Northwest Staffing Blog

As an experienced employment agency serving Seattle and the Northwest, we’ve seen it time and time again. People are at their absolute happiest and most productive when they have a job that’s a good match for their personality. Not only that, they are also much more successful.

So how can you determine what personality type you are – and what kinds of Seattle jobs you will excel in? Use John Holland’s theory of career choice. In his theory, Holland identified six different personality types and the work environments that suit each. Let’s take a look.

6 Personality and Work Environments

#1: Realistic: These people like working with their hands and prefer jobs that are physical in nature. They are doers and both practical and stable. They are also tool oriented and do well in careers such as engineering, information technology, law enforcement, agriculture, and architecture.

#2: Investigative: These people are more analytical and intellectual. They are the thinkers of the world. They like working with theories and information, and are both curious and independent. Ideal jobs for investigative people include economist, mathematician, teacher/professor, pharmacist, and lawyer.

#3: Artistic: These people are the artists and creators. They are both original and independent, but also unorganized. They prefer an unsystematic approach to work and value creative expression. Some examples of jobs that are a good fit for the artistic personality are actor, writer, graphic designer, and musician.

#4: Social: These people are healers and nurturers. They prefer activities that involve helping others. They are friendly, cooperative, and understanding. Jobs that are a fit for social people include therapist, doctor, nurse, teacher, and receptionist.

#5: Enterprising: These are the entrepreneurs of the world. They enjoy competitive work environments in which leadership is highly valued. Status is important to enterprising people and they do well in jobs that require persuasion and selling, such as marketing, sales, management, public relations, journalism, administration, and real estate.

#6: Conventional: These people are organized and detail-oriented. They value precision and practicality and do best when they have a clear set of rules to follow. They are efficient and orderly. These people do well in jobs such as accountant, banker, clerk, and proofreader.

So which personality type are you? Whether you have an investigative personality or a realistic one, please contact Northwest Staffing if you need help finding a job that’s a fit for you. As a leading employment agency in Seattle, we can give you access to a variety of rewarding jobs in Seattle – and throughout the Northwest.

Most people who land a great job in Seattle, heard about it through networking, not through reading the classified ads or surfing the web. So when you’re looking for an opportunity to get ahead, don’t overlook the power of networking. Here are some tips to follow:

Stay connected.
Social media tools like Linked In and Facebook make it easy to stay in touch with everyone – colleagues, former co-workers, people you used to volunteer with, college classmates, etc. Someone from within this network of friends and colleagues may know of a great job opportunity in Seattle.

Talk to people.
Whether you’re at a business function, on a plane, or at a wedding, talk to people wherever you go. You may meet someone who can help you land your next job interview.

Ask questions.
When chatting it up, ask lots of questions. Most people love to talk about themselves and will gladly oblige. Be sure to ask what they do for a living.

Be a better listener.
Don’t ask someone a question and then start looking around the room for someone else to talk with. Listen to their answer with interest.

Practice your elevator speech.
When someone asks, “what do you do?,” you should have a quick and clear answer. So create and practice a little 30-60 second overview of who you are and what you do for a living.

Keep lots of business cards on hand.
In today’s digital age, sometimes we forget that traditional approaches – like business cards – still work. Always have a supply on hand and get comfortable with handing them out.

Get involved.
Hate networking events and public speaking? Then take a class where you can hone your speaking skills. Also, you may want to consider joining an industry association or business club.

Follow up on every lead.
Even if they seem minor, make sure you follow up on every job lead. You never know what may come of it.

If you’re looking for a new job opportunity in Seattle, please contact Northwest Staffing. As an employment agency serving Seattle and the surrounding area, we know many of the leading employers and can give you access to a variety of opportunities that you won’t read about on the classified pages.

There are certain people in this world who make success look easy. They make more money, climb the corporate ladder faster, and become the “go to” person at their company regardless of the poor state of the economy – all without batting an eyelash. So what are they doing differently? And how can you achieve that kind of success? Here are some tips:

Add value.
By far, adding value is the most important characteristic that successful people have. What does adding value mean? It means that instead of fixing an error in the company’s filing system, you create a new system that eliminates future errors. It means going a step further (or a few steps further) in order to make life easier for your employer.

Become an expert.
Whether it’s going back to school to get your MBA, or simply reading a new trade journal every week, it’s critically important to always be learning – another mark of a successful person. So what subject can you become an expert in for your employer? Just pick one – and pick something you are passionate about. This will make your pursuit of knowledge a lot easier. Also, don’t be shy about letting the boss know about your endeavors. A little self promotion never hurt.

Be consistent.
This sounds like a no-brainer, but so many employees fail to be consistent in their performance. So make sure you’re on time at work and consistently deliver when it comes to the tasks you are assigned. By being consistent, you will stand head and shoulders above the crowd – and your employer will surely take notice.

