Archive: Michelle Goodman
Sometimes a job is just a job (and other career lessons learned)
This will be my last post on NWjobs. In the three-and-a-half years I've been blogging on this site, I've learned countless lessons from the workers and career experts I've interviewed, as well as the many readers who've taken the time...
The key to succeeding as a freelancer
I'll be on KUOW's Weekday this morning, talking about what it takes to make it as a freelancer these days. Talent, marketing savvy, and business know-how are all part of the equation. But I'm a firm believer that the secret...
How to use hand-drawn pictures to ace an interview
Want to stand out in your job interviews? Use pictures. That's the advice of Dan Roam, international best-selling author of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures. Roam's latest book, BLAH BLAH BLAH: What to...
How to rock your office's white elephant gift exchange
A friend recently emailed me distressed about the Secret Santa gift she had to buy an officemate. [Flickr photo by gruntzooki] "I don't know the person at all and have no idea what they like. Do I get a...
How the biggest business myths hurt your career
Chances are you have at least a couple of disgruntled wage slaves on your holiday shopping list. Career expert Alexandra Levit, best-selling author behind such classics as How'd You Score That Gig? and They Don't Teach Corporate in College, has...
How to write off your job search
With 2012 around the corner, it's time to start thinking about your annual tax return. If you spent part of 2011 looking for a job (or anticipate more of the same in the coming year), you may be able...
Who should pay to update your skills? You or your employer?
Last week, NWjobs blogger Matt Youngquist wrote about the skills gap -- the increasing divide between the qualifications companies seek and those job hunters actually possess. According to a new study from global management consulting company Accenture, 55 percent of...
Sexual harassment still exists -- here's how to handle it
Harassment is back in the news thanks to this year's presidential campaign. Not that the problem ever went away. Over the years, a number of women (and a couple of men) have told me their all-too-familiar tales of workplace...
The fine line between being hard-nosed and a jerk at work
Maybe you heard about the recent study claiming that agreeable workers make less money than their more obstinate counterparts. Called "Do Nice Guys -- and Gals -- Really Finish Last?" the study makes a case for checking all pleasantries at...
Secretly videotaping your co-workers with your smartphone
There's sure to be lots of talk of scary supervisors and creepy co-workers this week. But you know what's really scary? The person at work who secretly uses their smartphone to record unflattering, embarrassing, or compromising videos of their...
The real reason women don't get ahead
Perhaps this week, when handing your supervisor a token gift for National Boss Day, you made a mental note to up your professional game so that one day you, too, could be one of the bigwigs. [Flickr photo by...
How professional envy can help your career
We're told not to get hung up coveting the careers of those more successful than us, to stop getting bogged down by what we don't have and focus on building up what we do. However, new research on envy shows...
So you want to be a published author? What you need to know
If there's one good thing that's come out of this rotten economy, it's that Americans have gotten more creative -- and not just in how far they can stretch a dollar. Having finally realized that corporate America is no...
Career lessons from Steve Jobs
By now, you've probably read Steve Jobs' words on a friend's blog or Facebook page: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results...
How to build a career in hotels and hospitality
John Murphy has one of those careers that makes others seethe with envy at cocktail parties. During his three decades in the hospitality industry, he's worked as general manager of the Salish Lodge and Spa, managing director of the University of...
How to keep the conference high alive after you get home
I spent this past weekend at the most inspiring writing workshop I've attended in I don't know how long. [Flickr photo by jemsweb] No matter how energizing a professional event, though, my usual MO is to slip back into...
Interview bling: Yea or nay?
According to the internets, job applicants who wear too big of an engagement rock to an interview may be doing so at their own peril. [Flickr photo by chris.corwin] As the latest "what will they discriminate against next?" story...
Quitting the job you just started for a better one
A Seattle area reader I'll call "Mark" recently wrote me about a sticky employment situation he found himself in: "I have been doing consistent contract work with one employer for several years. I just signed the paperwork for a new...
Going to work sick: Sometimes you have no choice
On Monday, the Seattle City Council is expected to pass a bill requiring local businesses to grant their employees paid sick leave. [Flickr photo by ghindo] As the Seattle Times reported yesterday: Advocates say the law will enhance public...
Tips for corporate newbies
Last week, a reader who spent his entire career working in public service wrote me in a panic. After spending a year at home with his young son, this reader (let's call him "Julius") had returned to work, this...
When the boss cries in front of you
Crying at work is back in the news. This time, it's because Dick Cheney suggests in his new memoir that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a bit of an on-the-job sobber. Much can be said about how those...
What to do when your company gets a new leader
Now that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stepped down, it's natural that employees might feel anxious about the company's future and their place in it, despite the fact that replacement Tim Cook has a long history with Apple. [Flickr photo...
HR to job seekers: We're not looking at your Facebook page
A fresh study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that when it comes to evaluating new hires, HR professionals rarely factor a candidate's Facebook, Twitter, or other social media accounts into the equation. There are several reasons for...
Making the most of trick interview questions
Glassdoor had a fun blog post yesterday on the peculiar interview questions new job seekers sometimes find themselves faced with. Among the questions on Glassdoor's list: "How do you rob a bank?" "What was your first AOL screen name?"...
Forget plan C -- what new entrepreneurs need is a reality check
I'm still miffed about an article from Sunday's New York Times. Called "Maybe It's Time for Plan C," the story highlights a number of recession-casualties-turned-entrepreneur who decided to follow their proverbial bliss and open a bakery/clothing boutique/bed and breakfast,...
Living paycheck to paycheck? You're not alone
According to a new CareerBuilder survey, four in 10 U.S. workers say they live paycheck to paycheck most or all of the time. [Flickr photo by Mark Strozier] To arrive at this disheartening figure, CareerBuilder polled nearly 5,300 U.S....
A guide to coworking etiquette
Here on NWjobs, we've sung the praises of coworking -- independent workers coming together in shared workspaces -- on more than one occasion. Today happens to be International Coworking Day, with a celebratory local event scheduled at Gasworks Park this...
The biggest email mistakes workers make
A fun Forbes article on 10 of the most common email gaffes in the workplace has been making the internet rounds. [Flickr photo by paul_irish] Three email abusers mentioned in the article rank high on my own email peeve...
Four easy ways to build community at work
From a social standpoint, office settings can make for some pretty awkward encounters. [Flickr photo by naotakem] Sure, employers try their darnedest to bring teams together with company picnics, holiday parties, and other morale events. But as anyone who's...
How being a clutter bug can hurt you at work
Is your desk buried under papers, file folders, and other clutter? If so, you could be jeopardizing your next promotion. [Flickr photo by aliwest44] According to a new CareerBuilder survey, more than a quarter of employers (28 percent) say...
Unexpected benefits of using a standing desk
You've probably seen the scary statistics about how sitting all day can drastically cut short your lifespan. Thanks to a bad back and some pesky stiffness in my legs, I was already contemplating purchasing an adjustable desk that I...
What's your work mantra?
Sunday night, after a glorious weekend on the Olympic Peninsula, I came home to several hours of uncompleted work. Due 9 a.m. Monday, hard stop. After two leisurely days of beach strolls and sunsets, communing with my computer was...
Gen Y to employers: Your on-the-job training programs stink!
Much has been written about how Generation Y -- the under-30 crowd in the workforce -- has had to adjust their attitude in today's crippled job market. As Associated Press reporter Cindy Krischer Goodman (no relation) wrote last fall,...
Online do-overs: Do we need a law to erase our internet mistakes?
Unless you've been living under a rock the past few years you're probably well aware that any improprieties you make online can come back to haunt you professionally. One suggestive tweet or drunken YouTube video can be all it...
Anti-fraud policies: Why your business needs one
On career websites like this one, Independence Day often conjures up talk of starting one's own business. In fact, my esteemed colleague Randy Woods wrote an excellent post on the topic yesterday. [Flickr photo by timlewisnm] For many new...
Who's telecommuting and who isn't
Every time I write a blog post or article about telecommuting, the reader questions come pouring in: How can I find a telecommuting job? Do work-from-home jobs for entry-level workers exist? I like my job and could do some...
Why we need horrible bosses
We've all worked for them. The tyrant who enjoys belittling others in public. The snake who pawns off her work on you and takes credit for it. The workaholic who expects everyone else to give up their personal life just...
Are women who take their spouse's name judged unfairly at work?
I recently got married with the least amount of fanfare possible. No engagement announcement. No ring. No dress. No floral arrangements, seating charts, Jordan almonds, bridesmaids, or high-priced photographer (the picture at the left is not of me). Just...
Night shift workers: What's your sleep strategy?
A recent NWjobs article and another on MSNBC gave a glimpse into the lives of people who prefer to work the night shift. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 3 percent of the country's full-time workforce pulls the...
A guide to vanpool etiquette
I recently wrote about the pros and cons of vanpooling for NWjobs. While researching the story, I learned that each van has its own code of conduct, no matter how informal. As my article mentions, "Don't keep your vanmates...
Post-recession dads: Less willing to give up breadwinner role?
When it comes to work/life balance, the recession has left more than a few working dads gun-shy. According to CareerBuilder's Annual Father's Day Survey, working dads are more reluctant to let go of the breadwinner role than they were...
Are workers becoming more comfortable with flexibility?
A new national survey says yes. According to survey sponsor Work+Life Fit, Inc., which helps companies create flexibility programs, today's full-time workers are less worried than they used to be that having a flexible work schedule will affect their paycheck...
When crisis hits home, should your job take a backseat?
By now, you've probably seen the video of U2 performing "Beautiful Day" at Qwest Field last Saturday. From a video monitor above the stage, Space Shuttle Endeavor Commander Mark Kelly sends his love to wife Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords via...
Outrage of the week: On maternity leave? No home loan for you!
