Jobs
When and how to address salary in a cover letter
If you read my column last week, you know how I feel about discussing salary too early in the job-search process. Since many employers use financial information to rule out job candidates, I recommend putting off the conversation until you understand the challenges of the position and have a chance...
Date: 05/30/2012 | Business
Ex-Red Sox pitcher's R.I. gaming firm lays off staff
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s faltering video game company, which received a $75 million loan guarantee to move to Rhode Island in 2010, laid off its entire staff on Thursday.
Date: 05/24/2012 | Nation & World
Weekly jobless aid applications dip to 370,000
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits changed little last week, signaling modest job growth.The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for benefits dipped by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000.
Date: 05/24/2012 | Business
Inbox: digital groceries, pay for news, tag your bag
Miscellany from our inbox ...Electronic coupons at Safeway
Date: 05/24/2012 | Bizblog
Don’t name your price too early in job hunt
In last week's column, I stated that job hunting is often easier when employers tell you exactly what they want. This is true when the hiring manager requests your curriculum vitae or mentions that the job opportunity demands a specific set of skills. All you have to do is highlight the most...
Date: 05/23/2012 | Business
Everett mail facility remains on USPS closure list
EVERETT -- The U.S. Postal Service is continuing with its plan to close nearly 250 mail-processing centers, but it is still unknown if the closures include the facility in Everett."It's not 100 percent certain, but it remains on the list," said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson.
Date: 05/18/2012 | Local News
Jobless aid applications steady at 370,000
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting modest but steady gains in the job market.
Date: 05/17/2012 | Business
Job fair draws hundreds
People lined up hours before aerospace event began
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
U.S. economy perks up after early spring slump
WASHINGTON -- Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months.
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
State jobless rate falls to 8.1 percent
SEATTLE -- Washington state's unemployment rate fell in April to 8.1 percent, despite a loss of 300 jobs last month, officials said Wednesday.
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
3 things you should have when an job prospect asks
Let's say that you bump into potential employer at a networking conference. Your polite introduction grows into a pleasant conversation that makes both of you laugh out loud. After five minutes of chatting, she hands you a business card and asks for a copy of your resume. She wants your information...
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
Half of college grads working full time, with less pay, deep debt
LOS ANGELES -- For most recent college graduates, these are gloomy times. Only about half are working full-time, with the majority starting with less pay than expected while also dealing with huge student debts. Nearly 6 in 10 think they'll end up less financially successful than their...
Date: 05/15/2012 | Business
Aero-tech hunts for new hires
Some firms struggle to find qualified workers
Date: 05/15/2012 | Business
Small businesses cope with low staffing
If you work for a small business there's a good chance that, since the recession, you have taken on additional responsibilities and are working longer hours. Some of the work that used to be done by fellow employees may be getting farmed out to freelancers or other independent contractors.
Date: 05/14/2012 | Bizblog
2012 college grads enter improving job market
NEW YORK -- The class of 2012 is leaving college with something that many graduates since the start of the Great Recession have lacked: jobs.
Date: 05/13/2012 | Nation & World
Aerospace job fair set for May 16 in Everett
EVERETT -- Job seekers who are interested in working in the aerospace industry will have the chance to talk with local employers who are hiring at a job fair May 16.
Date: 05/09/2012 | Business
Hostess may lay off 250 in state
OLYMPIA -- Hostess Brands has warned its 250 employees in Washington state they could lose their jobs in 60 days.The maker of Twinkies and Wonder bread is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and trying to renegotiate its contracts with the Teamsters and bakery workers unions.
Date: 05/09/2012 | Business
Prepare to make that first impression with employer
As almost any job hunter will tell you, it takes guts to send a resume to a potential employer. Not only are you trying to capture the attention of someone that you don't know, but you are also putting your reputation on the line to a person who can change your financial future and alter the...
Date: 05/09/2012 | Business
3.7 million U.S. job postings: highest in 4 years
WASHINGTON — U.S. companies in March posted the highest number of job openings in nearly four years, a sign that hiring could strengthen in the coming months after slowing this spring.
Date: 05/08/2012 | Business
Economy in ‘virtuous,’ if slow, cycle, analysts say
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy's recovery looks enduring. It's just not very strong.
Date: 05/04/2012 | Business
Drop in jobless aid requests boosts hopes for hiring
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week by the most in nearly a year. The figure was a hopeful sign that hiring could pick up in coming months.
