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Writer and editor Randy Woods shows you how to promote your strengths and find your dream job in a changing marketplace.
February 9, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
For much of the last year, I've been in touch with Paul Anderson, founder of career development firm ProLango Consulting, about the various job-seeker workshops and seminars he runs in the area. His energy is infectious, and his focus on mastering the psychological aspects of job hunting is fascinating, so I could never figure out why his always-popular free seminars seemed to fly under the media radar. Just last month, in fact, I had to nod in agreement when he wrote in one of his many Facebook posts, "I'm tired...
February 5, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
It's been a long road to stability during this alleged "jobless recovery." The path over the last two years has been filled with small signs of hope for an increase in hiring, usually followed by an depressing report about more job losses. This week, however, there has been such a string of positive signs that employers are considering expanding their rosters, it has felt like staring at a beacon that can't be ignored. While this beacon of hope may dim at any moment, or lure us off another cliff, it's...
February 2, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
A few weeks ago, I received a notice from Indeed.com about the the Top Job Trends of 2009, which listed the 10 fastest-growing employment sectors in the country. Normally, lists like this are predictable, and this was no different, with fairly obvious job sectors showing growth, such as education (38 percent), hospitality (20 percent) and retail (17 percent). What stood out, however, was the "job opportunity" named at the top of the list, based on keyword search frequency: Twitter. Granted, everyone's favorite Internet trend was listed as a "micro-segment," so...
January 31, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
As we approach the midway point of winter, with Punxsutawney Phil getting ready to awaken in Central Pennsylvania, I'm going to avoid the whole idea of looking for my shadow and jetting off to Miami Beach this week. Before you get jealous, I'm covering a four-day conference for Six Sigma process improvement professionals, so I doubt I'll be seeing much Florida sun and sand. But never fear, my loyal Hire Ground readers--while I may be temporarily living in a warmer climate, I'm still looking around for tips and information to...
January 29, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
After years of hype as being "recession proof," the once-high-flying video game industry came back to earth last year, with console sales dipping by 8 percent and PC game sales down a surprising 23 percent compared to the record year of 2008. Still, the overall $20 billion in revenue for 2009 represented one of the highest totals in the industry's history. While many gaming companies are showing continued concern about sales in 2010, there are some bright spots and hope for a recovery, especially in the Seattle area. At last...
January 25, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
Last week, I read a few articles about the "Blue Monday" phenomenon--the name for the third Monday of January, which a British psychologist said was the day when the post-holiday-season depression hits the hardest for most people. This dubious anti-holiday was allegedly given pseudo-scientific cred via a formula based on the lousy winter weather, the arrival of credit card bills from Christmas, the breaking of unrealistic New Year's resolutions, low sunlight and other factors. Obviously, this is nothing more than a media-friendly stunt that has been dragged out every year...
January 21, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
Ever wonder how some people manage to sail through the job search process? Even though you plan your answers meticulously and research positions as much as possible, there are some people who seem to know how to make a connection quickly and nail the interview every time. True, an abundance of brains, charm and luck may have something to do with it. Career coach Lisa Caldas Kappesser, however, says something far more subtle is more often at work. The hiring managers are picking up on what she calls "emotional intelligence"...
January 17, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
Many workers this weekend are enjoying a three-day holiday weekend to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But for those on the job hunt, there is no such thing as a holiday. Luckily, during this short work week, there are plenty of networking events and career workshops to choose from to help develop your list of contacts. Tues., Jan. 19 -- Get Back to Work Sooner. Career consultant Steve Grisham of CareerZoomer is holding an hour-long informational workshop to discuss his multi-layered approach to searching for a...
January 16, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
First impressions, as we all know, are lasting ones. It's important that your introduction, be it a cover letter or informational inquiry, practically jumps off the screen. Why is it, then, that so many informational bios written by job seekers are so achingly dull? That's the question Seattle-area media relations expert Nancy Juetten has asked herself for the last nine years she has been in business as publicist. "People are getting so discouraged about the job market these days," she says. "Maybe they don't see that their bios are boring...
January 13, 2010
Posted by Randy Woods
I like to provide practical advice about real issues facing job seekers here at Hire Ground, but please bear with me for a moment to comment briefly about a fantasy world--by that I mean Hollywood, specifically late-night TV. Over the past 24 hours, I've surprised myself over how energized I felt after reading Conan O'Brien's defiant, yet still funny and poignant, statement in response to his de facto demotion at NBC. After a six-year build-up and just seven months at the helm of what he aptly called "the greatest franchise...
