3 ways to land your new job in Lynnwood

1.       Be honest about your current situation. If you have no degree or certifications, just understand you may have a tough time with your job search. Understand your weaknesses and strengths and really think about what you want to do.

2.       Check your network. Somehow we believe that if we have hundreds, maybe thousands, of followers and friends, that we have a valuable network, but that’s not true. Check your network, maybe some of them have retired, gotten laid off, decided to launch their own business, fallen ill, or having a tough time themselves. If that is the case, then they won’t be able to help you find a job and the number 1 way to get a job is through a referral! Check your network.

3.       Update your credentials. Yes, as a resume writer of course I am going to suggest that you update your resume credentials but it not only because it’s my business, it’s because it is very important, just ask any recruiter. They are looking at everything now – your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and social media. Get yourself updated.

5 Etiquette Tips for your next job in Redmond

1. Be polite. Whether it’s a networking event, job fair, or other career-related event, showcase your inner strengths by patiently waiting your turn to speak with recruiters or hiring managers, properly shake hands (dry, firm, one-handed shake), and address the each person by his or her title (Dr., Ms., Mr.) and last name (unless the event is extremely informal — then you can use first names). There are times in job-hunting in which assertiveness is important (to demonstrate your interest in the job), but there is no excuse for not being polite.

2. Dress for the occasion. For job-search events in most professions, the suit is the expected attire — and especially for the job interview. You can do your research and determine the level of attire you need, but if you can’t, then it’s always much better to dress above than dress below.

3. Be punctual. One of the biggest etiquette mistakes a job-seeker can make is arriving late. Whether you’re simply going cross town or driving a great distance, always know the route you’re going to take, take a practice run (if possible), and build in extra time for getting lost, street closures, and accidents. Finally, don’t overstay your welcome — even if your return flight is hours away; when the interviews are done, say your thank-yous and leave.

4. Learn to listen. While a great deal of time is spent helping job-seekers prepare great job-search related communication tools — elevator speeches and interview responses — the art of listening is often overlooked. Ignoring what a recruiter or a network contact is saying so that you can simply throw in another plug for yourself is simply rude.

5. Be knowledgeable. Appearing ignorant — or disinterested — about a prospective employer is a major lapse in job-search etiquette. By showcasing your knowledge of the employer (and even the interviewer), you demonstrate how serious you are about the opportunity while also gaining serious etiquette points. Preparation is a key skill to learn.

New LinkedIn Tool for the Seattle Job Seeker

LinkedIn has introduced a feature that allows users to signal their openness to job opportunities, making it easier for recruiters to find potential candidates without openly alerting their current employer. By using this feature, LinkedIn claims you could be twice as likely to catch the attention of recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter.

LinkedIn Job Preference Details:

You can customize your job preferences by visiting LinkedIn and navigating to the Jobs section. Under Preferences, you can update several important details:

  1. Location: Specify where you’d prefer to work.
  2. Experience Level: Define the roles suitable for your experience, from entry-level to executive.
  3. Industry Preferences: Select industries from LinkedIn’s pre-defined list.
  4. Company Size: Set your preference for the size of companies you’re interested in.
  5. Field/Function: Indicate your preferred field or functional area.
  6. Job Titles: Select up to three job titles.
  7. Employment Type: Specify the type of job you’re looking for (full-time, part-time, freelance, etc.).
  8. Availability: Indicate if you’re available now or in the future.
  9. Recruiter Notifications: Allow LinkedIn to share your profile and preferences with recruiters, letting them know you’re open to opportunities.

These settings remain active for 90 days, after which you’ll need to update your preferences.

Privacy Concerns: Will Your Employer Know?

LinkedIn aims to protect your privacy by attempting to hide your profile from recruiters at your current company and affiliated organizations. However, they do not provide a full guarantee that your current employer won’t see your job preferences. To enhance protection, make sure your current position is linked to your employer’s company page on LinkedIn.

For more details, LinkedIn has additional resources explaining how to manage these settings and privacy concerns.

Have you set goals for your career?

Choosing a career is one of the most significant life decisions, impacting not only your financial health but also your personal happiness and well-being. Taking control of this process by setting clear career goals and following a thoughtful plan can help you find a fulfilling career path.

