When you’re looking for a new job, there are several options in terms of how much time you want to work. From part-time to full-time flex schedules to four-day weeks and beyond, there’s a lot to consider. And when you work with a recruiting agency, there are temporary work options to add to the list…. Read more »
Dead Ends to Dream Job: Becca McCulloch’s Story
Everyone hits dead ends in a job search. Becca knew her skill set, and had a strong sense of what kind of role she was looking for. She even turned down a job offer after realizing it wasn’t the right fit. Despite her self knowledge, she also hit dead ends and faced disappointment. In the… Read more »
6 Tips to Target Your Job Search
Transitioning into new professional roles can be challenging, and some of us will desperately apply for job after job just to try and make the discomfort end. Instead of blindly applying for any position that comes along, be intentional about targeting your job search. You’ll thank yourself later. College graduates who haven’t had internships or… Read more »
Getting Past “I Don’t Know What I Want to Do” in Your Career
A common theme emerges among job seekers who aren’t 100 percent certain about where they want to go next. The big question: “How do you find your career path?” There’s a lot of advice out there that says to follow your passion; however, award-winning author Elizabeth Gilbert has an interesting twist to add to this… Read more »
5 Common Job Search Questions, Answered by Recruiters
Recruiting agencies are on the front lines with job seekers, fielding job search questions every day. We hear a lot of the same types of queries and have answers to most of them curated from over 25 Boly:Welch recruiters who have worked with thousands of candidates. Here are five of the most common questions we… Read more »
Make the Most of Your Next Online Job Post
If you run a business, you probably use online job listings to find the talent you need. This process can be frustrating for employers, especially when you aren’t getting the right applicants–or any applicants at all. The content of your job posting could be part of the problem! At Mac’s List, we talk with job… Read more »
4 Easy Self-Care Tips for Your Job Search
Feeling stuck, unhappy, unfulfilled, confused or overwhelmed in your job search? You’re not alone. You might think the search is taking too long. Or that you’re not making any progress despite all your effort. How do you cope and move forward towards a better day when doubt begins to take over? Looking for the perfect… Read more »
Transitioning to a New Industry Mid-Career: Tami Long’s Job Search Story
When unexpected changes hit you mid-career, it can be scary and overwhelming to consider your next step. While it’s tempting to panic and apply everywhere, that can be a mistake. Tami Long went through a cycle of over-applying but quickly found focus in her job search, started working with a recruiter, and landed a new… Read more »
How Nonprofits Can Find Amazing Employees in a Competitive Job Market
Great employees are one of the most important assets of any organization. While your nonprofit may rely heavily on volunteers, you also have passionate and skilled employees to help accomplish your mission. But finding the right people for those jobs is increasingly difficult. Unemployment in Oregon is hovering near historic lows. And with new businesses… Read more »
Working with a Recruiter to Get a Job: A Beginner’s Guide
The job search process can feel a lot like dating sometimes. You look online, reach out to friends, go to places where you think you’ll meet just the right new partner. When you meet someone interesting, you arrange a date, dress up, and try to make an amazing first impression. Sometimes you wish you had… Read more »
A Job Search Focused on Fit: Sara Francis’s Career Story
When you’re clear about your professional purpose, the job search becomes easier. You can focus on finding a good fit for what you have to offer. Sara Francis has been able to reach that point in her career, through focused study, patience, and an emphasis on innovation. Find out how Sara built her communications career… Read more »
Passion and Purpose: Defining Meaning in Your Career
Rewarding work isn’t always easy to find. Quite often, we face challenging decisions: Should I leave the comfort of my high-salaried job to pursue work for social good? I am passionate about so many things, how do I figure out which field to pursue? I have many skills to offer, what job is best suited… Read more »
5 Ways to Win People Over at a Networking Event
How can you use your first impression, conversation starters, and introduction to rock your next networking event and grow your network? It’s all about tapping into what intrigues people so you can be the most memorable person in the room. As a human behavior investigator, I have spent the last ten years studying the science of people in… Read more »
Specializing and Sticking To It in a Job Search: John Anthony Hartman’s Story
Even people with really cool jobs and specialized skillsets can struggle in the job market. For John Hartman, the struggle came from employers who hesitated to hire him because they were afraid he’d get bored and leave quickly for a new opportunity. John stayed true to his passion for transmedia design and production, and used… Read more »
