Archive: August 2012
Will the long-term unemployed soon get a rescue platform?
Earlier this year, while going about their usual business of investigating the nation's power brokers and exposing corruption wherever they find it, the journalists on the CBS TV news magazine "60 Minutes" told one of the more uplifting stories to...
Are you a negative or positive self-talker? To succeed, love yourself
In a Harvard Business Review blog post this week, strategic adviser Peter Bregman wrote about the right way to speak to yourself. Although you might think his topic is too touchy-feely to be a critical career issue, it is, in...
Your LinkedIn profile says more about you than you think
I had the privilege of speaking to about 900 folks at the University of Washington last week as part of a panel discussion on "personal branding" and the strategies professionals can follow to set themselves apart from the crowd. All...
Millennial job seekers have good reason to stay in Seattle
Of all the demographic groups that have been studied for their economic vulnerability, the Millennials arguably have become the poster children of post-Great Recession victimhood. These young workers in the Seattle market, however, may soon become a bellwether for better...
Vets reinterpret job skills in manufacturing program
Finding the right job is like finding the perfect mate; sometimes a matchmaker can help find hidden similarities between two parties and pair them up. For the resurgent Puget Sound manufacturing sector, one of these matchmakers is Thomas McLaughlin, who...
Are we in a 'mom-cession'?
There's been a lot of talk lately about the "motherhood penalty," and I think it's finally becoming tiresome for those of us who have careers, or are trying to, and also happen to be parents. Don't get me wrong --...
5 theories behind Seattle's chilly networking reputation
Are Seattleites a friendly and welcoming group of people, on average? Or are we in total denial and really just a bunch of insecure, xenophobic snobs? Having bumped into quite a few people lately who recently relocated to Seattle from...
Avoiding the pitfalls of merging freelance and full-time work
During your search for a new job, have you ever had the urge to drop it all and just start your own business? After filling out endless applications, micromanaging your ever-changing resume and practicing your elevator speech into the wee...
Don't get fil-A'd by a fowled-up social media strategy
I Googled myself a few days ago. That's no longer an especially noteworthy act; most professionals should do it from time to time to make sure they don't see any embarrassing surprises associated with their names. Fortunately, most of the...
Three ways volunteering can help land your dream job
We've all heard them before -- the long list of steps that job seekers are supposed to take in order to get their resume looked at, much less get themselves in front of a hiring manager. Often those tips are...
8 job-search tips from the other side of the desk
Several days ago, I had the pleasure of hosting an event where three local hiring managers agreed to share their thoughts on the job-hunting process with a group of my clients going through career transition. These three individuals -- a...
To stand out, focus on 'why' instead of 'how' or 'what'
The changing nature of today's job market has caused many job seekers to fiddle almost daily with their resumes to cater to specific audiences. From past work experience to lists of relevant skills to job-specific training programs, the variations of...
Letter imperfect: The necessity of clear communication
Conducting a job search today requires not only great communication skills but the ability to impress prospective employers with your knowledge and experience. Unfortunately, these two qualities don't always appear at the same time in some resumes and cover letters....
Why social chemistry can give you the ultimate buzz
As a freelancer I have spent a lot of time over the years working in different spaces, mostly coffee shops. And something that you learn as a nomadic worker is that a place with a good vibe is conducive to...
Unfocused networking: the hidden job-search killer
It's one of the most ironic twists of the networking scene these days: While so many people (employed and unemployed alike) seem perfectly willing to lend advice, assistance and support to their fellow human beings, few job seekers go about...
Preparing vets for the bumpy transition to civilian job search
If the roaring hydroplanes and the screaming F/A-18 Hornets overhead weren't enough to remind you, we just enjoyed another Seattle Seafair this weekend. While strolling on the waterfront past the mighty U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships, I couldn't help...
Learning from the 'Missed Ops' in your job search
New job opportunities can pop up when you least expect them. And sometimes, even when you think you've weighed all options, fate throws a wrench in the plans. A few years ago, I got a call out of the blue...
Three techniques to beat procrastination (now!)
I'm a classic procrastinator. I've been a procrastinator since I was a kid and my mom would give me an hour to clean my room. I'd play happily for 55 minutes and then, keeping careful watch on the light-up Care...
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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