There are two parts of every successful job search. First, you need to figure out what you really want to do in your career. Then you need a plan to get the experience, training, and connections that will help you reach your goals. Mac’s List reader, Cheryl Curry, followed this exact roadmap in finding her… Read more »
The Case for Salary Transparency
This might be controversial advice, but employers should always include a salary range when posting a job. The modern trend of advertising a job without a salary attached is hurting both job seekers and hiring organizations. A little history: It was common to include salaries when jobs were advertised mainly in newspapers. This was still… Read more »
Worth the Extra Effort: Terri Johns-Avery’s Job Search Success Story
If we had to distill the entire Mac’s List job search philosophy into two words, they would be “focus” and “networking.” Mac’s List reader, Terri Johns-Avery, used these two tactics to land her dream job as a classroom nurse for Beaverton School District. Here’s her story. What do you do for a career? Who do… Read more »
What to Write in Every Cover Letter: A 7-Step Checklist
What is the tried and true wisdom for writing good cover letters? Maybe it’s, “Show, don’t tell!” We’ve all heard this old advice about writing. And we also know you’re supposed to proofread your application materials until you’re cross-eyed. But beyond displaying your brilliance in an error-free letter, what else should you be including in… Read more »
Eliminate Manual Hiring Processes: The Value of an Applicant Tracking System
Hiring is a critical task in any organization. You simply can’t succeed without the right employees. But the actual process of hiring—sourcing talent, reviewing applications, moving candidates though the interview process—can be a huge challenge. (I know… hiring a new employee for my small businesses can feel like a full-time job!) One way to streamline the hiring… Read more »
Networking to Find The Right Fit: Karly Osten’s Job Search Success Story
Karly Osten started her job search the way most people do: by casting a wide net and looking at jobs online. But she started getting better results when she focused her goals and began networking in her field. Here’s Karly’s story of how she overcame obstacles and landed a job as a Paid Search Specialist at… Read more »
3 Steps to Get a Flexible Schedule
If you were to write a wish list describing your dream job, would a flexible work schedule come to mind? While 9-to-5 workweeks in the office were once the norm for American workers, employers are increasingly offering flexibility as a job perk. It’s more common – and easier – than ever for organizations to opt… Read more »
Using Job Search Lessons to Build a Career: Lori Aoki’s Story
Lori learned a lot from a year-long job search after moving to a new city. Though the search was discouraging at times, she found ways to build resilience while improving her networking strategy and her application materials. Then, when she was ready to move into a new role, her network came out to help, putting… Read more »
Hiring Decisions: Should I Use a Recruiter or Staffing Agency to Hire New Employees?
Finding the right person to join your team is no easy task. The costs in time, effort, and money are significant, no matter the size of your company. As you’re assessing your hiring needs, you may be considering working with a staffing or recruiting agency. While there’s plenty of advice out there to help job… Read more »
Staying Focused in a Competitive Industry: Kristen Mozian’s Job Search Story
When you’re looking for jobs out-of-state, it can be tempting to go after anything you can find. But Kristen Mozian had a passion for the economic development sector. So she focused in on this competitive industry and utilized a strong professional network to find a new job that she loves. And it all started by… Read more »
Find the Right Networking Events For You
“Networking.” Just mention the word and watch the eyes either glaze over with anticipated boredom, or widen with preemptive anxiety. Most people think networking only happens at boozy after-hours events filled with know-it-alls in suits. But networking is actually a huge umbrella of activities that includes anything you do to connect with other professionals with… Read more »
Pursuing A Dream Job With Passion: Anneliese Davis’s Job Search Story
Anneliese was coming back to work after raising a child, and she knew she wanted to find a job that she could be passionate about. She fleshed out her resume with recent volunteer experience, started networking, and eventually found her dream job pop up in a job posting. She connected with the mission of the… Read more »
Three Ways Reference Checks Can Help You Make the Right Hire
References should provide valuable insights into the fit of a candidate for a particular position. Reference checks are often performed as the final step in the hiring process, oftentimes once an offer is already imminent. So, how can employers engage a candidates references to get more information and make better hiring decisions? A Good Conversation… Read more »
Dwell In Your Strengths: Michael Rose’s Career Change Story
Everyone has obstacles in their job search, but you can choose to dwell in your strengths. Michael Rose was changing careers and dealing with an employment gap, but he focused on engaging with his broad network and showcasing his storytelling skills through volunteer work. In the end, he landed a job he loves. Here’s how… Read more »
Transitioning Between For-Profit and Nonprofit Work
Looking for a job in the nonprofit sector? Lots of people are! Nonprofit jobs offer an opportunity to make a direct impact on your community and help others in your day-to-day job. Unfortunately, there are often hurdles for people looking to make a leap between the for-profit and nonprofit worlds. Nonprofits and for-profits have vastly… Read more »