Date: 05/03/2012 | Business
County’s economy gets mixed report
EVERETT -- Snohomish County's economy is showing signs of recovering from the 2008 recession, but economist Bill Conerly says the region may never return to the go-go days before the economy collapsed.
Date: 05/02/2012 | Business
Job-hunting tips for those in administrative fields
Question: I have noticed that most career articles, like the one you wrote for The Daily Herald, tend to give advice to people in the sales, money or marketing professions. What about those of us who work in the administrative field? We need help too!
Date: 05/02/2012 | Business
Five states fight D.C. for control of federal lands
LAS VEGAS -- Anticipating the bitter battle to come, governors from five Western states will meet in Salt Lake City today to devise strategies to persuade Washington to give them more control over federal land within their own boundaries.
Date: 04/27/2012 | Nation & World
Men's wages struggle to recover from recession
WASHINGTON -- Men continue to take a bigger hit in their paychecks than women because of lingering effects of the Great Recession, according to a study by the Conference Board.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
Jobless aid requests near 3-month high
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits remained stuck near a three-month high last week, a sign that job gains will likely remain modest.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
1 in 2 new graduates are jobless or underemployed
WASHINGTON -- The college class of 2012 is in for a rude welcome to the world of work.A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don't fully use their skills and knowledge.
Date: 04/22/2012 | Nation & World
Center to bring job training to Grant Co.
MOSES LAKE -- The Grant County Skills Center is a step closer to becoming a reality after the state Legislature allocated $19.41 million for the project.
Date: 04/21/2012 | Northwest
Canada pushes new route for Keystone pipeline
TransCanada has revealed the route it would like to use to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska, where the $7 billion project has become mired in concerns over the nation's most important agricultural aquifer.
Date: 04/20/2012 | Nation & World
1,266 jobs lost to cuts by state
OLYMPIA -- Budget cuts approved by the Legislature last week are expected to result in a cut of 1,266 full-time jobs in Washington state government.
Date: 04/20/2012 | Business
Hiring, home sales may be slowing, reports say
WASHINGTON -- Momentum in U.S. hiring and home sales appears to be slowing, according to fresh data.
Date: 04/19/2012 | Business
State jobless rate stays flat at 8.3 percent
OLYMPIA -- Washington state's unemployment rate for March remained flat at 8.3 percent, but the state added 3,300 jobs last month, marking the third consecutive month of growth, officials said Wednesday.
Date: 04/18/2012 | Business
What makes resumes rise to the top
When I worked for a recruiter, part of my job was to screen resumes and find potential candidates for open positions. I tore through hundreds of resumes in an hour. I opened each e-mailed file, made a snap decision and then clicked on the next one. On a good day, three or four resumes would capture...
Date: 04/18/2012 | Business
Career experiences
Expo connects Marysville students to job possibilities
Date: 04/18/2012 | Local News
Federal aid to help 570 K-C mill employees find work
EVERETT -- Hundreds of mill workers who lost their jobs at Kimberly-Clark are about to get more help finding new work.
Date: 04/12/2012 | Business
Applications for jobless aid tick up
WASHINGTON -- More people sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting that the job market's recovery remains slow.
Date: 04/12/2012 | Business
Shoddy background checks hurt job-seekers' chances
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of U.S. job hunters are losing out because employers use faulty background-check data drawn from shoddy records, consumer advocates say in a new report.
Date: 04/11/2012 | Business
Fed survey shows U.S. growth, hiring improves
WASHINGTON -- A Federal Reserve survey of business conditions across the United States suggests last month's pullback in hiring may prove to be temporary.
Date: 04/11/2012 | Business
Don’t hand over Facebook password, even for a job
Let's say that you're in a job interview. You feel a strong connection with the company and appreciate the interviewer's casual style. You're at your best, answering tough questions with ease and looking forward to the job offer, which you fully expect to receive before walking out the door. But...
Date: 04/11/2012 | Business
Employers posted more job openings in February
WASHINGTON -- Employers posted slightly more job openings in February, suggesting that modest hiring gains will continue in coming months.
Date: 04/10/2012 | Business
Veterans job fair Tuesday in Marysville
WorkSource Snohomish County, in partnership with the National Guard's Joint Service Support and the Fleet and Family Support Program, will host the Snohomish County Regional Veterans' Job and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Marysville. Veterans...