Many workers end up in jobs they are not passionate about, often due to external factors like convenience or pressure, rather than deliberate choices. In fact, surveys show that up to two-thirds of employees feel dissatisfied in their current jobs​. (Enterprise Apps Today)

Here’s a step-by-step approach to making a more deliberate and informed career decision:

1. Begin with a Self-Assessment

Start by reflecting on your strengths, interests, values, and skills. Understanding what drives you and what you’re good at is key to choosing a fulfilling career. Tools such as career assessments or personality tests (like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) can provide helpful insights.

Tip: Look for patterns in past work or school experiences where you felt motivated or successful. This can help clarify the types of work environments or tasks that align with your natural abilities.

2. Brainstorm Career Ideas

Once you have a clear sense of your strengths and interests, brainstorm career options. Think about industries that match your values, as well as specific roles where you can apply your skills. At this stage, don’t limit your thinking—cast a wide net and explore all possible fields, even those you hadn’t previously considered.

Tip: Talk to people in various industries to get a better understanding of what different careers entail. Conducting informational interviews or shadowing professionals in the field can also give you firsthand knowledge.

3. Research Your Options

Once you’ve brainstormed, start researching specific roles and industries. Find out what qualifications, skills, and experiences are necessary. Additionally, look into salary expectations, industry growth, and the overall outlook for different careers. Understanding the long-term potential of various industries is essential for ensuring career stability.

Tip: Use online resources such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to research job outlooks, salaries, and job descriptions.

4. Take Final Steps

After researching, narrow down your options to one or two potential career paths. From there, determine the steps you’ll need to take to qualify for your chosen career, whether it’s gaining further education, building new skills, or seeking out internships and experience in your chosen field.

Tip: Set specific short- and long-term career goals. Make a concrete plan for how to achieve them and regularly review your progress to make sure you’re on track.

At CareerPaths NW, we specialize in more than just finding jobs—we focus on helping people find careers that lead to long-term success. Taking a structured and thoughtful approach to your career planning will help expose you to more options and increase your chances of finding fulfilling and sustainable employment.

List of free career aptitude tests

Free Career Aptitude Tests

The following tests are available for free online and can be a good start to identifying your next career.

123 Career Test: This popular aptitude test can help you gain insight into the careers that best fit your personality. It will help you learn what kind of work environments and occupations suit you best.

CareerOneStop Interest Assessment: Answer 30 quick questions online to get a list of careers that might be a good fit for your interests.

CareerOneStop Work Values Matcher: Answer questions about different aspects of a job or workplace to help you find your ideal work environment.

Color Career Quiz: Did you know color can be an indicator of what jobs are right for you? Color Career Quiz is a two-part quick and easy five-minute test that analyzes your personality based on the colors you select.

Test Color: Similar to Color Career Quiz above, a team of psychologists and human resources experts lead you through a two-part color selection process to determine your personality and aptitude. While the initial results are free, you can pay extra for a more in-depth analysis.

Keirsey Temperament Sorter: This test helps you to understand your personality type and discover what type of temperament you have.

Human Metrics: Using both Jung’s Typology and Myers-Briggs insights , Human Metrics takes you through 64 questions to rate you on both scales. The results explain to you how each piece relates to your personality type.

O*NET Interests Profiler: My Next Move’s O*NET Interest Profiler is administered by the United States Department of Labor. Users take a 60-question interest inventory that yields a profile of interest tendencies, including six areas: Realistic, Investigative, Social, Enterprising, Conventional, and Artistic.

PathSource: This free career exploration solution helps students and job seekers make better career choices with its free mobile app.

16 Personalities: Using the Myers-Briggs Model (hence the name), 16 Personalities is a site designed to help you understand yourself, contribute valuable data to researchers, and take tangible steps in your personal and professional relationships. While the test is completely free, most of the tools require that you join for a fee.

Red Bull Wingfinder: Take a free 35-minute online personality assessment to identify and leverage your strengths in four different areas of your personality, including connections, creativity, thinking, and drive.

Skills Matcher: The Department of Labor has developed this resource to enable users to assess the skills they want to incorporate into their careers.

Truity: Truity offers a variety of tests you can use to explore your personality career interests. There’s a free short report on the results, and there’s a fee to unlock the full report if you want more information.

CareerExplorer: CareerExplorer is a free platform for users to assess their interests, personality types, abilities, career values, and preferred work and social environments in order to find matches that will lead to satisfying careers.

