures from the Feds...
Free webinar: How telecommuting can save your company big bucks
Speaking of commuter pain, the good folks at the Telework Research Network just released a study that quantifies the amount of money small and midsize businesses stand to save by allowing their employees to telecommute. [Photo by basykes] Sponsored...
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
Matt Youngquist, based in Bellevue, is a recognized expert in career coaching, job hunting and professional networking.
Natalie Singer is a Seattle writer who covers workplace issues, work/life balance and self-employment.
Former contributors
Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide."
Paul Anderson helps professionals in transition find their desired employment.
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