There are so many reports of maddening workplace and work-related practices these days that I've decided to create a recurring feature called Outrage of the Week. This week's outrage: [Photo by Flickr user Xbeckie boox] The New York Times...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Resources for finding a job you love in your encore years
My previous post featured a Q&A with Marc Freedman, author of the new book The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife, about redefining work and retirement for Americans over age 50 and 60. [Marc Freedman | Photo...
Redefining retirement, work, and play for those over 50 and 60
Over 50 but feel like those AARP notices you keep getting in the mail aren't speaking your language? Feel more like you're embarking on a new chapter of life than moving toward retirement? Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of...
For some job seekers, every day is Earth Day
Happy Earth Day -- do you know where your employer stands on environmental sustainability? In a survey released earlier this month by carpet maker Interface Inc., a majority of respondents said they sure hoped they knew where their company...
How to get more responsibility at work
As anyone who's ever held a job for more than a week will tell you, being underutilized at work is the kiss of death. As if dying of boredom isn't bad enough, you also get to worry about being branded...
How to deal with a clueless boss
As you've no doubt heard, Will Ferrell is guest starring on "The Office" this spring. If you watched Thursday night's episode (preview below), you know that Ferrell's Deangelo Vickers is just as bumbling a boss as Steve Carell's Michael Scott....
The tolls are coming! Do you plan to adjust your commute?
As you've no doubt heard, tolling on the 520 bridge has been pushed back to June. Still, if you're a cross-lake commuter, it's never too early to start thinking about how you'll handle this increase in the cost of getting...
Between jobs and looking to publish your book? These classes can help
We all know involuntary unemployment is no picnic. But as some of the nation's pink-slipped have noted, the upside of losing your job is that you finally have the time to pursue those long-neglected hobbies and side projects. [Jennifer...
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...
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...
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 --...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Are you a digital drag at work?
So many ways to communicate at the office, so many ways to hang oneself by being a total digital drag. [Photo by Paul Keller] In a poll of 650 North American HR professionals conducted by staffing firm Robert Half,...
Entrepreneurs, unite! Can't-miss Biznik event this Thursday
For many new and veteran entrepreneurs, one of the biggest drawbacks of working solo is, well, working solo. Sure, it's great to finally be in control of where and when and for whom you work, but often that means working...
Self-employed? How to get 'group of one' health insurance
Last fall, the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) delivered the exciting news that freelancers, independent contractors, and sole proprietors in our state could now qualify for group health insurance plans by declaring themselves a "group of one."...
How to handle an office romance
If you're like a majority of U.S. workers, chances are you've dated, had a fling with, or fallen in love with someone from the office at some point during your professional life. [Photo by Sister72] A new survey of 2,000+...
Are hugs appropriate in the workplace?
Depends on where -- and with whom -- you work. Work at a yoga studio, and you're more likely to experience warm and fuzzy displays of affection during the workday than people who work at, say, a bank. [Photo by Julie...
New year's resolutions: It's not too late to salvage them
Now that we're five weeks into the new year, I have to ask: how are those resolutions going? [Photo by graymalkn] If your best-laid plans to work out before work, get more rest, or investigate making a career change already...
Employee awards: Yea or nay?
With Hollywood's awards season officially in full swing, I thought it would be fun to discuss on-the-job awards for the rest of us working stiffs. Using Facebook and LinkedIn, I conducted an informal, unscientific poll on what rank-and-file employees and managers...
Is the magic gone from your career? Free teleclasses that can help
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Seattle career coach Curt Rosengren is offering three free, one-hour teleclasses (conducted over the phone) designed to help you: Rekindle your passion for the way you make a living, Replenish your lagging energy...
Telecommuting: Less green than we think?
Those who champion telecommuting (yours truly included) are fond of mentioning that working from home is better for the environment. Less cars on the road. Less corporate offices to heat, cool, and light. Less clothing and drycleaning required. And so...
Want a promotion this year? Start angling for it now
Looking to move up in the work world? You may be surprised to learn that along with the start of the year, summer may be one of the best times to nab a promotion at your company. LinkedIn announced today...
How to spend the money the new payroll tax cut saves you
If you're currently a W-2 employee, you may have noticed your paycheck looking a tad bigger this month. That's because the Obama administration's extension of the Bush-era tax cuts just went into effect. [Image by alancleaver_2000] The Associated Press...
The top 10 words to banish from your LinkedIn profile
On NWjobs, we give a lot of advice on how to get the most from LinkedIn (examples here, here, here, here, and here). But I don't think we've addressed in how to improve the written content on your LinkedIn...
Would you attend your own layoff party?
A friend recently mentioned that her employer was throwing a goodbye party for its outgoing pink slip casualties. [Photo by Flashy Soup Can] One of the laid-off, my pal was unsure whether she should -- or even wanted to --...
How to survive grad school while working full-time
Before the holidays, I mentioned that the University of Washington was hosting a panel for professionals thinking of enrolling in graduate school while working full-time. [Photo by alamosbasement] If you missed the event, you're in luck. UW Professional and...
Prediction: The biggest workplace stories for 2011
Although it was no 2009, this past year was another doozy for the U.S. workforce. So rather than reminisce about the many ways 2010 whooped the collective hide of the working public, let's look forward to the new year. Following are...
How managers can help telecommuters succeed
We've talked a lot on this blog about how employees can make telecommuting work. But managers also need to play a part in ensuring that remote workers are sufficiently integrated with the team and as productive as their onsite...
How to avoid awkward holiday gift situations at work
Last year on NWjobs, we talked about budget-friendly holiday gifts that bosses and subordinates can give one another during lean financial times. But what we haven't talked about is ad-hoc gift-giving among officemates outside those department-wide Secret Santa and white...
Job hunting this holiday season? 5 ways to stand out from the crowd
Tempted put your job hunt on hold for the next two weeks? Don't be. Not all employers completely disappear into the holiday ether from mid-December to early January. Neither should you. [Egg nog | photo by izik] Executive outplacement firm...
Holiday helpline offered for job seekers
Out of work this holiday season? Nearing the end of your current employment contract or military service? Executive outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas wants to help. On Monday and Tuesday, December 27 and 28, from 7 a.m. to...
Giving holiday gifts to those who've helped with your job hunt
A friend recently asked, "What do I get or do for all the folks who helped me this year with job hunting favors? Do I even need to get them anything?" As with many professional development questions, the answer is,...
How to convince your boss to let you work from home
How'd you like the snowy, icy commute this week? If you have a job that can partly be done from home but your employer has never let you telecommute, there's hope. To ask your boss for work-from-home privileges, follow...
Forget shopping -- 5 things you can do to advance your career today
Want to make sure you have a place to land should your current position unexpectedly evaporate? Or do you just hate your job, plain and simple? Then don't spend Black Friday waiting on checkout lines, scouring the web for bargains,...
Self-employed? 7 ways to avoid burnout
Welcome to the month of the self-employed professional. Last week marked the second annual Global Entrepreneurship Week, which mobilized current and hopeful self-employed folks to participate in 30,000 small business events around the world. Not to be outdone, President Obama...
How to fess up to your workplace foul-ups
You may have heard about the surgeon who's gone public with the details of how he managed to perform the wrong surgery on a patient's hand two years ago. Breaking from the time-honored medical tradition of sweeping operating room...
Young and new to the workforce? This free online course can help
So much of today's advice aimed at students and recent graduates centers on how to find a paid job in our droopy economy. But navigating the work world as a twentysomething doesn't stop with the job interview process. Once you've...
Questions about grad school? Free UW event on Nov. 10 can help
Pondering graduate school while working, but not sure how you'll handle hitting the books on top of holding down a day job? The University of Washington wants to help. On Wednesday, November 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., UW Professional...
How to answer an interview question succinctly
Forget vampires, zombies, and ballot initiatives you don't agree with. You know what's really scary? Realizing during a job interview that you've been talking for umpteen minutes and you have no idea what you've said, let alone what the question...
Halloween costumes at the office: Fun or tiresome?
The other night, I talked to a friend who was scrambling to affix a set of bat wings she'd fashioned from a black umbrella to a black sweatshirt she'd just bought. Not only was she annoyed about spending an...
Is it ever okay to talk politics at work?
Between President Obama's recent pit stop at Top Pot Doughnuts, the bevy of hot-button initiatives on the November 2 ballot, and the incessant churn of Beltway gossip this election season (paging Ginni Thomas), it's becoming increasingly difficult to not talk...
Forging an encore career in today's tricky job market
The IT professional turned social worker. The lawyer turned schoolteacher. The corporate accountant turned non-profit fundraiser. In the past year, you've no doubt heard stories like these of professionals who -- thanks to layoffs, burnout, or general job dissatisfaction --...
You and your boss: BFFs forever or strictly professional?
Who says the recession hasn't brought coworkers together? In a recent survey by employment agency Adecco Staffing U.S., 78 percent of managers polled said they felt a stronger bond with their team members than they did three years ago....
New job? How long you have to prove yourself
Just got hired or promoted? Congratulations! But don't make the mistake of thinking you have three to six months to get acclimated to your new position. According to a new survey by staffing firm The Creative Group, new hires have...
How to network without being a jerk
Branding doesn't stop with your website or Twitter account. What others in your field think of you as a person has everything to do with your brand, too. [Me 2.0 author Dan Schawbel] Sadly, far too many professionals fail to...
Trying to get noticed online? How to rise above the digital din
Ever since "tweeting" and "personal branding" became household buzzwords, business experts have been beating us over the head with the notion that if we want to attract employers or customers, we have to jump into the social media fray and...
Even more health care relief for the self-employed
The good news for the self-employed, temporarily employed, under-employed, and other workers who buy their own health insurance keeps on coming: [Flickr photo by shimelle] As I mentioned in a recent post, starting this week, freelancers and other "businesses...
How do you like your job security now?
No doubt you saw the reports earlier this month that the recession officially ended in June 2009. Like many Americans, you may have laughed, scoffed, or yelled at the media outlet from which you gleaned this nugget of information...
