Career Center | Thanks, Mom: Readers share mothers' work wisdom

By NWjobs staff In honor of Mother's Day, NWjobs asked readers to share what their fathers taught them about work. Here are excerpts. “The best advice my mother and grandmother taught me about work was to always take advantage of

Career Center | Q&A: Firefighter needs career-escape plan

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I have been a firefighter for 13 years, and I also have ADHD. I went into firefighting after reading an article that said it was a good career choice for someone

Career Center | Good Job: Kate Murphy of Hunger Intervention Program

What do you do? I am the program manager for the Hunger Intervention Program (HIP). At HIP, we provide nutritious meals, basic cooking skills and nutrition education to underserved individuals in Seattle. I oversee the weekly meal programs and create

Career Center | Career makeover: Longtime IT manager must draft new career plan

By Lora Shinn / Special to NWjobs For 17 years, Barry Nichols was the IT manager at the U.S. Census Bureau’s Seattle regional office. But in 2012, the bureau office closed, forcing Nichols to look for a job for the

Career Center | Picking a path: Students need skills to pay the bills

By Rex Huppke / Chicago Tribune Parents are often told -- by magazines, television news shows and Oprah -- that they are doing things wrong. Don’t give kids regular milk; give them organic or they’ll turn into mutant cow people.

Career Center | How to prepare kids for careers in changing times

By Cindy Krischer Goodman / The Miami Herald My daughter, a high-school junior, wants to be a teacher. That doesn’t sit well with my husband, who worries about the state of education and the job outlook. He and I regularly

Career Center | Q&A: Out of a work rut, into a financial one?

By Karla L. Miller / Special to The Washington Post Q: I work for a small company that I'm nearly positive won't exist in five years. Since I don't dig the "sinking ship" vibe, I've been trying to get out

Career Center | It's a career ladder, not an escalator

By Rex Huppke / The Chicago Tribune While I'm watching television, the remote control occasionally gets knocked off the couch, presenting an epic quandary. Do I get up and retrieve the remote, disrupting my carefully crafted comfort zone? Or do

Career Center | Green jobs: Earth-friendly work options are growing

By Dawn Dugan / Salary.com Do you care about making a difference as much as you care about your career? “Green” jobs — defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as jobs that produce goods or services that

Career Center | Seattle Storm emcee Shellie Hart's cool job

What do you do? I am the on-court entertainment emcee for our two-time WNBA Championship team, the Seattle Storm. How did you get started? Since the tip-off of the first season in 2000, I volunteered when I could to emcee,

Career Center | European tour specialist Robyn Stencil's cool job

What do you do? I work as a tour operations specialist for Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, managing the Germany-Austria-Switzerland, Berlin-Prague-Vienna, Ireland, Scotland and Adriatic itineraries. My job is to assist in planning and coordinating these itineraries; organize

Career Center | How to pursue a job you aren't qualified for -- on paper

By Ken White / Special to The Washington Post Have you ever seen a job posting that looks like a great opportunity -- if only you met the qualifications? It may not be exactly what you “do,” but don’t let

Career Center | Pie-maker Dani Cone's cool job

What do you do? I own Fuel Coffee and High 5 Pie; these days, I spend most my day making pies and drinking endless amounts of coffee. How did you get started? I have been a barista since about 1992.

Job Calendar | King County Library System job-search workshop

KCLS librarian Laurie Finlayson will host a free WorkSource workshop that demonstrates the latest job-search, career and financial tools available through the library homepage. She will cover websites and databases that are geared for searching for a job, finding a

Career Center | Model Tristyn Rowlan's cool job

What do you do? I’m a [Seattle-based] fashion model represented by Heffner Management. How did you get started? My ex-girlfriend always suggested I should do it. I took the time out to do the research on where I needed to

Career Center | Niche nursing: Specialties that are in demand

By Katie Ormsby / Special to NWjobs May 6 marks the start of National Nurses Week. The annual celebration emphasizes the value of nursing while educating the public on the important role the profession plays in meeting the country’s health-care

Job Calendar | In Pursuit of the Perfect Career

Feel stuck in your job? Find yourself daydreaming about a new career? Come hear Puget Sound Career Development Association panelists and learn how they successfully changed career direction (some more than once) and found satisfying employment. These career changers will

Career Center | Naturalist Kevin Mack's cool job

What do you do? I am the naturalist in charge of the release program at the PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood. Our center is a full-service wildlife hospital that rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned wild animals with the goal of

