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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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

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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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,

Job Calendar | Mock Interviewing Lab

This free WorkSource Renton lab is designed to let you practice your interviewing skills in a supportive group environment. Constructive, tailored feedback will be provided to help you continue to refine your interviewing techniques and comfort level. Participants must bring

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 | 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 | 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

Hire Ground | 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,

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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?"

Hire Ground | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Hire Ground | 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

Hire Ground | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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

Nine to Thrive | 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,

Hire Ground | 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

Hire Ground | 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

Hire Ground | 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

Hire Ground | Is there a reason I'm still unemployed?

When I presented my career seminars this year, I noted that many professionals had been unemployed for quite some time. I heard repeatedly that, "Employers aren't responding to my application," or "Even though I'm getting interviews (phone or in-person), I

Nine to Thrive | 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

Hire Ground | Three ways to seduce the interviewer to hire you

I recently interviewed Chris St. Hilaire, a message strategist and author of "27 Powers of Persuasion: Simple Strategies to Seduce Audiences and Win Allies," on how a candidate can seduce an interviewer into making a job offer. Here are the

Hire Ground | Didn't pass the last interview? Maybe you talked too much

In sales training, they teach that if you want to make the sale, you have to listen more and talk less. They also tell you that when you're presenting information to a customer, remember the KISS principle: "Keep It Short

Nine to Thrive | 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

Career Center | What am I doing wrong in interviews?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: I have had a few interviews where I have not gotten the job, and it's difficult to evaluate what I'm doing wrong. I cannot get feedback from interviewers because of company policies. Where can I

Nine to Thrive | 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,

Hire Ground | Want the job? Learn how to become a great storyteller

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make during an interview is that they answer the interviewer's questions with facts and details. Or, they talk about the intellectual way they would solve a problem. Successful presenters, public speakers, salespeople and politicians

Hire Ground | Want to pass the interview? Prepare your 'power questions'

Your success in an interview depends directly on your understanding of the employer's true needs and desires and your ability to communicate how you're the exact match for what the company is seeking in its new hire. Many good candidates

Career Center | Why is HR telling me not to contact the hiring manager?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: I recently applied for a job at a company I used to work for. I still know people there, including the hiring manager. She told me I would hear from someone in HR. After almost

Nine to Thrive | 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

Career Center | How do I explain a demotion to prospective employers?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: I am an administrative professional. Last year, I was given the option of taking a demotion at a significant paycut at my current employer, or being let go. Due to the economy at that time,

Nine to Thrive | 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

Hire Ground | How to ace a phone screen

A client of mine recently landed a great in-person interview with a top Seattle construction company by acing the phone screen. Passing the phone screen is essential to getting an in-person interview, as more companies today are conducting them to

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

Career Center | What's the best way to find a job in Seattle when you don't live here yet?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: I'm a former Seattleite who moved to California more than four years ago, and I’m relocating myself back to Seattle. What's the best way to find a software job in Seattle when you're searching

Career Center | Avoid culture shock: Determine whether you’ll fit in at a company before you start

By Andrea Kay The Associated Press (Thinkstock) Barry Maher had been at his job as sales representative of a Fortune 100 firm for less than a month when he attended the company’s Super Bowl party. He walked in, grabbed

Hire Ground | Job search events to get you through the 'dog days'

As we turn the corner into August this weekend, we officially enter summer's "dog days." While we Seattleites are blessedly free of the infernal heat and humidity that usually stifles the rest of the country this time of year, August

Hire Ground | Pleasure or pain: What motivates your hiring manager?

In my last post, I talked about how you can build a deeper rapport with the hiring manager during a job interview by identifying and matching his or her communication style (visual, auditory or kinesthetic). Here's another communication technique you

Hire Ground | Are you speaking the hiring manager's language?

Many hiring managers hire people who are just like themselves. They choose people with similar mannerisms, appearance, intelligence and culture. Some go as far as hiring people from the same educational background, experiences, gender, race or religion. When you look

Career Center | Return to earn: How to make the most of salary negotiations after unemployment

By Marcia Heroux Pounds The Associated Press It’s important to know your bottom line in negotiations for pay. (Thinkstock) Close to a job offer? If you’ve been unemployed for several months or longer, you are likely at a disadvantage

Nine to Thrive | 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

Career Center | How should I prepare for a panel interview?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: : I have a job interview coming up and I understand that it will be a panel interview with several people at once. I’m used to one-on-one interviews. How will this be different? How

Career Center | Does a phone screen count as an interview?

By Kristen Fife NWjobs Q: I applied for a job and talked to a recruiter for about half an hour on the phone. He e-mailed me later that day to say the team was interested in setting up a

Hire Ground | Ask the right questions to take charge of the interview

A workshop student of mine, I'll call him "John," recently had two interviews come up with Honeywell International and Crane Aerospace. They were both panel interviews. After finishing the interviews, he and I sat down to debrief. I asked him

Hire Ground | Support your local library, find job-search tips

It's a holiday weekend, time to relax, recharge and prepare for another week of job hunting. You'll need the rest because, even with this short work week, the summer season of job-search seminars and networking events is kicking into high

Hire Ground | Casting a wider net to find networking opportunities

When compiling my weekly roundup of job-search events, it's always gratifying to find a few new listings thrown in with the usual weekly or monthly regulars. This coming week, I discovered a whole array of job-search activities down in Tacoma

Hire Ground | How your resume can help you change careers

One of the trickier aspects of our current Great Recession economy is that it has forced many people to consider changing careers to find better job prospects. For some, this can be exhilarating, for others, it's terrifying; most experience a

Career Center | What do you usually wear for an interview?

What do you usually wear for an interview?online survey

Hire Ground | What a year it's been -- No foolin'!

Today marks a full calendar year since I carved out my little cyberniche with this Hire Ground column. So far, I've posted more than 140 entries about interviewing tips, networking events, resume advice, development of interpersonal skills and some random