Job Calendar | Mock Interviewing Lab

In this free WorkSource workshop, you'll learn interviewing skills such as the Star methods, your 60-second commercial and using emotional intelligence. You'll also learn questions you're likely to be asked, worst things to say in an interview and what questions

Career Center Blog | The 10 trickiest job interview questions

If some interview questions seem like trick questions, it's because they are. Here are 10 common questions, along with ideas for handling them: "Tell me about yourself." Don't ramble. This is your chance to talk about how your specific skills

Career Center Blog | Things I wish I'd known before my first job

New college grad? Congratulations! Now it's time to find a job and begin your career. Feeling nervous? Don't worry -- starting a new job often strikes fear into the heart of even the strongest person. As one of my clients

Career Center Blog | The 'subversive' job search: Higher risk, higher reward

Performing a job search has often been compared with doing a high-wire act. You have to put yourself out there and dazzle an audience, but also maintain your composure to look professional. One misstep -- or a perceived falsehood

Career Center Blog | What hiring managers are really looking for

To get a good job, you need the right skills, education and experience. But that's not all; employers are also looking for other, fuzzier qualities. Here are some of the biggies, in no particular order: Judgment. When interviewers ask, "Tell

Job Calendar | Interviewing techniques workshop

Being able to handle an employment interview is a necessity for any job seeker. Learn helpful interviewing tips and practice your interviewing skills in a supportive, realistic environment at this free WorkSource workshop.

Career Center | How to handle hardball interview questions

By Marvin Walberg / Scripps Howard News Service Even candidates who are able to make a strong sales pitch in job interviews can find themselves easily tripped up by the unexpected: hardball questions. The trick to fielding those questions is

Career Center | What employers want from job seekers

By Dawn Dugan / Salary.com The competition is fierce in today’s job market, and standing out in the crowd is more important -- and challenging -- than ever before. How do you know you’re giving employers exactly what they are

Career Center | A call for human decency in hiring, job seeking

By Diane Stafford / The Kansas City Star Job hunting is stressful -- more stressful than it needs to be when some simple human decency is missing. First, though, a couple of reminders. As a job hunter, keep telling yourself

Career Center Blog | Are you asking the right questions in interviews?

As most veteran job seekers already know, before heading into a job interview you should have three to five questions to ask the interviewers themselves. This shows that you've done a little research, you're enthusiastic and you've taken some initiative.

Career Center Blog | How to talk yourself into a job

Last week, we discussed how to "run" a job interview (in the event your job interviewer is unprepared, inexperienced or untrained). Most of the time, though, interviewers are reasonably competent and you will not need to manage your job interviews.

Career Center | Q&A: Is it OK to ask for interview feedback?

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I recently completed a lengthy interview process for a general manager position. The first two interviews were with the owners of the company, followed by individual meetings with several mid-level managers.

Career Center Blog | How to run your own job interview

It happens all the time. Job interviewers are unprepared. Or inexperienced. Or untrained. Or have poor social skills. In fact, many interviewers will appear to have never glanced at your resume. You may even arrive to find that they have

Career Center Blog | What to look for when choosing a career coach

While career coaches were almost unheard of 20 years ago, their use has grown rapidly over the past five to 10 years. Paid sports coaches have been around for a long time, but the profession of career coaching is still

Career Center | Networking apps are bumping off the business card

By Julie Weed / New York Times News Service The business card has long since left the realm of the office Rolodex and entered the world of the Web. Business acquaintances and meeting attendees now transmit contact information between cellphones,

Career Center | Pull together an interview look for less

By Lora Shinn / Special to NWjobs When her clients are figuring out what to wear for a job interview, Seattle-based wardrobe stylist Tannya Bernadette recommends that they check their own closets first. Why spend the money on a new

Career Center | How to handle awkward interview questions

By Joyce E.A. Russell / Special to The Washington Post As an executive coach, I receive many questions from people who want to make a good impression in their interviews. But sometimes applicants are unsure how to handle the awkward

Career Center | Get a free NWjobs.com career makeover

Is your job search stuck? Do you need help switching careers or networking effectively? If so, you may be selected to get free job-hunting, networking and interviewing advice from a trio of experts in exchange for having your story and

Career Center Blog | How to think like a hiring manager in job interviews

Although it may not seem like it during a high-pressure job interview, hiring managers are only human. They may occasionally give you a withering stare and ask sometimes unanswerable questions just to see how you react, but they are essentially