Career Center | What to do if the spark is missing at work

By Marie G. McIntyre / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Q: I am a happily married man in my mid-40s with three young children. During my career, I have built a successful business and accumulated enough wealth so that I have no

Career Center | Cookbook author/foodie Becky Selengut's cool job

What do you do? I'm a private chef who prepares dinners for small groups of diners. I teach cooking classes out of my home, in client's homes, at PCC, Bastyr University and The Pantry. I lead foraging trips in the

Career Center | Documentary food photographer Clare Barboza

What do you do? I am a food photographer, with a particular passion for documenting how food goes from the farm to the kitchen to the table. I shoot for chefs, farms, cookbooks and magazines, and also teach food photography

Job Calendar | Refocus & Reinvest: Career Management in the 21st Century

Carol Vecchio, the founder of Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal, leads a Seattle University Service in Action workshop for individuals who want to revisit what they find meaningful and understand how to create career fulfillment. Registration fee includes

Career Center | Work/study: Sometimes, to get ahead, you have to go back (to school)

By Randy Woods NWjobs Making school work Include your family/support system. “Everyone has to understand that you must take time out of every weekend, so you may not be as available as you were,” says Antioch University’s Douglas Arnold. Prepare

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Hire Ground | What if you don't know what you want to do?

One of the questions I'm asked most in my workshops is, "What if I don't know what I want to do?" Taking the time to answer this important question is invaluable, as we spend a good amount of our lives

Hire Ground | Why applying online first is a waste of time

I recently gave a presentation called Career Search Optimization to professionals in transition, emphasizing the need to become more strategic if they want to find their ideal job. Many, if not all, job seekers are so focused on advertised openings

Career Center | Plan B careers aren't always the dream jobs people hope for

By Alex WilliamsThe New York Times Rona Economou was a lawyer at a large Manhattan law firm, making a comfortable salary and enjoying nights on the town when she was laid off in 2009, another victim of the recession. At

Career Center | Cool Job: Chief Formulation Officer Eric Butler

What do you do? I am the founder and CFO (chief formulation officer) for Eric’s Energy Co. (a small all-natural beverage company in Mill Creek). I create the recipe for each custom formulation that bears the Eric’s name. How did

Career Center | Wide gap in skills leaves many unemployed, many open jobs

By Drew DeSilverSeattle Times business reporter At age 46, with three grown kids and nearly three decades in sales behind him, Chris Mugler of Auburn is two places he thought he'd never be: unemployed and back in school. Four days

Hire Ground | What if this is an opportunity?

In my monthly career seminars, I ask who among the participants is unemployed. When most folks raise their hands, I congratulate them. Why? Because few people love what they do. If you're unemployed, this is your opportunity to find your

Career Center | Five hot jobs: Digital age, aging population reshape employment projections

By Dave Carpenter The Associated Press If you’ve been fantasizing about becoming a farmer, it’s time to pick another daydream. No other occupation category has seen a bigger decline, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Twitter strategist or

Career Center | Cool job: Costume designer Emily McLaughlin

What do you do? I am lucky to work at the Seattle Children’s Theatre in wardrobe for the Mainstage Season and as one of the Costume Designers for the Drama School Summerstage Season. I also work as Costume Designer for

Career Center | Why we stay: Unhappy in your job? Focus on what would happen if you changed

By Andrea Kay / The Associated Press Bob was 50 and miserable, working as a doctor in his own practice but unwilling to call it quits. He just couldn’t get his mother out of his head. “She told me I

Hire Ground | Best-selling author shares tips for career success

I recently interviewed Andrea Cagan, ghostwriter of Wendy Walker's recent book "Producer: Lessons Shared from 30 Years in Television" (the topic of last week's column, "Career lessons from Larry King's senior executive producer"). Andrea's career history was not only fascinating,

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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.

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Career Center | Find your true (job) love: Soul searching can lead you to your passion

By Cody Ellerd Bay Special to NWjobs Some people will wake up on Valentine’s Day ready to embrace the day with a big bear hug. For others, the day will mean just another Monday that they won’t be feeling the

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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 --

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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 |

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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,

Career Center | Management material: Do you have what it takes to be a boss?