Is your career stuck?

1. Research the Occupations that Appeal to You

Start by gathering information on the professions that interest you. While a quick Google search can give you some general information, diving deeper into professional organizations’ websites can offer a wealth of specific insights. These resources often provide up-to-date industry trends, required qualifications, and career pathways. You can also find thought leaders in each profession through articles, interviews, or videos that give you an inside look into their expertise and the current state of the field.

Tip: Use websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), professional associations (e.g., American Marketing Association for marketing careers), or LinkedIn to learn more about job expectations, salary, and long-term career outlook.

2. Determine if You Need to Retrain

After narrowing down your career choices, assess whether you’ll need additional training or education to pursue your desired profession. Look at the required qualifications for roles in that field and compare them to your current skill set. If you identify gaps, develop a plan to fill those gaps, possibly while continuing in your current job.

Tip: Online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning can offer courses that allow you to upskill or retrain while maintaining your current workload. For more structured or formal education, consider part-time university programs or professional certifications.

3. Research Industries and Companies

When considering a new career, it’s essential to understand not just the job but also the industry and companies within it. Company culture, values, and industry trends play significant roles in job satisfaction. Explore companies’ websites, review platforms (like Glassdoor), and news articles to gain a deeper understanding of their workplace environment and long-term viability.

Tip: Follow companies on LinkedIn and subscribe to industry news outlets to stay up-to-date on emerging trends. This helps ensure that you’re pursuing roles in stable or growing sectors with companies that align with your personal values and professional goals.

4. Work with a Recruiter

Recruiters can be valuable resources in your job search. They often have access to opportunities that haven’t been posted publicly and can match you with roles that align with your skills and career aspirations. Additionally, recruiters can provide insights into what hiring managers are looking for and offer advice to help you improve your résumé or interview performance.

Tip: Consider partnering with specialized recruiters who focus on your desired industry (like us!), as they often have deep connections and insider knowledge about upcoming roles.

Are you aware of opportunities around you?

1. Look for Growing Companies

Keep an eye on local companies that are expanding, whether they’re opening new offices, hiring new teams, or showing significant profitability growth. Expansion often signals that the company is doing well financially and is in need of talented people to support its growth. Business owners understand that hiring skilled employees is crucial for scaling their operations and boosting profitability. Growing companies tend to offer attractive opportunities, especially for individuals with in-demand skills.

By staying informed about companies in your area that are growing, you’ll position yourself to seize opportunities before they’re widely advertised. Companies in growth mode typically offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract the right talent.

Tip: Look for press releases, local news, or industry publications that highlight businesses in your region expanding or achieving significant financial milestones.

2. Monitor New Product Launches

Companies introducing new products or services often create additional job openings to support these initiatives. New product releases generate roles across various functions, such as sales, marketing, distribution, customer service, and operations. The release of a new product may also lead to increased hiring in administrative roles to handle the logistics associated with that product.

Strategy: Create a watch list of companies you’re interested in, and keep an eye on their LinkedIn pages, career sites, and third-party job boards. Many job platforms allow you to set alerts for specific companies or positions, ensuring you’re among the first to know when a relevant job is posted. This way, you can be ahead of other candidates when the hiring wave begins.

Proactive Approach: By identifying growing companies and those launching new products, you can focus your job search on high-growth areas and position yourself for roles that align with the skills these companies need.

Looking for a new job

1. Do Your Homework

When searching for a job, you should treat the process similarly to how sales professionals approach their work. Success in sales relies on three key activities: prospecting, presenting, and following up. The same principles apply to job hunting.

  • Prospect: Develop as many job leads as possible. This will increase your chances of finding the right opportunity.
  • Research: Before reaching out to anyone, thoroughly research the company, the hiring manager, and the industry. This homework will help you tailor your outreach and show you’re serious about the role.

Tip: Use LinkedIn and company websites to learn about decision-makers and company values. Tailored outreach can set you apart from other candidates.

2. Conduct an Internet Job Search

The internet has become a critical tool for job hunting, and using it effectively is a skill developed over time. Start by visiting popular job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Use variations of job titles to search widely, as different companies may use different terms for similar positions.

Pro Tip: Be creative with your search terms. A marketing manager at one company could be a digital marketing coordinator at another. Adjust your keywords to capture all relevant listings.