Stay positive.
A successful individual sees an opportunity, where somebody else might see a problem or an issue. So why the different perspectives? It’s all about attitude, really. A negative attitude can be limiting. But a positive attitude keeps the doors of opportunity open, no matter how difficult the challenge.

By following the advice above, you can make yourself more valuable to your employer. The benefit? It could lead to a bigger raise and faster promotions down the line.

Were you the “go to” person or in-house expert at your company, but recently laid off? Let us know. At Northwest staffing, we help candidates from in and around Seattle find rewarding job opportunities.

View our current job openings or contact us today to learn more.

Feeling panicked, unlucky, or depressed over a job loss? Those are all completely normal reactions – and you’re definitely not alone. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate currently hovers around 10%.

So if you’re one of the unemployed masses in Everett, Seattle, or beyond, what can you do to survive a lay off and secure a new job? Here are six ideas:

Idea #1: Think before you act.

If you are granted an exit interview, be honest, yet tactful. Don’t put down the company and be sure to get answers to important questions, such as:

• Will I receive a severance package?
• How can I continue my health care coverage until I find another job?
• Can I get a letter of recommendation?

Whatever you do, don’t send a nasty email or message to your former employer or go around bad-mouthing them. Burning bridges is never a good idea, no matter how badly you’ve been burned.

Idea #2: Avoid jumping into a job search immediately.

Even though you’re probably feeling panicked, you may want to hold off on jumping into a job search right away. Going on an interview while your mind is reeling and your emotions are in turmoil isn’t usually a good idea. So wait a few days to calm down and get your emotions under control.

Idea #3: Sign up for unemployment.

One thing you will want to do immediately is contact your state unemployment office because there’s typically a waiting period (usually about two weeks) before you can start receiving unemployment checks.

Idea #4: Create a survival budget.

Write down all of your regular monthly expenses and rate them as either “essential” or “non-essential.” Now consider canceling some of those non-essential expenses. (Essential expenses are rent/mortgage, food, gas, electricity, and car insurance. Non-essential expenses are gym memberships, cable, and lawn care or maid services.)

Idea #5: Keep up a normal routine.

Be sure to keep a normal schedule. Get up at the same time in the morning as if you were going to work. Also, dedicate a few hours each day to your job search, whether it’s:

• Tweaking your resume;
• Practicing your interviewing skills;
• Attending seminars to update your job skills; or
• Contacting colleagues and friends at other companies to let them know you’re in the job market.

But don’t spend your entire day looking for a new job, otherwise you’ll burn out quickly. Simply set aside a block of time (say from 9 am to 12 noon) for your job search.

Idea #6: Consider working for a temporary employment firm.

Working for a temporary employment firm is a great way to sharpen your existing skills, learn new skills, and keep your foot in the job market. And you never know. If you do well, you may get an offer for full-time employment.

If you’ve been laid off and are looking for a job in Everett or Seattle, contact Northwest Staffing. Whether you’re interested in temporary employment or want to find a terrific full-time opportunity, we can help. We work with some of the leading employers in and around Everett and Seattle, and can give you access to a variety of job opportunities you may not otherwise know about.

Have you ever been laid off? If so, what advice would you share with unemployed individuals?

Finding a  job through an employment agency can offer a variety of benefits, from flexibility to free training. However, if you’ve never worked for an employment agency before, you may be feeling a little perplexed about the process.

Not to worry.

Northwest Staffing has put together a list of questions you should ask to ensure an employment agency – and the  jobs they’re offering – are right for you.

General Questions About the Employment Agency

• How much experience do you have?

• What kinds of companies do you work with?

• What kinds of  jobs do you fill?

• Do I have to pay to use your service? (If the answer is yes, then run – not walk – in the opposite direction. No reputable employment agency will ask job seekers to pay for temporary job placements.)

Questions About Agency Policy

• Will you notify me when a position I’m suited for becomes available, or should I call in regularly? When’s the best time to call?

• What if I am not interested in a certain position when it is offered; can I turn it down?

• What if I accept a temporary job, but it’s not working out for me? What should I do?

• What happens if I show up to a job, but the company doesn’t need me? Do I still get paid?

• Will I receive any kind of special training? What kind of training? Is it free?

• What’s your policy if a company wants to hire me full-time?

Questions About Pay & Benefits

• How do I keep track of hours worked?

• What’s the approximate pay rate for the kinds of  jobs I’m qualified for?

• When do I get paid?

• What kind of benefits does your employment agency offer to temporary employees?

• Does your employment agency offer any overtime? What’s the pay rate for overtime?

It’s important to get answers to these questions before signing on with any employment agency. The better you understand and communicate with your employment agency, the better the results.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about finding  jobs in or around Seattle, Washington, please feel free to contact Northwest Staffing today.