Do you have a tribe in Portland? You probably need one if you want to advance your career. World-renowned marketing expert, Seth Godin, defines a tribe as “a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or… Read more »
How I Found a Job in Portland, Oregon: Mac’s Story
Whether we’ve come from out of state or grew up here, each of us has a story about how we landed our first job in Oregon. Here’s my story and the lessons I learned. In the spring of 1991, my wife, Kris, and I were living in Boston where I was finishing up a master’s… Read more »
Awesome Cover Letter Templates for Landing an Interview
Ask any hiring manager, HR specialist or recruiter, and they’ll tell you: Most cover letters are exceptionally awful. So bad that they can disqualify even the most-skilled candidates from further consideration. This is your FIRST impression to a potential employer. It is crucial that you get it right for any position, but especially one that… Read more »
3 Organizations Professional Women in Portland Can Use to Connect
It’s no secret that women face many unique challenges in the workplace. Connecting with other women and female-identifying professionals can be key to overcoming these challenges. Finding a group of women to support you and your professional growth can go a long way toward boosting your career satisfaction. If you’re interested in connecting with other women… Read more »
Applying for Your Next Job? Prepare For Your Long Game, Jenel Scherrer’s Job Search Story
Do you have a long game, or a broad vision for where you want your career to go? Janel Scherrer used her skills as a marketing strategist to pinpoint goals in her job search, and it’s paying off. Janel also advises job seekers to be generous and to mentor others. True to form, Janel shares… Read more »
The 9 Best Nonprofit Networking Events in Portland
Can you see yourself making a positive impact on your community as an integral part of a local nonprofit organization? Portland, Ore. has a large and robust community of nonprofit organizations, offices, and engaged professionals. This expansive community brings you lots of choices for nonprofit networking events in Portland. If you’re looking to advance your… Read more »
Finding Freedom in Freelance Work: Julie Rea’s Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. Julie Rea started her design career in a traditional 9-5 job before transitioning into full-time freelance work. Here’s Julie’s story. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I’m… Read more »
7 Tactics for Competing as an Older Professional
If you aren’t from the millennial generation, it can sometimes seem as though all the attention in the workplace is being lavished on younger workers while opportunities are passing you by. There may be some truth to that. One study found that it takes an older job seeker (55 and older) a lot longer to find… Read more »
Be Positive, Stay Focused, Reach Out: Jon Wetzler’s Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. Jon Wetzler remained diligent and focused through a job search that lasted more than a year, eventually landing a great job through his robust network. Here’s Jon’s story. What do you do for… Read more »
Three Templates for A Perfect Interview Thank You Email
If you want to create a strong professional brand and leave a lasting impression with employers, you need to master the post- interview thank you email. As soon as you leave a job interview, it’s best to follow up with a sincere, professional, and engaged thank you email. Make sure they know you appreciate their time… Read more »
Networking is Just About Being Curious: Peter Russo’s Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. Peter Russo struggled with networking as an introvert. Until he realized it was just about finding out more about another’s person’s story. And Peter is good at understanding people – it’s a part… Read more »
7 Resilience Tips for a Long-Term Job Search
You’ve polished your resume, crafted targeted cover letters, and even gotten some interviews. But weeks of unemployment have turned into months – maybe even years – and you haven’t landed a job offer. During a long job search, it’s essential to take steps to stay healthy and resilient. Psychologists and social scientists know that human… Read more »
The Salary Research Guide to Getting Paid What You’re Worth
Whether you’re gearing up to negotiate for salary at a new job, or you’re about to ask for a raise, you need to bring a well-researched salary goal to the table. To do that, you need to know how much you’re worth and you need to be able to explain why. That’s where your salary… Read more »
Finding Balance During a Job Search: Sara Samovalov’s Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own career path. Meet Sara Samovalov, a writer who worked through her individual fears and external challenges during her job search. With hard work, a balanced approach, and a focus on self care, Sara landed a… Read more »
A Simple Email Template for Landing Informational Interviews
It’s no secret that I think good informational interview skills make all the difference in a job search. They help you meet new people, share your professional skills and uncover opportunities that you’ll never find just looking at job boards. But asking someone for an informational interview can be a challenge. Professionals are busy and… Read more »