3. Gather Information from Multiple Job Sites

Different job boards cater to different industries and positions. Some may specialize in tech jobs, while others focus on local markets or specific roles like management or sales.

  • Strategy: Just like you wouldn’t buy the first house you see, don’t settle for the first job posting you come across. Research average salaries, company culture, and the specific duties of similar positions at different companies. This ensures you make an informed decision.

Key Insight: Keep in mind that the same job title can have vastly different responsibilities depending on the company, so gathering data from multiple sources will help you better evaluate potential opportunities.

By taking the time to research and prospect thoroughly, you’ll be better equipped to find a job that not only aligns with your skills but also offers the growth and culture you’re looking for.

Soft Skills are not just Resume Fluff…

Unlike technical hard skills that are often specific to certain roles or industries, soft skills are highly transferable and can be applied across various sectors. This makes them especially valuable for individuals looking to transition careers or adapt to a new workplace environment. Soft skills not only help you stand out during the job search process but also enable you to thrive in your new role. Below, we’ll explore some essential soft skills that can give you an edge both when seeking a job and when excelling at one.

1. Communication
Effective communication is key to success in any job, whether it’s written, verbal, or non-verbal. Being able to clearly articulate your ideas and thoughts ensures that you’re understood by your colleagues, supervisors, or clients. Whether you’re writing an email, giving a presentation, or listening to feedback, strong communication fosters collaboration and reduces misunderstandings in the workplace.

2. Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills enable you to build positive relationships with others, which is essential for teamwork and collaboration. Being approachable, empathetic, and able to navigate various personalities allows you to work effectively in diverse groups. These skills also help in conflict resolution, making it easier to solve issues and maintain a harmonious work environment.

3. Adaptability
Change is inevitable in today’s dynamic work environments, and the ability to adapt to new circumstances is critical. Whether it’s adopting new technologies, shifting priorities, or adjusting to new team members, being adaptable allows you to maintain productivity and stay calm under pressure. Employers value individuals who can “roll with the punches” and embrace change as it comes.

4. Problem-Solving
Problem-solving involves analyzing situations, thinking critically, and finding solutions to challenges that arise in the workplace. Whether you’re faced with a technical issue, a customer complaint, or a team disagreement, being able to approach problems logically and creatively is a highly sought-after skill. Employers appreciate employees who can think on their feet and offer solutions rather than dwell on problems.

5. Leadership
Leadership is not limited to managerial roles—it’s about guiding others toward common goals, inspiring teamwork, and driving projects to success. Demonstrating leadership involves taking initiative, making decisions, and motivating others, even when you’re not in a formal leadership position. Strong leaders are also good listeners and are capable of providing support and guidance to those around them.

6. Organization
Good organizational skills ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and on time. Staying organized helps you manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines, and maintain clear communication with others. It also reduces the risk of errors and missed opportunities, enabling smoother workflows and better project outcomes. Organization is key to balancing priorities and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

7. Time Management
Time management is about working smarter, not harder. Being able to prioritize tasks, manage your workload effectively, and meet deadlines is crucial in any job. Time management ensures that you focus on the most important tasks first, avoiding unnecessary stress and last-minute rushes. By managing your time well, you increase productivity and contribute more effectively to your team or organization.

8. Creativity
Creativity goes beyond artistic abilities—it’s about innovative thinking and problem-solving. In the workplace, creativity can lead to new ideas, more efficient processes, or fresh approaches to solving long-standing issues. Whether you’re designing a marketing campaign or streamlining operations, a creative mindset helps you think outside the box and provide valuable contributions.

9. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is your ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others. High EQ helps you navigate workplace dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships. It’s about knowing how to treat others with respect, empathy, and understanding, whether you’re handling a difficult coworker or leading a team through challenging times.

10. Work Ethic
A strong work ethic is the foundation for success in any job. No matter how skilled you are, without dedication, discipline, and a sense of responsibility, your soft skills won’t shine. A good work ethic means showing up on time, putting in the effort, and staying committed to your goals. It’s about maintaining consistency in your performance, which earns the trust and respect of your colleagues and supervisors.

Mastering these soft skills will not only help you stand out as a candidate but also allow you to excel in your role, no matter the industry or position. By continually developing these qualities, you’ll be able to adapt to new challenges, build meaningful professional relationships, and contribute positively to your work environment.