Single women outearning their male counterparts? Not so fast
Since last week was Unmarried and Single Americans Week, I thought it fitting to look at some contradictory statistics about single women's salaries I've seen floating around lately. But first, let's revisit just how prevalent not being married has become....
The lost art of taking lunch
In doing some research this week for a story on fighting burnout at the office, I came across a curious paradox: full-time employees who say they stay sane throughout the workweek by taking every last minute of their lunch...
Health care relief for Washington state's self-employed
A recent news item from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner made my week. According to the OIC, come October 1, freelancers, sole proprietors, independent contractors, and other self-employed folks will have an easier time finding and qualifying...
The perils of on-the-job oversharing
On NWjobs, we talk a lot about what makes for appropriate use of digital and social media -- and what can happen when workers overshare the intimate details of their personal life online. Today I caught wind of a...
How freelancers can avoid getting stiffed, part two
In my last post, I offered some precautions self-employed workers can take to avoid getting burned by clients who don't pay. [Photo by wsssst] But what if, despite your best deadbeat radar, the many precautions you took at the...
How freelancers can avoid getting stiffed, part one
Gigaom ran an interesting post this week previewing soon-to-be-announced survey findings by freelance job bidding site Elance. [Photo by stuartpilbrow] According to the Elance survey, more people are opting to work as independent professionals rather than finding themselves working...
So you want to work for a nonprofit, part two
In my last post, I spoke to Heather Krasna, author of Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service, about the difference between job hunting in the nonprofit sector and the for-profit world. [Heather Krasna |...
So you want to work for a nonprofit, part one
It's no secret that the recession has left many displaced and disgruntled workers wondering whether they can find a more meaningful way to make a living. Working in the nonprofit sector is obviously one option. But as local author Heather...
More freebies for job seekers
Wondering what the heck professional branding is, how it can help your job search, and how to do it? Bryant & Stratton College Online can help. Today, at 11 a.m. (PST), the school will present a free, hour-long webinar called...
Thinking of a career in health care? Tips from a resume expert
As you've no doubt heard a few thousand times, health care is one of the few U.S. industries still on the rise. In fact, of the 20 vocations the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to grow the fastest this...
What's your career story?
Looking for a new job? Then you should be able to fill in both blanks below: What sets me apart from other candidates is ________________________. Prospective employers should care about this because ________________________. Can't do it? Not to worry....
The myth of following your bliss
It's unfortunate that our nation's collective body of career advice has led so many young workers to assume that there's a single vocation out there for each and every one of them that will provide them with an unlimited...
Five alternatives to graduate school
I recently received the sort of email that I hate to see. "Paul," a thirtysomething laid off from an unsatisfying administrative job, was confused about what career steps to take next. He wanted work in a field he found...
Is there a right way to quit a job you hate?
By now, you've no doubt seen accounts of how frustrated flight attendant Steven Slater told off a reportedly rude customer, grabbed himself a cold one, and slid down the plane's emergency chute. [Photo by The Chive] Like many Americans,...
Embrace diversity: Small business conference focuses on multiculturalism
In the past two-plus years, I've mentioned a handful of local small business conferences on this blog. It's rare, however, that I see an announcement for a multicultural-minded conference aimed at our region's small business community. That's why I was...
What have you done for the nation's charities lately?
You've probably heard that charitable giving has been on the decline since the recession began. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University reports that donor contributions have fallen by about 5.5 percent since the end of 2007. With the number...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
This just in: Commuting is the pits
Just in time for the three-day holiday weekend, IBM informs us that workers around the globe think commuting by car is -- wait for it -- stressful. In its new Commuter Pain Study, IBM reports that traffic is getting...
Book event 6/26: How today's men juggle work and family
With Father's Day fresh in mind, the Elliott Bay Book Company hosts a 2 p.m. book reading today at its new Capitol Hill location with Donald Unger, author of Men Can: The Changing Image and Reality of Fatherhood in...
Grab your leashes (or your allergy meds): It's Take Your Dog to Work Day
Last year, when I brought up the question of whether dogs should be allowed in the workplace or places of business, many of you left heated comments on the topic, both in support of and against four-legged office guests. "I've...
Is it ever okay to diss the boss in public?
We were just talking about giving your boss a bad review when this week it came to light that Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the country's top military dog in Afghanistan, gave his own boss, President Barack Obama, a scathing review...
The rise of the working dad
This month's crop of Father's Day articles on the web struck a similar theme: from more dads seeking flexible work schedules to more men feeling incredibly stressed by the work-family juggle, parenting has truly become an equal opportunity endeavor. [Photo:...
Note to boss: You get an F!
Most of us have had a manager we'd like to give a piece of our mind. [Photo by amboo who?] Maybe they're too meddlesome, absent-minded, or meeting-happy. Maybe they're an idea-stealing blowhard, an uninspiring bully, or an ineffective boob....
Expecting women to dial down the sexy at the office
By now you've probably heard about Debrahlee Lorenzana, who's suing Citigroup for firing her from her banking job because she's too sexy. [Photo by MattC.] No matter what you think about the merit of Lorenzana's suit, the professionalism of her...
Give me Facebook or give me unemployment?
Would you turn your nose up at a job that didn't allow you to access your personal e-mail or social networking sites like Facebook on company time? One in five younger workers would, says a new survey from London-based software security...
No time for a physical? Get one on your coffee break
The postcard my physician sent in April reminding me it's time for my annual exam is burning hole in my kitchen table. I keep telling myself I'll schedule the appointment next week, but next week never comes. Either I'm...
How to keep meandering meetings on track
I've blogged about ways to avoid time-sucking, soul-quashing meetings before. But how about those meetings you can't wriggle your way out of? How do you ensure these conference room confabs stay on track? [Photo courtesy of Bring TIM! inventor Brad...
What's your summer vacation situation?
So how was your long holiday weekend? More important, how are your summer leisure plans shaping up? [Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com] For months, we media types have been regaling readers, viewers, and listeners with hiring and shopping statistics in...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
How to ensure your informational interview request is ignored
Are you a recent grad whose requests for informational interviews have gone unanswered? Chris Perry, who blogs about the job hunt and personal branding at Career Rocketeer, thinks he knows why. [Photo courtesy of I Don't Know, Maybe.] As...
Is it an employer's job to promote healthy living to workers?
Employees aren't schoolchildren. Most adults know that the road to better health isn't paved with extra trips to the candy machine. Likewise, it's not much of a newsflash that sitting hunched over a keyboard day after day can hamper one's...
Balancing act: Inside the life of an OR nurse
Nursing has been hailed as one of the most recession-proof careers today. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for registered nurses will grow by 22 percent this decade, which the BLS says is "much faster...
Employees, don't wait for the next Earth Day to green your job
Maybe you went to a recycling event, planted some trees, or otherwise did your part to honor the planet during the past week's green festivities. Good for you. [Photo courtesy of NASA] But amid all the fanfare around Earth...
Sexting on the job: Bad idea or none of your employer's business?
By now, you've probably heard about the California cop who sued his employer for violation of privacy after getting caught sexting on his employer-issued pager. A quick bit of background for those new to the story: The Ontario, Calif....
Can passion for your profession be a competitive advantage?
Seattle-based career coach Curt Rosengren thinks so. And I tend to think he's right. When the thrill is gone from your career, it shows. If you're jockeying for a new position with your employer or a new employer altogether,...
Need a new career? There's an app for that
We chat, shop, check directions, and make restaurant reservations on our smartphones. So why not use them to revamp our careers too? [Great Career iPhone app | Photo courtesy of Franklin Covey Co] Several new smartphone applications help you...
Who wants to be a white collar criminal?
Apparently enough people to prompt Wake Forest University's Schools of Business to host a panel called "Finding the Way Back: Impacts of White Collar Crime" last week. Designed to warn students against the temptations of corporate theft, the panel featured...
Big Brother is watching (to see if you're breaking confidentiality)
Forget dinging employees for using social media to gas on about how many cocktails they drank Saturday night or how they really spent their last sick day. A new software application allows companies to monitor whether employees are revealing trade...
April Fools' pranks at the office: Bad idea this year?
Elizabeth Fournier considers herself someone with a good sense of humor. Because she runs a funeral home in Boring, Oregon, this tends to come in handy every April 1. "You can guess the amount of April Fools' jokes I get,"...
Swearing at work: Yea or nay?
No matter what you think of our nation's freshly inked health care bill, Vice President Biden's blooper at Tuesday's White House ceremony raises an interesting point: whether it's okay to swear in a professional setting. Obviously context is everything. Print...
How to stage a career comeback
Have you recently entered the job market after a long stretch with the same organization only to find that all the rules of job seeking, networking, and employment itself have changed? If so, Lisa Johnson Mandell feels your pain....
In defense of the liberal arts major
I was a liberal arts major, though I let my parents talk me out of getting my B.A. in English lit and into getting one in journalism because it was "more practical." (Don't laugh -- it was the eighties.) If...
Make profits, not meetings
I never tire of talking about getting out from under the oppressive thumb of one's weekly meeting roster. In the past, I've written about stealth ways to multitask during meetings and block off chunks of your calendar for project work...
Freelancers: Don't forget your 2009 tax credit
Filing your federal tax return as a freelancer can be tricky. If you don't employ the services of a professional tax preparer (even though I think you should), you could be leaving some money on the table. Fortunately good folks...
Why a handful of mentors is better than one
The other day a colleague I'd helped out with some advice on freelancing called me her "unofficial mentor," much to my (flattered) surprise. This got me thinking about the nature of twenty-first century mentorship. To me, the idea of the...
Your daily to-do list revisited
In yesterday's post, I talked about ways to wrangle your to-do list in today's overworked office environment. A couple more tips I couldn't resist mentioning: Set strict boundaries around social media time. We're always hearing inbox experts expound on how...
Blow up your to-do list
In my last post, I mentioned working smarter in today's "do more with less" business climate. Employees, managers, entrepreneurs, and workplace experts I've spoken to this month have confirmed what I've long suspected: letting go of the notion that you'll...
