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 »
Get Help Climbing the Career Ladder: Maurice Henderson’s Job Search Success Story
Maurice Henderson spent the majority of his career climbing the career ladder in the public sector and serving the local community. In early 2019, Maurice made the move to the private sector and joined the team at Bird Rides Inc. Maurice says he discovered this new opportunity and made the shift with help from a… Read more »
Beyond Post & Pray – Employer Brand and Job Posting Essentials
For employers in the digital age, hiring new talent starts with posting a job listing on your website or a job board. The content of your job listing can determine how many candidates decide to apply for your position. As a result, job listings directly impact your hiring pools and the talent you bring into… Read more »
Taking Advantage of Your Network: Taylor Long’s Job Search Success Story
Taylor Long’s job search began when she noticed an opening at a company that she had passed every day during her daily commute. Within a few days, she had submitted her job application, but Taylor didn’t stop there. Instead, she reached out to mutual connections at the company via LinkedIn to set up informational interviews, and… Read more »
The New Majority Workforce: How to Recruit and Retain Millennials
Over 35% of workers in the labor force are millennials, making up the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. Lots of negative assumptions about this generation have swirled around over the last few years—they’re addicted to social media, they bounce from job to job, they don’t have a strong work ethic. Many of these myths… Read more »
8 Great Nonprofit Networking Opportunities for Seattle Professionals
If you’re looking to advance your nonprofit career in Seattle, or you want to transition into the nonprofit sector, the single best thing you can do is network. Networking is the most effective to connect with your peers, make yourself known among industry leaders, and find hidden opportunities for meaningful employment. Seattle is a growing… Read more »
Seattle Business Networking Events from 8 Top Organizations
Building a career in Seattle? It’s time to learn the power of networking. Whether you’re new to Seattle or looking to make a change in your career, there’s no time like the present to meet new people, learn new things, and dive deeper into your chosen field. But in a big city like Seattle, it… Read more »
Job Search Perseverance: Michael Horenstein’s Job Search Success Story
When you’re juggling resumes, cover letters, your full-time job and new job applications all at once, how can you stay focused and organized in your job search? Michael Horenstein found himself struggling to maintain focus and keeping his schedule free of unexpected interruptions. With a seemingly endless list of tasks on your to-do list to… Read more »
What You Need To Know Before Moving to Seattle
If you’re thinking of moving to Seattle, the Emerald City offers a vast array of professional opportunities as well as a vibrant creative scene, great food, entertainment, stunning natural beauty, and of course, coffee. Cups and cups of coffee. The university town bustles with lots of energy, and thousands of new students every year, but… Read more »
How To Land a Job at Amazon, Boeing, or Microsoft in Seattle
Amazon, Boeing, and Microsoft are all Fortune 100 companies with incredibly impactful global footprints. They are also three of Seattle’s largest and most recognized employers. Landing a job at any of these high-profile global corporations means competing with thousands of applicants from all over the world. And as an extra challenge, many of their open… Read more »
Jumping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Kelly Anderson’s Job Search Success Story
Are you ready for a career change, but feeling fearful of embarking into a new industry, or new work style that puts you outside of your comfort zone? Kelly Anderson faced this same challenge in her job search. Kelly decided to leave a job that she had put a ton of energy and focus into,… Read more »
Cover Letter Openers: How To Draw Employers In From The First Sentence
The opening line to your cover letter can make or break your job application. Employers are often reading through hundreds of cover letters. Your first sentence needs to make an impact, showcase your unique perspective, and compel the hiring manager to ask you to come in for a job interview. Let’s break down the components… Read more »
Discovering Common Goals In Your Network: Ally Rumpakis’s Job Search Success Story
Ally Rumpakis started her job search by narrowing down her focus to determine what kind of marketing positions she wanted to go after. After attending networking events, connecting with recruiters, and reaching out to friends and family, Ally discovered her current position through her sorority network. Learn more about Ally’s month long job search, how… Read more »
Common Expectations vs. The Reality of Working with a Recruiter
You’ve probably heard negative stories about recruiters who don’t return calls or “headhunters” who pursue a candidate aggressively, only to disappear. If you listen to all the buzz, recruiting professionals seem to be more likely to lead people on and ghost than a bad Bumble date. If you’ve ever been frustrated working with a recruiter… Read more »
Letting Your Passion Drive Your Job Search: Larissa Printzian’s Job Search Success Story
If you’ve been hunting for a job for several long weeks or months, desperation can take over. You’ll start trying to apply for any position that could work, instead of focusing on the opportunities that are right for you. Larissa Printzian faced this same challenge in her year long job search. Instead of putting all… Read more »
How to Update Your Resume: 8 Key Areas to Focus On
The key to landing the job of your dreams is a great resume. Standing out from the competition means telling a compelling professional story that includes your accomplishments and skills and what makes you unique. Is your resume telling the right story or is it outdated and gathering dust? If it’s been a while since… Read more »
Focus Your Job Search Before Applying for Positions: Brock Vasconcellos’s Job Search Story
Brock Vasconcellos started his job search by spending six months coming up with a targeted, focused list of his career interests and values. He discovered that looking for a new career was more exciting, once he reframed his perspective and started looking at his previous positions as a portfolio of strengths and interests to build upon…. Read more »
5 Conversation Starters For Networking Events
As someone who goes to 100+ networking events a year, I’ve heard (and tried) all of the networking lines. The great thing about events is that most of the time, people are there to connect and are open to some conversation in a way that people in a coffee shop or in a line at… Read more »
Using Your Network To Find Unique Opportunities: Elizabeth Roberts’ Job Search Success Story
Elizabeth Roberts was passionate about finding a career that combined her two passions: education and events. Within a month, she was able to locate a position via her network that suited her interests. Read Elizabeth’s success story to see how hard work, patience, and being proactive with her network, paid off in the long run. What… Read more »
Jobs at Certified B Corporations: Why You Should Build a B Corp Career
When I ask job seekers what kind of work they are looking for, I often get variations of the same answer: “I want a job that means something.” Sure, people want a good paycheck. (We all have bills to pay!) But more fundamentally, people want work that matters. This desire for meaningful work steers many… Read more »
Changing Industries in A New City: Amy Chu’s Job Search Success Story
Contemplating a career change that would require you to move industries? Amy Chu faced this decision when she relocated from the Bay Area to Portland, Oregon. Amy had to decide if she wanted to continue working in the technology sector, or pursue a community-driven job with a nonprofit organization. Amy made a decision to pursue… Read more »
Join Portland’s Tech Community: 9 Local Networking Opportunities
Portland’s tech industry is robust, and there are more opportunities than ever for professionals to connect with others in the local tech community. However, it can be hard to know where to get started. Whether you’re a seasoned tech industry pro or looking at tech as a new career path, Portland has opportunities for you… Read more »
The Power of Informational Interviews: Natalie O’Grady’s Job Search Story
Navigating a new job market as a new graduate can be daunting. One place to start is by setting up informational interviews. Natalie O’Grady found that informational interviews helped uncover new career opportunities, plus she was able to grow her networking skills and cultivate valuable relationships for her career. As a new resident of Portland, Oregon,… Read more »