Date: 04/07/2012 | Bizblog
U.S. jobless claims hit 4-year low of 357K
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell to a four-year low last week, suggesting employers kept hiring in March at a healthy pace.
Date: 04/05/2012 | Business
Public job cuts damage education, safety
WASHINGTON -- Yes, the economy's growing, the unemployment rate is inching down and America is feeling a little bit better about itself. But don't think for a minute that all the lost jobs aren't still taking a severe toll all across this nation -- especially all the chopped government...
Date: 04/05/2012 | Nation & World
Service firms grow at steady pace, boost hiring
WASHINGTON -- U.S. service companies expanded at a healthy pace last month and stepped up hiring, more evidence that the economy is growing and adding jobs.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Business
Tips to maintain optimism during your job search
Everyone knows that searching for employment is a hard thing to do. It can be frustrating, tiresome and tough on the wallet, particularly for the unemployed. Plus, the ups-and-downs can take a toll on a job seeker's emotions. Attitude. And outlook on life.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Business
Jobless claims fall to lowest level in 4 years
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in four years, adding to evidence that the job market is strengthening.
Date: 03/29/2012 | Business
3 tips to keep your resume out of the trash
Why is it hard to get through the door with a new employer? Here's one reason: Employers are busy people with exacting standards. As a job hunter, you only have an instant – a few seconds, actually – to make an impression that propels you to the next level of the hiring process.
Date: 03/28/2012 | Business
Consumer outlook remains upbeat
NEW YORK -- Americans' rosy outlook about the U.S. economy remains resilient as they focus on the good in the barrage of conflicting economic news.
Date: 03/27/2012 | Business
Where on the Web to look for a summer job
Winter is just ending, but if a summer job is on your agenda, it's not too soon to start looking. Many job sites have areas catering to students and others looking for part-time or seasonal work.
Date: 03/25/2012 | Business
How aerospace hiring pays off in Snohomish County
Why should divorce attorneys, pet-store owners and barkeeps care about the aerospace industry in Snohomish County?It's a question industry groups and economic development folks try to answer to rally the crowd around the aerospace industry and its importance here.
Date: 03/25/2012 | Business
Paine Field training center is a model for success
It's the little center that could.
Date: 03/25/2012 | Business
Reports send mixed message on veterans employment
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate for military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan has dipped recently after months of riding higher than the national average, but some analysts caution it's too early to tell if the progress is real or a blip.
Date: 03/23/2012 | Business
Jobless aid applications hit 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell to a four-year low last week, bolstering the view that the job market is strengthening.
Date: 03/22/2012 | Business
State's lower jobless rate may reduce weeks of aid
OLYMPIA -- The state's unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent last month, an improvement that will likely shorten the number of weeks people can receive unemployment benefits.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
February's lower jobless rate likely to lessen benefits
OLYMPIA — Washington gained an estimated 4,200 jobs in February, adding to the state's gradual climb up the employment ladder, the state's Employment Security Department reported Wednesday.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
Is a job worth Facebook privacy?
SEATTLE -- When Justin Bassett interviewed for a new job, he expected the usual questions about experience and references. So he was astonished when the interviewer asked for something else: his Facebook username and password.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
Prepare for interview by learning about job, company
Question: Today, I received an e-mail from a company about scheduling a phone interview. It's for a project manager position, but since the interview came through a referral, I don't know anything about the organization and I have no idea what the job would entail.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
U.S. factories help job recovery endure in March
WASHINGTON -- A resurgent U.S. job market that has lifted the economy appears to be enduring.
Date: 03/15/2012 | Business
Avoid using Skype for job interviews
It used to be difficult to land a job with a faraway employer. These days, if you have the motivation and a good Internet connection, and you can reach out to potential bosses all over the world.
Date: 03/14/2012 | Business
Layoffs, other factors bump up county jobless rate
The Snohomish County unemployment rate shot up in January to 8.7 percent from 8 percent in December as more people resumed job searches in the first month of 2012.
Date: 03/13/2012 | Business
Jobless rates fell in 45 states in January
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate fell in 45 U.S. states in January, a sign that nearly all of the country is benefiting from an improving economy and job market.