The digital brown noser in the office
Every office has one: the person who tries to appear more productive than they are in order to stay in the boss' good graces. Thanks to e-mail and smartphones, it's easy to pretend you're working around the clock, even after...
Underdogs more motivated? Not necessarily
My dog has this somewhat defeatist habit of giving up chase on a tennis ball when it's clear that a faster dog at the park is about to beat him to the punch. I used to think this was such...
Should job candidates be disqualified for medical marijuana use?
Last week, KUOW's Heidi Lang did a fascinating piece on how a woman who uses medical marijuana to alleviate migraines lost her job. A quick recap of the details: "Jane Roe" -- an alias for the employee in question --...
From co-workers to spouses to business partners
This weekend, an article I wrote about two Seattle-area couples who met at work and wound up tying the knot appeared in the Seattle Times. One of the couples, Kris Hoots and Steve Thomas, talked about how they initially...
How managers can encourage employee flexibility
You'd think employees wouldn't need any nudging to take advantage of telecommuting or flextime programs, or even paid days off. But during the past year, I've heard multiple tales of employees not wanting to work from home, come in late, leave...
Scared employee vs. daring entrepreneur: The two faces of older workers
Gene's story is by now a familiar one. A reader of this blog in his late fifties, Gene was laid off from his creative agency job last spring. After looking for work for a year, Gene came to the disheartening...
Do abusive bosses who are high performers get a pass?
A new study says yes. According to researchers at the University of Iowa, "supervisors who are productive have a long leash when it comes to bad behavior." In other words, they can beat their chests and berate staff all they...
Five reasons to stick with a job you hate -- for now
Everyone's talking about job satisfaction and employee morale these days. Those miserable in their current position will likely find the unemployment numbers alone reason enough to hunker down and stay put. But for those not entirely convinced toughing it out...
How new FMLA regulations affect military families
Most of us know the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as the law that protects an employee's job if they need time off to care for a new child or an ailing spouse or parent. But the FMLA also...
Home unalone: Telecommuting with your laid-off sweetie underfoot
It's tough enough when a domestic partner loses his or her job. But for telecommuters and freelancers who work at home, having your sweetie suddenly underfoot during the workweek can be a cataclysmic event -- especially if your home...
How to stay focused at work despite life's big distractions
So you're getting married, buying a house, adopting a baby, starting night school for your MBA, launching your dream business on the side, shopping your novel around to hotshot agents, or getting ready to jet off to Fiji for three...
Working parents: Win free tuition for a higher education degree
Good news for parents itching to go back to school but lacking the time or money. Project Working Mom 2010 will award up to 285 full-tuition scholarships totaling about $5 million to parents (dads included!) interested in attending an accredited...
Do you associate having a career with one gender over the other?
Before you answer that, you may want to visit Harvard's Project Implicit Web site. This 15-year-old research project features a free online test you can take to see whether you're more inclined to associate men, women, or neither gender with...
End of the wage gap? Not so fast
You probably saw this week's Pew Research Center study on how American men are getting a bigger economic boost from marriage these days. As Pew reported, "A larger share of men in 2007, compared with their 1970 counterparts, are married...
Germaphobes rejoice! Alternatives to touching the WC door at work
Despite the threat of communicable diseases like swine flu, we humans are not the most sanitary sort. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in October found that only 32 percent of men and 64 percent...
This just in: Leaving the office is good for you
I'm feeling peppier at the moment. I'm also feeling more autonomous, better connected to those in my immediate vicinity, and in general, happier. If you're reading this between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, chances are you are too. In other...
In defense of temp work
A couple of articles on the recent rise of temporary hires caught my eye. In late December, the New York Times reported that companies have steadily been hiring more temporary workers (including independent contractors, freelancers, and permatemps) since the start...
How corporate culture can make or break a job
Although I haven't seen it addressed in the recent rash of job satisfaction surveys, there's no denying that company culture can greatly affect your on-the-job happiness. If dressing in full goth regalia or otherwise letting your freak flag fly is...
Companies to emulate in 2010
Seems like I've been writing about employee satisfaction a lot lately. (Here's one post on the topic. Here's another.) Happily, I've seen a number of recent stories about companies using innovative work/life balance initiatives to boost employee morale, and thus...
How to boost employee morale this year
You probably saw The Conference Board report this week that 55 percent of Americans are unhappy at their job, the highest number since the organization began conducting its annual job satisfaction survey two decades ago. In the past, I've offered...
How to slow down in life
Confession: This work/life balance blogger could use a little help in the work/life balance department. That's why I was excited to receive a book over the holidays called The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our...
How to stick to your New Year's resolutions
Today a couple of freelance friends and I began tackling a shared New Year's resolution: spend more time on our personal writing projects (essays, books, and the like). To ensure we walked the talk, we made a virtual writing date,...
Top 5 work/life balance stories of 2009
I could say a lot of bad things about the many ways in which 2009 did a serious number on the workforce. Instead, I'll list what I think were some of the most significant work/life balance stories of the year....
Is turning your hobby into a business a recipe for misery?
One of the things I love most about the December holidays is they they encourage us to channel our inner Martha Stewart, if for no other reason than to save a few bucks. Suddenly we find ourselves baking cookies, knitting scarves,...
How do you like your job now?
I've long been fascinated by the many polls telling Americans how unhappy we are with our jobs. Since I began checking these numbers several years ago, outfits like The Conference Board and CareerBuilder heave steadily been reporting that at least one in...
The company holiday party: Morale booster or budget buster?
Much has been written about whether employers should let the holiday party show go on this year. For starters, a rash of surveys showed that many companies had chosen to reign in their holiday traditions for 2009. (Here's one. Here's...
Your company holiday party as a networking tool
In a national poll conducted by staffing firm The Creative Group, 44 percent of employers said an employee's behavior at the company holiday party can greatly affect their prospects for career advancement. So much advice on how to put your...
Hourly vs. salaried workers: Who's happier?
Back in my contract worker days, I was a hardcore clock watcher. Even if I didn't like a project I'd been tasked with, I'd remind myself that by the end of the day I'd have made another couple hundred beans. Usually...
More ways to avoid work-from-home scams
Come January, many of us will try to tackle that new year's resolution of earning a little extra cash on the side. Snagging some home-based work may seem like the most logical solution. But the Web's so riddled with work-from-home...
Holiday deals for teleworkers seeking office space
For many home-based workers, there comes a point where you start looking forward to your periodic jaunts to the grocery store and the sporadic visits from your friendly neighborhood UPS deliveryperson a bit too much. You know you need you...
Is your name hurting your career?
On a scale of 1 to 10, the name Michelle Goodman rates a 4 in the originality department. Although not an earth-shattering setback, going through life as sort of a Jewish "Jane Smith" hasn't exactly been a boon for me...
Survival jobs: Something to be thankful for
In the past year and a half, I've spoken with dozens of workers who've gone from writing loans, press releases, or software manuals to driving a school bus, ringing up groceries, or hawking cell phones at the mall. While these...
More ammo for employees hoping to telecommute
A few of you have wisely asked for scientific proof you can use to help make a business case for working a more flexible schedule or telecommuting to your job. A new study by a team of industrial organizational psychologists...
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
I'm not much for reading (or heeding the advice of) women's magazines. But a friend sent me a recent Women's Health article that had me leaping from my chair. Apparently sitting on your duff and staring at a computer screen...
Protecting your office against workplace violence
If you've been following the headlines lately, you might think that workplace shootings are the rule rather than the exception. But according to the Workplace Violence Research Institute, nothing could be further from the truth. "A much more common cause...
When CEOs and social media don't mix
If you follow social media news, you've probably heard about Chip Conley, the 48-year-old CEO of Joie de Vivre, a 3,000-employee company that runs a collection of boutique hotels in California. Apparently Conley likes to get personal on Facebook and...
Should you mention your upcoming vacation in an interview?
Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from a job seeker concerned that an upcoming vacation he'd booked ages ago might cost him the "perfect fit" dream job he's interviewing for this month. When I say this guy has an upcoming...
The upside of office gossip
Much of what's written about office gossip makes it sound as though no good can come from sharing juicy tidbits about those we work with. Earlier this week, an article in the Science section of the New York Times discussed...
Recession ethics: Has the definition of honesty changed?
Corporate theft is nothing new. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), U.S. employers lose 7 percent of their annual revenue to employee theft -- from inflated expense reports and abuse of corporate credit cards to out-and-out embezzling....
Dressing up for Halloween at the office -- yea or nay?
I've always been fairly ambivalent about office Halloween celebrations. One the plus side, any festivities your department has scheduled (haunted house, costume contest, orange-and-black cake, people bringing in their kids to treat or treat) can provide a nice distraction on...
Do coworkers, social media, and election politics mix?
I know many of you are swapping your Seattle mayoral picks and your thoughts on I-1033 and Ref. 71 around the office water cooler. But how about on Facebook and Twitter where many of your officemates and customers lurk? When...
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
With today's cost-cutting employers keeping close tabs on worker productivity, no one wants to look like they're operating at less than 200 percent. Of course all this goes out the window if your body throws you a curve ball. Suddenly,...
Are you a cellphone refusenik?
I was a cellular holdout for a long time. Like years. And while I maintain a landline and have been known to leave the house without my mobile phone on occasion, I can't imagine returning to the days of worrying...
How to boost your relationship with the boss
Ask anyone who's ever had a bad boss how much time they spend stewing about their supervisor each week and they'll likely answer, "Far more hours than I spend at work." It doesn't have to be this way, says Joe...
"Happy Boss Day, you big liar!"
Welcome to another Hallmark holiday, National Boss Day, which falls on October 16 each year. Rather than rushing out to buy their bosses greeting cards, flowers, or bottles of scotch, HR solutions provider Adecco Group suggests that many Americans may...
Career change: Is the new normal not so new?