Career Center | Problem solved: How to be a fixer, not a whiner

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald Most days, real estate agents storm into Ron Shuffield’s office with problems. They might have a closing that’s about to blow apart or a commission in dispute. They lay out all the

Career Center | Q&A: My hiring decisions aren't very good

By Liz Reyer / Minneapolis Star Tribune Q: My hiring decisions don’t seem to be very good. The past few people I’ve hired have fallen short of my expectations. I can’t figure it out -- I’m hitting it off with

Career Center | 11 reasons you didn't get that job

By Aaron Gouveia / Salary.com You thought you nailed that interview, but weeks have gone by without a peep from the employer. Wondering why? Here's a list of common interview mistakes, one of which may have been your downfall. Arriving

Career Center | Watch your words if you want career success

By Diane Stafford / The Kansas City Star Little things we say every day can make or break our workplace image. Darlene Price, an executive coach and founder of Well Said Inc., has a list of phrases that we may

Career Center | How to ace a virtual job interview

By Lora Shinn / Special to NWjobs Moments before a recent job interview with a tech company, Anna White sat in a small room in the prospective employer’s satellite office in Irvine, Calif., facing a desk. A phone rang, and

Career Center | Rejection goes hand-in-hand with job seeking

By Jeffrey Kudisch / Special to The Washington Post For those on the job hunt, there will inevitably be setbacks. But it’s how you deal with those setbacks that can prepare you for success and leadership in your career. Job

Career Center | Job-interview outfit do's and don'ts

NWjobs staff Congratulations -- you finally landed a job interview! Now, what are you going to wear? For advice, we turned to Seattle-area career experts Lisa Quast of Career Woman, Inc., and Josh Warborg of Robert Half International, who critiqued

Career Center | Don't overlook inside candidates, research suggests

By Diane Stafford / The Kansas City Star As president of the Society for Human Resource Management of Johnson County, Kan., Sue Christopher writes regular newsletter messages to the membership. The biggest reaction she has ever received came this past

Career Center Blog | What presidential debates can teach us about interviewing

The job candidate had loads of experience, the skills to tackle tough challenges, a track record of making smart decisions under pressure and a long list of references from respected peers. During the early selection process, he seemed to be

Career Center | Want to improve your speaking skills? Join the club

By Kyle Nagel / Dayton Daily News Membership in the communication-skills group Toastmasters International has grown, which officials say signals workers’ desire to stand out during in-person interactions. The organization reported an all-time membership high of 273,895 around the world

Job Calendar | Workshop: How to become a better interviewee

Once you get to the hiring manager, it is all about your preparation and presentation. Presented by an IT hiring manager, this free WorkSource workshop will provide you with guidance and insight to help you achieve success in future interviews.

Career Center | Study: Just say 'no' to alcohol at job interview

By Darrell Smith / Sacramento Bee Good news: You’ve made it to the dinner interview with the company’s boss. Want to make sure that good news doesn’t become a Dear John letter? Think twice about the wine list. A new

Career Center Blog | Negotiation nuances: talking money after the offer

In last week's post, I shared some recommendations on how job candidates should respond to salary questions during interviews. This week, I'll discuss some strategies to use when a viable job offer is on the table. First, a few disclaimers:

Career Center Blog | A positive response to rejection can reap later rewards

Like the quest for true love, the course of a job search usually takes people down a series of dead ends and disappointments before a desired destination is found. According to career coach and author Orville Pierson, the average job

Career Center | Career makeover: Budding social worker gets help

By Lora Shinn / Special to NWjobs Amanda Saab knew in high school that she wanted a career in social work. Since then, she has interned at a hospital, earned a master’s degree, participated in community activities and gained professional

Career Center | Career Q&A: Is this a job-search faux pas?

By Karla L. Miller / Special to The Washington Post Q: I am a college junior. I was applying for internships and had only heard back from one place. They told me the position was mine if I wanted it.

