Keenan Casavant embarked on a new job search with a clear focus. He knew that mentoring students and working in an educational environment were his ultimate career aspirations. It took him seven months to overcome applicant tracking systems, identify a new career direction, and secure his next opportunity. Keenan recommends staying persistent and finding tools… Read more »
Seattle Tech Jobs: Your Guide to Work in a Booming Tech Scene
If you want to work in the tech industry, head to Seattle. With nearly 9 percent of its workforce employed in tech as of 2018, Seattle’s tech job market is one of the strongest in North America, second only to San Francisco. You can build a great career in Seattle’s tech industry, but you’ve got… Read more »
3 Things Everyone Should Know About the Changing Workforce
The workforce has changed. Office layouts have been redesigned from cubicles to open offices. Job security seems to have disappeared. You can’t look at the news without seeing something about the increase in remote and part-time work, advances in artificial intelligence (and its older sibling, automation), and the rise of part-time work and the gig… Read more »
Catch More Job Opportunities by Casting a Wide Net, Kali Pauling’s Job Search Success Story
Kali Pauling spent over four weeks looking for a new job, and that does not take into consideration the extra month Kali spent submitting additional application requirements. Instead of getting stuck dwelling on missed opportunities, Kali considered every job app and job interview an opportunity for learning and growth. Kali recommends casting a wide net… Read more »
Build Community: 5 Women’s Networking Groups in Seattle
In today’s workforce, women face unique and ever-evolving challenges. It helps to have other working women in your life to share struggles, brainstorm ideas, and help each other with career opportunities and advice. Build a strong “inner circle” of fellow female professionals, and you’ll reap a community that will help advance your career for years… Read more »
Setting Clear Priorities and Knowing Your Purpose: Jennifer Eskridge’s Job Search Success Story
Jennifer Eskridge’s biggest job search challenge was giving herself the time and space to rediscover her career purpose. Jennifer was able to re-engage with her professional network more intentionally, re-commit to her career path, and stick to a clear career focus, all while pursuing contract work. Read Jennifer’s success story for more career advice, plus,… Read more »
How to Revamp Your Resume To Explain A Career Change
In today’s job market, career changes are inevitable. Whether it’s an organizational shift in your current company or a personal decision to head in a different direction, updating your resume to reflect your career change is imperative. The average employee changes jobs ten-15 times throughout his or her life, but the key is to build… Read more »
Staying Open to New Possibilities: Maggie O’Connor’s Job Search Success Story
Maggie O’Connor was a nonprofit fundraising consultant for over a decade. Last April, she received an opportunity to work full-time with a local nonprofit. Although she was hesitant at first to return to the full-time working world, she stayed open to the possibility and found that it was the right fit for her. In addition… Read more »
Creative Recruiting Strategies That Work
Both employers and job seekers have grown tired of the same old recruiting process. Posting jobs via social media has become commonplace. LinkedIn is cluttered with recruiters near and far who may or may not be actively hiring. Job boards are the industry standard, but applicants often find this route impersonal, with hiring managers hidden… Read more »
Modern Recruiting Strategies: How to Conduct A Better Job Interview
Hiring new employees is a formidable task for employers – and yet many are lacking a plan of attack. Inconsistency in interviews can spawn serious liability, not to mention bad hiring decisions. In one study, 20 percent of hiring managers said they had unknowingly asked an illegal question in a job interview. It’s time to… Read more »
Tailor Your Resume for a New Industry: Ashlan Glazier-Anderson’s Job Search Success Story
Ashlan Glazier-Anderson made the leap from the for-profit sector to nonprofit work. She started by researching the nonprofit field and identifying similar job descriptions to her current role. Then, she focused on the details and tailored her resume to highlight the relevant skills, and customized her cover letter to include specific industry keywords. Ashlan recommends… Read more »
Your Career Change Action Plan: 7 Steps to A New Job
Planning for a career change can mean the difference between success and failure. Finding a job that fulfills you is the ultimate goal, but you have to do the work to figure out where you want to go. With a clear plan of action, you’ll be able to determine whether you require a simple change… Read more »
Becoming Known To Uncover New Career Avenues: Meghan Sinnott’s Job Search Success Story
Meghan Sinnott left her previous position in 2017. For over a year, Meghan dabbled in contract work, volunteering, and dedicated her time to supporting local community organizations and nonprofits. Meghan says her biggest setback was self-doubt. She had confidence in her ability to succeed, but she did not know how to convey her strengths and… Read more »
Employer Branding in the Pacific Northwest: Examples from Local Companies
Here in the Pacific Northwest, qualified, hireable candidates are in high demand. In this competitive job market, employer branding can make or break a candidate’s decision to accept a job offer. Developing an effective employer brand is not as simple as designing a snappier company logo with brighter colors. Your employer brand is the overarching… Read more »
Learning New Skills To Uncover New Opportunities: Kenji Sekino’s Job Search Success Story
Breaking into a new industry can be difficult when you do not have a foundation of skills to fall back on. Kenji Sekino‘s biggest hurdle in his job search was landing a technical role despite having limited training and educational background in coding and software development. To learn the right skills, Kenji took the initiative… Read more »