There's been a lot of talk of the "new normal" this recession has brought on -- workers spending less, saving more, and feeling far less certain they'll be able to retire as early as they'd hoped, if at all. Now the...
How much money could working from home save you?
A lot, says Kate Lister, co-author with Tom Harnish of Undress for Success: The Naked Truth About Making Money at Home and principal researcher at the Telework Research Network. Aggregating the latest U.S. Census American Community Survey figures and data from...
It's National Work & Family Month. Do you know where your balance is?
The good folks at the Alliance for Work-Life Progress want you to know that October is National Work & Family Month. To help raise awareness for the American worker's need for better balance, Kathie Lingle, executive director of the Alliance, wrote a...
Can a spouse's meddling help your career?
During the past week, I've conversed with several hiring managers and recruiters about helicopter spouses who play far too prominent a role in their significant other's job search. I'm not talking about proofreading your husband's resume or introducing your wife...
Love in the time of corporate cutbacks
I was going to be predictable and write about dating in the workplace sometime around February 14. But since everyone's talking about David Letterman's office dalliances now, why wait? It's no secret that being bed buddies with the boss can...
Recoiling from officespeak when you're off the clock
Yesterday a writer pal working at a neighborhood café posted the following as her Facebook status: "The bizspeak happening at the next table is making my ears bleed." Wondering what catchphrases had set her off, my brain quickly brimmed with sentences like: "Let's leverage this."...
Is corporate fashion killing you?
I recently went to see "Suffer for Beauty: A Revealing Look at Women's History Through Undergarments," a fantastic little exhibit at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn. I marveled at the impossibly tiny waist-cinching corsets of the 1880s...
Has your employer told you what to do if you get swine flu?
Schools and colleges may be gearing up for potential swine flu outbreaks among their student body and staff. But in a survey conducted this month by marketing firm Mansfield Communications, 69 percent of working Americans polled said their employer has...
Does your department need a morale boost?
I hear the same stories over and over from friends, readers, and people I've interviewed during the past year. If it's not the rumor mill and the uncertainty about holding onto their job, it's the sadness, frustration, and brain drain...
Singles don't necessarily have it easier in the workplace
So much of the work/life balance conversation in the media focuses on married couples and their families. This can get old for us unmarried folks. Singles, who according to the Council on Contemporary Families now comprise 43 percent of the...
Public forum: What health care reform means for entrepreneurs
If you're a past or present employee who thinks the health insurance woes of the self-employed aren't your concern, you're wrong. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of all employers and hire more...
Telling your co-workers you're gay
I finally watched the film Milk this summer. I loved the movie and was enthralled by Sean Penn's performance. But I couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened about how little some things have changed in the 31 years since...
Has your office gone to the dogs?
I was in the frozen food aisle of my neighborhood co-op the other day when a woman with a small dog on a leash walked by. The dog wasn't wearing a service vest, but the little guy was very well...
Is it possible to better the world -- and make a living?
Jeff Klein says yes. The author of "Working for Good: Making a Difference While Making a Living" believes that social entrepreneurship -- starting a company that serves the greater good, or working for one -- is the future of business. "There is...
Regional help for aspiring small business owners
I don't know about you, but August's 9.7 percent national unemployment rate doesn't exactly scream "The recession's over!" to me. If you're one of the many unemployed contemplating starting your own business, you don't have to go it alone. The...
Recession stress: How do you combat it?
Dwindling hours. Lost wages. Low morale at the office. Low morale on the job hunt. Reports that the individual health insurance plan you purchased (that is, if you qualified for and could afford one) probably won't cover all you thought...
Bringing your significant other to a business conference
I was in San Diego last week, speaking at a conference for independent professionals. My significant other had some vacation time he needed to use, and flights to Southern California were fairly inexpensive, so he decided to join me on...
Outlawing coffee shop squatters
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal wrote about an interesting war being waged in some of New York's independently owned coffee shops: Tired of freelancers and telecommuters camping out at their tables all day -- often nursing one cup...
Swine flu revisited: Time to make a fall telework plan?
Ah, back-to-school season. Parents scramble to pick up last-minute school supplies. Teachers pull together their September lesson plans. Summer revelers squeeze in those last few barbecues and beach getaways. And the government tells us that swine flu could infect half...
From self-employed to someone's employee
In her recent Wall Street Journal column, Alexandra Levit makes the fantastic point that returning to an office job after working for yourself should not be viewed as a step backward. Besides benefiting from the steady paycheck and company perks...
The Sunday night e-mail check
On Sunday, a source I hadn't been able to reach during the workweek for an article I'm writing about labor laws and work/life balance called. She'd just picked up my voice message and was calling from her vacation in the...
How to evade time-sucking, soul-quashing coworkers
We all have coworkers who drive us crazy: the sneaky saboteur, the chest-beating bully, the spreadsheet-happy micromanager, the naysayer who's allergic to change, and the guy who's always popping his head into our office to ask one more question,...
Is the American vacation in danger of extinction?
John de Graaf thinks so. "One of the things that bugs me most is that right now vacations are seen as a luxury we can't afford in this economy," said the co-founder and executive director of Take Back Your Time,...
In praise of naps
I get a lot of flak from friends about my fondness for napping. But give me one rotten night's sleep and I take three times as long to write a sentence as I normally would and the better part of...
Is spending less the new normal?
Unemployment numbers improved ever so slightly this month. And a new report from the Society for Human Resource Management anticipates hiring in the manufacturing and service sectors to outpace layoffs, too. Still, we're nowhere near out of the economic woods yet....
Asking to telecommute in a bad economy
Last week, I mentioned that telecommuting consultant Pat Katepoo of WorkOptions.com was offering a free teleclass on convincing your manager to let you telecommute. In case you missed the class, Katepoo was kind enough to answer a few questions about...
Would you take a management job if offered one?
According to the tenth annual "World of Work" survey, published this month by international staffing firm Randstad, 49 percent of Americans polled offered a resounding "Heck no!" Broken down by age and excuse, the results of this survey of 2,200...
Free teleclass today: Finding passion in your career
Finding work you're passionate about is too important to leave to chance, says Seattle-based career coach Curt Rosengren, a self-proclaimed "passion catalyst" who helps people figure out what work gets them excited in the morning. Besides, "In today's economy, you need every competitive...
Free teleclass: Convince your boss to let you telecommute
Just because the economy's lousy doesn't mean you have to give up your dream of working from home. On Thursday, July 30, from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Pacific time, leading telecommuting consultant Pat Katepoo will give a free teleseminar called...
Where telecommuters can beat the heat this week
I've been working from home long enough to know that trying to be productive while beads of sweat roll down your back and drip onto your keyboard is a lost cause. Once my office breaks 80 degrees, all I'm good for...
Is quitting your job during the recession crazy?
I'm not talking about quitting for another job you've lined up or quitting to take the full-time reins of the freelance business you've built on the side. I'm talking about giving notice because you're burned out and desperate for a...
Losing sleep over your bills? You're not the only one
Once upon a time, my credit card balance was higher than my yearly income. At first it didn't seem like a big deal. I was in my twenties and foolishly thought I'd have plenty of time to pay that nasty...
If health care wasn't tied to your job, would you quit?
If I had a buck for every time someone told me they'd ditch their job and try something new if they didn't need the health insurance, I could have retired by now. I don't blame folks for making this choice. Buying...
Graduate school: Is it worth it?
Is the long-standing American tradition of rushing off to graduate school when career opportunities are scant eroding? Perhaps. The online magazine Inside Higher Ed reported in December that the number of students taking the GRE declined in 2008, the first...
Using LinkedIn to research a career change
Though LinkedIn has taken the professional world by storm, many of its users still have no clue what to do with it beyond setting up their profile. I'm a firm believer that LinkedIn can be a wildly helpful tool for...
Moonlighting: Do you have to tell your employer?
With so many people getting their hours cut or worried about layoffs this year, it's no surprise that more workers are moonlighting at a second (or third) job. In January, a Daily Beast poll of 500 adult workers in the...
What not to wear to work this summer
Ask any manager and they'll be the first to tell you that as soon as summer temperatures begin to rise, inappropriate office attire abounds, most notably among our workforce's youngest hires. Necklines plunge. Hemlines creep up. Cutoffs come out of...
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Happy Independence Day! With all the talk of unemployed folks hanging their own shingle as freelancers, I thought it high time we addressed one of the murkiest aspects of working as an independent professional: paying taxes. To help tackle some...
Could multigenerational households become the norm?
When I was growing up in New Jersey, my grandmother often lamented that families didn't live together like they used to. To her, the dream household would have been for mom, dad, the kids, grandma, grandpa and a couple of...
Balancing act: Inside the life of a dog walker
With everyone talking about career change these days, I thought it would fun to examine the work/life balance of those who've transitioned to some of the most coveted careers out there. First up, Erika Teschke, who in 2005 left her...
When current events lead to an impromptu personal day
Admit it. Even if you didn't like Michael Jackson's music and dance moves, you and your coworkers huddled around one computer for hours, reading about the 911 call, watching him moonwalk on YouTube, and sharing your own thoughts on Facebook...
Is 2009 the year of the volunteer?
You've no doubt heard about the recession driving people to start their own business, try their hand at freelancing, or change careers altogether. You've probably also heard about laid-off folks spending more time volunteering for causes they're passionate about. This rise...
Want less stress? Eight demanding careers to steer clear of
One of the positive side effects of this nasty recession is that many laid-off workers looking to reinvent themselves have grown more concerned with better balancing work and play. If this sounds familiar, you may want to take note of a...
For laid-off dads, one size does not fit all
Convinced that not all laid-off dads become either the domestic divas or identity-stripped depressives the media makes them out to be, I spoke with more than a dozen unemployed fathers myself this month. Sure, some were thrilled to be home...
Are working furloughs becoming the norm?
What a difference a couple of seasons make. Last fall, warnings that 2009 would be the year of the furlough were daunting enough. As the year got under way, we began to hear the tales of how workers were spending...
