Are you asking enough questions?

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Always ask questions.

Don’t know how to get from point A to point B? Ask! Need to know how to edit your cover letter for your dream job? Ask! There are lots of people who want to see you win. Reach out to HR at the company if you’re curious about the specific trajectory of a role. Get your colleague who’s in the role you want to give you feedback about your application. You can also check out Glassdoor, Reddit, or Quora and someone will be able to guide you to an answer.

Share your wisdom

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Wisdom is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. But it transforms into something truly powerful when it is shared.

Why? Because all the wisdom in the world is meaningless without application.

Yet many leaders eschew this and choose instead to hoard their insights, fearful of giving them away. They don’t understand a simple truth: sharing your wisdom doesn’t diminish your impact; it amplifies it. And today, the best way to magnify your message is to harness the power and reach of social media.

Write a blog, create an article on LinkedIn or Facebook, but do share your wisdom and insights so that you can establish yourself has a subject matter expert.

Everyone has a story

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Tell the story of your Career

Everyone has a unique story, but not everyone leverages its power. Properly crafted, your career story helps to differentiate you from your competitors, highlight your value, and to draw others to you. It provides a common thread that weaves together your personal and professional experiences, as well as your transferable skills, making it easy for others to connect the dots. Knowing and being able to articulate your career story clearly is transformative; use it wisely.

Having a story and being able to make it relatable to your interviewers is a critical success factor. Work on getting your story put together and practice it during mock interviews or with your peers/mentors.

Know Your Employment History

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Be sure that you provide accurate information on your job applications and resume. Don’t guess as to where you worked and when. If you don’t remember the details, recreate your work history before you apply.

The most important thing is that you be truthful about all information you give to prospective employers. If you’re worried about what prior employers will say about you, proactively cultivate and supply positive recommendations to counter any potential negative feedback about your performance, or attitude.

Now is the perfect time to acquire new skills

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Acquire New Skills

Times are tough and if you are one of the unlucky few and are searching for a new job, consider also learning some new skills, it is one of the best ways to add value to your employer. It’s your responsibility to make sure you have the most up-to-date skills in a wide range of areas relevant to your field. Ask these questions to help you determine where to focus: What skills, tools and technology are in-demand outside of your organization? What certifications do you see being requested in job postings? Do you need a degree to reach the next level in your career? What skills could you acquire that would make you more valuable to the organization?

 Look for free or low-cost online programs, ask a friend to tutor you, attend workshops or learn through self-study.

Job Market and Industry Trends

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The Corona Virus has ravaged many industries and while the job market is especially tough right now, if you have some downtime whether it’s because you are working from home or seen a reduction in hours. So far, your focus has been on what you can control and actions you can take. But it’s also important to be aware of trends in the labor market and within your industry. Since business is slowing down for all companies, understand what is causing the slowdown and if your organization can mitigate some of these issues in the future. Read industry publications and read about local business and economic news. Keep in touch with past colleagues to learn what’s happening in their workplace. The information you acquire helps you identify possible career opportunities down the road.

General Career Tips for Seattle

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1. A first impression is made in less than 30 seconds.

2. Want to boost your charisma? Focus on energy and optimism.

3. “You’re always an employee, you’re always representing your company, and you’re always representing yourself.”

4. Rule #1 for dealing with bad bosses: It’s okay to question authority.

5. No matter where your stress is coming from, it’s not doing you any good—until you learn how to address it.

6. Some of the world’s most successful leaders regularly express all manner of emotions, including anger.

7. Work isn’t always about the larger picture; sometimes, it’s about the brown M&Ms.

8. Want to get ahead at work? The first step is gaining a loyal following.

9. If you look really closely, most overnight successes took a long time.

10. A job, even a great job or a fantastic career, doesn’t give your life meaning, at least not by itself.

Bellevue Job Search Myth Buster

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Job Hopping Is Bad For Your Future Career’

Gone is the era where you would stay at one company for 35 or 40 years only to retire from there. These days, employers see that as a detriment — you lack diversity, skill development, change, etc. Don’t be afraid to change jobs every few years. It adds new experiences to your resume. Plus, you don’t want to miss out on exciting new opportunities!

Seattle Recruiter Myth Buster…

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‘Job Searching Is A Full-Time Job’

“Job searching is a full-time job” is a myth. If you’re job searching effectively and efficiently, your job search should take approximately one hour per day: 20 minutes finding a position to apply to, 20 minutes customizing your resume and cover letter to the job posting, and 20 minutes networking with people who are in similar positions as the one you’re applying to. Rinse and repeat.

Your Job Search is the most important thing

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Hiring managers can smell desperation a mile away and they don’t like it. If you’re looking for a job, then act like your job hunt is your job. Keep a schedule, create task lists and execute them, and do everything you would do if you had a job. When you walk into an interview with the glow of someone who has a task to complete , you’ll change your interviewer’s demeanor. You cannot fake confidence. If you’re putting out resumes and scheduling interviews, then that kind of confidence comes out when you sit down and talk to a hiring manager. If you’re looking for a job but are currently working, then don’t act like you’re sneaking around. Stand tall and give strong handshakes when you walk through the door of a hiring manager to talk about your next career move.