Date: 03/13/2012 | Business
Unions work to mend divisions over Keystone pipeline
WASHINGTON -- Unions may be united in working to re-elect President Barack Obama, but their leaders also are trying to repair bitter divisions over his rejection of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
Date: 03/11/2012 | Nation & World
U.S. adds 227,000 jobs, bolstering recovery hopes
WASHINGTON -- The United States added 227,000 jobs in February in the latest display of the economic recovery's surprising breadth and brawn. The country has put together the strongest three months of pure job growth since the Great Recession.
Date: 03/09/2012 | Business
Jobless aid figures suggest better job market
WASHINGTON -- Slightly more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. But the overall level stayed low enough to suggest the job market is strengthening.The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications increased by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000.
Date: 03/08/2012 | Business
Four things you must avoid in your job search
You have more control over your job search than you might think. Especially with regard to the image you portray to employers. You select the precise format and words used in your resume. The clothing you wear. The stories you tell at networking events. The answers you give to interview...
Date: 02/29/2012 | Business
Laid-off workers with a long history have additional challenges and opportunities in finding work
A layoff can feel like a kick in the gut. It knocks the wind out of you and leaves you reeling on the floor until you're finally ready to get up.
Date: 02/22/2012 | Business
Deal trims maximum jobless benefits to 73 weeks
WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans will continue to receive long-term unemployment benefits under legislation approved Friday in Congress, but the scope of the program is being scaled back to cover fewer people by the end of the year.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Nation & World
Improving job market, other signs boost hopes for economy
WASHINGTON -- The healthier job market that's lifted the economy in recent months shows no signs of slowing.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Business
U.S. unemployment applications drop to a 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell to the lowest point in almost four years last week, the latest signal that the job market is steadily improving.
Date: 02/16/2012 | Business
Beat interview jitters by focusing on goal
Interview jitters. The symptoms vary from person to person. Forgetfulness, sweating, stammering over long sentences. Since most employers consider face-to-face discussions to be critical to the hiring process, there is simply no way around interviews. If you want a new job, you have to show up.
Date: 02/15/2012 | Business
Unemployment aid applications near a 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid neared a four-year low last week, a positive sign that strong hiring could continue in the coming months.
Date: 02/09/2012 | Business
You’re better off with a hole in your resume than a lie that will trip you up
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a job seeker about rewriting his resume. He has been unemployed for eight months and is nearing the end of his savings. He's pacing the floor with anxiety.
Date: 02/08/2012 | Business
Low demand, lack of timber blamed for closure of Arlington sawmill, loss of 40 jobs
ARLINGTON -- Another Snohomish County sawmill is closing. The city is losing Northwest Hardwoods, at 20015 67th Ave. NE. It will close Thursday because of a shortage of local timber and low demand for finished products for housing.
Date: 02/08/2012 | Local News
State Senate Democrats tout long-term jobs agenda
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats on Tuesday promoted a package of bills aimed at bringing more skilled jobs to the state.
Date: 02/07/2012 | Northwest
Job openings jump to near a 3-year high
WASHINGTON -- The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring.
Date: 02/07/2012 | Business
Alaska officials fear base move's economic impact
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Fairbanks leaders fear a proposal to relocate Eielson Air Force Base's F-16 squadron to Anchorage will have a drastic economic impact on the Interior, and expect to see the local community rise up in the same kind of protest that forestalled a base closure seven years ago.
Date: 02/05/2012 | Northwest
N. Idaho communities may lose Forest Service jobs
GRANGEVILLE, Idaho -- A plan by the U.S. Forest Service to relocate the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest supervisor's offices away from Grangeville and Orofino will hurt those communities, Idaho and Clearwater county officials say.
Date: 02/05/2012 | Northwest
Jobs today, jobs tomorrow
Viewpoints: Put people to work on projects with lasting benefits
Date: 02/05/2012 | Commentary
Strong jobs report sends Dow to highest level since 2008
NEW YORK — A drop in the unemployment rate to its lowest in three years propelled the Dow Jones industrial average Friday to its highest close since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Nasdaq composite index hit an 11-year high.
Date: 02/03/2012 | Business
Hans Dunshee releases $1billion stimulus plan to aid construction
OLYMPIA -- A $1 billion stimulus plan that Washington lawmakers are now considering seeks to create construction jobs by funding a variety of infrastructure projects around the state, officials said Wednesday.