Time management made simple
Lately I've been lamenting to anyone who will listen that there isn't enough time in the day to do all my work, eat a civilized dinner, tackle a couple errands or household chores, and sleep 8 hours before doing it...
The 7 habits of highly effective e-mailers
I don't know about you, but I always feel more in control of my life when my inbox is down to a manageable 50 to 100 e-mails. Sadly, my inbox has been holding steady at 350 messages for several months...
Are you one of the happily funemployed?
I saw this post whiz by on Twitter the other day: "I feel so guilty about enjoying my funemployment, but I am." Among the Twitterer's recent activities: hiking, biking, and the Sasquatch music festival. Proof that she wasn't alone? A...
Should you bring your passion to the office?
If you've lost that loving feeling for your job but feel stuck there because of the economy, can bringing a passion or hobby to the office help? Career expert Alexandra Levit says yes. As Levit wrote in a recent Wall...
Is clocking out by 5 p.m. back in style?
Forget checking your BlackBerry or iPhone after hours. Forget 7 a.m. breakfast meetings. Forget giving that high-profile keynote speech at the leading industry conference two time zones away. According to a recent Forbes piece by Hannah Seligson, some burned-out executives...
Facebook and coworkers: A lesson in etiquette
I was having dinner with friends the other day when the conversation invariably turned to Facebook. One friend said he'd all but stopped using the social networking site because he'd accepted friend requests from too many coworkers and could no...
What no one tells you about starting your own business
I've seen too many articles in the past six months that tout entrepreneurship as the cure-all for getting laid off. (Heck, I've probably written a few of them myself.) If you count yourself among the 25 percent of laid-off workers...
Nine to Thrive turns one: How do you like your work/life balance now?
Before we slide into June I thought it worth noting that May marked the one-year anniversary of this blog. And I wanted to take a quick trip down memory lane to revisit some of the ground Nine to Thrive has...
What you'll do on your summer vacation
I know I've been writing about vacations a lot lately, but between the three-day weekend, this glorious weather, and the smell of barbecue wafting through the air it's hard to resist. So I hope you'll indulge me in one more...
Is your vacation stressing you out?
We all know that taking time off work for a vacation can come with its own set of stressors: The 18-hour day you have to pull before you leave just to make sure all your projects are put to bed...
The upside of retiring later
So you've checked your investment portfolio, spoken with a couple of financial gurus, and decided that you can no longer afford to retire this year (or this decade). That's not necessarily bad news. As the Associated Press reported Monday, a...
Social media fast: Maybe completely unplugging isn't the answer
Last week a moderator on an e-mail list I subscribe to challenged everyone on the list to give up Facebook, Twitter, and our third Internet addiction of choice for a week. (My third Internet addiction? Checking other authors' book rankings...
Has the recession improved your job in some way?
File this under bittersweet silver linings: The recession has had at least one positive effect on the jobs of 77 percent of workers who are still employed, according to a survey announced this month by staffing firm Accountemps. In a...
How to tell the boss you're expecting
It's no secret that despite laws designed to prevent it, pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is not only alive and well, but on the rise. Unfortunately, it can also be hard to prove. Make no mistake: Employers can and do...
Time to reinvent your career? Two events that can help
Who better to give advice on career change than someone who's been there, done that -- and that, and that, and that, and that? Over the course of 40 years, local author and greeting card designer Karen Burns has held...
How the swine flu scare can monkey with your work/life balance
If you're more concerned with what swine flu could mean for your bank account or job security than your health, you're not alone. For many employees, the federal directive that those with flu-like symptoms stay home from work and King...
Common mistakes career changers make
Sure, many of us are thankful to have a job this year. But a steady paycheck usually isn't enough to rekindle the love for a career you soured on long ago -- regardless of whether you're willing to admit this...
Thumbing your nose at the recession and jet-setting anyway
Speaking of vacations, I was surprised by this recent article Salon ran on taking a "last hurrah" vacation. What's a last hurrah vacation, you ask? According to writer Robert Lanham, it's sneaking off on a pricy trip you can't afford...
Do women feel more guilty than men taking time off work?
According to Expedia's ninth annual Vacation Deprivation survey we do. A poll of 1,500 adults conducted this March revealed that 40 percent of U.S. women feel guilty taking a vacation from work, while only 29 percent of men do. And...
How to work from home without losing your mind
If you're new to telecommuting or if unemployment has led you to pick up some home-based freelance work for the first time, you may be wondering how to stay balanced, productive and sane when working solo from home. Suggestions follow:...
How telecommuters can steer clear of layoffs
I've been making my way through an interesting collection of articles on work/life balance that BusinessWeek recently published. One in the particular, "Telecommuting: Once a Perk, Now a Necessity," caught my eye today. The article discusses professionals who've been sent...
New health concern for graveyard shift workers
Late last year, I wrote about some of the difficulties that working a night shift can present -- from coordinating childcare to getting in any quality time with friends, romantic partners and family during the workweek. Now there's another concern...
Are your employee benefits taking a bath this year?
If not, you're one of the lucky ones. A CareerBuilder survey conducted in November 2008 found that 38 percent of companies anticipated making "administrative cuts" this year. Specifically, the 3,000 U.S. hiring managers and HR professionals polled placed company picnics,...
The recession's top work-at-home scams
More than any other question, "How do I find a legit work-from-home job?" is the one I'm asked most. Last fall I wrote a post about how to avoid work from home scams and another listing a couple of legit...
Sixty percent of workers over age 60 delaying retirement
Six in ten workers over age 60 are postponing plans to put their feet up, relax, and kiss the workforce goodbye, according to a CareerBuilder study released this March. Hardly surprising when you consider that anyone with a retirement account...
Dealing with the less tangible effects of a layoff
When we talk about layoffs with our friends and neighbors, the conversation usually turns to unemployment benefits, health insurance, and plans for the future. Sure, those who've been laid off may talk about how they feel anxious, angry, blue, frustrated, or...
Women under 29 just as likely as men to want jobs with more responsibility
Maybe we didn't need a study to tell us this. But now the Families and Work Institute has proof. The 2008 National Study of the Changing Workforce that the Institute released last week found that for the first time in the...
What have you done for your laid-off friends lately?
Much has been written about the survivor's guilt that can plague those who have not been laid off. But rather than avoiding certain subjects (your trying day at the office, the tropical vacation you're planning) while chatting with friends and colleagues...
The 40-year-old intern: How to start at the bottom...again
I've seen a lot of recent media coverage about taking an internship in a new field at age 40, 50, and beyond. As the thinking goes, if you're out of work anyway and looking to change careers, why not get...
Easier commutes and other recession boons for balance seekers
Let's gloss right over the new state unemployment statistics released today and get to some positive news, shall we? Although it's little consolation for some, traffic congestion is down this year, presumably because of the high unemployment rate. In today's piece...
Women as breadwinners: The great American role reversal?
Speaking of households being turned upside down, you probably saw Sunday's NWjobs article about men being laid off at a far more rapid rate than women. As Patrick May of the San Jose Mercury News reports, in an increasing number...
Staying married because you can't afford a divorce right now
I saw a TV news piece last week about the current drop in divorce rates, presumably because dissatisfied spouses can't afford the legal fees, the moving costs, and the price tag of living solo right now -- especially if one...
Not an employee? Dealing with the health insurance conundrum
I was giving an interview on freelancing this week, when the reporter stopped me and said, "I have a tip for people who want to freelance: Make sure you marry someone with good health insurance." People who aren't traditional full-time employees get this...
Want to learn more about working in the trades as a woman?
Then March is your month. On Friday, March 27, Washington Women in Trades will hold its 30th annual career fair in Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion. More than 80 exhibitors will be on hand to educate job seekers and disgruntled desk workers looking for new...
Calling in grandma or grandpa to mind the baby while you work
While we're on the subject of balance for new parents, I wanted to address another trend I've been hearing and reading a lot about lately: calling in a grandparent to mind your kids so you can continue bringing home as much bacon as possible. Per the AARP Web site: "The...
Balance for new parents: Tough to come by in the current economy?
Working Dad columnist Paul Nyhan had an interesting piece in the Seattle P-I this week about how work/life balance is especially tough for new parents to come by in an economy like this. As Nyhan writes: "Around Seattle and the nation, new moms are cutting...
Seattle coworking facility offers bailout for the recently laid off
Looking for work is lonely business. Most days, it's just you, your computer, your phone, and the dust bunnies at your feet. For the person who enjoys working alongside a team of peers Monday through Friday, this solitude can be torturous. Just this week, someone on an...
Lesser known pros of working a second job
By now, we all know that first, second, and third jobs are hard to come by. And that those who take a second job to earn some extra cash have been known to skimp on sleep, social life, and balance....
What's your recession stress quotient?
Seems like every week another friend tells me that their employer cut their hours or shrank their pay -- but not their workload. But it's not just staffers facing the tough cuts. Freelance budgets have been shrinking too. Just this morning a client informed me that the...
Business trips and breast milk: Still a headache for many moms?
On Monday, I got on a plane for the first time in a year. Since I hadn't flown in a while, I checked the TSA site for the latest and greatest rules and regulations on the correct way to pack...
How addicted to email and the Internet are you?
Last night, after participating in a live chat among media professionals on Twitter, a friend who also had been in the chat called to compare notes. "Did you see that [Hotshot Editor X] was on there?" my friend said. "Mmm hmmm,"...
Equal pay and other good news amid the usual doom and gloom
Amid the never-ending reports of layoffs this past week, there have been a few glimmers of light. I don't diminish the significance of losing one's livelihood. Nor am I living in an employment dream world. (Almost every outfit I freelance...
With layoffs looming, is busywork your friend?
The New York Times raised an interesting point on Friday: Although many employees at companies shedding staff like dead skin now find themselves saddled with two and three times the workload they once had, many others find themselves embracing the...
Employers to job seekers: Smokers need not apply?
