Archive: May 2011
Summer vacations: Who's taking one and who's not
We've reached Memorial Day, which means it's time for my annual post about who's taking a vacation this summer and who's not. [Photo by Krystal International Vacation Club] A New CareerBuilder survey of 5,600 U.S. workers found that 24...
Job-search help for returning veterans
It's already Memorial Day, so summer has unofficially arrived, at least in terms of summer vacations, if not weather. While many of us have scattered to various locations (I happen to be deep in the Methow Valley right now), we...
Why you shouldn't network
I'm going to advocate against networking -- at least in the way that most people think of it. Why? Because most people do it wrong, and they make networking ineffective and unpleasant.
The biggest money mistakes that young workers make
If you're fresh out of school and headed into the job market, managing money is probably the last thing on your mind. Not when finding a job and ensuring you stay employed is tough enough. But as someone who entered...
Turnaround coming for 'boomerang' generation?
For the last few years, the long-running joke about recent college grads was that they were first of the new "boomerang generation" -- well-educated young adults who had earned six-figure educations but were landing right back where they started at...
Curious about a career in the arts? Free UW classes Thursday can help
Interested in a more artistic career but not sure where to begin? The University of Washington's Professional & Continuing Education division has your back. This Thursday evening, May 19, UW's continuing ed folks will offer free previews of several of...
Job seekers: Three reasons to censor your Facebook posts
By now, we've all heard the warnings about being careful what we say about work on Facebook, regardless of whether we have an employer or are looking for one. [Photo by altemark] Sure, it's smart to use the social...
Manufacturing, warehousing recovers but demands patience
In the darkest days of the Great Recession, it seemed as if manufacturing in the Puget Sound region was in its death throes. The economy also devastated the container trade at the Port of Seattle, leading to more job stagnation...
Stressed and proud? You're not impressing anyone
You know the type: The co-worker who darts around the office like a headless chicken, telling everyone within earshot how crazy-busy they are. (Note: If your co-workers always seem to disappear from their desks before you reach them, you probably...
What role does social media play in your job search?
Can social media help you find a job faster? Can tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Google profiles help your personal brand? Will tools like LinkedIn replace our resumes in the future?
A better Mother's Day gift for working moms (and dads)
What did you get your mom this Mother's Day? Flowers? Chocolate? Jewelry? [Photo by pizzodisevo] Barbara Kelley, co-author of the book Undecided, which I profiled last week, has a better idea: pressuring those at the top for change in the...
Time to harvest the last networking events of spring
We're approaching mid-May already, which is usually around the time the grumbling in the Seattle area reaches a fever pitch. After seeing the rest of the country warm up to long days filled with sunshine, Seattleites are once again mired...
How to use public speaking as a path to employment and career growth
An aspect of managing your career is making sure others within and outside your organization are aware of your expertise and contributions you're making. I'm writing this to inspire you to self-promote your expertise and availability in other ways than simply sending in your resume -- in this example, through public speaking.
Women: What to do if you're undecided about your career path
One of the drawbacks of having infinite career options is the indecisiveness that can ensue. Such is the plight of many young women today, writes mother and daughter team Barbara and Shannon Kelley in their new book Undecided: How...
Could your name predict your profession?
A new LinkedIn study says yes. [Photo by Swift Benjamin] LinkedIn data analysts evaluated more than 100 million profiles on the business networking site to suss out the most common CEO names. The top name for women CEOs? Deborah....
What is the point of networking? I don't get it
A recent attendee of one of my monthly networking mixers asked me what's the point of meeting so many people in fields far removed from my interests? What's the point?
Taking your new career for a 'test drive'
One of the many repercussions of the Great Recession in the overall job market has been a rapid reshuffling of workers in newly defined roles. For instance, the recent slow thaw of the job market is giving a glimmer of...
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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