Career Center Blog | 8 job-search tips from the other side of the desk

Several days ago, I had the pleasure of hosting an event where three local hiring managers agreed to share their thoughts on the job-hunting process with a group of my clients going through career transition. These three individuals -- a

Career Center | Seven ways to mess up a job interview

By Alesia Benedict / Salary.com Once you land a job interview, you may feel the hard work is done. You might even allow your enthusiasm to melt your inhibitions during the meeting. Don’t let your excitement rob you of a

Career Center Blog | Informational interviewing: how, and what, to ask

For years, colleges and career counselors have suggested to job seekers (especially those changing careers and/or just entering the workforce) that a key step in their efforts should be to reach out to a handful of appropriate local professionals and

Career Center Blog | Overcoming the age-old 'maturity' problem

First impressions play an enormous role in how a candidate will be evaluated. Sometimes, however, these impressions are completely out of our control. Take the case of one job seeker I recently spoke with, who met a hiring manager about

Career Center Blog | Who has it tougher: Olympic athletes or job seekers?

Citius, Altius, Fortius... After tomorrow night, we'll start finding out who will run faster, leap higher and finish stronger than the rest, in accordance with this time-honored Olympic motto. As we prepare ourselves for another two weeks of wall-to-wall TV

Career Center Blog | Your role in restoring compassion to the job market

There's an old quote about many drops of water coming together to form a mighty stream -- a sentiment which, if we all play our cards right, may turn out to have a surprisingly positive impact on the modern job

Career Center Blog | Take control of interviews by telling your story

We've had some good news on the job opportunity front over the last few weeks. The state's latest figures on jobless claims showed that employers added more than 10,000 new seasonally adjusted jobs last month. An earlier job outlook study

Career Center Blog | Adding resume 'interests'? Better make them interesting

During a recent chat via Facebook with a friend of mine, an acquaintance happened to mention how much his experience in the Boy Scouts of America has meant to him, even into his adult years. He even said that his

Career Center Blog | For every job interview rule, there are exceptions

Has someone spiked the water cooler? Perhaps it's this summer's unseasonably hot weather. Or maybe the Mayans were really correct about 2012 being the end of time. Whatever the reason, a few recent stories in the news appear to be

Career Center | Interview tip: the more research, the better

By L.M. Sixel / Houston Chronicle I tend to do a lot of research before I make decisions big and small. From reserving a hotel room to choosing new investments in my 401(k), I study traveler review websites, ask friends

Job Calendar | Interview skills workshop

In this free WorkSource workshop, you will practice responding to typical interview questions and begin the necessary preparation to ace a job interview.

Career Center Blog | Remedies for interview rambling

If you've ever taken a public speaking or presentation skills class, you've probably heard the time-tested advice: "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you've told them." This advice applies to interviewing,

Career Center Blog | How to say no without burning bridges

In improvisational comedy, there is one overriding tenet that is the basis for all successful performances: the concept of "yes, and ..." Basically, this means that for whatever situation arises, the first response is to accept the premise, no matter

Career Center | Fake wedding ring at job interview a bad idea

By Karla L. Miller / Special to The Washington Post Q: I was thinking about wearing a wedding ring to my next job interview in order to appear less as a loser and more as a connected adult who can

Career Center Blog | Facing, and conquering, relocation realities

I'll give it to you straight. By and large, employers hate, hate, hate relocating people. Given their druthers, they'll almost always hire a local candidate over a person they'd have to recruit from out of the area -- especially in

Career Center Blog | Job-offer negotiating leverage: signs to watch for

While employment conditions in other parts of the country still seem to be a mixed bag, I've been pleased to witness a surge of hiring in the Seattle market. In fact, I've run into numerous local professionals who have landed

Job Calendar | Conducting Effective Interview Conversations in the New Economy

This free interviewing workshop is designed to help you prepare and perform well in any job interview. The information here will help you develop your "brand" and be prepared to have a successful conversation with an employer. Presented by the

Career Center Blog | Interviewing success: a riddle to ponder

Eons ago, in the decade known as the '90s, I was lucky enough to learn the career-counseling trade at the hands of an incredibly wise mentor. This individual came from a blue-chip sales and marketing background, and he drew heavily

Career Center | Can they ask that? Questionable interview topics

By Wendy Ryan / Salary.com A recent Salary.com poll on job interviews revealed that many people have been asked questions in an interview that were, well, questionable. This raised the question about which questions were legally off-limits. Here's what Salary.com

Career Center | Tips for improving your negotiating skills

By Claudia Buck / Sacramento Bee Good negotiating isn't a skill reserved just for CEOs and United Nations diplomats. It's useful for all of us, whether we're asking for a raise, interviewing for a job, buying a car, deciding on