I'm not a smoker. Nor am I a fan of breathing in other people's smoke. But I found this news report on Friday particularly disturbing: "Smoking bans in public buildings, workplaces and at some outdoor venues are commonplace. Becoming more common...
Taking the day off for the inauguration?
Consult your media outlet of choice this week and you'll see or hear the words "history being made" no less than 500 times. Yet unless workers took today off as a vacation day or personal day, most will be toiling away while Obama...
Are we moving toward a project-based job market?
Tina Brown seems to think so. "No one I know has a job anymore. They've got Gigs," she wrote on Monday in her Daily Beast essay "The Gig Economy." To back up her assertion that the recession has us all headed...
Unemployment: A fine time to reconnect with hobbies and family?
Speaking of surveys, there were a rash of them from outfits like CareerBuilder.com in 2007 and early 2008 saying that many workers -- especially parents -- would gladly cut back their work hours and salary in exchange for more quality time with their family, friends,...
Finally, some hiring and flex work statistics to cheer about
After Friday's bleak Bureau of Labor statistics report (unemployment: new, improved, and now at a 16-year high of 7.2 percent!), it was refreshing to find a couple of hopeful nuggets in CareerBuilder.com's annual jobs forecast for 2009. Sure, there was the depressing news that...
Making your work/life balance resolutions for 2009 last
"Research shows that about 80 percent of people who make resolutions on Jan. 1 fall off the wagon by Valentine's Day, according to Marti Hope Gonzales, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota." When I read this...
Prediction: The 7 biggest work/life balance stories for 2009
Happy 2009, folks. Hope your New Year's Eve was a joyous one. To wind down the year, my last post gave my picks for the top work/life balance stories of 2008. Today, I'm giving my predictions for the biggest work/life balance...
The top 7 work/life balance stories of 2008
When I started this blog eight months ago, my editors and I were eager to bring readers news and tips on avoiding burnout, landing a dream job, nabbing a flexible work schedule, finding a family-friendly workplace, and juggling work life with home life. "Consider Nine...
Snowpocalypse 2008: A recipe for leading a more balanced life?
Another day, another show shower. Since it's starting to feel like the movie "Groundhog Day" around here, it only seems fitting to write another post about the snow. I'm certainly not the only one who's wondering if she'll ever be able to drive...
In 2020, trying to get to work in the snow won't be a big deal
That's because, by 2020, mobile phones will be the predominant way to access the Internet, many corporate meeting spaces will be virtual, and for information workers, work and leisure time will have become so intertwined that we won't give a second thought to working when...
Body art and the recession: Are job seekers covering up more?
During the past couple of years, articles about whether to hide or proudly display one's tattoos and body piercings in the workplace have become a popular addition to many media outlets covering work/life balance issues. But yesterday, when I noticed that the Pew Research Center...
More autonomy at work means less work/life balance?
The University of Toronto released an interesting study this past week: According to the study, which relied on data culled from a 2002 survey of more than 2,600 U.S. workers, the more autonomy and control over your work schedule you have, the...
An increasing number of employees work nontraditional schedules -- but not by choice
If you've been reading this blog awhile, you know that I'm a big fan of flexible work schedules for employees who need a bit more balance in their lives, whether it's to take care of family, tend to a side project, or...
Do you have to give coworkers and colleagues a holiday gift this year?
Or does the crummy economy give you an out? That depends. A couple recent surveys show that despite the recession we're in, the holiday spirit lingers on in many workplaces. According to a survey released in November by online payroll service SurePayroll,...
Dotcom Reunion Party -- tonight, Dec. 1
Given the current economic outlook, the dotcom bust of 2000 seems kind of quaint, doesn't it? If you're looking to reminisce about the glory days and swift demise of the dotcoms of the 1990s, you're in luck. Local entrepreneur and recruiting guru Dakotta Alex is hosting a...
Forget the gifts, honey. Let's give a little extra to the food bank this year.
I enjoyed Paul Nyhan's piece in the P-I this week about how holiday traditions are changing in light of the recession. As Nyhan writes, "Goodwill is the new toy store, philanthropy is replacing Hanukkah presents and annual dinners are now...
New federal website offers resources for dealing with the recession
Sometimes the federal government is helpful. Last month, for example, the U.S. Department of Labor compiled some useful resources onto a new website, EconomicRecovery.gov. What you'll find there: A guide to avoiding (or dealing with) foreclosure, including tips for talking with your lender, contact info for local...
What you need to know about your extended unemployment benefits
If you're one of the many whose unemployment checks are about to run out, you've probably heard the good news by now: President Bush signed a law today that will extend your unemployment benefits seven more weeks. That should make...
The Obama administration job application: Is keeping your nose clean online and off so much for a high-profile employer to ask?
How far would you go to secure the job of your dreams? Would you be willing to provide piles of personal and professional records, as well as those of your immediate family? How about all traces of your digital footprint --...
How are you cutting back on holiday spending this year?
Whether they're employed or looking for work, everyone I know is buzzing about how they plan to trim their December holiday traditions this year. You might think that the person who suggests cutting back on holiday travel, menus, or gift exchanges would be labeled a...
Seattle job fair Tuesday, November 11
If you're out of work and reading this post, you're in luck: There's a career fair from 11 to 3 at the Seattle Center today. You can register and get directions here. The dozens of companies at the fair span multiple industries and...
Have the election results changed your career plans?
I have a friend in another part of the country who's been telling me for the past 20 years that, other than being a mom, she doesn't know what she wants to be "when she grows up." Along with many of...
Do you know where your candidate stands on family-friendly work?
As I mentioned earlier this month, this is the first election we're seeing work/life balance issues addressed in the economic platforms of both major-party presidential candidates. But do you actually know where Barack Obama and John McCain stand on flexible and family-friendly workplace...
A couple of headlines do not an end to flexible work make
Two news snippets really stuck in my craw this past week. (1) In the UK, the secretary of state for business and enterprise, Peter Mandelson, wants to scrap plans for flexible workplace reform. According to The Guardian, "he suggested that the government...
Health insurance companies charging women higher premiums than men: Okay or outrage?
We've already established that health insurance is one of the top concerns of new hires negotiating a compensation package with an employer. As for those of us with part-time, contract, or full-time jobs that don't come with health coverage, we...
Mandatory unpaid vacation -- what would you accept to save your paycheck?
This summer, there was a lot of talk about employers switching to shorter workweeks (specifically, four 10-hour days each week) to save in-house energy costs and give employees some relief at the gas pump. I've heard some folks grumble that...
What would you have done differently this summer if you'd have known how hard the recession would hit?
In talking to friends and neighbors this weekend, I began to detect a theme. Not being economists or psychics, none of us could have predicted how hard the stock market would tank this fall (and how much our retirement savings...
Friday is Take Back Your Time Day
I love that Seattle is the birthplace of Take Back Your Time, an initiative that aims to get Americans to work less and smell the roses a little more -- and employers and government policies to make doing so a bit more feasible....
Is your balance so bad that you answer your phone on the toilet?
What about taking a work call while out to dinner with a date? Or how about when you're back at home, in the bedroom, canoodling with said date? According to a new survey released by Nokia, which I found mentioned on TMCNet.com this week, 53 percent of Americans said they...
How is the economic downturn affecting your organization's work/life balance offerings, if at all?
In my previous post, I raised the question of whether the current recession would erode some of the work/life balance innovations we've seen in the workplace in the past decade. Since the year began, we've seen headlines about unusual workplace benefits ranging from "heartbreak leave"...
Journalist Lisa Belkin, who coined the phrase "opt out," speculates on the future of work/life balance
Whether you took keen interest in -- or great offense at -- New York Times writer Lisa Belkin's 2003 piece "The Opt-Out Revolution," you can't deny the impact this six-year-old article has had on the nation's conversation about work/life balance. (For those...
Real, live work at home opportunities
Last week, I wrote about how to avoid work at home scams. Why? Because I get a lot of email from people who've either been out of the workforce a while to raise their kids or have had it with commuting to...
How to avoid work at home scams
Staffcentrix, an East Coast training firm that specializes in telework and home-based careers, caught my attention today with a press release featuring this cautionary headline: "Work at Home Scam Ratio Rises 12% as Jobseekers Scramble for Home-Based Jobs" If anyone knows this, it's the...
How to build a layoff survival kit
Last month I wrote about some steps you can take if the worst happens and you lose your job. Along with "Palin," "election," "bailout," "foreclosure," and "401(k)," the word "layoff" seems to be on the tip of everyone's tongue these...
Lost the passion for your career? Free workshop tonight can help
One of my favorite bloggers and career coaches, Curt Rosengren, is offering a free 90-minute workshop on Mercer Island tonight for anyone looking to give their career a shot in the arm and rekindle some of the magic they once felt...
Is technology making your job more flexible or just increasing your workload?
This summer, I wrote a post called Is work/life balance dead, or is it just being redefined by technology? Many of you had a lot to say on the topic. But a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project...
Forget the symbolism of having a working mother of five on the VP ballot -- show me the work/life balance policies
I wanted to avoid writing about Sarah "How Does She Juggle It All?" Palin and what her candidacy might mean for working women. This isn't a political blog; it's a career blog. And entire oceans of ink have been spilled...
Working out -- on the job
[Photo courtesy of King County] Perhaps you've seen the national news stories on companies providing wellness coaches to help workers improve their health through dietaty changes, exercise, and time management skills. Then there are the Walkstations that have been cropping...
"Working Mother" releases its 2008 Top 100 companies list
It's that time of year again. Working Mother magazine has named the Top 100 U.S. companies for moms with office jobs. Who's on the list? Many of the usual megacorp suspects: Allstate, Bank of America, Microsoft, and Verizon, to name...
"Company Picnic" this Thursday -- for the self-employed
One of the downsides of working for yourself is that, unless you have clients that like to throw parties for their freelancers or vendors, you usually don't get invited to holiday soirees and company picnics. Happily, that's about to change....