A Realistic, Successful Job Search: Andrew Peters’ Career Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire countless careers. We share the stories of job seekers’ successes to inspire you in your own career, get ideas for new approaches, and to help us all better understand the local job market! This week, we hear from Andrew Peters, a multi-talented professional… Read more »
Informational Interviews: Stop Wasting Time and Start Finding Value
Landing an informational interview can be a terrific first step to getting a great job. These meetings help you grow your network and show your value to potential employers. You know all that logically, right? But sometimes it can feel like informational interviews fall flat, and you wonder what you’re actually getting out of all… Read more »
4 Common Resume Formats & Which One Will Work For You
It’s often said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, that’s what happens, most of the time, with job seekers and their resumes. Everyone knows that there is so much more to people than their initial impressions. However, potential employers judge candidates by their resumes every day, within seconds of glancing through… Read more »
Developing Tenacity: Leslie Pyfer’s Career Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others on their own unique path. We share job search stories with readers to inspire your job search and to help us all better understand the job market. Meet Leslie Pyfer, a product developer in apparel and accessories. She moved on… Read more »
New Job, New City: How to Land a Job Before You Move
You know exactly where you want to live – you’ve identified the city or state that will be a perfect cultural fit for you. The problem is that you don’t yet live there, and you don’t yet have a job there. You know that your current distance adds to the challenge of job hunting, and… Read more »
Staying Plugged In To a Specialized Field: Julie Magers’ Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire you in your job search and to help us… Read more »
Your 4 Step Personal Brand Toolkit
It’s easy to be intimidated by the process of cultivating a unique personal brand. That’s understandable, as there’s a lot to consider. What will your professional portfolio look like? How will you leverage the power of social media? What sorts of personal style will you add to your online presence to stand out to potential… Read more »
How to Land a Great Job After College: Elizabeth Vargas’ Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but we can all gain insights from each other. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire your job search and to help us all better understand the local job market! Elizabeth Vargas,… Read more »
Change Sectors, Help Others: Scott Clemans’ Job Search Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. After 20 years in government, Scott Clemans embarked on a career transition into higher education. Here’s Scott’s story. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? I recently joined… Read more »
How to Ask about Salary and Benefits in a Job Interview
Career coaches will often tell you to avoid asking “me” questions in an interview, not to put your needs ahead of those of the employer. Employers hire because they have problems and as a potential employee, you should focus on how you can solve these problems. At the same time, figuring out if an employer… Read more »
Job Searching in a New City: Mallory Searcy’s Career Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. After moving across the country, Mallory Searcy embraced a “try everything” approach to her job search. Here’s Mallory’s story. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? Currently, I’m… Read more »
5 Under-the-Radar People to Ask for an Informational Interview
Informational interviews are a great way to build your network and improve your chances of landing a great job. If you’ve spent any time here at Mac’s List, you know the importance of this tactic. But it can be tough to know who to ask for an informational interview. Often it pays to go beyond… Read more »
Asking is Powerful: Brit Bennett’s Job Search Success Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. Brit Bennett struggled to connect with employers when she was only applying for jobs online. When she started to network, her job search took off. Here’s Brit’s story. What do you do for… Read more »
Career Tests & Quizzes To Find Your Perfect Job
Since it was first published in 1970, What Color is Your Parachute? has been a go-to resource for any person seeking to unearth their true calling. The self-help book stresses that a career search doesn’t have to be disorganized or daunting, that with form and purpose, anyone can find the right match. Books like this… Read more »
Patient and Relentless: Doug Wells’ Job Search Success Story
Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. Meet Doug Wells. Doug aggressively networked and maintained focus to find his dream job. Here’s Doug’s story. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? About half of my… Read more »