Career Center | Job seeker fears planned vacation will hurt candidacy

By Rex Huppke / Chicago Tribune Q: I hope to be offered a job soon. The problem is the week training would start, I am supposed to go to Mexico with my family, maybe one of the last family vacations

Career Center Blog | Employers want to hire your bright future, not your past

Envision yourself standing beside a train track, watching an engine come rumbling down the line from hundreds of yards away. Or, perhaps more appropriately for the season, picture yourself at a Mariners game at Safeco Field, listening to the iconic

Career Center | Job seeker suspects age discrimination

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I believe I have been discriminated against because of a plane ticket. After three phone interviews with an out-of-state company, I was invited to corporate headquarters to meet with the hiring

Career Center Blog | How job seekers should manage the big "O": Overqualified

So you want a job. You need a job. You've identified some openings or employers that sound interesting, even exciting. Maybe you are contacted by some of these employers for an interview. There's just one problem: Based on the job

Career Center | Standing out: How to shine during job interviews

By Jeffrey Kudisch / The Washington Post It’s incredibly important to outshine your competition in all stages of a job interview. Here is some interview advice compiled from talks with top recruiters. Do your research. Make sure you have a

Career Center Blog | It's interview time: Do you know what your skills are?

If someone said to you in an interview, "Tell me what you're good at," what would you say? Hopefully now you've banished the hackneyed "I'm a people person" response from your interviewing repertoire and have focused on providing more detailed

Career Center Blog | How to survive the dreaded panel interview

The job interview process may seem like fairly changeless process over the decades -- candidates put on nice clothes and meet with a potential supervisor or human resources representative (or both). Usually a second round of finalist interviews is then

Career Center Blog | Forget sticks and stones -- words can hurt you in an interview

Last weekend, many Seattle residents were glued to their TV screens during the Academy Awards broadcast when the Best Documentary Feature category came around. One of the distinguished nominees was T.J. Martin, a Seattle-born filmmaker who co-directed the film "Undefeated,"

Career Center | How to overcome a criminal record when job hunting

By Rex Huppke / Chicago Tribune Q: My son is 22 years old and will be graduating from college in a year with a degree in accounting and finance. When he was 20, he was arrested at school and convicted

Job Calendar | WorkSource hiring event

WorkSource is hosting a Home Depot hiring event for full-time, part-time and seasonal opportunities. Come prepared to speak to a hiring manager. Home Depot is looking for cashiers, freight workers and master electricians.

Career Center | Please show courtesy to job applicants

By Joyce E.A. Russell / Special to The Washington Post We all know how critical it is for applicants to exhibit and maintain great manners when applying for jobs. But it’s just as important for employers to be courteous

Career Center Blog | Use verbal jujitsu to overcome interview objections

Superman had Kryptonite. Achilles had his heel. And Bill Gates somehow managed to get ahead and be marginally successful (ha ha) in business without having a college degree. My point? Everybody has weaknesses and vulnerabilities. And if you're seeking work

Career Center | Digest these business-meal tips

By Diane Stafford / McClatchy Newspapers A business meal is never just about the food. It may be about the drink. If you’re a job applicant or ambitious employee, you should treat with care any job interviews or business meetings

Career Center Blog | Elephants, aliens and other interview tests of character

Recently, glassdoor.com released its Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions of 2011. It's a worthy read and a good self-test. Statistically, the chances are low that you would get one of these fringe questions -- but what if you did? In

Career Center Blog | Networking gets you a shot, not the job

Growing up in Alaska, I distinctly remember a summer in high school when I was looking for the chance to earn some extra money. At that time, a friend of the family said to me, "I know of a construction

Career Center Blog | How to overcome the 'over the hill' bias

In October 1984, during a televised debate with Democratic presidential challenger Walter Mondale, President Ronald Reagan gave one of the more succinct defenses of older workers ever given by a politician. When asked about whether his advanced age (he was

Career Center Blog | Turning tables: Questions to ask hiring managers

At the end of nearly every job interview, there is a golden opportunity to make an impression that many job seekers miss entirely. The interviewer, after getting all the needed information from the candidate, will ask, "Do you have any

Career Center | How to boost your self-confidence

By Michael Crom / Gannett Q: With the arrival of 2012, I am looking for ways to improve myself. Like every person I know, I have my strengths and weaknesses. One thing I would like to improve is my confidence.