A Numbers Game & A Network: Drake MacFarlane’s Job Search Story
What’s the best way to land a great job out of college? For Drake MacFarlane, it took more than one thing. He sent out lots of applications, but he made sure his documents were tailored for the job at hand. He also relied on his network, making sure to check in with his connections regularly…. Read more »
Find the Right Recruiting Agency: 8 Things You Should Know
Many professionals work with a staffing agency at some point in their careers. Some even prefer to work through agencies, as it provides them a wider variety of job experience than staying with one or two companies throughout a career. However, if you’re new to the process it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the variety… Read more »
Recruiting Terms Glossary: Learn the Language of Recruiters to Land the Job
Talking to a recruiter can be intimidating. When it feels like they’re speaking a different language, check out this glossary for the plain English version of terms like bill rate, requisition, W2 employee, and more. With a solid handle on the industry vocabulary, you can decide which recruiting agency is right for you! Agency –… Read more »
Finding Work In Unexpected Places: Glenn Smith’s Job Search Story
Sometimes, the connection that leads to your dream job comes from an unexpected direction. For Glenn Smith, it was a happenstance referral from his financial advisor. Learn how Glenn used this connection to network his way into a plum job in higher education. What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?… Read more »
Hiring 101: A Quick & Dirty Guide for First-Time Hiring Managers
Interviewing for a job is stressful, whichever side of the table you’re on. But when you’re a new hiring manager, faced with the challenge of trying to hire the perfect employee off a piece of paper and hour-long conversation, stress takes on a whole new meaning. Given the high cost of a bad hire, you… Read more »
8 Resume Mistakes that Instantly Land You in the “No” Pile
A resume is the foundation of most job applications. It’s your sales pitch in print—your primary marketing document—for how you can solve problems and help employers. Your resume may be the first place an employer ever sees your name. The contents of the document may be all a hiring manager has to judge whether they… Read more »
Know Your Value, Know Your Worth: Mario Parker-Milligan’s Job Search Success Story
In the midst of a job search, many people feel the need to settle for “good enough.” In his most recent job hunt, Mario Parker-Milligan stayed focused on the opportunities he really wanted and refused to settle for anything less. His lesson to other job seekers: never undercut yourself for a particular job, job title, or salary…. Read more »
What Employers Really Mean When They Say You’re Overqualified (And What You Can Do About It)
Of all the reasons to not get a job, one of the most frustrating is being told that you are “overqualified” for the position. Indeed you’re constantly encouraged to learn new skills, get more education, and deepen your experience. But when you try to showcase these qualifications as part of a job search, they sometimes… Read more »
A Networking-First Job Search Strategy in Action: Wayne Pierce’s Story
Most of us change jobs multiple times during our career. Wayne Pierce has also changed industries more than once during his time in the workforce. His biggest lesson from all of those experiences? Get out and talk to people about your job search (also known as, network, network, network). Find out how Wayne navigated his… Read more »
Your Transferable Skills: How to Identify & Leverage Skills to Advance Your Career
Interested in working in a new industry, but don’t have direct experience? Sometimes the barriers between you and your desired job seem too large to overcome, especially when your areas of expertise don’t line up with the requirements for the role you really want. But the truth is, you probably have many of the skills… Read more »
How to Find and Land A Hidden Job: Benny Kuo’s Story
Finding the hidden jobs that make up a large portion of the job market can seem daunting. If job openings don’t get posted, how are you supposed to find them? Benny Kuo demonstrated how it’s done in his transition from college to the workforce. He used the resources around him to reach out and find… Read more »
Don’t Go It Alone: How to Ask for Help During Your Job Search
Most people wouldn’t wish their job search experiences on their worst enemy. The process can bring up old insecurities and new anxieties, punctuated with long stretches of uncertainty and rough periods of doubt. But it doesn’t have to be such a slog. Your job search can go much quicker if you reach out and ask… Read more »
The Work & Reward of a Career Change: Shannon Heizenrader’s Story
Making a big career change takes a lot of effort. It takes time to learn new skills and research new industries. It takes energy to meet new people and form new connections in the industries and companies you want to work for. And it takes personal strength to stay positive through the frustrating parts of… Read more »
Common Job Search Fears That You Can Overcome
Looking for a job can be a scary, overwhelming, and demoralizing endeavor. It’s also an exciting time full of opportunity and growth! But the fears can often outweigh the excitement. You’re not alone if fear plays a role in your life during the search for that perfect job. Feelings of fear and anxiety can have… Read more »
Invest In Your Network: Julie Dalrymple’s Job Search Story
Julie moved to Portland, Oregon with skills, experience, and energy that she put into networking and volunteering. She was doing everything right, but she still experienced rejection and struggle before she found a job she loves. Find out how she got through it to find success. What do you do for a career? Who do… Read more »