Archive: March 2011
April Fool's Day pranks at the office: Yea or nay?
Like March Madness office pools, there will always be killjoys vehemently opposed to having a little innocent fun in the workplace on April 1. [Photo by sandman_kk] A few days ago, one labor attorney issued this warning by way of...
Is revenge against a bad boss ever acceptable?
Depends on how you avenge yourself, say researchers from UC Berkeley's Hass School of Business and UC Santa Barbara. In a study recently published in the journal Industrial Relations, respondents said that getting back at a resented boss is "more...
How to conduct a successful informational interview
I was talking to a third-year pharmacy student attending the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition this weekend on strategies to maximize conferences and networking events. She asked me about informational interviews: Are they still a good practice today and if so, what would I recommend?
This just in: Work gets in the way of the rest of your life
I'm not a parent, but I have many friends, family, and colleagues who are. I hope that qualifies me as enough of a parenting ally to comment on what has begun to strike me as an irksome trend: the numerous...
Unemployed: Beware of April spammers
Before I get to the coming networking and job-search workshops for next month, I wanted to pass along a notice from the Employment Security Department about unscrupulous spammers (yes, that's redundant, I know) who are sending out misleading e-mails to...
Just because we know each other doesn't mean you're entitled to my contacts
It's amazing how many professionals in transition today don't understand the basic etiquette of introductions and building relationships. Their philosophy is, "I need access to one of your contacts and since we just met, you should introduce that person to me." I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work that way.
The lost art of picking up the phone
People in my freelance writing community are still talking about last Friday's New York Times article on how nobody uses the phone anymore. [Photo by sagriffin305] Writes journalist Pamela Paul: It's at the point where when the phone does ring --...
What to do if the company I'm targeting doesn't have job listings?
You don't have to worry about keywords in your resume if you're just trying to set up informational interviews.
Interviewing tips for people with disabilities
During a job interview, the most important impression to get across to the hiring manager is your ability to do the tasks required. For many thousands of job seekers in the Puget Sound region, however, there is another hurdle to...
In defense of March Madness office pools
It never fails. Once the flowers start blooming, my inbox bubbles with press releases warning against the evils of participating in March Madness office betting pools. Please. That's about as effective as telling employees not to swipe the occasional pen...
Learn the secrets executives use to land their dream jobs
Executives often use information about a company's competitors to put together a mini business plan or marketing document to share with their prospective employers. They are able to create a "wow" effect, and position themselves as a valuable resource versus a desperate job-seeker.
Six mistakes the self-employed make when planning a vacation
Like many Seattleites in winter, I've been pining for warmer, sunnier climes. As I ponder whether a vacation is in my future, I'm reminded of how much we self-employed folks get wrong with our vacation planning. [Photo by malias] Herewith...
Just because we just met, doesn't mean I want your resume
It's scary, but true that when I meet people at networking events they often say, "Hey, here is a copy of my resume. If you see any leads or are hiring yourself, please consider me." We just met. I don't trust you with my contacts or leads. I don't even know you yet.
Strengthening the bonds of community, in good times and bad
As I researched this week for the latest networking events and seminars for job seekers, I couldn't help but get pulled into the heartrending tragedy that has continued to unfold for the people of Japan since Friday's 8.9-magnitude earthquake. Over...
Expert advice on using Twitter to find a job
I recently interviewed Miriam Salpeter, author of "Social Networking for Career Success," about the basic question every job seeker is asking about Twitter: Can Twitter help me find a job?
Interviewing tips for the socially awkward
Like many techies, I know what it means to be painfully shy and socially awkward. (As a writer, it's pretty much part of the job description.) Unfortunately, face-to-face communication skills can make or break an interview, even if the job...
Want a job? Stop sending your resume (until you learn a few tips)
For the last three years, the biggest complaint I hear is, "I'm frustrated. I'm still putting out resumes daily with no response." Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Are job seekers insane? Of course not. So why do they keep sending in their resumes, expecting different results?
Networking tips for the job seeking engineer
In the wake of Boeing's lucrative Air Force tanker contract and a strong second quarter for Microsoft, 2011 looks to be a turnaround year for engineering jobs in the Puget Sound region. But just because hiring activity may start picking...
Leaving work early today? What's your excuse?
Perhaps you saw the CareerBuilder poll released last week about the weirdest excuses employees use for showing up late to work. [Photo by subflux] Among the tales of traffic snarls and faulty alarm clocks were gems like "My Botox appointment...
If you don't respect yourself, no one else will (including hiring managers)
When you lose your motivation during your job search, you radiate negative energy. Others don't want to be around you and hiring managers, in particular, don't want to hire you. So what can you do about it?
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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