Career Center | Good call: How to prepare for a phone interview

Joyce E.A. Russell The Washington Post In today’s job market, applicants can expect to undergo numerous interviews for jobs. While savvy applicants often spend hours practicing their face-to-face interview skills, many pay less attention to their phone skills, despite the

Career Center | Picture it: Drawing can help job search

By Michelle Goodman Special to NWjobs Want to stand out in your job interviews? Use pictures. That’s the advice of Dan Roam, best-selling author of “The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures.” Roam’s latest book,

Career Center Blog | Cover letters: Go big or go home

Long, boring cover letters: time of death, 2011. While there's still some dispute about the exact role that cover letters play in the modern job-search process, the prevailing wisdom is that the good old-fashioned cover-letter format, as we've known

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center | Interviewing tips for mature job seekers

Tribune Media Services When John Hemon interviewed for a job as a salesperson with a major electronics retailer in St. Louis, the 61-year-old father of four knew he would have to overcome perceptions about his age. He just didn’t think

Career Center Blog | Don't let brain freezes seize up your interview

If the current candidates for the presidency of the United States can teach us anything about landing a new job, it's the value of preparation. Earlier this month, at least two of the nine Republican candidates have made spectacular mental

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center | How to ace a panel interview

By Diane Stafford The Kansas City Star Some job hunters who have been invited for interviews tell me they’ve been shaken to encounter what’s known as the “stress interview.” That’s when you’re not just one-on-one with a human resource person

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center Blog | Acting vs. interim: Which works better on a resume?

When writing a resume, there are some words that can always help you, such as "completed," "managed" and "achieved," which let the employer know you've accomplished something concrete and measurable. Then, there are the words that de-emphasize actions, such as

Career Center | Standing out: Rocking an alternative look in a mainstream job

By Lora Shinn Special to NWjobs A traditional Japanese dragon tattoo wraps around the back of Sandra Magallanes. Characters from the book “Where the Wild Things Are” dance across her bicep. But to score an accounting position in a property-management

Career Center Blog | Handling the 'weakness' question from a position of strength

A few weeks ago, I wrote about some ways to address a question about salary requirements during an interview. That is always a tricky subject, but it is a reasonable request with a number of effective responses. There is, however,

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center | How to walk the fine line between confidence and interview-killing arrogance

By Jeffrey KudischThe Associated Press As soon as you walk into an interview, you’re making an impression. Recruiters like to see self-confidence, which helps job candidates sell themselves through nonverbal communication such as body language, strong eye contact, firm handshakes

Career Center Blog | 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?"

Career Center Blog | Answering the unanswerable salary question

There comes a point in every job interview where you get a question that feels like a no-win proposition -- an open-ended query that puts you on the spot and can possibly be the deciding factor in whether or not

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center Blog | Facts tell, stories sell

Late last year, I wrote a column called "Want the job? Learn how to become a great storyteller." Telling stories during interviews can mean the difference between a job offer and "we'll get back to you." It's extremely difficult for

Career Center Blog | How to maximize professional associations, part 2

In my last post, "How to maximize professional associations," I gave you two ideas for a more targeted approach to your job search. By securing speaking engagements and writing newsletter articles for professional associations, you can gain valuable exposure and

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center | I was fired from my last job. How and when do I disclose this in interviews?

Q: I've worked for mid- to large-sized banks for almost 20 years. What do I say to potential employers about being fired unfairly and my fight to have that overturned? (I have retained an attorney.) Now I am considering applying

Career Center Blog | 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

Career Center Blog | 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,

Career Center Blog | Networking events shift into high gear for 2011

At the halfway point in February, the networking events around the Puget Sound region are now back in full swing again. Many organizations are holding their first meetups of the year as hiring managers begin looking to fill positions for

Career Center Blog | Job etiquette: Don't be afraid to speed up the process

Recently, a Hire Ground reader wrote in with a "job etiquette" question. Here's an excerpt: 

"I applied over a month ago for a position that closed at the beginning of January. ... While researching the position further I ran across the

Career Center Blog | What do recruiters want from me?

I recently interviewed executive recruiter Erin Holland-Collins on why some candidates remain unemployed for extended periods. (See my previous post, Is there a reason I'm still unemployed?) Here are some of Erin's additional thoughts about what turns recruiters off, as