How will you spend your time if laid off?
A survey published in April by the Pew Research Center found that one in seven workers worries about being laid off in the next year, with lower-wage workers fretting the most about losing their livelihood. If this sounds familiar, no...
The right way to pick someone's brain
With job layoffs happening faster than you can say "economic meltdown," there's a decent chance many of us will find ourselves looking to change not just jobs but career paths before the decade's out. Given all the potential career changers...
Center for Economic and Policy Research gives U.S. parenting policies a "Gentleman's C"
Over the Labor Day weekend, the Council on Contemporary Families announced a new Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) report that ranks the family-friendly workplace policies of 21 wealthy countries. Due to the limited amount of time U.S. parents...
What color is your career change?
I'm not a fan of career quizzes and personality tests that ask you a handful of questions and then purport to tell you what you should be doing for a living. I think finding a career you're passionate about (or...
Will we ever see mandatory paid sick days for all workers?
Last month I wrote a post about how the U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee paid vacation days. I'm guessing you've also heard that our country's family-friendly workplace policies are sorely lacking compared with those offered...
The secret to balance: Underspend, underachieve, and drop out?
BusinessWeek recently published an interesting piece about the steps some white-collar readers of the magazine have taken to keep their work out of their personal lives and lead a supposedly more balanced existence. Or as BW put it: "These are the...
Back to school -- on your employer?
I just received a press release from financial staffing firm Accountemps saying that 94 percent of the nation's 1,000 largest companies offer tuition reimbursement benefits to employees and 95 percent reimburse workers for other types of professional training programs. Of...
Not returning to work after maternity leave: A woman's prerogative or a way to game the system?
I was recently talking to a mother of two about how much maternity leave she received when she had her first child in her early twenties. At the time, she was an entry-level worker and barely scraping by financially. Ditto...
New Cornell study: Stand by your man's crazy work schedule, even if it means abandoning your own career
Can you handle one more blog post about wives and husbands and kids and careers and stay-at-home parents? Because I can't resist mentioning this latest study on the topic. According to the study (courtesy of Cornell University's sociology department, and...
Companies to home-based independent contractors: We don't trust you!
Sue Shellenbarger had an interesting (okay, disturbing) piece in the Wall Street Journal last week. Apparently one freelance job board (you can read which one in the WSJ article) and a couple of companies employing home-based call center workers (see...
Is career ambition overrated? (and should you not taint your "passion" by turning it into a job?)
Chris Colin has a wonderful "On the Job" column in the San Francisco Chronicle today about forsaking ambition and simply treating work as a means to an end (i.e., eating). In it, Colin profiles a thirtysomething guy who lucked into a series of ample-paying,...
Bosses from hell: Is it our responsibility to manage them or does HR need to send them to Good Boss Boot Camp?
It's no secret that a number of middle managers are simply worker bees who did their job so well that they were promoted to a supervisory position, regardless of whether they had any inkling about how to manage and motivate...
The big give: Surprising stats about U.S. volunteers
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported yesterday that 26 percent of Americans age 16 or older volunteered for a non-profit organization in 2007. What's more, 36 percent of volunteers donated at least 100 hours of their time last year, the highest rate...
How do you stave off burnout?
It's been fascinating to read all the different opinions readers have about blending work with leisure time vs. keeping weekends, evenings, and vacations work-free. Keep 'em coming. Meantime, here's another tidbit to chew on: Last week, a new CareerBuilder.com survey...
Shared leave: Donating paid days off to coworkers in need
Earlier this year, I was out walking my dog and got to talking to a neighbor who'd been undergoing chemo for breast cancer. She was doing well, but she of course needed the day off work once a week for...
Equal opportunity layoffs and wage woes for women
Not to belabor the "not opting out" conversation, but the day after I wrote about laying the so-called opt-out revolution to rest an interesting Congressional study was released: Contrary to once-popular belief, women have not been dropping out of the workforce in increasing numbers...
Questioning and then debunking the so-called opt-out revolution (for the hundredth time)
So many articles and studies about women supposedly opting out, in, under, and around the workforce have crossed my desk in recent years that I've pretty much stopped paying attention. But this month, a study announced by the Haas School...
Is your company's benefits package in sync with today's definition of "family"?
The Society for Human Resource Management put out its 60th annual Employee Benefits Survey last month. Along with the less-than-surprising revelation that U.S. employers are scaling back on health care and financial benefits was the heartening news that more and...
Is work/life balance dead, or is it just being redefined by technology?
Penelope Trunk, who writes the blog Brazen Careerist, says work/life balance is an outmoded ideal. On BusinessWeek's Balance blog last month she wrote that using technology to blend work and life is far more realistic than trying to compartmentalize each. In...
Barbara Ehrenreich at Seattle Public Library Thursday (7/17)
The hilarious and brilliant Barbara Ehrenreich will be speaking in Seattle this Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m. to promote her new book, This Land Is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation. The event will take place in...
This year's holiday present for your boss? The book "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It"
You may have heard of Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson when BusinessWeek did a cover story late in 2006 on Best Buy's meeting-free, schedule-less workplace policies. Ressler and Thompson were the forward-thinking HR pros who spearheaded Best Buy's uber-flexible...
Note to Congress: We want a paid vacation law
How do I love the folks at the Seattle-based non-profit Take Back Your Time? Let me count the ways. Not only do they lobby our politicians for paid sick leave, overtime limits, part-time workers' rights, paid parental leave, and making...
Independence Day... for your career
[Photo courtesy of Biznik] Earlier this week, I mentioned Biznik, a social networking site for independent professionals (from coders to copywriters to chiropractors) that I'm hooked on. Well, on July 9 and 10 the good folks at Biznik will...
How to use LinkedIn to land the job
PayScale's Kristina Cowan wrote an excellent post on Monday about using LinkedIn to land a job. If you don't know what LinkedIn is or haven't the foggiest idea how to maximize your use of it, run -- don't walk -- to...
Relief for cash-strapped commuters
[Photo courtesy of Microsoft Corporation] I was happy to see that yesterday's ABC World News with Charles Gibson did a segment on organizations that have instituted a four-day workweek to help relieve their employees' skyrocketing commuting costs. In the...
"I now pronounce you husband and...boss?"
Is it such a big deal when a husband works for the company his wife owns and runs? With 10.4 million U.S. firms owned by women, this was bound to happen more than a handful of times. But what are...
How bringing baby to work works
Last month I wrote post about employers that allow babies in the workplace. The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce is one such organization. The Chamber's babies-in-the-workplace policy dates back to the nineties, says Vice President of People Programs Evelyn Lemoine....
Take the day off... from email
There was a great piece on NPR Friday morning about how U.S. Cellular, a company based in Chicago, has instituted email-free Fridays. According to one veep at the company, the staff loves it--even those who initially balked or said it...
News flash: Working overtime can make you anxious and depressed
Been burning the midnight oil lately? Then you may be at risk for anxiety or depression. So says a Norwegian study published in the current issue of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (though based on my own quasi-scientific experimentation...
What it's really like to work for your dream employer (and what the job pays)
Want to know what workers at Amazon, Getty Images, Google, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Real Networks, and a host of other heavy hitters in the region have to say about their employers? A brand spanking new website - Glassdoor.com - makes that...
Dads need flexibility too
In today's P-I, reporter Paul Nyhan (aka Working Dad) writes about how despite sharing the parenting load, modern dads can have a hard time finding flexible options in the workplace. As Nyhan reports, there's still a stigma attached to a...
Honey, they shrunk my maternity leave!
Father's Day is approaching fast, which means the media is going hog wild with stories on parental leave. But to keep things simple, today let's talk about moms taking time off when the baby comes; I'll get to dads tomorrow....
What employees want
In my first post on this blog, I mused about what motivates us to do the work we do. Conveniently, employment agency Randstad USA just released its annual World of Work study, which analyzes what drives employee satisfaction. The number...
Bringing up baby -- at the office
Babies in the workplace have been in the news a lot lately. Time magazine did a story on it at the start of the year. ABC's Nightline profiled a company in Texas that has a baby-friendly policy last month. I'm...
What not to wear (to work)
Career handbook after career handbook tells us that there's truth in the old adage about dressing for success. Come to your starched-shirt corporate cubicle job a disheveled mess and you won't be getting a raise any time soon. Wear sweats on casual...
Home alone? Options for telecommuters
In self-employed circles, everyone's buzzing about coworking -- renting out community workspaces, rather than working home all by one's lonesome. But putting on a pair of pants and fraternizing with like-minded telecommuters isn't just the domain of freelancers and small business...
How do you spell "burnout"?
U.S. News & World Report had a fun article on job burnout this week. Allow me to paraphrase their top suggestions for those looking to burn out in a jiffy: 1. Don't let on that you have nothing to do. Instead, bone up...
Better living through non-working vacations
Memorial Day weekend has arrived, which means summer will be here before you blink. So if you haven't put those July or August vacation plans into high gear yet, it's time to get cracking. Leaving vacation days on the table should not enter your mind (ever), unless of...
What color is your savings account?
Not saving enough of each paycheck? You're not alone. According to a Pew Research Center study released in May, 75 percent of middle class Americans aren't. What's more, our affluent neighbors aren't much better at socking away the dollars. According to Pew, "Nearly...
This just in: Flex time makes for healthier, more loyal workers
Shocking, I know. But those hoping to convince their boss to let them work from home one day a week or move their start time from 9 to 10 a.m. to reduce their commute now have more ammunition. An April...
Bike to work: Battle the office bulge while saving the planet
Although I work from home now, I've worked in my fair share of cubicles over the years, as both an employee and a free agent. And for this former cube dweller, the highlight of the workday was always, without fail,...
Who wants to be a millionaire? An intro to Nine to Thrive
This may come as a shock, but according to a new Pew Research Center study, only 13 percent of Americans say being filthy rich is a top priority for them. On the flip side, 67 percent placed having enough free...
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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