10 Considerations For Choosing the Right Resume Writer
Have you ever considered hiring a resume writer to help improve the quality of your job applications? A professional resume rewrite can make all the difference in the world, especially if you’re in one of these all-too-common situations: You’re applying to tons of jobs but rarely hearing back from employers You’re transitioning into a new… Read more »
Making the Leap: Dana Bertermann’s Career Change Story
It’s a common feeling: you know in your gut that you’re ready for a career change, but you’re afraid to take the leap. Dana Bertermann was comfortable in her job, but she was ready for a new challenge. She used a strong network to calm her fears, and when she saw a posting for a… Read more »
Your Next Job Search Doesn’t Need to Be So Painful
Anyone who has ever gone through the process knows that looking for a new job can be a frustrating, dispiriting, and painful experience. Like root canal painful. I know this because I’ve experienced several extended periods of unemployment in my life. I also speak with countless people each year who are going through difficult job searches…. Read more »
How to Get a Nonprofit Job in Portland
When it comes to understanding nonprofit jobs in Portland, few people are more informed than Kathy Grimm. Kathy worked at the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette for more than 38 years. She spent much of that time as the Director of Human Resources, helping the organization find and hire the right talent. To better understand the… Read more »
Finding A Path Through Different Careers: John Vernon Peterson’s Job Search Success Story
It’s rare to find a professional who’s stayed in the same job throughout their career. It’s more common, and more interesting, to meet someone who has worked in more than one or two vastly different careers. John Vernon Peterson is one of the latter. While he’s currently a MBA-carrying business strategist, John has also served… Read more »
Why Employers Go to Job Fairs (and You Should Too!)
“None of the employers took resumes.” This is the biggest complaint I hear from job seekers after they have attended a job fair. Followed by, “Why did I waste my time?” The employment landscape has changed. The resume alone is no longer the primary tool for finding employment. Now it’s about relationships and the application… Read more »
7 Networking Opportunities for Young Professionals in Portland
Get out there and meet new people – it may be just the ticket on the path to finding a new job. There are so many networking events in Portland, Oregon that you could go to at least one event per week, but how do you choose which ones are worth your time? Here are… Read more »
Take Charge of Your Next Job Interview
As an employer and as a member of hiring committees, I’ve watched many applicants struggle in job interviews. The three most common errors I see candidates make: not preparing ahead of time, letting the interviewer do all the talking, and not showing how to solve an employer’s problems. To get a job offer you have… Read more »
How to Pick the Right Interview Outfit
You’ve done your research and you understand the company culture as best as you can. Here’s your first test: pick an interview outfit that proves it! Interview attire for informal organizations If the company culture seems laid back, as many Portland agencies are, wear something that shows you understand and appreciate this. But don’t over—or under—do it! The… Read more »
The Perfectionist Job Search: Ali Benson’s Job Search Success Story
When your dream job is in a niche field, plus you’re a perfectionist, you may have a tendency to overthink your job search. Ali Benson shares how she got over perfect and made peace with “good enough” to gain more traction in her job search. She ultimately landed in a role that’s a great fit… Read more »
Straight from an Employer: 4 Insider Tips for Landing the Job
Here at Mac’s List, we regularly reach out to companies that post on our site. We want to know about their staffing needs, their hiring practices, and their experience finding talent through our community. The feedback we receive also sheds light on what works (and what doesn’t) when you’re searching for a job. It’s an… Read more »
Know Your Work Personality to Find the Perfect Office Culture
Do you know your work personality? Who you are at work is different from who you are in the rest of your life. When you’re looking for your dream job, it’s critical to know what you need at work and your ideal office culture so you can get what you need to do your best… Read more »
How to Write Cover Letters That Work
Often, job candidates think of their cover letter as a last-minute item. Yet the letter that accompanies your résumé has a very specific purpose. It is a demonstration of your comprehension of the organization and the position you are applying for. It is also a litmus test of your overall writing and communication skills. Here… Read more »
Find Your Tribe to Land a Job in Portland
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 »