By Sandy Shore The Associated Press (Dan O’Brien) Some people are natural managers. They love to lead, drive performance and contribute to the broader goals of a company. The perks also can be enticing — more money, an office,

Career Center | Corps values: Service organizations give college grads a head start

By Jean Parietti Special to NWjobs College graduate Rachel Miranto is gaining hands-on environmental experience and training during 10 months of service with Seattle-based EarthCorps. (Jean Parietti) Rachel Miranto grins as she tugs out the offender — an invasive

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Career Center | For love or money: Workers weigh passion against the need to make a living

By Michelle Goodman Special to NWjobs Chris Pesce of Seattle was a lawyer before he decided to transition to a more satisfying career as a high school math teacher. (Linda Hughes) Financially speaking, Chris Pesce had it all: the

Career Center | Best job of 2010: Actuary, often 'at the bottom of the geek chain,' tops study

By Bill Glauber Associated Press John Bazemore / Associated Press Harry Lutz works at BHA Consulting in Georgia as an actuary. They are the odds-makers of life. With computers, calculations and curiosity, they place a financial value on risk

Career Center | A match made at work: Office romance turns into marriage for some local couples

By Michelle Goodman NWjobs Courtesy Kris Hoots and Steve Thomas Co-workers Kris Hoots and Steve Thomas married three months after their first date. The way former co-workers Kris Hoots and Steve Thomas tell it, they were the last to

Career Center | Winning workplaces: NWjobs People's Picks honorees triumph in a tough climate

By Cody Ellerd Bay Special to NWjobs ANIMAL CRITICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES Allison Dietz (with Reggie), Yvonne Victor (with Gordie) and Shannon Brown (with Mowgli), from left, work at Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services. The Lake City

Career Center | Following your heart: Jobs with impact, 'social capital' gaining popularity

By Emily Glazer Associated Press iSTOCK Now that the financial system has been rocked to its core, “social capital” is getting a lot of buzz. But what is it? It boils down to putting your efforts into jobs with

Career Center | Grateful patient became a nurse educator -- and many more like him are needed

By Linda Hughes Staff Writer LINDA HUGHES Nursing students watch as educator Neil Foltz prepares a needle for an injection. From left, Magdala Thermidor, Caroline Fewing (seated) and Kelly Finn are students at Renton Technical College. When ironworker Neil

Career Center | Love it, don't leave it: When quitting isn't an option, get more out of your job

By Teresa Kenney Special to NWjobs ISTOCK We’ve all heard the old adage “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." If the lemon in your life is your current job, Seattle-based career coach and motivational speaker Curt Rosengren says

Career Center | Switching careers: A four-step plan for going after your dream job

By Candice Choi Associated Press AMBER TAFOYA Kyle Kosey needed a sign. He wanted to ditch his 20-year career as an engineer to become a financial planner. It was a daydream he replayed in his mind for years. His

Career Center | Programs help career-switchers answer the call of the classroom

By LIBBY QUAID The Associated Press LAWRENCE JACKSON / AP Peter Vos, 50, who once ran an Internet startup, teaches eighth-grader Chido Makoni computer programming at Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring, Md. SILVER SPRING, Md. — Plenty of

Career Center | Cycling enthusiasts turn their hobby into a vocation by training as bike mechanics

By Julie French Ashland Daily Tidings JIM CRAVEN / ASHLAND DAILY TIDINGS Gary Mathis, left, leads a class in the art of using an acetylene torch to braze bicycle frames at the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Ore. The

Career Center | As an iPod concierge, former Apple employee doesn't fall far from the tree

By OMAR L. GALLAGE Austin American-Statesman AUSTIN, Texas — It's not often that someone's job, as they explain it to you, is one you never knew existed. But Jessica O'Connell is used to explaining her latest gig to family

Career Center | It takes soul-searching to find a new field

By Marcia Heroux Pounds South Florida Sun-Sentinel FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — "What if today was your last day to dance? What would you do?" asks the director interviewing dancers in the Broadway show "A Chorus Line." More workers today

Career Center | Identify where you are, then plan new route

By Daneen Skube / Syndicated Columnist Q: My job pays well, and I'm grateful in this economy to have a job, but I feel I'm missing out on my ideal calling. In my daydreams I imagine changing the world,

Career Center | Downturn may fire up self-starters

By Robert Rodriguez McClatchy Newspapers FRESNO, Calif. — The faltering economy, tanking retail sales and a real-estate market rife with foreclosures didn't keep Ritsuko Miyazaki from launching a ceramic art store. "I know some people would think now is

Career Center | Playing it safe vs. taking a risk

By Daneen Skube, syndicated Columnist Newhouse News Service--> Q. I have an opportunity to take a job where the company is going against the grain of what my industry does. It's a risk, but this company is doing the

Career Center | Forget stereotypes: Accounting is cool

By T.W. BURGER Newhouse News Service In the 1987 film "The Untouchables," federal agent Elliot Ness rescues gangster Al Capone's accountant, who knows too much, from certain death. The accountant is a mousy little man with glasses, perpetually clutching