Investing Your Time Wisely: Christy Cushing’s Job Search Success Story
Christy Cushing spent her four month job search reaching out to professionals contacts, meeting with a career counselor, and listening to the Find Your Dream Job podcast. After a series of 20 interviews for various positions, Christy decided to invest her time in the positions that actually had more to offer, versus taking every possible… Read more »
From Portland to Denmark: Bjarke Kronborg’s Job Search Success Story
Bjarke Kronborg has spent his career working for various organizations in Portland, Oregon and Denmark. In his most recent job search, Bjarke started by identifying appealing job positions. Then, he researched the employers on LinkedIn. Finally, Bjarke searched his connections for mutual contacts at the company to get an insider’s perspective on the companies’ challenges… Read more »
10 Ways to Lose a Candidate in a Tight Job Market
Work has changed. Since the beginning of the industrial age, we’ve moved from factories to remote workspaces; from industrial and labor relations into people operations; from pensions to the gig economy. The way people look for work has changed too, with a trend toward online job boards, ATS applications, and video interview screens. In today’s… Read more »
Networking with Intention: Stephanie Raso’s Job Search Success Story
Stephanie Raso found her job primarily through networking and volunteering. Despite being nervous about networking in the beginning, Stephanie stayed committed to an active approach to tap into the hidden job market and found new opportunities. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of knowing your limits, and when it’s time to take a break and find time… Read more »
Staying Connected and Keeping in Touch: Candace Salim’s Job Search Success Story
In late 2017, Candace Salim received a LinkedIn message from a recruiter regarding a role she might be interested in. It didn’t work out at the time, but Candace kept the connection. Two years later, Candace reached out to the recruiter who had previously contacted her to discuss a new role that had opened up…. Read more »
How to Write a Salary Negotiation Email
Approaching a salary negotiation, whether a few years into your job or at the start of your tenure, requires thought and preparation. Clear communication is key, and research into the local job market and standard compensation for your role is crucial for tailoring your ask. There are two times at which a salary negotiation email… Read more »
Career Advice for College Grads: Kyrie Hughes’ Job Search Success Story
Jumping into the working world after getting your college degree can be intimidating. But, there are ways you can stand out from the competition and reach out to your network to discover a great career. Kyrie Hughes kept in contact with connections she made during her college years and overcame rejection to land a new… Read more »
The State of the Portland Job Seeker 2019: Local Candidates are Available, and Skeptical
In 2019, most people talk about the job market in terms of hiring. Employers are dealing with worker shortages, struggling with shrinking applicant pools, even getting ghosted by their employees. Unemployment hovers around all-time lows here in the greater Portland region. So most people just assume that workers are celebrating with multiple job offers, healthy… Read more »
Careers in Seattle and Portland: Working in the Pacific Northwest
From Mt. Rainier to Mt. Hood, working in the Pacific Northwest is a dream for many. With Seattle and Portland leading the pack, residents along the I-5 corridor have a bevy of professional opportunities to choose from. As observed in recent job market trends, Pacific Northwest careers will continue to see great growth moving forward…. Read more »
Reaching Out To Your Network: Casey Dudek’s Job Search Success Story
Reaching out to your network is often the best way to start building a new career. Casey Dudek landed a career in technical writing with WEO Media by connecting with friends of his father, and after a quick interview period he was offered a new job within a month and a half. Casey says the… Read more »
Customizing a Career Change Cover Letter: 5 Tips and a Template
In this day and age, employers are looking for candidates who are more than just their resume. A resume can detail the ins and outs of responsibilities and job titles, but a cover letter is crucial to catching an employer’s eye. When returning to the workforce after an extended leave or pivoting in a new… Read more »
Connecting with a Career Coach: Laura Glazer’s Job Search Success Story
In the six months Laura Glazer spent job-hunting, she attended networking events, connected with a career coach, and grew her network. Ultimately, Laura credits the success of her job search to her work with a local career coach who helped her to narrow her focus, highlight her talents and tell her career story in a… Read more »
The Hidden Costs of Recruitment
Looking to hire for a new position? Adding new employees to your team can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. While a new recruit brings added value to the team, hidden recruitment costs can upset an already tight budget. When hiring for a new role, it’s important to know what recruitment costs you’ll incur… Read more »
Find Your Career Advocates: Chris Ling’s Job Search Success Story
In 2017, Chris Ling left his law career behind to pursue a career as a software engineer and develop his coding skills. Last month, Chris landed a new job working remotely for a San Francisco-based startup. Throughout his five month job search, Chris relied on his network, recruiting websites, and working with local tech recruiters…. Read more »
Get Ready for These Challenging Interview Questions
Challenging interview questions can hit a nerve for most of us. The idea of a rapid fire inquisition, whether in a confined room or in front of a panel of C-level executives, is unsettling at best. Interview questions can be especially jarring if they tap into personal insecurities or fears. Specific topics may make you… Read more »