Date: 01/25/2012 | Northwest
Don’t rely solely on the Internet when developing a network of job contacts
Many job hunters spend their free time bouncing around on the Internet. They lose themselves on job boards and obsess over increasing their "contact" or "friend" lists on social networking sites. It's true that online resources make it easy to gather information about your industry, research...
Date: 01/25/2012 | Business
County jobless rate, 8.2 percent, lowest since December 2008
Snohomish County's jobless rate saw another promising decline in December to 8.2 percent, the lowest since December 2008.
Date: 01/24/2012 | Business
Aerospace development could bring hundreds of jobs to Arlington
ARLINGTON -- In the not-too-distant future, Arlington might be known for helping build airplanes, not boats.Seattle real estate developers have purchased the former Meridian Yacht campus, and they plan to turn it into a manufacturing park that caters to Boeing suppliers.
Date: 01/20/2012 | Business
Your resume should reflect your career progression
Call me crazy but I think that resumes -- good ones -- tell wonderful stories. They may not be as soothing as bedtime fables or take you on exhilarating rides like plot-driven novels. But they do offer insight into people's lives.
Date: 01/18/2012 | Business
Panel meets on what county needs to foster advanced technology, manufacturing
EVERETT -- Will Snohomish County become the Silicon Valley of advanced technology and manufacturing?
Date: 01/14/2012 | Business
Obama aims to reward businesses that invest in U.S., bring jobs back
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday he wants to reward companies that invest in America and eliminate tax breaks for companies that don't, and he's planning new tax proposals to do it.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Federal Reserve survey shows economy ended 2011 with strength
WASHINGTON -- The final weeks of 2011 were the economy's best since it seemed to be slipping toward recession in late spring -- a shot of optimism for 2012.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Don’t give too much weight to unemployment horror stories
Question: In a recent column you wrote, "Don't get discouraged at any time or for any reason." Realistically, it's hard not to get discouraged when it takes 34 weeks for the average 27-year-old to get a job and 56 weeks for the 40-and-older crowd.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Hiring rose in November, but job openings dipped
WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers stepped up their hiring in November but pulled back slightly on the number of jobs they advertised.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Two people might be hired to co-manage Evergreen State Fair
MONROE -- It draws the biggest crowds of any event in Snohomish County.
Date: 01/07/2012 | Local News
Business boosts hiring
WASHINGTON -- The job market is looking a little brighter at the start of the new year.
Date: 01/06/2012 | Business
Mitt Romney tax plan would mostly benefit the wealthy
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's tax plan would cut taxes for fewer than half of U.S. households, with the wealthy getting most of the benefits, according to an independent analysis released Thursday.
Date: 01/05/2012 | Nation & World
White House announces summer jobs initiative
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is looking to boost summer job prospects for kids. The White House says that with help from the private sector it's gotten commitments for nearly 180,000 youth employment opportunities for next summer and is aiming for tens of thousands more.
Date: 01/05/2012 | Business
How to make Internet job boards work for you
Everyone knows that the job market is overflowing with candidates. Employers receive hundreds of applicants for each position. This may sound daunting to some job hunters, but if you think about the search methods used by your so-called competition, it's easy to stand out from the crowd.
Date: 01/04/2012 | Business
Someone who knows
K-C mill closure 'devastating,' says 51-year employee
Date: 01/01/2012 | Local News
2011 ending on 'up note,' economists say
WASHINGTON -- The long-suffering job market is ending the year better off than it began.
Date: 12/30/2011 | Business
Unemployment claims rise after steady declines
WASHINGTON — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose last week after three weeks of decline.
Date: 12/29/2011 | Business
Older professionals move to 2nd careers in social service
MIAMI -- When Clarita Perez de Alejo retired four years ago from the corporate world, she traveled extensively and spent time with her grandchildren. Then ..."I kept thinking, 'What else can I do?'" she said. "I felt I had a lot to contribute. I still wanted to help out."
Date: 12/29/2011 | Business
Tax cut survives: Congress votes holiday approval
WASHINGTON — Barely beating Santa's sleigh, Congress delivered a last-minute holiday tax-cut extension to 160 million American wage-earners on Friday, just when it looked like they and millions of unemployed workers were going to be left with coal in their stockings.
Date: 12/23/2011 | Nation & World
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