Career Center | Amid scams, some do find work at home

By SUE SHELLENBARGER The Wall Street Journal As gasoline prices soar and joblessness mounts, the nonstop stream of e-mail I get from readers wanting to work from home is rising, too. Also multiplying are the online scam artists who

Career Center | In this office, 4-legged stress relief is key

Leslie Anne Jones Seattle Times staff reporter STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Softchoice employee Krystina Schaber is one of several at the Seattle company who bring their dogs to work. Roxie usually sleeps under her desk. The information-technology

Career Center | Career coach's favorite play: the switcheroo

By Jane Gargas Yakima Herald-Republic SARA GETTYS / YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC Marilyn Tellez helps people change their careers. YAKIMA – Freud asked only half the question. It's not just "What do women want?" No, it's broader than that. "What does

Career Center | Creative moms find opening businesses that offer kids' stuff pays off

By Joy Jernigan Special to The Seattle Times Krista Means opened a children's-clothing boutique because she couldn't find a place to buy a cute baby gift in West Seattle. Carol Schiller started Baby Chaleco because she couldn't find a

Career Center | Just love that cushy job

By Joseph R. Perone Newhouse News Service TK caption to come --> After working in gyms for 26 years, Gina Berta opened her own personal-fitness studio, one that resembled a spa more than a weight room. Breathe Fitness in

Career Center | Coaches can aid in job changes

By David Schepp The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News For many workers, the desire or the need to change jobs is commonplace. Whether brought about by downsizing or a growing dissatisfaction with the trajectory of their careers or industries, many

Career Center | Entrepreneurs feed their dreams

By Karen Gaudette Seattle Times staff reporter ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES A rainbow is visible looking West from Palm Springs, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 next to an array of wind turbines. --> Resolutions: Start

Career Center | Combine multiple talents to become a successful artist

By Andrea Kay Gannett News Service So you want to make music, act, produce films, design fashion, dance or write movies? No sweat. That is, if you tweak your thinking a bit. That includes eliminating the term "starving artist"

Career Center | Nonprofit myths challenged

By Mary Ellen Slayter The Washington Post Private-sector and government workers often like the idea of putting their skills to use for the greater good of society but really don't understand the world of nonprofits. "Change Your Career: Transitioning

Career Center | Microstock photography represents a new business model

By Kim Peterson Seattle Times technology reporter DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMESKelly Cline makes a small adjustment to the dish she is shooting at Pravda Studios on Capitol Hill as actor Doug Fahl watches. Cline's husband, Rasmus Rasmussen,

Career Center | Escaping the cubicle

By Michelle Goodman The Washington Post--> MICHELLE GOODMAN Want to leave the cubicle life behind, but not really sure how to do it? Michelle Goodman, former "wage slave" turned successful Seattle-based freelance writer and editor explains how in her

Career Center | "A chance to start something new"

By Suzanne Monson Special to The Seattle Times SCOTT COHEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES When her 14-year career with Ford folded during downsizing late last year, Susan Hamilton figured she had three options: "I could be angry at Ford;

Career Center | Tired of the daily grind? Try a "dream" job during your vacation

By Diana Wurn Special to The Seattle Times SCOTT COHEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES It's just before 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, and Erik Jensen has been working for hours, already on his second day of vacation from his

Career Center | Smashing career-changing myths

By Michelle Goodman Special to The Seattle Times STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Miserable at work? Take a number. Just half of all Americans are happy with their jobs, according to a significant study on work-force trends last

Career Center | Living (& working) for the music

By Seung Hwa Hong Seattle Times staff reporter KEVIN P. CASEY / SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE TIMES During the day, they work such jobs as forklift operator, part-time cashier, drum instructor and running a recording studio. At night and

Career Center | Odd jobs

By Sandy Dunham Special to The Seattle Times SCOTT COHEN / SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE TIMES Gary Watts wants to work as a fire dancer. He has the qualifications: rhythmic skill, a few years' experience, a burning desire (ha!)

Career Center | Choosing passion over pay

By Blanca Torres Seattle Times business reporter SCOTT COHEN / SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE TIMES Erin Anderson is living just above King County's poverty level while working 40 hours a week. It's not the ideal financial situation for a

Career Center | Launch a new career with volunteer skills

By Robin Ryan Special to NWjobs When I met Sarah, her very first question was "Do you think anyone would hire me? I've never worked a day in my life." Sarah had never been paid, but she was quite